Welcome to the Early Childhood Book Discussion Group hosted by BAEYC, Old Colony Chapter. We will start the discussion here. Begin by posting to the "Introduce Yourself" prompt. In your reply to this subject heading, briefly describe your background, current position, how long you've been in the field, and anything else you want us to know about yourself.
NOTE: To post comments: if you look at the bottom of this paragraph, you will notice the word "comments" with a number next to it. If you click on that word, a comment box will open and you will see the comments other people have made. You will also have the ability to comment yourself. In the bottom of the comment box is an option for "choosing your identity". If you click the Name/URL option and type your FULL name in the provided box (shows after you select), your name will show at the top of your comment so that you may receive credit for your post. If you do not, you will show up as "anonymous" and will need to contact Eileen at lestudante@bridgew.edu so that your name can be added. You can also let her know if you publish something by mistake and need to have it taken off of the blog. We strongly suggest that you compose your thoughts in a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, and then copy (not cut!) and paste them into the comment box. This will ensure that if something were to go wrong within the blog comment box by accident, your work is not lost. If you are unsure how to do this, then please contact Eileen for help. Each new discussion thread will have its own title, listed on the right side of the screen. Click on that title, and you can see a complete listing of all the posted comments to date on that discussion topic, in chronological order. If you wish to view a previous years discussion to better understand what the blog will look like as the dicussion proceeds, please follow this link: http://baeycbookgroup2010.blogspot.com/ .
22 comments:
Hello, my name is Greg Nelson, and I’ll be facilitating this book discussion group section. I am on faculty at BSU and teach in both the early childhood licensure program and the early education and care program. I have been in early childhood for over 30 years, and seeing that children get the environments they deserve is my passion. Besides teaching at the University, I am active in BAEYC and the Region 5 Professional Development consortium, am president of the Massachusetts Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (MAECTE), and am on the advisory board of EEC.
I look forward to your contributions. If you run into troubles (e.g., you do a post but forget to sign your name to it), you can E-mail me at gelson@bridgew.edu or Eileen Estudante, our web guru, at lestudante@bridgew.edu. We highly recommend that you compose your comments in Word and then paste them into the comment box, so if anything goes wrong you have a back-up copy of your brilliant thoughts.
Hello everyone!
My name is Eileen Estudante and I am a lead teacher at the Children’s Center at Bridgewater State University. I have been employed by BSU for the last 14 years and am part of a teaching team that consists of three teachers (two full-time and one part-time). If you are ever interested in coming to visit our classroom, do not hesitate to contact me!
In addition to working full time for the University, I am a proud mom of a thirteen-year-old son. My son and I live near the ocean in the small town of Mattapoisett. I have enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to our on-line discussion!
L. Eileen Estudante, lead teacher
Bridgewater State University Children's Center
Burnell Hall, Room 135
Bridgewater, MA 02325
(508) 531-1244
lestudante@bridgew.edu
Hello,
My name is Hannah Vigliano and I am an infant and toddler teacher on Cape Cod. I have been in the field for two years now. I started as an assistant teacher then later on got cerifitied as a teacher. My next goal is to get certified as lead teacher considering that is parctically my job now.
In addition to working full-time I am an artist. I love painting and photography. I've been learning a lot from this book. I feel it has opened my eyes to different ways to run my classroom.
Hello Everyone,
My name is Jane Doyon and I've been teaching at the Bridgewater State University Children's Center for the past 23 years. I teach in a multi-age classroom (2.9 yrs. - 5 yrs. old). Along with teaching preschoolers, I also work with a variety of the University's students. I guess Bridgewater State University has been my home away from home, because I also received my Bachelor's degree and Master's degree in early childhood education at this Institution.
This is my third year joining the book group and I look forward to communicating with everyone.
Hello Everyone
My name is Holly Stevens. This is my first year working as an assistant teacher in the Early Childhood and Care Department at Blue Hills Regional Technical High School. It’s a multi-age classroom (2.9-5) of 18 children and 14 high school students. For the past six years, I’ve been at the Dean College Children’s Center as a classroom assistant and student teacher.
After hearing everyone’s introductions last night, I’m excited to be a part of this discussion and look forward to hearing your opinions.
Hello,
My name is Diane Peterson. I received my Bachelor's Degree in Special Ed from BSC in the 70's. After spending several years working with autistic students I made a change to Early Childhood. After working in several schools my husband and I designed and built our own preschool. We just celebrated our 25th year of operation. No matter how many chidren pass through the doors I know there will be a new child unlike all the others that will challenge us to be creative and use all the tools we have to educate them. I guess I hope reading this book and communicating with all of you can help me do that. I enjoyed last nights session.
