Raymond Hernandez MS Ed Quote

became an administrator "because I felt like I'd have a bigger impact on managing programs, to be able to shape programs, be able to look at how you design a program that's going to best benefit not only the children but also the families of the program"- Raymond Hernandez MS Ed

Louise Derman-Sparks Quote

"I had just a built-in passion that it was important to make a real contribution in the world, to fix all the injustices that exsisted in the world, and I wanted to do that through teaching." - Louise Derman-Sparks

Dr. Greenspan's Quote

From the book: The Learning Tree
"we use the metaphor of a tree, the Learning Tree, to embody the three essential ingredients of learning: Roots represent the different ways children take in information and plan their actions. The trunk of the tree respresents thinking skills, the development of increasingly complex ways of thinking and, importantly, their application not only in academic subjects but also in such areas as friendships and family relationships. The branches represent the essential academic skills of reading, math, speaking, writing, and organizing."

Dr. Brazelton's Quote

"When we strengthen families, we ultimately strengthen the community. Our goal is that parents everywhere work with supportive providers, feel confident in their parenting role, and form strong, resilient attachments with their children. To help achieve this, providers must be responsive to parents, knowledgeable about child development, and eager to see every parent succeed."
-T Berry Brazelton, MD

Personal Childhood Web

Personal Childhood Web

My most cherished person that has influenced my life is my mom. She has always been a great support in my life, even during the ups and downs. She not only is my mother, but also a friend. She has encouraged me to finish my education because she wants me to have the best possible life. She has taught me about hardwork, how to care for others, to be a good listener and to be a sweet person. She continues to impact my life daily. She is a great grandmother to my two boys. She is always striving to be self-sufficient and has taught me to be the same way. She loves me and has always stressed that no matter what, she will always love me.  

Another person who is a great influence in my life is my sister. She is a great mom to her three kids and has taught me so much about parenting. I follow her advice and watch the things that work for her in her daily routine. She has always been there for me. She continues to astound me as a model Christian women. She has taught me to love others, be patient and kind and to lead with a clear head and not just my heart. I've always been her little sister but recently we can now call each other friends. I am so glad that our children live close together and will have a special bond.

My fouth grade teach Mrs. Joyce continues to be an influence in my life. She not only taught me how to multiply and divide, but that someday I would grow up to be an educator. She has always been the best example of what a teacher should be: loving, caring, understanding, patient, encouraging and nuturing. I spent a lot of time with her as a young child, during school and after school. Even as I passed Elementary school, I would go back year after year to still see her and say hello. In my early 20's I moved away and lost touch with her. When I went back to the old neighborhood, I realized that the school was closed. Oddly enough, she found me on Facebook. She now encourages me to finish my master's degree and to stay in the educating field. I always wanted to be just like her. :-)

Another wonderful person in my life is my best friend. She and I have been friends for more than 25 years. She is a great influence on my life everyday. She has taught me how to be a better friend, a better mother, a better Christian and a better person. She has always been there for me during the ups and downs. She has made me feel special by just being my friend. She encourages me to finish my education and to follow my dreams. We are like sisters in so many ways. I am lucky to have her in my life because she is a great example of a wonderful spouse, mother, friend, sister, fellow Christian and person.

Help

If anyone can tell me how to put my settings so that when I post in the About Me section under my Google+ account, it turns up on my blog...I would be ever so grateful!

Fueling my passion...

I find that what fuels my passion for Early Childhood Education is the plain fact that our society is better for having it! Study after study shows that even Preschool classes or Head Start programs increase the high school and college graduation rate and decreases the rate of crime. With the existence of these programs, history has shown that children are not only Kindergarten ready, but do better emotionally, socially and developmentally. And yet, knowing the research reflects these concepts, the government does not mandate Preschool in every state and is still day by day shutting down programs that help children thrive! Good, quality programs are harder and harder to find, let alone the funding to help those that cannot afford such programs. I feel that my passion for ECE is headed by the fact that we as a country are going in the wrong direction. We should be improving and retaining programs that celebrate the concept of family, teach children the fundamentals and teach parents valuable skills, Not doing away with them.

Me and my twin boys

Children's Book

My most cherished book is Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst.
Oddly enough I still relate to this book even at 32. Everyone has bad days. Everyone has days were incidents happen one on top of the other. It was comforting to me, as a child, to know that others around me had the same experiences. Being the only one to have a cavity at the dentist. Having to get the all white shoes because they were out of the cool ones with the red or blue stripes. Being squished between two people in the car and not getting a window seat. Your best friend says you are not his #1 best friend anymore and that so and so is now your #1 best friend. And who could forget the time when your mom forgot to pack you dessert in your lunch bag!
But in the end, Alexander, even though he wants to just move to Australia, is reminded by his dad that even people who live in Australia have terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.

First Go Around

This is my first attempt at a blog, so we shall see how it goes! I find it exciting to be able to put my thoughts, feelings, experiences and findings out for the world to see. I hope to make a circle of blogs that will bring insights and help to anyone who is interested in Early Childhood and all that it entails.