Inspirational Early Childhood Quotes

There are of course so many people who have been significant in the advocacy and maintenance of early childhood. Two such people are Dr. Lilian Katz and Dr. Sue Bredekamp. Here are some intriguing quotes from these esteemed ladies:

"The excellent teacher makes it a priority to develop a warm, positive relationship with each child. This relationship is vital to young children’s learning and development in all areas, and it makes effective, positive guidance possible. In the early childhood years, guidance should not be just something teachers do so they can get on with the curriculum."--Dr. Sue Bredekamp, 2009

"Goals, standards, and benchmarks concerning things children should become “able to do” (for example, to read and write) seem to be the major purposes of education. However, I suggest another very important goal of education should be to help learners to acquire essential abilities in such a way that the dispositions to employ them should also be addressed. For example, we want children to acquire the ability to read but, at the same time, to develop the disposition to do so habitually—and sometimes with pleasure as well. If we take seriously the disposition or habit of using the learned abilities, then our teaching and curricula should address questions concerning at what age the knowledge and skills identified must be learned, as well as how they can best be learned so that the habit of using them will also be developed."--Dr. Lilian Katz, 2007

Personal Childhood Web

Let me start with my parents. They have been married for almost 50 years. Even though my dad got sick and became blind, my mother stayed through it all. Although there were ups, downs, and in betweens, God blessed me with two parents who are loving, caring, and hard-working. Being the youngest of 10 children, however, they spoiled me absolutely rotten. Even in that, they taught me valuable things, such as the importance of education, the fact that self-confidence matters, and that loving God should be first priority in my life. I'll never forget how my parents knew that I was smart but lazy. I could get A's without trying, so whenever I brought home anything less than a close-to-perfect score, my dad would ask me, "What happened to the other points?" It would hurt my little feelings so bad then, but I now realize that my father was showing me that he knew I was not doing my best. I can appreciate that now because I want to do my best in everything I do. Give 100% 100% of the time! My parents still influence me, especially in my decisions to raise my little girl. 

Do you remember doing those little spider-web graphic organizers in school that looked like the one above? Growing up, it never occurred to me that just like paragraphs and ideas can be interconnected, so can humans. In the center of this spider web would be me, Felicia--the childhood Felicia, of course. The most important extensions from my web would be the following:

My parents, my siblings, my 8th grade English teacher, my childhood best friend, and my pastor from age 17-25.

My family:
I'm the bright one in the white socks. I was two here.
My dad was sick with the disease that caused his blindness,
so he wasn't in the picture.

My nine siblings spoiled me, too, but they were there to give me support for pretty much everything I did. If it wasn't for my sisters, I would have never made it to prom. They took me to get my nails done, shopping for a dress, chauffeured me and my cousin, and got my hair done: all at their expense! My oldest sister taught me how to read. My second-oldest brother taught me how to drive. My youngest older brother taught me how to tie my shoes. My sisters and brothers helped me to experience things outside of my backyard; I knew about college before time because I visited them there. I went on trips with one of my sisters every year, and we traveled good distances away from home. The experiences I had with them greatly influenced who I am today. Though every day wasn't easy, they taught me what family is and what family isn't, and as God continues to build my own little family, I will instill in my daughter (and future children???? Lord, help, lol) what I learned.

My 8th grade English teacher was my inspiration. She believed in my potential as a writer and an artist, and would stay after school just to have conversations with me. She challenged me, refusing to accept my laziness. She provided me with enrichment in class because she knew my IQ was high. If it wasn't for her, I would have never realized that both writing and art were my passions. I already knew I loved doing both but she is who helped to realize that those two areas were deeply embedded in me. The things she taught me about the compassion and relationships and connections that teachers build with their students is what I have patterned my classroom after, and will continue to add new information to the foundation she gave me.

Me and my childhood best friend

My childhood best friend became my best friend because his phone call stopped me from attempting suicide. He taught me so much, like how to keep secrets and how to be my own person instead of being clingy. I was the first person he came out to (when we were 14), and now he and his husband are happily married. We don't talk much, but what he taught me about keeping personal things personal I still do to this day.

My pastor I had from age 17-25 introduced me to the sincerity of a Christian's heart. He and my former first lady exhibited the love of Christ so much that it made me want to be a better person. I will always know that it was at that church under their leadership that helped me to begin my personal journey with God. I daily add to my relationship with God, and I am so grateful for what I have learned spiritually.

Making a Mark

Hello, everyone! This picture is me, about 65 pounds heavier. Unfortunately, no recent pics of me are good enough to be putting on the internet... :) So that will have to wait for another time!

Now on to my Early Childhood Chronicles...

How many of you have ever read The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds? This book should be read in every "first day" of whatever, rather it is a job orientation, first day of class, or first day of having your driver's license. The book is about a little girl named Vashti who deeply believes she can't draw. Her teacher lets her know to just make a dot and see where it leads her, or as Reynolds said "make your mark". That one dot, that one small act, that one push she found inside herself to defeat her fear and lack of confidence, changed her entire life. On the first day of work as a teacher in the then Memphis City School District, my principal read this book to us. It inspired me because everything great in life happens when we take that one small step, draw that one dot, and the picture of our life will begin to unfold. Every person, especially children, should feel that triumph of making their mark and seeing the rest of their pictures become a reality.

As a teacher, I have had many children touch my lives. There is one particular child that became a part of me more than any of my others. She wasn't in my class; she actually was a teen that I mentored. Her home life wasn't the best--the relationship she had with her mother was slim to none. Her mother had been a teen mother, and so she treated her daughter with negative restrictions, I'm assuming in hopes that the past didn't recur. It caused my mentee to be depressed, suicidal, and she even became a cutter. She would call me and text me just so that I could give her encouragement. One night, I'll never forget, she sent me a photo of her arm. She'd used a razor blade and cut the word hate into her arm. I called her and we cried on the phone while I listened to what was going on and I prayed on the phone with her. She ended up talking to her mother, after I threatened to talk to her myself, and things have since gotten better. She's now in college and trying to make a life for herself. I'm not sure how her present relationship is with her mother, but I do know that I thank God that she saw something in me that allowed her to find a lifeline.