Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that each child and family is provided with the services they need in order for their children to be successful in school and within the community.  I also hope that each child will receive a fair and equal education regardless of their social identities.

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is that all children are provided the opportunity to attend a free Prekindergarten program that is facilitated by a highly qualified teacher.  I know that the school district I teach in the only way  a child can attend the Prekindergarten program that is offered through the public schools is if they have an IEP, low-income, or considered language deficient (ELL).  In my opinion all children should have the opportunity to attend these types of programs so they can be prepared for Kindergarten.

To all of my colleagues I want to thank you for sharing personal experiences that impacted you either personally and or professionally.  I know for myself sometimes I felt myself struggling with “putting myself out there”.  I think that it is difficult to share experiences that are either hurtful or that we are ashamed of.  I think this class has made everyone take a good look at who they really are as a person and how their words and actions can have such substantial impact on others.  With everything that we have learned throughout this course I think we are well on our way to working towards making a social change within the early childhood field.  Good luck to everyone!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Germany is the country of origin from where my family is coming from.  In order to prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family I will:

1. Research and learn as much about the country such as traditions, food, and family structure.
2. I will contact a local organization that will help with ensuring the transition goes as smooth as possible for the family and myself.
3. I will have a translator available that will be able to come to school, as well as, home visits to help with language barriers if there are any.
4. I will learn about the school setting and the expectations from the country this family is coming from.
5. I will have the family fill out an information sheet that will provide me with some insight about their beliefs, culture, and expectations.

I hope these preparations will benefit both myself and the family because it will create an environment that is welcoming.  It will allow the family to see that I don't just want them to fit into the culture of this country, but want to learn about what is important to them.  This will ensure that the best interest of the child are met by both myself and the family.  I feel these preparations will also make a difficult situation run more smoothly.

Microaggressions

A microaggression I experienced this week was at school.  The entire student population gets free breakfast in the morning.  One of the students was saying that they didn't like the choices that were being served on that particular day.  One of the other teachers said to me "these children are so ungrateful and they should be happy that they are even getting breakfast.  It is free what do they expect". 
I was shocked to hear this.  I understand that it seems ungrateful, but they are children and they don't understand that the reason they are getting breakfast at school is because their parents don't make enough money.

I have learned that as teachers we really need to be mindful of what we say, as well as, how we say it.  Sometimes the tone of our voice can be misconstrued.  If students overheard what the other teacher was saying their feelings would have been hurt.

Evacuation

If I had to be moved to another country the three items I would choose to bring with me would be:
a bible, photo album, and American flag.  I would take the bible to help remind me of my faith and to stay true to my beliefs.  I would take a photo album because I know eventually my mind would fade, but photos could remind me of past memories and finally I would take the flag to explain how everyone from the U.S. are entitled to their freedom and are able to make their own choices.  If I could only take one item I would choose to take the photo album only because you can't get back the memories that have been captured within the photos, but I would not be too upset if this was the only item I could bring with me. 

I have learned that I am not a materialistic person and even though I would be sad to have to leave the U.S. I would be excited to see how other countries live.

Research Around the World

The internations website I decided to explore was http://www.earlychildhoodaustrailia.org.au/
This website is equivalent to the U.S. based NAEYC.  Some of the current topics addressed on this website are: school readiness, children't transistions, baby and toddler sleeping, child health, and childhood obesity. 

From this website I gained knowledge about how other areas of the world are dealing with issues within the early childhood field, as well as, being able to use resources that are offered through their website with new information regarding the field.

Something noteworthy from this website was reading about The Everyday Learning Series.  This series focuses its attention on the everyday ways in which young children-babies, toddlers, pre-schoolers-can be supported in their growth and development.

My Research Journey

The topic that sparks my interest to research if funding for early childhood programs.  I have narrowed this into the following sub-topics: ways to obtains grants for early childhood programs, how early childhood programs ensure young children are school ready, and the influence of community based family support services that will help train parents how to build a strong foundation for learning. 

