Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Here are some quotes I find inspirational from the past week's assignments....

"The Chicago Special Olympics prove a very fundamental fact...

 the fact that exceptional 

children- children with mental retardation-

can be exceptional athletes, the fact that through sports they can realize their potential

for growth."

~Eunice Kennedy Shriver, in her Opening Ceremony speech at the first 

Special Olympics Games, in Chicago, 1968

(Floortime) "... creates the whole basis for security, trust, 

and self-worth that a child will need from here on."

~Stanley Greenspan

On overcoming learning difficulties, there are 2 things:

"One, that kids have different learning styles that are real and need to be

paid attention to. And two, that people have an enormous capacity to use their 

strengths to compensate for any areas of vulnerability."

~Stanley Greenspan

Motivation...

"We as professionals in the early childhood field have 

an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better."

~Sandy Escobido

Not exactly motivational, but a quote I like and something to think about...

"What do I do so naturally, that perhaps seems natural to me

but challenging to others, what's in my heart?"

~Leticia Lara, on why she has passion for the early childhood field

My Personal Childhood Web

The People Who Have Cared About and Influenced Me in My Life

My Mom, Kathy, is one of my biggest role models. She has been through so

much and has always stayed strong. She has always been there for me

and is also one of my best friends. I could always go to her and tell her

anything and I knew, and still know, that she will never judge me.

My maternal grandfather, Carl, is like a father to me. He has always been

there for me and always given me the best advice. If I was not with my 

mother growing up, I was with my grandparents. He's 89, and I still

go to him for advice!

   My mom and grandather                    

My maternal grandmother, Roberta, was practically another mother to me. She

is my other role model. She was very sick toward the end of her life,

but she was so strong. She was a phenomenal mother and grandmother,

and I strive to be like her in my classroom. Every child felt special

when they were with her, she made every person feel like the most 

important person in the world.

My husband, Shane, who was also my high school boyfriend, has always been

there for me. He's always been very supportive in everything I do. Growing up

with him, he was my best friend and I could trust him with anything. As an adult, 

I feel I am more trusting because of him. He has a very "why not?" attitude when

trying new things. He said that when I asked his opinion on

going back to school!

My husband and I a long, long time ago, before we were married

My aunts and uncles on my mother's side were all like parents to me. So 

many of my early childhood memories involve one of them. My uncle

always took us outside, and we'd swing or play some type of sport; my aunt Sue

always had little craft projects for us to do, and she'd make us breakfast on 

vacations; my aunt Jan and uncle Danny would take us out for ice cream, or to the

aquarium or zoo; my aunt Linda always had the best house for sleepovers, and her

children were my age, so I loved spending time with my cousins! They continue

to impact my life because I take a little piece of them with me everywhere I go.

Every memory is something I want to share with someone else, whether it's cooking 

a meal, taking someone to the zoo, or pushing a child in a swing.

Children and Adults

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men." ~ Frederick Douglass

I get frustrated with adults sometimes and I feel like sending them back to preschool. Common sense is learned in preschool, and all the basics for functioning with other people in the world- manners and being kind, even when it's hard to be. I feel like even if you sent them back, like this quote says, it would be harder for an adult to get why they are there than it would be for a child who is learning it brand new.

Children's Books

     I have a very hard time thinking about my favorite children's books. I could read to children all day if I could- and there have been some rainy days where I have. There are the books that bring back a feeling of comfort from my own childhood, there are the books I appreciate as a teacher and/or an artist, and there are the books that I love to see the children I teach have an amazing reaction to.

Books from My Own Childhood
      Little Red Riding Hood, different versions of it, remind me of snuggling up with my grandmother, and being absolutely terrified, but being so comforted knowing my grandmother was right there- and that she was not eaten by any wolf.
     The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear, by Don and Audrey Wood, appeals to all 3 categories. I loved looking at the pictures when I was little and I loved that I could read along once we read it so many times. I love it now, still because of the pictures, I think they're phenomenal from an artist's perspective- your eyes just move around the page. And I love reading it to the children in my class, they get such a kick out of it, they love when I change the tone of my voice, and now they can read along, too, because we've read it so often.

Books I Appreciate as an Adult
    Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. As a teacher, I love this book because of: rhyming, repetition (reading memorization), and learning a lesson (to try new things). As an artist, I love Dr. Seuss. I think he did amazing things for children's books and illustration.
     The Snowy Day, by Ezra Jack Keats, I love because of the simplicity and innocence of being a child. Sometimes I think too many lessons are thrown at children, and I believe that the most important lessons of being a child are learned through simple stories like this.

Books I Love to Read to Children
    How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss. I don't know if it's because children aren't read this story anymore, or that once they hit 3, they really understand it, but every year I read this book, I have a child: a. cling to me, b. yell at the Grinch, c. cry, and d. smile from year to ear by the end of story. I think I cry, too, because I get such a strong reaction from children to this book, even those kids that are a little harder to reach emotionally. I just love it, and it puts me in such a good mood.
   Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. I feel like this is the ultimate lesson in imagination. I feel like the book takes children on a journey into the imagination and allows them to believe that they can make believe anything they want. Again, the picture are gorgeous.

Anyway, I could go on and on. Books are so important to children and adults. The more I think about this, the harder it is to pick a favorite!

All ME

      So...... my name is Katie. I graduated from college 5 years ago with a BS in Art, concentration in Art History and Studio Art. I studied everything from Renaissance painting and cathedrals to early American furniture, from Latin American artists to Pop Art. I painted, photographed, sculpted, fired, torched, knitted, crocheted, and drew until I was sneezing charcoal! I still love it all and try to work on things every once in awhile, but it's hard when there is so much you love to do! 
     I am going back to school to pursue my love of teaching. Everyone in my family is in the education field. My mom even owns her own daycare. I am trying my hardest to incorporate my love of art into my teaching. I am both excited and nervous to start back to school, but I'm getting lots of support from my family and my new classmates. I look forward to working and learning from all these new people in my life!