My Supports

I am luck to have a solid foundation of support around me.  My family means everything to me and we are very close.  My husband is my #1 supporter.   His constant encouragement helps me keep going.  My parents have always supported me.  I remember when I first told them that I wanted to become a singer and they welcomed the idea.  Never once did they tell me that I would not be successful and try and change my mind.  I sometimes thought my father was more excited about my singing than I was.  When I decided to take a break from the opera world and become an infant teacher, it took my parents awhile to come around to the idea.   It did not take long for them to adjust to my career change.  We talk often about my dreams of opening a school one day and they support it 150%.

My friends are another source of support for me.  I met most of them during college.  We were all in the Spelman College Glee Club and spend a great deal of time together.  What I love most about them is that they love me for me.  We all have a loving open honest friendship and are there for each other.

My co-teacher is my best friend.  We have been friends for over 13 years and I never thought that one day we would be working together in this field.  Shana by far is one of my biggest supports.  She loves these children as much as I do and that makes my job much easier.  We make a grew team and are fueled by each other.

These people are so important to me and my life would not be the same if they weren't in it.  I have grown into the woman I am today because of them.

If I lost my love and passion for The Early Childhood Field that would present a serious challenge for me as an educator.  I give 200% of myself into this field and I try to provide children with wonderful experiences that they can carry with throughout life.  If I no longer loved this job, I don't think I would invest anything into this field.  It would become just a job that I was doing for pennies and nickels.  I think my supports would have to work extra hard to remind me why I chose this career in the first place and help me fall back in love with it.
I honestly hope this never happens.  We need people who want to make a change and love, love, love what they do.

My Connections to Play

Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good. Lucia Capocchione

Play is our brain’s favorite way of learning. Diane Ackerman

Almost all creativity involves purposeful play. Abraham Maslow

Whoever wants to understand much must play much. Gottfried Benn

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning. Fred Rogers

I learned so much as a child during my playtime.  I remember spending most of my time in the great outdoors playing with my friends and my sister.  I performed my first concert with my sister and my dog on my outside stage.  I never knew that I would one day become an opera singer, but during my playtime I prepared myself to sing on the stage for the first time.

I spent so much of my childhood running in between the trees and up and down hills.  

The Easy Bake Oven is how I learned to cook.   I watched my mother cooking in the kitchen and I tried to imitate what I saw her doing with my Easy Bake Oven.  I recently saw an Easy Bake Oven at the store.  I instantly went back to my childhood and memories and all he fun times I had playing with my oven.  

My childhood was filled with playtime.  My parents encourages us to play.  As long as all of our homework and chore were completed, we could spend as much time as we liked.  I look at children today and feel sorry for them.  They aren't given the opportunity to play like I did as a child.  My 9 year old niece spends all of her time playing on the iPad, computer, or in front of the television.  She has no interest in being outdoors and has no problem telling you that.  At her school she barley gets 20 minutes of recess time and spends all day cooped up inside a classroom all day.  I hope that schools will soon realize how important play is for children.

Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good. Lucia Capocchione

Reflecting on Building Relationships

"Human relationships, and the effects of relationships on relationships, are the building blocks of healthy development" (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000, p. 4).

I have been fortunate to have had many people impact my life.  I have made some wonderful connections and some not so good.  They have all helped to shape me into the person I am today.

I am so blessed to have these two people as my parents.  They have supported me in everything I have ever wanted to do.  I did not always understand their reasons for somethings, but as I have gotten older I completely understand where they were coming from.  I love the relationship that I have with my parents.  I model my relationship with my husband around what I saw growing up.  They have a love that has withstood many things and I admire both of them so much.

This is my childhood best friend.  We were thick as thieves growing up and I have so many wonderful memories from the times we spent together.  I will never forget the day I met Aisha.  My family had just moved to Naperville, Il and we were driving around trying to familiarize ourselves with the new city.  We saw Aisha and her mother working in the yard so we stop to speak to them.  Our connection was instant!  We had a sleepover that same night and were inseparable.  We lost contact after my family relocated to Ga, but we recently connected on FB and the connection is still there.