I have a personal interest in this topic because I am a Prekindergarten Teacher at a public school.  Since Prekindergarten is not a mandatory program there are limited amount of spaces available.  There are specific criteria that a family must meet in order to get into the program.  The criteria is: children who currently have an IEP, economically disadvantaged, and or language deficient.  The entire community lives in poverty so each child automatically qualifies based on income alone.  The problem then is that there are more children that should be enrolled in the program then spots that are available.  This means children are then placed on a waiting list and may be enrolled in the program if a spot becomes available throughout the school year. 

As an early childhood educator this is heartbreaking for me.  Building a strong foundation is necessary for children to be successful in school.  Every dollar invested in young children has a high return in the future.  I think that every child should have the opportunity to attend a high-quality preschool program regardless of their families income and there should be enough classes that every child has the opportunity to attend.

Does anyone has any experience as to how to go about obtaining grants for early childhood programs?  If so, let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Sharing Web Resources

When exploring the prek now website there are many resources available on this website.  Some of the additional outside links in the media section there is a link that allows you to obtain contact information with prek experts.  You can contact an expert in the following fields related to prek: prek policy and implementation, prek research, economic benefits of prek, and pollsters. 

After exploring the family section in depth I found there is a check list provided to help parents find a high-quality prek program.  This information is also available in Spanish.  The section also encourages learning at home by providing tips how to engage children in developmentally appropriate activities that you can do together, as well as, providing resources on school readiness.  The last section is family profiles.  Within this section families that have been profiled share their individual stories about high-quality prek and how its impacted their children.


The e-newsletter this week discusses how children who do not have access to a high-quality early childhood education program are more likely to struggle in school and not be school ready.  This article discussed how it would impact all children who did not have access, not just a specific group such as ELL students.

One of the articles this week also discussed school readiness and how it takes more than one weekend to prepare a child for school.  Children begin learning at birth and to properly prepare them for Kindergarten it takes from birth to age five with engaging learning experiences that will provide a strong learning foundation.

As I continue to review the Prek Now website and read their newsletters I am gaining lots of beneficial information.  Specific information that seems particularly relevant to my current professional development is information about the race to the top challenge.  The county where I teach has decided to pilot this program for the next two years.  I am eager to see how this is going to work since I believe that prekindergarten programs are always overlooked.

A statement in an e-newsletter that I found to be controversial is how many states are facing budget cuts and the programs that are suffering the most are prekindergarten programs that serve at-risk children.  Research has proven over and over again that a strong foundation is necessary for future academic success, so it doesn't make sense that these programs are the first to get cut.

The prek now website provides information that adds to my understanding of how politicians support the early childhood field because there is an entire section dedicated to policy makers.  Some of the information in this section includes federal initiatives, fact sheets, policy maker profiles, advisory councils, and governance.

Some other insights I gain from the newsletters are policy makers are trying to do the right thing by doing what ever it takes to make sure prekindergarten programs do not get cut so every child has the opportunity to be provided with a good education by qualified teachers and other professionals

Sharing Web Resources

The website I chose it PrekNow: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States.  The web link is www.preknow.org

The main focus of this website is to inform everyone the importance of Prekindergarten and how investing early is the best way to go.  Children who attend Prek are more likely to be ready for Kindergarten and are less likely to repeat a grade.  The website offers information for parents and educators.  I did subscribe to their newsletter and the most current issue that is being discussed is The Race to the Top.  Many people are concerned that creating assessments for such young children is unhealthy since Prekindergarten is supposed to be a hands-on and holistic learning experience.  The assessments are not paper/pencil, but based more on observations.  The assessments are designed so teachers can enhance individual students learning experience and will not be used as a reward or punishment in any way.  Even if students do not perform up to expectations they will not be denied entrance into Kindergarten.

This website has been very helpful to me because the county that I teach in is piloting these assessments in the upcoming school year.  No one has provided teachers with any information, so I feel that I know have somewhat of an understanding of how the assessments are going to work.

Establishing Contacts

In order to establish contacts with early childhood professionals outside of the United States I used the websites provided and decided to e-mail a couple of people to see if they would be willing to keep in contact with me.  I have not heard back from them yet, but I am hopeful that they will get back to me soon.  If not, I guess I will have to use the alternative assignment. 

