tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post899443287276761577..comments2023-10-01T10:47:36.350-05:00Comments on "How Long is This Hall!?": Hmmm....Something to Think About!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12353127376585187663noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-38164782486192348932011-12-30T04:23:10.728-06:002011-12-30T04:23:10.728-06:00Reflection is an integral part of being an effecti...Reflection is an integral part of being an effective teacher. You make some valid points Pam, both in your post & in your responses to comments. I love your smake & mirrors analogy for Holly. I used to struggle in a similar way, to record & plan authhentic experiences that met some sterile list of objectives. I stubbornly wrote things in a way that ticked the boxes, but didn't sell the chn out. Now the way we program has changed to better reflect the recent creation of a national framework in Australia. This means that our programming & planning is now more attuned to how I believe we should record. Chn will amaze us in innumerable ways if we empower them, such as giving them choices like you do.<br /><br />Well said & written.Males in Early Childhoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11064609037937034152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-52511313835792713372011-12-29T15:35:18.770-06:002011-12-29T15:35:18.770-06:00I love this post... a while ago I did observations...I love this post... a while ago I did observations in a kindergarten room where everything was SO academic, the kids were all sitting down and reading and doing math at ALL times, and the teacher had lamented to me how she wanted them to be able to do more fun and light-hearted things. She felt that kids at that age learned more when they were doing hands on activities and exploring. Your post shows that early childhood teachers can still do beloved, "fun and cute" activities that kids do need.Miss Angelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04409220869471005923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-13182902119128037852011-12-28T21:48:51.364-06:002011-12-28T21:48:51.364-06:00Pam.
I enjoy reading here because I always find th...Pam.<br />I enjoy reading here because I always find thoughtful writing. I find solace, also so often, because you articulate so well some of the dilemmas, and situations encountered in everday early childhood education.<br />Thanks for this post, and all your wonderful posts of the past year. <br />BrendaMullin Avenue Workshophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09489785153205822301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-70956729718541828252011-12-28T07:30:20.800-06:002011-12-28T07:30:20.800-06:00Janette- Thanks tons for reminding me of this grea...Janette- Thanks tons for reminding me of this great article!!! I had read it previously, but had completely forgotten about it! Thank you so much for reminding me! You are right- this is exactly what I am talking about- and the list of words at the end of the article is perfect! I will be posting a link to that article on my facebook page- so valuable!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12353127376585187663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-28493018916083218222011-12-28T01:53:25.562-06:002011-12-28T01:53:25.562-06:00http://www.ooeygooey.com/a-crash-course-in-the-lan...http://www.ooeygooey.com/a-crash-course-in-the-language-of-wolves/<br /><br />You need to check out Lisa Murphy's article on the Language of Wolves. Most people know her as The Ooey Gooey Lady. She is WONDERFUL!!!!! In her article she address exactly what you are talking about.Janette Dehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08582620043933463986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-52337363528576570592011-12-27T22:43:58.212-06:002011-12-27T22:43:58.212-06:00Shelly- in my opinion planning for the needs of th...Shelly- in my opinion planning for the needs of the specific children is one of the best ways to keep on track as to why we are doing things and to stay away from simply doing things because they are "cute" :)<br /><br />Thanks Scott- by the way, these are all true examples...<br /><br />Deborah- I often get "stuck" on the why when I feel put on the spot by another teacher or teacher associate. I've actually had to say to new teacher associates that work with me in the classroom that I love having them ask why we are doing something in the classroom, but not to be offended if I don't fully answer until the next day or at least when we have down time while the children are napping. This gives me a bit more time to think through what is most important to convey to them! (a bit of cheating, I know). <br /><br />Aunt Annie- I absolutely agree we do need to make sure to distinguish when this is even in part to make an adult's life easier. (and sometimes I think these two things get intertwined and then become part of the fabric of the classroom- making it even more difficult to distinguish between). <br /><br />Jennifer- I also agree with this- in a perfect world we wouldn't ever have to justify why we are doing what we are doing- administrators should be just as well "versed" in ECE as they are in other areas. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that is in our near future :(Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12353127376585187663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-15582605911120687962011-12-27T22:06:05.892-06:002011-12-27T22:06:05.892-06:00I hate when people use the word cute to describe w...I hate when people use the word cute to describe when kids are learning! I always reply... yes they are cute but you teach them to read... it is not easy! Very insightful post... you know what annoys me... when administrators think we don't have all the thought out and that they are just painting with QTips. I sort of feel it is their job to know early childhood concepts too. =)Jennifer @ Simply Kinderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08642153433969327989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-58721086347874405422011-12-27T21:36:01.993-06:002011-12-27T21:36:01.993-06:00Love this post! I wish there were more ECEs prepar...Love this post! I wish there were more ECEs prepared to question themselves and others about the WHY... and to be honest when their 'why' is 'because it makes it easier for ME'!!Aunt Anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08799746597313773030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-1229198442957350202011-12-27T21:33:21.722-06:002011-12-27T21:33:21.722-06:00I always have a purpose for each activity I introd...I always have a purpose for each activity I introduce to my students but I am not always great at articulating that purpose or goal for others. I need to work on this a bit more:)Deborah Stewarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04992053244004086395noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-37112941101750721892011-12-27T20:49:22.517-06:002011-12-27T20:49:22.517-06:00Great post Pam. The WHY is so important, much more...Great post Pam. The WHY is so important, much more than the cute or the WHAT that will be made. You articulated some great whys. We should always have a purpose for what we're doing with kids.Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11397525011462974857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-10203930945551679092011-12-27T19:36:17.047-06:002011-12-27T19:36:17.047-06:00Oh Holly- I didn't even touch on the fact that...Oh Holly- I didn't even touch on the fact that sometimes we can literally be "set up" to fail! We do need to question why we do things- but we also need to have things "measured" in accurate, helpful and "fair" ways! I agree you will need to use some smoke and mirrors in order to "meet" standards that are written for elementary. I definitely wish you luck, but wish your state would recognize early childhood as a unique and distinct area and the day needs to be filled with hands-on, child or adult initiated, small and large group activities!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12353127376585187663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-79329070995997442882011-12-27T19:18:25.642-06:002011-12-27T19:18:25.642-06:00Ugh... Thanks for posting I've been struggling...Ugh... Thanks for posting I've been struggling to plan the "perfect lesson" for an observation that is going to be tied to my pay. This "peer" observer also goes into k to 5th grade classrooms to observer special needs children. What I want to do and what I need to do are two different things! I need to give him a lesson with my special needs 3,4,and 5 year olds that he can fit into his rubric that is for all of elementary, What I want to do is more like our everyday play to learn. I've been questioning almost too much! Most of it has been aimed towards the reason they feel that they can judge how effective and "good" of a teacher I am in two 30 minute lesson a year. But as I struggle during this break planning the "perfect lesson" I can say that I usually question "why" and "what for" constantly in regards to my "non-perfect" teaching daily. Thanks for reminding me I'm normal!!! (Or as normal as any special needs pre-school teacher can be). Now I'm off to try to find a standard (of which my state doesn't have any for pk) all of my IEPS can fit into. I need to use some smoke and mirrors for most of this wish me luck!Hollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02806731134300655305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6434776408026497921.post-77223079510721426762011-12-27T18:52:34.749-06:002011-12-27T18:52:34.749-06:00What an insightful post. I have been having this d...What an insightful post. I have been having this discussion with a couple of colleagues lately as we tend to plan based on the children's needs and interests as opposed to themes. And since we have to connect our plans and activities to our early learning standards, we are always thinking about the 'why' and not choosing something just because we like like it or think it's cute.Shelley @Little Explorershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01778596918349813284noreply@blogger.com