My Supports

Support is defined in multiple ways.  For example, "to bear the weight of, especially from below, to hold positin so as to keep  from falling, sinking or slipping.  As a child we received support from our family members and as we come into contact with society, we receive support from teachers, friends and coworkers.  The support I receive at home is from husband and children.

Elijah my oldest son is very loving.  He supports me emotionally.  If I had a hard day at work he will give me the greatest peep talk.  For example, he would say mom you are home now and with your family who loves you forget about it tomorrow is a new day.

Khalil, (blue shirt) is my youngest, he is a definite smooth talker.  He plays the role as the "baby" of the family and keeps me very busy.  He is extremely smart and supports me by keeping me abreast of important dates regarding school and activites at home.

Elio, my husband of 18 years, supports me in the most important way, financially and providing the basic necessities that our family needs.  He is the most my major support system because he is my rock in everyway you can imagine.  If I fall he is there to pick me up and if I make a mistake he is there to provide support to help me fix it.

It would be very difficult for me to live in this world without my family because they are the reason I want to live.  There love and support motivates me to strive for success in everything that I do.  Two years ago my grandmother died on July 4 at 7:30pm at home from cancer.  She was the one person that really taught me all that I know now and supported everything I did up until her last days.  Sometimes I feel lost without her here and I yearn to hear her voice.  If it was not for my family helping through the grieving process I would have fallen into a deep depression.  They are my true blessings from God!

Reference

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

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My Connections to Play

The Value of Play

You say that you love your children, And are concerned that they learn today, As am I, that's why I'm providing A variety of kinds of play. You are asking what's the value Of having your children play? Your daughter's creating a tower, She may be a builder someday. You're asking me the value Of blocks and sand and clay. Your children are solving problems, They will use that skill every day. You're saying that you don't want your son To play in that sissy way. He's learning to cuddle a doll, He may be a father someday. You're questioning the interest centers, They just look like useless play. Your children are making choices, They'll be on their own someday. You're worried your children aren't learning And later they'll have to pay. They're learning a pattern for learning, For they'll be learners always. ~NAEYC

Quote

“Play is the beginning of knowledge.” ~ Anonymous



"Double Dutch"



     "Football"


 Children playing tag





When I was around eleven or twelve years old I knew I wanted to run track.  Everyday I would get up early and just want to run so I would ask my grandmother if I could go outside and run up and down the block.  She thought I was crazy and asked why, at that time I did not know why I wanted to run so bad but she allowed me to do it.  She was my biggest support system as a child and also as an adult up until her passing in 2010.   At first she was very protective and did not allow me to even cross the street when I went outside but as I got older it changed.  She would watch me play through the window and wave to me as I ran around playing tag with my best friend Mike.  He was my motivation to run because no matter how fast I ran after him I could not catch him.  During highschool I decided to run track and found out how really hard it was but my grandmother supported me even when I quit the team.

 This is what play is today.  Children stuck in front of a computer screen playing video games.  Play today does not involve any type of exercise or stimulation of the senses.  Play today compared to when I was a young child is not fun!

Relationship Reflection

  

As a young child I dreamt of getting married and having children just like my grandmother did.  She was married for over 49 years before she passed away last year.  She taught me how important it was to create a relationship with someone who will love me first.  When I met my husband at the young age of 16 I fell in love quickly.  My grandmother supported the relationship because she saw how happy I was but warned that a broken heart will come sooner than later.  She knew what a relationship entailed and taught me to love only when love is given.  For a successful relationship to last you must love hard and learn from eachother everyday.  For the last 20 years I have loved hard and my husband has loved me back.  We have two wonderful, intelligent young men Elijah 15 (plaid shirt) and Khalil (11).  Our relationship with our children are the most important thing we have in life.  We both believe that we live for them and encourage them to love one another and respect our family.

God has blessed me with a man and children who love me each day for me and all my faults and I thank him each day.

When I Think of Child Development......

 

This is the logo from the website Children's Defense Fund, the words are so simple but it speaks so loudly.  I want to thank everyone who has viewed my blog and helped me through my second course in my master's degree.  It has been an absolute pleasure sharing ideas and our knowledge of chidhood educaton these past eight weeks.  I want to especially thank Theresa and Frank for both of you have been an inspiration to me throughout these weeks.  Hope to see your name on my discussion board next year.  Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Should a student be measured or assessed?