When reviewing the different websites I decided to study the website titled PreK Now.  I chose this website in particular because it provides fantastic information about Prekindergarten.  Since I am currently a Prekindergarten Teacher I feel that this website will provide me with the most up to date information in the field.  Some of the information provided on the website is how to adhere to best practices, how to engage parents, and how to meet standards.  The website is also designed to help families of young children.  It includes a checklist that parents can use to help them select a good Prekindergarten program for their child.  I signed up to get their monthly newsletter and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge within the field.

My Supports

When I look at my life I have many different support systems.  Those systems include my mother, grandfather, sister, and a few friends.  My grandfather was the male figure in my life when I was growing up.  Everyday he would pick me and my sister up from school and take us to his house.  He would make sure dinner was on the table when my mom would get home from work.  He was the one who would attend all of the school fieldtrips, take me to my dentist, and doctor appointments.  Since I was a young mother he was also there to support me financially.  When I was in need of a car or money he was always willing to help me out.

  My mother has always been there for me emotionally.  As a young mother my life was extremely stressful.  I don’t know where I would be today without the support of my mother.  She has always been there for me to offer advice and support to me.  When I decided to start college I knew it was going to be a struggle.  I had two young children and worked full-time.  Through my mother’s support and encouragement was able to obtain a teaching degree.

My sister has always been a support system in my life.  She has helped me tremendously with my children.  She would babysit for me whenever I needed her too.  She also helps me with getting them to and from school.  She always teases me by saying “When I have kids you owe me unlimited babysitting.”  It has been a joke for years.  She is also there for to support me emotionally as well.  Sometimes my mom gives me her opinion about something and if I don’t agree with her I will ask my sister’s opinion.  She is the only sibling I have so we have a very close relationship.

Last but not least I have a few close friends.  Some of these friends I met when I started college and we have remained friends.  We helped each other get through school and are still supporting each other as we having started our teaching careers.

I would not know what to do without these support systems in my life.  I think that support systems work both ways.  I may support my systems differently then they support me.

My Connections to Play

A child loves his play, not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard. – Benjamin Spock

When children pretend, they’re using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero. – Fred Rogers

      

When I was growing up I was always encouraged to play either by myself, with my sister, or with friends.  I typically was engaged in outside activities such as playing in my friends’ tree house, riding bikes, playing tag, exploring in the woods.  If I did play inside it was either house or school.   I don’t recall adults playing with me.  I don’t know if it was because I always wanted to be outside or that my family viewed play as a child’s activity.  I do believe that my family wanted me to use my imagination and engage in lots of activities.

Play is very different today then it was when I was growing up.  For me I was always outside.  Sitting in front of a computer or video game system was not what I wanted to do.  Instead I preferred to explore the woods that were next to my house, or play games such as cops and robbers, or go bike riding.  I was free to engage in these activities without an adult right by my side.  In today’s word I feel that parents allow children to get so involved with video game systems, and watching t.v. because it is too scary to just send your child outside to play.  Parents have extremely busy schedules and find it difficult to watch their child play.  It is sad but it is the reality of today’s world. 

I think that being active as a child and having the opportunity to explore the world around me freely has really shaped me as a person.  Engaging in free play allows us to use our imaginations and be creative.  Now that I’m a teacher I feel that the way I played when I was a child has been able to help me be creative with my students by creating activities that they might not get to engage in when they are at home such as exploring outside.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important because they can be used as a support system and are necessary for our own well-being.  Relationships can be joyful or stressful. I try to only build relationships with people that are going to bring me joy.  Negative relationships cause stress and I try to avoid that at all costs. 

I currently have positive relationships with my mother, sister, children, and a few close friends.  I have always been close to my mother.  We have a great relationship that allows me to talk to her openly about anything that I may be going through.  She raised my sister and me all by herself and I feel that she has been a great role model for me.  My sister is a couple of years younger than me, but we have always been close.  Don’t get me wrong we have out moments when we argue like children, but when it comes down to it, we are always there for each other.  I have both a son and a daughter.  I currently have a great relationship with both of my children.  I encourage them to talk to me whenever they feel the need, even if it is maybe a difficult topic.  I believe that making them feel that they can come to me and I won’t judge them has allowed me to have open communication with them thus far.  I wouldn’t say that I have a lot of friends just a few that are dear to my heart.  My best friend has been friends with me for 30 years.  That is amazing.  We have been friends every since we were little girls.  She is always there for me when I need her and I do the same for her.

