Deborah Leong, PhD: on the important connection between dramatic play and literacy
"That is why I think what is most important, what best prepares preschool children and kindergartners for reading, is play."
"Through play, children actively turn their environments into anything and everything-weddings, schoolrooms, castles. Through this rich dramatic play, imaginations develop. And when children enter these fantasy worlds, they are practicing entering the fantasy worlds of the author, who uses words alone to create scenes and people and entire worlds."
Marcy Whitebook, PhD: when addressing the issue of high staff turn-over rates and low pay in the child care field
"If our field does not value the contributions of teachers and providers, it is highly unlikely that the rest of society will."
"The question is, how do we make our child-care system better, rather than how do we make parents feel terrible that they have their children in child care?"
Louise Derman-Sparks: explains why she became a teacher
“I always wanted to be a teacher. But as I grew up I think I wanted to be- continued to be a teacher because I had just a built-in passion that it was important to make a real contribution in the world and to fix all the injustices that existed in the world and I wanted to do that through teaching.”
Raymond Hernandez: describes what drives him to work in the early childhood field
"I think my passion comes from wanting to make a difference. I think, like I’ve said before, and I truly believe, that I’m not here to save the world. I’m here just to make a difference in the community that I’m working. And to me, making a difference may sometimes mean helping one child be able to be successful in the classroom."
I love the quote from Marcy Whitebook, PHD. "The question is how do we make our child-care system, rather than how do we make parents feel terrible that they have their children in child-care. I remember receiving somany comments from associates and family members when I was searching for a child care center for my son in prepartion for my return to work after my maternity leave. Many people believed that my son would be better cared for by a family member or friend within their home. I believed that children develop and learn at a faster rate when surrounded by other children. My son is currently 9 months old and has been enrolled at his current day care center since he was 2 months old. My son's development and social skills are above the average of children his same age. I believe with educated and experienced teachers, children will grow, learn, and develop excellent within a child-care center.
ReplyDeleteI like the quote from Raymond Hernandez.
ReplyDeleteI used this quote too.
I would like to be a professional who can enjoy making small differences for children everyday.
Aya
Hi Stacy,
ReplyDeleteIt's true what March Whitebook said. We professionals must display worth and dignity for teachers and then the society will know that care providers and educators cannot be taken for granted.
My society have little regard for teachers, although that is changing now.