The most important thing about being a teacher of young children is a willingness to learn about a child by being with a child and responding to a child.
Leadership is one deeply felt learning opportunity that I experienced from this program. Everything rises and falls with leadership. A great leader spends a great deal of time outside the office walking around, watching each teacher's reactions to the children, listening, and taking mental notes to what each teacher is drawn to and what each one struggles with.
Another deeply felt learning opportunity that I experienced is an anti-bias curriculum and language diversity. There is not enough training on how to integrate an anti-bias curriculum into the classroom on a daily basis and always seems to be overlooked. The learning environment must have a sense of community as teachers must take into consideration the different cultures, languages, values, and traditions. By doing this, a cultural pluralist environment will evolve and children can work toward a common goal, yet still have their own identity.
A third deeply felt learning opportunity is the passion that I have for the early childhood profession. My passion and motivation for being in the early childhood field is intrinsic and this is why I have been in this field for thirty-four years. According to Laureate Education, Inc. (2013) the passion to create a safe and just world for children is there. I have the energy, knowledge, and passion, which draws staff to me, which in turn, motivates them to to catch the passion for their job. I want all my teachers to have the deep passion that I feel for the children in my care.
I would like to thank all my peers and Dr. Darragh for the support, advice, and inspiration throughout my Master's courses. I have enjoyed learning about everyone's work experiences and what they plan to do with their degree. Remember that your positive energy and vision must be greater than anyone's and everyone's negativity, and I feel that all of you have the enthusiasm to touch the life's of your staff, children, and their parents. Thank you for the stories of your successes and the times that were not so successful. My hope is that everyone will continue to be advocates in the early childhood field and make a difference in the life of a child. My wish is for everyone to smile and laugh; two things that children naturally share and pass on to others as we shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do. Good luck to everyone and thanks!
100 years from now...it will not matter what my bank account was, the type of house I live in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a CHILD. -Anonymous
I teach with my heart and my soul and not my mouth alone. -Jaime Escalante
It takes a village to raise a child. -African Proverb
Laureate Education, Inc. (2013). (Producer). Merging, Vision, passion, and Practice. [Video].