I love my alma mater Spelman College.  I will never forget the first day I stepped foot through the gates of Spelman College.  As I looked around I saw so many shades of beautiful black women and it was breathtaking.  I was a member of The Spelman College Glee Club and we were family.  Some of my best friends today I met during my time at Spelman.  Every woman in my family is a Spelman Woman and I am sure that this will continue throughout generations to come.

My best friend!  Shana is not only my best friend, but she is also my co-teacher.  I met Shana while at Spelman and we have been friends for almost 13 years.  We are kindred spirits for sure.  Working with her has only made our bond stronger.  Knowing that she shares the same love for children is refreshing.  Not only that, but we trust each other and that deepens our relationship with the children.  I began working in this field before Shana and I never would have thought that 5 years later she would join me.  Neither one of us had early childhood in our career plans, but were both led to it.

Lyla is one of the first infants I had in my primary care group.  I love this little girl so much.  We were inseparable for a long time and I have enjoyed watching her grow.  I have a close relationship to her parents as well as her brother.  She has moved on to another school, but we still see each other often.  When I have those moments where I question why it is that I do this, I think back on my time with Lyla and the questions stop.

My husband Santana is my rock.  He is my soul mate and I am so blessed to have him in my life.  We have been married for 8 years and been together for 13.  People see us out and always think that we are newlyweds.  They don't believe us when I tell them how long we have been together.  My husband is my number one supporter and pushes me when I feel like giving up.  I can't wait for us to have children, he is going to be a wonderful father.

I love hard and I value every relationship I have.  I have learned that communication and trust are key to having successful relationships.  If I don't share that with a person the relationship will not work.

Children's Quote and Personal Thanks

Children have to be educated, but they have also to be left to educate themselves.  ~Abbé Dimnet, Art of Thinking, 1928

The conscience of children is formed by the influences that surround them; their notions of good and evil are the result of the moral atmosphere they breathe."
                                            ~ Jean Paul Richter ~ 
Personal Thanks:
I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their responses to my blog and their involvement with the discussion throughout the course.   I feel we are helping each other develop as professionals, and they offer such a great support in my continuing education.  I have learned so much from you all and I am looking forward to continuing this journey with you.

Testing for Intelligence?

When I saw the blog post for this week I was excited to talk about this.  When I first started working in this field I was at a school that firmly believed in using an assessment tool for the children.  I was new and didn't know anything about assessments.  I was told that I had to take anecdotal notes on the children and write my notes on a chart.  What in the world is a anecdotal note?  I had to learn all about it in 5 minutes.  As the year progressed the notes became easier. I felt like I was always playing catch up with my notes.  Working in an infant room is constant motion all day.  I didn't have time to write notes.  We had parent/teacher conferences twice a year and the assessment charts were helpful and the parents always enjoyed seeing them.  So much time was put into doing them that I sometimes feel that I missed out on one on one time with the babies.

I just started my second year at a new school.  The school I am at now is a Reggio Emilia inspired school. I quickly learned that the mention of the word assessment was like the Black Plague.  I remember our first staff meeting and I asked what assessment tool they used and the tone of the room changed immediately.  As I start my second year, I can honestly say that I haven't really missed using the assessments.  My focus has solely been on the children.  We are able to have more experiences and I am able to sit back and observe.  Reggio schools spend a lot of time focused on documentation and so I take a lot of pictures.  When I go back through these pictures, I see things that I did not see when I was sitting right in front of them.  I have also learned trough these pictures that I am still able to assess the children in my classroom.  I am glad that i have my background with an assessment tool, but I am enjoying this new process a lot more.

Education in Japan
My best friend recently moved back to the U.S. after teaching english in Japan for 2 years.  I asked her if she used an assessment tool with her children. "When assessing my adult students it was on a one on basis.  I would sit down with the student and their Japanese teacher and we would go over their strengths and weaknesses in regards to learning English.  For my young students I was able to talk with them 2-3 times a week about their progress.  I had formal meetings with their parents every 3 months with  Japanese translator so that we could communicate openly about how their child was doing" Those were the words of my friend Shana-Gay Jones.
After my conversation with her I was interested in the traditional schools in Japan.

The National School Curriculum

The elementary school curriculum covers Japanese, social studies, mathematics, science, music, arts and handicrafts, homemaking and physical education. At this stage, much time and emphasis is given to music, fine arts and physical education.

The middle curriculum includes Japanese, mathematics, social studies, science, English, music, art, physical education, field trips, clubs and homeroom time. Students now receive instruction from specialist subject teachers. The pace is quick and instruction is text-book bound because teachers have to cover a lot of ground in preparation for high-school entrance examinations.


High schools adopt highly divergent high school curricula, the content may contain general or highly specialized subjects depending on the different types of high schools.

Elite academic high schools collect the creme de la creme of the student population and send the majority of its graduates to top national universities.

Non-elite academic high schools ostensibly prepare students for less prestigious universities or junior colleges, but in reality send a large number of their students to private specialist schools (senshuugakko), which teach subjects such as book-keeping, languages and computer programming. These schools constitute mainstream high schooling.

Vocational High Schools that offer courses in commerce, technical subjects, agriculture, homescience, nursing and fishery. Approximately 60% of their graduates enter full-time employment.

Correspondence High Schools offers a flexible form of schooling for 1.6% of high school students usually those who missed out on high schooling for various reasons.

Evening High School which used to offer classes to poor but ambitious students who worked while trying to remedy their educational deficiencies. But in recent times, such schools tend to be attended by little-motivated members of the lowest two percentiles in terms of academic achievement.

"The teaching culture in Japan differs greatly from that of schools in the west. Teachers are particularly concerned about developing the holistic child and regard it as their task to focus on matters such as personal hygiene, nutrition, sleep that are not ordinarily thought of as part of the teacher's duties in the west"(www.education-in-japan.info/sub1.html‎).

The ugly face of racism (repost)

My younger sister Kasie and I are extremely close and have been all our lives.  For many years it seemed like I was her only friend.  My family relocated to Naperville, Il when I was going to the 8th grade and my sister was going into the 2nd grade.  Naperville is a predominantly white area and we were one of three African American families in our subdivision.  We were all excited about the move, but anxious about meeting new friends.  The school started off pretty good.  My sister's school had a rule that if a child had a birthday party they had to invite the entire class.  One day my sister came home from school really upset.  A little girl in her class was having a birthday party and she was the only child in the class that did not get invited.  My mother assured her that it must have been a mistake and called the teacher the next day. After several conversations Kasie still did not get an invitation.  She was invited to one birthday party that year.  The next year she was called a nigger by a classmate.  I became her best friend.  I  felt terrible that my baby sister was having such a hard time making friends and it was something that came easy for me.  After living there for 4 years my parents made the decision to move back to Ga in hopes that it would be easier on Kasie.  It almost seems ironic that we would move back to the South to escape racism.
My sister is 29 years and I am still her best friend and one of her only friends.  Kasie was never the same after we moved from Illinois.  I slowly watched her light fade and it broke my heart.  It makes me sick to my stomach that her childhood years were tarnished with memories that she will never forget.  I pray that one day we will live in a world were every person no matter that color, religious beliefs, sexuality, or anything different is excepted by all.

I have always wondered how the children of Afghanistan are affected by all there country has been through over the years. In my research of this country I learned  that one in seven Afghan children will not live to see their fifth birthday. Enrolment in primary education has vastly improved over the past 10 years, but still only 7 girls for every 10 boys are enrolled in primary education.  One in three children in Afghanistan under the age of five are moderately or severely underweight for their age because their families have not been able to feed them properly. As they get older, many kids are forced to work on the streets just to make sure there is food on the table.  Afghani children experiences the stress of war, but they are also faced with violence, trauma, chaos, abuse, and poverty.  One consequence of facing these stressors is post-traumatic stress disorder.  I hope this country will find  peace soon and that the devasting affects from the war won't leave permeant scars on the precious children.