Maintaining relationships is difficult.  As you get older your views of life change and the people who you choose to associate with change.  Establishing new relationships occurs all the time but only the important ones can be maintained. 

Everyone establishes relationships differently.  As an educator it important to be able to reflect on the relationships that you have established within your personal life to help you establish relationships in your professional life.  If you have only had negative relationships it is going to be quite difficult to establish positive relationships with families and children.  I always remember that some relationships have to be maintained for a brief time, and after that time if the relationship is negative then you can let go of it and move on. 

You can teach a student a lesson for a day; but if you can teach him to learn by creating curiosity, he will continue the learning process as long as he lives.  ~Clay P. Bedford

Assessment

I think that children should be assessed based on their IQ.  I don’t believe in standardized testing.  I think standardized tests dominate classroom instruction and that is not how it should be.  Teachers are so scared that students’ achievement is a reflection on their ability to teach and that is not true, in most cases.  Giving students unit tests in a reflection of their true learning.  
In Germany assessment is carried out by means of frequent tests (‘Arbeiten’) and dictation tasks (‘Diktate’) but there are no SATS and no Key Stages like those prevalent in British primary education.
Reports are given annually and the children work towards the ‘Hauptschulabschluss’ (Certificate).
Some schools cater for the slower learner and those with special needs and, invariably, the schools have many foreign children whose knowledge of German is not up to the standard needed for the higher-level schools.

Children Living in Poverty

The stressor I think I can most relate to is poverty.  I can relate to this stressor the most because the vast majority of the students I teach are currently living in poverty.  Every child at the school receives free breakfast and either free or reduced lunch.  The neighborhoods they live in are tantalized by crime.  Some of the students not only have to deal with violence within the neighborhood, but abuse and neglect within their own home.  School is supposed to be a safe haven for these students and they do feel safe with the adults, but with other students the tension is increasingly high.  Since these children see violence on a day to day basis they are frustrated and can not remained focused.  This inhibits their ability to learn both academically and socially.  They are not capable of dealing with anger appropriately because they do not have any good role models.  Instead, once they have reached a certain level of anger, they feel that their solution is to fight.  The suspension rate at the school is one of the highest in the county.  The teachers and administration can only do so much to help these children escape from the life they are living.

Children living in poverty has the same affect in Germany as in the United States.  Poor children face limited educational opportunities. According to a AWO-Study only 9% of the pupils are poor.^[7] Poor children are likely to experience adversities beyond money. They are more likely to be raised by a teenage-parent. They are more likely to have multiple young siblings, are more likely to be raised in crime-ridden neighborhoods and more likely to live in substandard apartments which are often overcrowded. Their parents are likely to be less educated and they are more likely to have emotional problems.^[8]
Children growing up poor are more likely to get involved in accidents than their non-poor peers.^[9] They are less likely to follow a healthy diet.^[10] They are less likely to be healthy. In poor neighborhoods many children suffer from speech impairments and stunted motoric development^[11] They tend to have lower IQs.^[12]

Child Development and Public Health Issues

The topic I chose was immunization.  The topic is meaningful to me because at one point in time people believed that immunizations were the cause of Autism.  With the number of children being diagnosed with Autism on the rise I think parents were beginning to think that they should not have their children immunized.  At this point in time, research does not prove immunizations cause Autism.

Immunizations are important. The eight childhood diseases (measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b, and polio) which are preventable by immunization, can, and do, cause crippling and, sometimes, death. These illnesses are serious and their complications can be terrible.
With the exception of tetanus, these diseases are contagious. They can spread rapidly from child to child and from community to community. As long as children remain unprotected against them, serious outbreaks of disease - even epidemics - can occur.
It is important for parents to understand what protection vaccines give and what risks vaccines create for their children. Generally, vaccines are among our safest and most effective medicines.

Unlike the Americas, Scandinavia and the UK, vaccinations are not compulsory in Germany.   Childhood vaccination is usually performed by pediatricians or general practitioners and is free of charge. Vaccinations are not mandatory in Germany, but status is routinely documented from vaccination cards presented at school entry examinations.

