Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

As an early childhood professional we are often the people that see each of these children for the majority of the day. We influence their life with each and every step that we do in each day. We build each child up and know their weaknesses and their strong points. We know what makes them laugh, what makes them cry, and what helps them learn. We have been trained to study their behaviors and build on what they already know. We have a strong relationship with each and every child because we comfort them, protect them, and keep them safe.

               I had a child tell me one time, “Ms. Ellis you must love me!” I looked puzzled I’m sure because I know I love each and every child but for her to say it the way she did just brought all kinds of questions in my mind. I said, “Why yes dear I love you very much! What made you feel that way?” She smiled with her big huge smile and said, “Well you make sure I am all warm and zipped up like my mommy does before I go outside. You tie my shoes so I don’t trip. You help me put my mittens on, you snap my hat and every time you get me all bundled up you kiss the top of my head and say you’re all ready now! My mommy does that because she says she loves me. So you must love me too!” I never noticed how nurturing I was to each and every child. I have a five year old as well and often have the over protective motherly instinct to make sure that they have clean washed faces when they leave! That they are all bundled up with coats, mittens, hats, and tied shoes. I know that I would want my child to come home with the same protection so I do the same for my class. I often see other classes come out shoes untied, coats in their bags or not zipped, and the hats and gloves are nowhere to be found. I know that as a teacher we are often too busy to make sure the small things are done but when you put yourself in their mother’s shoes you may have a different perspective. After two week of insuring that each child is bundled up and totally ready to go home I have found that they are very proficient in doing this on their own.  They may ask for help from their friends but it is so sweet to see them imitating what they see their teacher do. I caught a little girl dressing her friend one day when she finished and had him all bundled up she kissed her head and said now you’re ready. I found it to be totally heart touching! I feel that this has influenced a lot of the biases.

               To me I feel that children only have biases if they observe it. I feel that children imitate almost everything that they hear or see. My son is in this faze where he sayings he is copying what he sees so he can learn new moves. He copies karate, writing, talking, and almost every annoying thing that you could perceive. It is annoying but it reminds me why it is important to limit what they watch, hear, and take in. I have learned so much about biases and how to treat others. I learn more from my children than I do from school.

Observing Communication

I observed a preschool classroom at my school for this project. The teachers worked together they read each others ques to move around the room and effectively help the classroom. The room that I observed was an exception needs classroom. They have 8 children and 3 teachers. The teachers asked open ended question in which they rarely obtained responses to. This class is a self contained classroom. They have to do a lot of one on one with theses children. They don't always play with each other they kind of do a parallel play. The teachers sat in different areas of the classroom on the floor they practiced rolling a ball or tossing a ball to each other. The children were able to roam freely and play as they wished. The teachers would play where the children where interesting in playing and assist them. The teachers themselves communicated clearly with each other. They rotated appropriately to meet the needs of all the children. I don't know if I could add anything to the way that they communicated or taught the children because I have never taught a self contained classroom. They spend an hour of our playground time outside with us. I know how difficult this hour is with them I can only imagine the classroom experience. I feel that the teachers did a wonderful job communicating and interacting with the children.

Creating Affirming Environments

Creating Affirming Environments: This week we were asked to imagine that we were opening up our own family daycare. We are suppose describe how we would create a welcoming environment. 

I would have welcome signs welcoming all cultures. I would have posters of children and families from all sorts of cultures. In dramatic play I would include multicultural foods, dolls, clothes, and musical instruments. I would add multicultural books and puppets to reading. I would add multicultural art supplies, people for blocks, and music. I would also make sure to have books that are in Spanish.   

 

Resources
Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an anti-bias learning community. Baltimore, MD: