lesson plans for birth – one year old that reflect the theoretical processes of creativity within the context of the developmental skills related to the expression of music. 

RESPOND TO STUDENTS POST

KRISTIE POST

Looking back to my Week 1 post, I listed the following as strengths and skills in the field: flexibility, risk taking, passion, decision making ability, competence, security and confidence, detachment, intuition, a drive for continuing education, and communication. These past ten weeks have proven that all of those strengths and more are relevant to teaching and education no matter the age of the students. 

My confidence has come into play so far this school year because I am the only new, lead teacher. Not only that, but I also have the least experience! The other teacher for my age group has 20 years of experience. I am also relying on risk taking because the formatted daily schedule for my 3-year-olds needs some updating; I have created and proposed an updated schedule with center rotation that I am pitching to my center director. I have also been keeping steady with my tried-and-true methods of communication that worked for me at my previous school and using it now at my new school, which involves the use of daily folders. I have also downloaded the app ClassTag and am learning how to use it and how to engage parents with it. 

I am going to have to strengthen my skills when it comes to being less rigid. I liked being in charge and having a good schedule last year; this year, not only am I not in “charge” as the director but I have younger children that cannot respond to schedules and time frames the same way my older students did last year. I have to learn that it’s ok to step back, forget time limits, and just go with the flow. 

KIMBERLY POST

 I still believe that I hold the same skills and strengths. Patience, love and understanding. I do not believe that they will ever change they will just become stronger the longer that I work with children and families. I have learned to have more empathy towards the families. What I am noticing is that the older that I get the younger the parents are getting and they may not have strong role models like I did growing up. Most of the families either the mom or dad or both are in jail and the child is being raised by a grandparent. Ive have come across families where the grandparent and the parents are in jail. Just this summer there was a five year who told one of the teachers that she was ready to die. Both parents are locked up and she lives with an aunt that will soon be locked up as well. So this is where Patience for this child, love for this child and understanding for her situation comes into play and becomes stronger.

MICHELE POST

The two elements of this class that were most memorable for me were classroom design and methods of teaching. I have never had a classroom that was completely alone. When I worked as an infant and preschool teacher, I came into a room that was already functioning. I would make changes every so often to keep things fresh and fun. I would update the walls with the children’s art or put up pictures of their families that they could look at. Each month would have a new theme and I would decorate accordingly. Working on the room design project was really beneficial for me because it made me analyze the process of creating a classroom from scratch. This is a valuable skill that I can use in the future.

              The teaching methods portion of the class was really valuable to me because it required me to reflect on what I find important as an educator. I have always had a passion for the arts. For me, aesthetics are somewhat akin to my spirituality. In the process of learning about different teaching methods and found that my beliefs on education align heavily with the Waldorf method. The reading and research that I did for this section of the class piqued my interest on the Waldorf method and has inspired me to find opportunities to use this technique. This class has helped me widen my perspective on what sparks my passion as an educator.