Child Birth Experience

The birthing experience that I am going to share is the birth of my daughter.    The experience that I had with her was amazing!  I went into labor the night before she was actually due.  My contractions started at approximately 2:00 a.m.  I did not want to rush to the hospital because I was in labor with my son for 32 hours, so I figured I had some time.  After the contractions started I waited about 45 minutes before I went to the hospital.  Once I got to the hospital they decided to they were going to go ahead and admit me.  I was only in a labor a total of 3 hours.  My doctor told me if I decide to have anymore children that I should plan on camping out at the hospital.  The delivery was very calm and relaxed without any complications.  What made this experience special and memorable was the two nurses decided to sing happy birthday to my daughter.  My daughter was an easy going baby who was easy to keep happy.  I’m sure that the birthing experience contributed to that. 

In Germany birthing experiences take place in a hospital, but the actual delivery is typically performed by a midwife.  There are doctors at the hospital, but they only intervene if there are complications.  Mother and baby stay at the hospital for approximately one week.  Once they go home the midwife works with the family for forty-five days to help them learn and adjust to the new addition. 

I think having someone other than family members available to you is a fantastic idea.  First, because they are trained professionals and would be able to answer any questions the family may have especially for first time parents.  Bringing home a new baby is exhausting and it would be beneficial to have someone that would be able to help you cope with the new challenges that will come with having a baby.

Codes of Ethical Conduct

The three ideals that are of great importance for me and my professional life are:

I-1.5 To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.

I-1.9 When we have reasonable cause to suspect child abuse or neglect, we shall report it to the appropriate community agency and follow up to ensure that appropriate action has been taken.  When appropriate, parents or guardians will be informed that the referral will be or has been made.

I-2.9 To participate in building support networks for families by providing them with opportunities to interact with program staff, other families, community resources, and professional services.

I think these ideals help support my goals and will help me become a strong advocate in the early childhood field. 

Course Resources

http://hypermedia.educ.psu.edu/k-12/edpgs/su96/ece/TITLE.html

www.earlychildhoodnews.com

www.preschoolrainbow.org/book-themes.htm

Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
• World Forum Foundation
  http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP’s mission.  
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

 Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/ 
• Children’s Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
     

Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"If you don't like the way the world is, you change it.  You have an obligation to change it.  You just do it one step at a time."  Marian Wright Edelman

"I want to fix all the injustices of the world by teaching young children."  Louise Derman-Sparks

Personal Childhood Web

My childhood web consists of several people.  Those people are my mom, grandmother, grandfather, and sister. 

My mom was a single parent, but she provided my sister and I with a loving, nurturing, and supportive environment. My mom also wanted me to pursue the things that made me happy.  I really enjoyed horseback riding and my mom dedicated many years of her life to taking me to the horse farm.  Even now as an adult my mom is very supportive of my decisions and encourages me to better myself.

My grandparents worked together as a team.  They both impacted my life tremendously.  They were there to help my mom.  My grandfather was the male figure in my life.  He was the one who was a chaperone for all of the school field trips, take me to my dentist and doctor appointments, and would pick me up from school everyday, so I would not have to be home alone until my mom got home from work.  I used to spend a lot of time with my grandmother.  We would go on nature walks and she taught me how to cook.  Unfortunately she passed away when I was 14 years old.  The most important thing that I learned from her was to be kind to others and to help out people who are less fortunate then yourself. 

My sister is my bestfriend.  She and I are complete opposites, but we balance each other.  She has always been supportive of me, even when she thought I was making choices that were not in my best interest.  I think we formed a strong bond starting when we were children and I want that bond to continue forever.

This week I come across an interesting article titled Me? I am just a teacher By Victoria Robinson. I am including the link in case anyone wants to read it.

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-11-21/news/ct-perspec-1121-teacher-20101121_1_school-social-studies-teacher-teaching-salary-american-students

I love the book One Winter's Day by Christina Butler.  This book is great for introducing winter vocabulary and the storyline demonstrates what goes around comes around and how everything we do is appreciated. 

"Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world"  Maria Montessori