The ugly face of racism

My younger sister Kasie and I are extremely close and have been all our lives.  For many years it seemed like I was her only friend.  My family relocated to Naperville, Il when I was going to the 8th grade and my sister was going into the 2nd grade.  Naperville is a predominantly white area and we were one of three African American families in our subdivision.  We were all excited about the move, but anxious about meeting new friends.  The school started off pretty good.  My sister's school had a rule that if a child had a birthday party they had to invite the entire class.  One day my sister came home from school really upset.  A little girl in her class was having a birthday party and she was the only child in the class that did not get invited.  My mother assured her that it must have been a mistake and called the teacher the next day.  After several conversations Kasie still did not get an invitation.  She was invited to one birthday party that year.  The next year she was called a nigger by a classmate.  I became her best friend.  I  felt terrible that my baby sister was having such a hard time making friends and it was something that came easy for me.  After living there for 4 years my parents made the decision to move back to Ga in hopes that it would be easier on Kasie.  It almost seems ironic that we would move back to the South to escape racism.
My sister is 29 years and I am still her best friend and one of her only friends.  Kasie was never the same after we moved from Illinois.  I slowly watched her light fade and it broke my heart.  It makes me sick to my stomach that her childhood years were tarnished with memories that she will never forget.  I pray that one day we will live in a world were every person no matter that color, religious beliefs, sexuality, or anything different is excepted by all.

I have always wondered how the children of Afghanistan are affected by all there country has been through over the years. In my research of this country I learned  that one in seven Afghan children will not live to see their fifth birthday. Enrolment in primary education has vastly improved over the past 10 years, but still only 7 girls for every 10 boys are enrolled in primary education.  One in three children in Afghanistan under the age of five are moderately or severely underweight for their age because their families have not been able to feed them properly. As they get older, many kids are forced to work on the streets just to make sure there is food on the table.  Afghani children experiences the stress of war, but they are also faced with violence, trauma, chaos, abuse, and poverty.  One consequence of facing these stressors is post-traumatic stress disorder.  I hope this country will find  peace soon and that the devasting affects from the war won't leave permeant scars on the precious children.

Child Development and Public Health

I choose Immunizations to review for my focus for this assignment.    Schools in the United States require immunizations.  In developed countries, immunizing children is a common practice.  In the United States children begin to receive immunizations with a weeks of birth.  Immunizations serve as a way for the immune systems to build up defenses to foreign bodies.  In doing so, the person is protected in the event that they were to come into contact with the disease. .  There are two types of immunization.  The first is active immunization.  Active immunization occurs naturally when a person comes in contact with a foreign body.  Passive immunization occurs when an individual is given pre-synthesized elements that in turn do not require the body build up its own defenses.  This generally occurs through a vaccine. 

Immunizations are very important topic to me.   Diseases can be prevented through vaccination.  Living in a country where we have access to vaccinations, this eliminates the spread of many diseases.  As an educator, states mandate which vaccinations children must receive prior to entering school.  This helps to ensure overall health in children, family members, and their teachers.   Healthy children perform better and lead more productive lives. 

Africa unfortunately does not have many resources for vaccination.  Outreach agencies such as the American Red Cross and the Measles Initiative help to ensure that children have the ability to be vaccinated.  Vaccination in rural developing areas is difficult given the fact that many children do not have access to clinics and doctors.  Likewise, facilities are often far away.  With programs such as the American Red Cross and the Measles Initiative medical professionals are able to enter the villages of Africa.  It is here that they are able to administer vaccinations free of charge.  Poverty and lack of public funding make it difficult for vaccinations to occur in developing countries.  Support from world organizations; enable the children of developing nations to receive the vaccinations that will ultimately keep them healthy. 