Hi everyone. My name is Dotti McDevitt. I am the owner, director, and Lead Teacher for the 4 year olds at A Child’s Wonderland Preschool in Harwich. I have been in the Early Childhood field for over 25 years as a family child care provider, a substitute teacher in the public schools prek through grade 5, a prek teacher for the Barnstable Public Schools and now in my own program. I received my Associates Degree at Dean College, my Bachelors in Early Ed and English at BSC and returned to BSC for my Master’s. I am also the treasurer for the Cape Cod AEYC and the affiliate representative for the Mass AEYC board.
I have 5 grown children, 11 grandchildren and a husband (who sometimes acts like the grandchildren!). I look forward to the discussions and expertise from the participants of this community of learners.
Hi, my name is Nora Richards. I am the owner/director at The Sandpiper Nursery School in Falmouth on Cape Cod. My husband Joe and I started the school in 1991 when I finished my master's degree at Wheelock College. There are three classrooms for children from 2.9 to 5. Two of my three teachers have been working with me for well over 20 years, and the third one has been with us for four years, so you can see that we are a well oiled team! My school is a Reggio inspired school. I began studying Reggio Emilia about 25 years ago, and had the opportunity to go to Italy in 2006. My passion is to create a school where children are encouraged to explore their own interests deeply and in their own rhythms. We teachers and parents work together to support and enhance the children's efforts. We have seen the great gains to be made by collaboration, and look forward to sharing our discussions of this book with all of you.
Hi,
My name is Becky O'Dowd. I own a large family child care in Hanover. I was certified in special ed/elementary ed and taught for eight years before deciding to stay home with my children. Opening a family child care was a natural transition 14 years ago and I have been having fun ever since. I like to say that I am "paid to play". I enjoyed meeting everyone the other night and look forward to sharing the topics generated from reading the book.
Hi Everyone-
My name is Becky Case. I am the Preschool Coordinator for the Integrated Preschool in the Hingham Public Schools. Previously, I taught special education in Hingham and Walpole. I received a CAGS through Bridgewater and am very interested in life learning.
I have three children 17, 14, and 3. I have enjoyed the age span as they all balance each other out...college searching and homework...to picture books and play...
I enjoyed our first discussion and look forward to our on-line discussions!
Hi all,
My name is Anne Clarkin and I am the director and younger class teacher (2.9-4 year olds) at a small cooperative preschool where my children also attended. I have been teaching there for 4 years and the director for 3 and I still feel like I am struggling to keep my head above water.
I, too enjoyed last night's class and am looking forward to more discussions. Must go finish that book now!
Hello,
My name is Stacy Allen and I am a very proud Mom for three children ages 10, 6 & 5 years old. I have been working professionally with children for 14 years in a variety of roles at the Walker School(a residential home for children with emotional and behavioral challenges) such as Child Behavioral Specialist, Acute Residential Teacher and currently I am working part-time (28 hrs.) as a weekend supervisor.
When my youngest child was born, I started my own large family daycare which I run during the week and is truly amazing. I absolutely love watching the children grow and discover new skills. Over the summer, I received my Masters Degree from Lesley in Elementary Education as I was planning to work in the public schools when my kids were grown. I am so torn now as I truly love the little guys in my daycare and a small group.
I look forward to meeting all of you.
- Stacy
Hi! My name is Brenda McClay. I am the owner/Director of Bright Ideas Childcare in South Plymouth. We are licensed for infants, toddlers and preschoolers. We have been open for 2 ½ years. Previous to that I had a large family childcare for 10 years. I have been in the childcare field for 18 years and cannot imagine doing anything else. I have 6 children from age 5- 20. My daily struggle is trying to fit everything that I want and need to do in. There are just not enough hours in the day. My solution is to do the best that I can and have fun doing it. I am looking forward to learning from these discussions both personally and professionally.
My name is Kelly Scansaroli. I have been working in the same toddler room for the past 8 1/2 years. I started out as an aide and then worked my way to becoming teacher certified. I graduated from the Pre-K Concentration program at Bridgewater in 2008. I learned a lot from the courses, especially through the discussions with other teachers and directors. I enjoyed the discussion group meeting we had last Monday and look forward to blogging with everyone about Mind In The Making!
My name is Nancy Ohlen. I am currently the second teacher in a two-day class at Joyful Learning Preschool in Bridgewater. I began my formal education at (then) BSC in 1960 as an Elementary Education major, switching to Secondary Education with a major in English at the end of my freshman year. I taught one year, began a family and was unable to secure a permanent position when my children entered school as those were the years of the “zero population growth” phenomenon! In 1991, after several mini-careers, I opened a family daycare for infants through three-year-olds after my oldest grandson’s birth rekindled my love of infants and toddlers. My daughter and I enjoyed Small Acorns for thirteen years. I have worked part-time at Joyful Learning/Southbrook Academy in various positions over the last five years.
