Peer Response 3

1. In your response, try to make the important connection you will soon need to make with your coworkers and the families in your facility. Comment on their ideal facility and share what you like about their choices and what you would add to their choices.

1. Your response should be an original thought.

1. Responses to peers may not be in the form of “I agree… good post”.  One or two sentence replies are not adequate.  Responses must go further in depth and must be supported with specific, personal experience, relevant textual connections, and/or alternate perspectives and questions.   100 word-replies would be an appropriate recommended guideline.  

PEERS POST:

Hello professor, and classmates my name is Crystal. I live in Grand Rapids, Michigan (where I have been all my life), I have (4) beautiful children ages 15,14,9, and 6 (My 14 yr. old has a special need called Angelman syndrome very rare, 1:1,200 kids have this syndrome). I will be getting married this October to my lover of nine years (very excited, nervous, and ready for it to be over, all in one). I currently work with children ages 4 and 5 at a local preschool where I've been for the past eight years (I love this age) before working with early childhood, I work with "EI" emotionally impaired 6th/7th graders and I just say, "it wasn't for me".

An ideal early childhood center is somewhere that I know children are safe (outside environment, and within the classroom), with educators that will love, and take time to make sure they address each need that a child has. Having different areas within the classroom where children can learn through play.

· What age of children would you like to work with?

I would LOVE to continue my work with children ages four, and five I truly just have a passion for this age, not to mention you learn something new daily, and at this age, I get to meet different families yearly which I get excited for. (I guess that would be for any level).

· What is the ideal classroom size you would like to work with?

16 is an ok amount, especially when you have a lead and associate teacher (ration of 8:2) preferably a full-day program.

· Give a description of three things your early childhood facility would have (inside and outside).

My E.C. facility (inside) would have a place where children can go and "calm down" having different sensory toys, a comfy couch or chair, and possibly a darker area in the classroom. I feel that is important to have, you have those kids that just need some quiet time. (2nd) An area where students can use computers/tablets. (3rd) the ability to rotate toys, so that children have different options.

(Outside) Safe play equipment!

· What are two “extras” you would have in your center if money wasn’t an issue?

1) I would like to have a fish tank within the classroom. 2) A large storage room

· What are two qualities you hope your future director or principal would possess?

Two qualities I would hope both director and principal possess are leadership (lead by example), and the ability to communicate respectfully with one another.

· What is one thing you hope your children walk away from your facility knowing about you?

I hope that they walk away knowing that as their teacher I loved them individually and taught them in the best way I knew how. "Work hard, and be ok with failure, as long as you try again and NEVER GIVE UP"!!!!!

-Crystal

MY POST:

Hello, my name is Ronda, and I am from Michigan, I am here to receive my associate degree for Early Childhood Education (AA). I have a son who is 19 and I have devoted my time as a single mom to my son, I owned and operated my own home daycare for 16 years. I did not want my son to be raised by babysitters or must rely on my own parents to raise my son, so when he was just a year old, I quit my job at Meijer and started my daycare.  After a noticeably short while I realized I had made the best decision of my life! My dream as a child was to become a teacher when I grew up, and I found myself in this position where I could teach young minds, which made me want it so much more. I took a couple trainings and a class here and there; due to time it was difficult for me to complete a lot all at once. My son became more involved in sports as he got older and that to took up a lot of extra time, but I was his biggest fan! He play's football, basketball, and baseball, and I have enjoyed every minute of watching him, he is my whole world. After 16 years of doing my daycare, times took a turn and children were hard to come by due to people having relatives or siblings watching their youngers, it was hard on me to even think about having to let it go. I kept my doors open and only had children for before and after school, I took a job a Head Start part time during the day. I worked at Head Start for almost 2 years’ part time before I was offered a full-time position, now I had to think...I could keep doing what I was doing working the two jobs barely making it or close my daycare down and take the job. I talked it over with my son for a few days and come to sad answer of closing my daycare. It was an extremely hard decision, but it was for the best. I am now an Early Head Start Teacher, and I am loving it, still as a single mom I must pay the bills, so I had to take on a second job as a janitor at a dentist office, I am still incredibly involved with my son's life. 

Early child development sets the foundation of a person’s growth; therefore, it is crucial to ensure that well-trained personnel is available for the center. My ideal childhood center consists of classrooms, an outdoor space, a multipurpose space, and an administrative office. I want to work with kids aged three to five; at this age, most of the kids have learned how to talk, and it becomes easy to manage. It then becomes easier to enhance the verbal ability of the kids and ensure they do not encounter reading problems in the future. The classroom space should be around 850 square feet and above, with various activity areas that will be separated from physical objects like cabinets.

Give a description of three things your early childhood facility would have (inside and outside)

            Play zone such as pretend home appliances, kitchen area, and furniture. Young children enjoy such games, especially girls.

Arts and crafts zone where children can experiment with paint or water and a quiet spot for the children who may require personal space. The reserved area should have comfortable chairs and stuffed toys for the kids.

 A health center with the medical equipment necessary to treat children of any illness that befalls them. Medications will also be locked in cabinets unreachable to the kids to avoid any incidences of misuse of drugs.

What are two “extras” you would have in your center if money wasn’t an issue?

A research center-Education is continually growing; with the right research and technology, it will be possible to innovate new ways to improve and increase education.

Training center for kids-kids grow with various interests like sports, a sports center for kids to train in any sports like skating would be ideal.

What are two qualities you hope your future director or principal would possess?

            Being an educator first, then an administrator- a good principal will have to prioritize the needs of the students and second with the school’s administrative duties.

Have management risk skills- a good principle will weigh the costs and benefits of operations and learn when and where to allocate the funds needed.

What is one thing you hope your children walk away from your facility knowing about you?

I want the kids to walk away from school knowing how much I love and adore children and my interest in their growth. I want them to walk away with the right knowledge to help them grow as individuals.

It will be hard to deal with educators who lack the self-drive to execute their duties.