This is a difficult question for me to answer because I live in the state of Florida.  Here the students are assessed quite often due to the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test that is given to primary and secondary public schools.  Students take their first FCAT exam in the third grade.  In my opinion, the test has lost its tenacity in the eyes of our children.  The test has no merit or importance to them anymore so education is starting to take the back door.  She the students be assessed, well yes, to determine their grade level.  The assessment should be a standardized exam to interpret the students ability and not to intimidate them.

In Jamaica the students are "the primary education in Jamaica addresses the basic educational needs of students and prepares them for Secondary Education.  Under the Caribbean Examinatio Council student assessment has changed significantly from what was generally an automatic promotion to secondary school through the former Common Entrance Examination at the end of Grade 6.  Since 1999, the National Assessment Program and Grade Six Achievements tests (GSAT) have been utilizing a variety of teaching strategies to ensure that learning experiences are more broad based and student centered.  Common Entrance Examinations are taken by some children in the UK as part of the admissions process for academically selective secondary schools at age 13 or (for girls) 11.  The CE has been criticised by headteachers who complain that it uses 3 to 4 years of the children's time at prep school preparing for an exam.  The exam does not encourage dynamic learning with tick-box system that is currently used." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Jamaica)

When a child is stressed........

I can honestly say that my grandmother did a great job of providing everything I needed in life.  There was not a time when I needed anything whether it be food, shelter, clothing or money.  However, there were times that I saw my close cousins being abused by their parents.  A lot of the abuse was physical and mental such as them being called, bit*&%, and constantly cursed at.  Cursing became part of their language  because they would even curse in front of other adults and did not think it was wrong.  Now that they are older it has taken a toll on their adult life.  They have not progressed in life, such as graduating from highschool or even middle school.  In Jamaica, where my family is from, the stress of growing up without a stable home and poverty is prevalent.  Many children grow up on the street and fall into the political violence spreading through the parishes.  Children grow up quickly and without formal education but is taught street life instead.  There are many people here in the states that help their families and also help those in need through churches associated with the programs.

Breastfeeding vs. Formula

Breastfeeding is very essential to a child's life from birth up until two years of age.  It is in my opinion that children who are breastfeed live a healthier life free from such things as ear infections, diarhea, and the common cold.  As I researched more on breastfeeding I found the following:


"Infant formulas were never intended to be consumed on the widespread basis that they are today. They were conceived in the late 1800s as a means of providing necessary sustenance for foundlings and orphans who would otherwise have starved. In this narrow context – where no other food was available – formula was a lifesaver."(http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/268337/breastmilk_vs_formula_food.html)


Now programs such as WIC that was created for woman to help provide the basic necessities such as milk, eggs and juice for the mothers to consume, are also providing this cheap form of milk for our children.  I applaud the program for the effort and what they are helping to supply but it also gives a false impression to mother's that breastfeeding is not essential, in my opinion.


My sister had my nephew almost a year ago, his birthday is next week saturday, and he has not been sick  at all since his birth.  I asked her why do you continue to breastfeed Jelani, don't you think he is old enough to stop.  He reply to me was, " my goal is to stop breastfeeding him when he is 18 months I refuse to give him anything else because I know what is in the milk I am providing."  Breastfeeding counselors such as Mary Smale led me to ask her that question because she stated, "‘If anybody were to ask ‘which formula should I use?’ or ‘which is nearest to mother’s milk?’, the answer would be ‘nobody knows’ because there is not one single objective source of that kind of information provided by anybody. Only the manufacturers know what’s in their stuff, and they aren’t telling. They may advertise special ‘healthy’ ingredients like oligosaccharides, long-chain fatty acids or, a while ago, beta-carotene, but they never actually tell you what the basic product is made from or where the ingredients come from." (http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/268337/breastmilk_vs_formula_food.html)


This topic is meaningful to me because parents who have young children must understand that it is very important to the health and well-being of their child that the best foods be given.  The natural proteins and vitamins that is in breastmilk helps promote healthy brains cells and smarter children. The cost of breast milk when I had my first child was $5.00 a can now it up around $8.00 a can.  In the UK I found that milk is $14 a pound versus 14 pence which is what they spend on government programs to promote breastfeeding.  In underdeveloped countries such as Africa woman don't have to be told how important it is for them to breastfeed their child.  First it is a traditional aspect of motherhood and woman can not afford the supplements.