Quotes from week 2 professionals

"Having people offer me opportunities and opening doors for me where I feel like now, as I've gotten older,  it's my turn to be able to create opportunities for parents and their children."
                                                                                                 Raymond  Hernandez

"It's a lot easier just to talk about what people should do, but stepping up and trying to do it is a whole lot different."
                                                                                                 Renatta M Cooper

Quotes

"Effective teachers have the knowledge to make informed decisions and adapt for individual differences in children throughout the day." 
                                                                                                        Dr. Susan Bredekamp


"The future which we hold in trust for our own children will be shaped by our fairness to other people's children."
                                                                                                       Marian Wright Edelman


"Never work just for money or for power.  They won't save your soul or help you sleep at night." 
                                                                                                        Marian Wright Edelman

Personal Childhood Web

Grandma Manda-  She moved in with us when I was around 7, and she was one that kept me and my sisters and brothers when my Mom work or wasn't there.  She taught me how to sew, and we spent a lot of time making quilts, one of which I still have today.  I remember going to my uncles farm with her, picking vegetables out the garden, and shelling beans and peas every summer.  She used to make us pinto beans and homemade biscuits all the time, when she would get down to the last of the biscuit dough, she would make me and my younger sister a "pistol" shaped biscuits.  She always woke us up in mornings for school, and she would not stop calling your name until you were up.  She taught me a lot about being unselfish and having a giving spirit, and her lesson still impact the way I am with my children today as well as the way I view elderly people.  I believe she was the reason I always wanted to help children and/or the elderly.
She had this saying when someone would make her mad, "You make my a.. hurt!"  Me and my sisters and brother still laugh at that today, and occasionally we say it to people ourselves.
Mom- She raised five kids, without a dad in the picture, but thank God for my Grandmom.  She was very "no nonsense" and very protective of all us.  She made sure we had what we needed, first, before anything or anybody.  I am a lot like her in that I have the same strong spirit that has taught me to be a survivor regardless of what the world throws my way.  She taught me about kindness, to always look out for someone in need, and she taught me how to stand my ground and not let people take advantage of me.
Mrs. Polson(Head Start Teacher) - She was always such a sweet and caring teacher.  She was my favorite teacher, and out of all the teachers I've had over the years, I never forgot her or how nice she was to me.  She still influences me to be a better teacher and person because of her dedication to educating young children.
Ms. Wincy(neighbor) - She was always the coolest mom of all.  She let us hang out at her house, but she made sure we stayed in line.  She has always been like a second mom to us, and now that my mom is no longer living, she continues to look out for us. She reminds me of how I am now when my children's friends always want to sleep over or tag along on vacations.
Deidra(friend) - She was one of my childhood friends that lived next door to us. She was always fun and ready for any and everything.  We had a lot of good times together and are still friends today.  We use to skate, all the time,(metal skates), ride bikes, play dodge ball, and build houses in the bushes and get old pots, bowls, and spoons out the house to cook dirt and leaves.  When we see each other now we always talk and laugh about growing up. I think about all the fun we use to have when my children tell me they are "bored," because I don't ever remember being bored growing up. We made our own fun. 

"Children Learn What They Live"

Children Learn What They LiveBy Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

"This High and This Wide"

GUESS HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU  by Sam McBratney  is my favorite children's book . I started reading this book to my son when he was a baby, and we continued to read it over the years.  Anytime we told each other "I love you," the other would ask "how much," and we would stretch our arms as high and wide as they would go.  My son is 12 now,(13, April 22) and we still do the same thing when we say "I love you."

OMG!!!

Setting up a blog has really been a learning experience for me.  I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up, but then again, I may actually learn to love it.  Good Luck!!!