Inspiring Quotes From Leaders in the Early Childhood Field

"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 
         Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund

"The Question is not whether we can afford to invest in every child; it is whether we can afford not to."

--Marian Wright Edelman
         Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund

"The moment I decided to follow instead of lead, I discovered the joys of becoming part of a small child's world."

--Janet Gonzalez-Mena
         U.S. early childhood educator and author

"Part of being who you are has to do with feelings, which means you'll have a wide range of emotions - not just constant sunshiny happiness."

--Janet Gonzalez-Mena Child Family and Community: Family-Centered Early Care Education

"The passion to create a safer more just world is there and I suppose will be there until I die, maybe until later..."

--Louise Derman-Sparks
       Anti-bias educator and author
        Professor Emeritus at Pacific Oaks College

"To have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better is what makes me passionate."

--Sandy Escobido Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy Initiative

Kelly Matthews and Stuart Stotts

This weekend was the Wyoming Early Childhood Association's Annual Conference.  I have just spent 2 days learning and sharing with some amazing early childhood professionals from across Wyoming.

This year we had 2 keynote speakers who were wonderful.  The first was Stuart Stotts who is a children's musician and talks about brain research associated with music among other things.  The second was Kelly Matthews of A Place for You Consulting.  She is an amazing advocate for young children and the professionals who work with them.  As a WECA board member I was lucky enough to take Kelly out to dinner tonight.   I recommend looking them both up on the internet or on Facebook.

What a great weekend!  My head is spinning.  

Play Dough the good stuff

I am currently working with a group of 2 year olds and we were playing with play dough.  The parents could not believe I made my own.  I told them that I always make my own - the consistency is better, the smell is better, it lasts longer and it is cheaper.  I got out my recipe to share with them and decided to post it here.

1 cup flour
1 cup water
1/2 cup salt
2 teaspoons of cream of tater
1 tablespoon of oil
food coloring

Mix all ingredients in a pan. Add at least 20 drops of food coloring.  Cool over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly.  Cool.  Turn dough out on the counter and knead.

This dough lasts for a week or 2 as long as it is kept in tightly sealed plastic bag.  It will last longer if kept in the refrigerator.

NAEYC link - Check it out!

http://www.naeyc.org/

CJ touched my heart

I was a kindergarten teacher right out of college.  The first year I took an internship position and the second year I was a teacher in a rural Ohio school.  It was during this second year that I met CJ.  He was bright and disruptive and had a smile that could melt your heart.  His family was not interested in his education and you could see it in his attitude and behavior, but boy was he able.  I must admit 23 years later, he was that child you run across only once or twice in your career that you could really take home.

I worked hard with CJ to move him forward and have him ready for first grade.  At the end of that school year I decided to relocate to another state so I was not sure how he progressed.  2 years later CJ's second grade class was doing a letter writing project and out of the blue I received a really kind note from CJ.  I could not believe it.  You cannot imagine what that note meant to me, but what it also did was instill in me the notion that as an educator you have the ability to make a lasting impression, good or bad.  I know that I had made CJ's first formal educational experience memorable and positive.  He may not remember me now, but I sure remember him!

Quotes to live by!

I have 2 favorite quotes.  One represents how I like to live life.  

Only those who experience truly live!

The other is how I think great educations begin and what we as Early Childhood Professionals must ignite in the children we touch.

Wisdom begins with wonder...