Y’all, very few understand how deep a hold teaching has in my heart. I am extremely passionate about early-childhood education, especially. I strongly believe that the early years of schooling are the most important for a child. They are the foundation for the rest of their life. You can build strong, motivated learners, or you can create passive, frustrated, “average” students early on. Certainly, there is always opportunities for improvement, but once they’re in high school, there is not time to build a strong foundation in whatever subject that is lacking. It then becomes more about getting them to graduation. While early childhood education is their springboard for their middle school, high school, and/or college years . You can’t learn geometry until you have first mastered the basics of addition. You cannot excel in Spanish I until you first have a solid grasp of English Grammar. You cannot learn World Geography until you could tell me what state you live in. You can’t do any of that until you learn to read and write your name. That is just one reason why I strongly believe that these years are the most important years. Teaching at the preschool was the most enjoyable job I ever had. It was very difficult some days, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat. Little kids are incredibly impressionable and moldable. They are like little sponges, absorbing every experience they’re given. They pick up on so much, even outside of the classroom and between the lesson plans. We don't give them credit for how smart they are at times. I have rewritten this post SO many times. Then I ended up erasing over 70% of it. Instead of rambling about my philosophy of education, the flaws and benefits (I think many miss this part) in the school system, my passion for teaching or my experiences as to why I could even talk about it. Instead of going on about curriculum types, workloads, testing, homework, learning styles and teaching methods… instead of making this a rambling of thoughts that no one wants to read, I am going to share just a couple thoughts on one specific part of schooling. P L A Y. Wait a second, I thought we were talking about learning, not running around, playing games. Ah, but we are! Perhaps you’re thinking, I want my kids to learn important things, not just how to throw a ball. Well, do you know what playing, P.E., and team sports have the ability to encourage in students? -Hand-eye coordination -Physical strength -Health -Anatomy -Teamwork -Turn taking -Speed -Endurance -Making friends -Social-emotional skills -Fine and Gross motor skills -Cooperation with peers -Following directions -Listening and paying attention -Healthy sensory system -Focus -Problem solving -Anger management -Positive character traits -Reduces stress -Self discipline -Concepts of physics -Math -Mental and physical resolve -Provides a mental break and encourages a fresh perspective and renewed motivation when returning to the classroom -Allows and encourages needed movement of the body for young bodies to then sit still Are you beginning to see the importance of it?! For later years, “play” would be confined primarily to physical education classes or extra-curricular sports. While for early education years it should encompass most (if not all) of their learning process. Kids (and adults) learn best when they are enjoying the process! When they are interested, they grasp concepts quicker, better, and retain the information more effectively. They are more engaged, and are more likely to follow up with self-driven independent learning. They learn without realizing it. Physical education, team sports, independent play, sensory stations, free outdoor play, guided play, role play… each are excellent opportunities for learning. It appears as if they’re just playing and having fun, but it is so much more than that! While they’re playing, they’re exploring, talking, trying, imagining, inventing, creating, giving, sharing, risk-taking, making choices, working, relaxing, challenging, turn taking, pausing, running, skipping, jumping, pacing themselves, shouting, whispering, singing, making friends, problem solving, being themselves, being someone else, acting, caring, reading, writing, drawing, measuring, counting, feeling, building, laughing….. learning. Whether you're a parent, a teacher, or a parent who's recently acquired the "teacher at home" status, allow me to encourage you to find ways to teach through play. You will enjoy it more as well! Use their time of play as a learning opportunity. Be intentional and diligent to find ways to apply the lesson from the classroom into daily moments. I will leave you with a few quotes that have inspired me in my teaching style. Then, drop the name of the teacher that made learning fun, or took advantage of "fun" learning opportunities in the classroom for you. Deuteronomy 6:7 - And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. PLAY GIVES CHILDREN A CHANCE TO PRACTICE WHAT THEY ARE LEARNING - F. ROGERS IF WE WANT OUR CHILDREN TO MOVE MOUNTAINS, WE FIRST HAVE TO LET THEM GET OUT OF THEIR CHAIRS. - N. SOWDER PLAY IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF RESEARCH. - A. EINSTEIN PLAY IS OUR BRAIN'S FAVORITE WAY OF LEARNING. - D. ACKERMAN CHILDREN LEARN AS THEY PLAY. MORE IMPORTANTLY, IN PLAY, CHILDREN LEARN HOW TO LEARN. - O.F. DONALDSON PLAY IS OFTEN DISCUSSED AS IF IT WERE A RELIEF FROM SERIOUS LEARNING. BUT FOR CHILDREN PLAY IS SERIUOS LEARNING. PLAY IS REALLY THE WORK OF CHILDHOOD. -F. ROGERS THEIR MINDS WERE NOT BUILT TO SIT AND BE TAUGHT. THEY WERE BUILT TO EXPLORE, PLAY AND LEARN.-ANONYMOUS TELL ME AND I FORGET. TEACH ME AND I REMEMBER. INVOLVE ME AND I LEARN. - B. FRANKLIN
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Lizzy parkerMarriage.
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January 2023
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