It is fascinating to observe how attitudes and practices regarding the capacities and abilities of very young children have evolved in the field of education and in our culture since the late ‘60s when I was a new Mom. I am grateful that this book affirms many of my ideas about interacting with infants and toddlers. I feel that many of my daycare parents sent their children to me because they knew they would be safe and loved, even though I was a little off the wall with my passions for sensory activities, one-on-one social interaction between parent and child, healthy diet and rest time, to name a few.
Hi everyone,
My name is Julie Trima. I have been doing daycare in my home for about 20 years. Prior to that I had gotten my associates in early childhood education from Notre Dame College in New Hampshire and a Bachelors degree Elementary Ed. I got married and pregant for my first child while student teaching. I was approached by a friend to watch her child shortly after graduation and that is how daycare started. I have loved the years of experience. Having a small group of different ages means a differnt experience everyday. Seeing the growth of children who still come back to me. In fact one of my first kids is a pairs skater and just metaled in junior nationals.
I look forward to the on goings of the weeks ahead.
Hi all,
I am Amy Cabral. I am curently a Prek teacher at Noah's Ark Childcare Center in Fall River. I am also and instructor at both Umass Dartmouth and Eastern Nazarene College. The beginning of a semester is always a crazy time for me to start anything, hence the late posts! I have been in the Field for 15 years, and love it still! I am most interested in research in education and how children learn language and math. So this is right up my alley! Glad to meet you all!
Hello to all, my name is Tatiana Fricano. I am a Lead Teacher in Preschool Classroom (age 2.9 – 5) at Children’s Enrichment Center in Mansfield. I have been working here for more than 6 years with the total number of 11 years in early education field. It all started as a temporary solution for (then) job searching Russian accountant… Eventually, I enjoyed being with young children so much that soon I couldn’t think about any other carrier opportunities. I had three good reasons: I realized, I am more patient, understanding, and responsive individual than I was when I was raising my own child (she is 27y.o. now) and I am able to make children’s school experience as happy and beneficial as it can possibly be. More to that, on occasions I had a feeling I’ve learned more from my young students than they did from me, and after all, they would always forgive me my accent.
I went through the all levels of DEEC certification, graduated BSC in 2008, and opened my own program in my home in 2010. A little bit busy, but nothing can be better than a great feeling of being in right place and doing what you like!
I hope we all will enjoy getting to know each other and sharing our opinions about the book. As a person for whom English is a third language, I am fascinated with anything that is related to the language acquisition and communication importance in early years.
Looking forward to reading your exiting Ah Hah moments,
Tatiana
Hi my name is Theresa Gormley. I am a private PreSchool owner and Director and have been for the last 34 years in Kingston. I am definitely a life long learner and my favorite teachers are my students and my children. I have 2 daughters and 2 grandaughters. My graduate work is in Parenting Education from Wheelock, my undergrad UMass Boston. I am also a Special Needs Advocate and work with children of all ages and guide their families through the public school support systems in South Shore schools. For fun I am a Scuba Diving Instructor. I surrender I am a teacher through and through!
Hello, Everyone. I am Sally Egan. I was lucky enough to begin working in a Waldorf kindergarten when I was still in college. I was a two day, then three day assistant my senior year because I was looking to do some meaningful volunteer work and I needed a captive for an audience for a storytelling class I was taking. This early exposure shaped my life in ways I could never have predicted. I thought I would be working in theatre, but I have never worked outside of a classroom since 1984!
I have taught 1-4 grades in Waldorf settings, as well as and work and woodwork to grades 1-8. After my own children were born, I swapped back to EC and that is what I have been doing ever since. About ten years ago I left Waldorf to start an independent nursery school with a few good friends. We shared a devotion to a free play setting and and an arts infused curriculum. We have a mixed age group (2.9-5+) of fourteen children daily. I love the work but find it hard to do it all---marketing and outreach, all the administrative in addition to teaching and parent work. We are paid only for the hours with the children and I have a patchwork of other jobs subsidizing my career choice!
Love the book! Look forward to hearing from all.
Hi my name is Annie Rogers. I graduated from Dighton Rehoboth Regional in '09, and was part of the preschool program there. Through the program I became teacher certified. I now work at a private preschool (Pond Lot) in Dighton. I have worked with 2.9 to 5 years, as of now I am with the 3 year old class. I love working with children and nothing can beat the feeling of coming into work on Monday getting a big hug and someone telling you they missed you! The book was very interesting and really opened my eyes!
Hi Everyone,
My name is Donna Uminski " Little Diggers Family Child Care". From your blogs I might be the only person who has not worked in a classroom. I look forward to gaining all of your many insights. I started my family daycare ,when my third child was born in 1993. I have had so many wonderful children come through my home and actually some of their own children!! I absolutely love watching the children grow and discover new skills. I felt comfortable with the book and am hoping the book and this blog will help me with new ideas.
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