Child Birth in Nigeria

Nigeria, which has a large population is faced with serious limitations such as inadequate health facilities and trained personnel. As a result, 70% of women in the child bearing age depend on traditional birth attendants, traditional healers and herbalists for their health care who are usually Illiterates without any formal training in delivery procedures and with strong beliefs in supernatural powers.

 In the modern set up, as soon as pregnancy is established the woman is advised to report at the nearest antenatal clinic for a thorough physical examination.  She is advised on nutrition, personal, food and environmental hygiene, rest, exercise and activities that must be avoided.   She goes for regular check-ups and tests and is watched and cared for during labor and delivery and transferred to a hospital if any problems arise.  Traditional methods of caring for women during pregnancy, labor, delivery and puerperium are however not as organized and are usually wrapped up in myths, beliefs and traditions which often have adverse health effects on mothers and babies.


“Nigeria’s maternal mortality rate is still comparable to those countries at war or [just emerging from war],” Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, who chairs the Nigerian senate health committee, told IRIN.
Half of Nigeria’s maternal deaths are due to postpartum hemorrhaging, which unskilled health workers lack the know-how or equipment to stop, said maternal health expert Arabi Tukur of Yola, 473km northeast of the capital Abuja.

 With an average of 5.5 births per woman, West Africa has the world’s highest fertility rates, which puts women at greater risk of dying in birth, according to UNICEF.

Childbirth Experience

I don't have children of my own yet.  My husband and I have been trying for years and after many visits to the doctor have learned that IVF is the best route to go.  I pray that one day soon I will be able to talk about my own birthing experience.  Instead I will share the day my niece Kalynn was born.

I will never forget receiving the phone call at 4:15 a.m. from my father on March 26, 2004.  I answered the phone and heard "Keli, your sister is in labor.  You should need to get to the hospital".  I sat in bed for 3 minutes trying to process what he had said.  I was still half asleep and I didn't know if I was dreaming.  It didn't take me long to kick it into gear.  I had no idea how long we would be in the hospital so I grabbed my portable DVD player and some of my sisters favorite movies.  My hope was to try and keep her laughing and as comfortable as possible.  I soon found out that my plan wasn't the best one.

I drove to the hospital and remembered that I had an 8:00 class I was supposed to be in.  I called my professor and left her a message saying that I was not going to be in class because my niece was being born that day.

I finally made it to the hospital at 5:30.  They have given my sister an epidural and she was feeling no pain. In fact right after I got there we both fell asleep for a couple of hours.  My sister didn't get much sleep because the nurses kept coming in to check her status.  When I woke up we chatted for awhile and I asked her if she wanted to watch a movie.  5 minutes into the movie she sits straight up in bed and groans.  I looked over at the monitor and saw that she was having a contraction.  I began to get nervous because I knew the medicine was wearing off.  I asked my mother if I should go get the nurse.  We waited a few more minutes, but each contraction that came the pain was greater.  I ran to find her nurse!  She came in and said that it was to soon for another epidural.  I think everyone in the room was devastated by this news.  It was so hard to watch my baby sister in pain and there was nothing I could do to help.

9:45 - The nurse come back in with the anesthesiologist to give my sister another epidural.  The nurse checks her one more time and said that she had dilated 10 centimeters and was about to have a baby.  Unfortunately she did not receive the second epidural.  The doctor came in and said it is time to push!
I held her right leg and my aunt held the left.  My mother held Kasie's hand and we all encouraged her through the pain.  I remember looking down and seeing Kalynn's head starting to come out.  I was so excited i could barley hold my sisters leg.  I couldn't believe that I was seeing this miracle happen before my eyes.  Kasie gave her final push at 10:05 and Kalynn was here.
I will never forget that day.  My niece is 9 years old now and I have shared with her what it was like to see her come into this world.  I have a wonderful relationship with Kalynn and I see her almost everyday.