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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads- Ingredient #4

Children are the greatest gift to humanity.

What does it take and whom must you be to serve children as their teacher?

You must be intellectually prepared and committed to being a “lifelong learner”, because you understand that “there is always more truth and knowledge” to learn. You must understand that as you continue to learn and enhance your life, that it benefits not only you, but the lives of the children you are serving.

As an educator it is our responsibility to continue to learn and enhance our lives so that we grow in all areas of our life.  Who we are and what we know and have to share with children is a critical part of teaching and mentoring children.  If we have not engaged in activities that provide resources and content for our curriculum for children, then we are limiting and depriving children access to the wealth of knowledge the world has for them.  So many teachers and administrators experience “burn out”, because they resign themselves to believing that they don’t need to go back to school, travel, join interest groups, read for pleasure and challenge themselves to do things that are “out of the box” for them. 

We as educators and parents are role models for children.  If they see us enjoying reading and exploring the world as adventurers, they too want to explore and discover the treasures of the world.  By their very nature, children are curious and fearless.  They want to know the “why” of things!  They want to know how things work!  They need hands on experiences and time to venture into an environmental classroom or their outdoor classroom that provides a wealth of content that is age and cognitively appropriate for their age and or maturity.  We create the content and environments that support children’s growth in all 4 domains of their being.

 I know on a personal note that I committed myself to being a “lifelong learner”.  I pledged to always do things and venture into things that would expand my breath of knowledge about life and the world so that I would continue to be a resource in my writing and advocacy.  It is a major part of our human design to feed our brains and enhance the expressions of our souls.  Children deserve the best of who we are and who we can become so that we can guide them and nurture them in their “Life’s Divine Journey”.

As parents we have the responsibility of developing a relationship with the teachers of our children and supporting them and encouraging them to continue to learn and provide relevant and exciting curriculum for our children.  We can bring in resources for them to explore.  We can help to provide field trips, and I always had parents that formed a little in-house parent support group so that we always had resources beyond what the school offered the children.  Teachers need to know that we as parents are in collaboration with them in guiding, nurturing, and teaching our children.  It has to be a collaboration between home-school- and community.  Who better than the parents to solicit support for our schools than the parents that work and or reside in the school’s community.  Community investment in our schools, results in sustainability of quality of education. 

P.S.

I just want to add that this relationship with parents and their child’s school does not end when the child graduates from elementary school.  We as parents have to stay involved in our kid’s educational institutions from elementary school through high school.  Even when they go off to college, if there are opportunities for you to support your child’s college experience- games, parent events, or artistic events that they are in and you get invited to support them, show up!

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Petits conseils pour les mamans et les papas- Ingrédient #3 -Français-                                      Que faut-il et qui devez-vous être pour servir les enfants en tant qu’enseignant ?                          En tant qu’éducateur, vous êtes chargé d’enseigner aux enfants à « aimer l’art d’apprendre ».

Les enfants sont le plus grand cadeau pour l’humanité.

Vous êtes chargé d’enseigner aux enfants à « aimer l’art d’apprendre ».

En tant qu’éducateurs et en tant que parents, nous sommes responsables non seulement de la qualité de l’éducation que nous avons fournie à nos enfants, mais aussi du programme d’études, de l’environnement et du contexte de notre philosophie de notre mission d’éduquer, de guider et d’élever nos enfants.  Le principe principal de notre philosophie qui sous-tend notre mission, notre mode d’enseignement et d’éducation des enfants, ainsi que le programme et l’environnement, doit être que nous leur donnons le cadeau d’apprendre pour « aimer l’art d’apprendre ».  Nous devons être si intentionnels pour nous assurer que ce que nous leur fournissons est ancré dans cette mission !  Nous voulons que l’apprentissage soit passionnant, pertinent, transformateur, informatif pour élargir leur souffle de connaissances et de compréhension.  Nous voulons que ce processus d’apprentissage soit aimé, que l’art d’apprendre soit reflété dans le programme et les modalités d’enseignement afin que le processus et les résultats soient alignés sur ce dont les enfants ont besoin pour grandir et se développer et sur ce qu’ils veulent apprendre. 

Il y a ceux d’entre nous qui ont l’impression que l’apprentissage n’a lieu que lorsque les enfants sont calmes et passifs, et que le programme est centré sur l’adulte et prescrit.  Je crois que lorsque les enfants ne sont pas engagés en termes de modalités d’apprentissage par l’expérience, et lorsque le programme et l’environnement ne sont pas centrés et axés sur l’enfant, l’apprentissage est étouffé, peu impressionnable et ne se traduit pas dans le tissu de leur vie.  Lorsque les enfants ne sont pas dans une relation de collaboration avec leur enseignant, le programme et l’environnement dans lequel ils sont censés apprendre, nous n’obtenons pas de contenu intégré et utilitaire qui évolue vers la connaissance et, par conséquent, nous les nourrissons de manière holistique et appropriée.  Nous avons une excellente occasion d’aider les enseignants de nos enfants et l’administration de l’école à remplir les principes fondamentaux de notre mission et de notre philosophie de vouloir que nous voulons et de la façon dont nous voulons que nos enfants soient éduqués.  Il faudra que tout le monde soit sur la même longueur d’onde et qu’il soit impliqué et investi de la même manière, mais je sais que nous pouvons faire une différence dans la vie de nos enfants et donner l’occasion aux enseignants qui ont été « appelés » à cette profession immensément sacrée d’accomplir leur « but divin » au service des enfants.

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads- Ingredient #3 What does it take and whom must you be to serve children as their teacher? As An Educator-You are charged with teaching children to “love the art of learning”.

Children are the greatest gift to humanity.

You are charged with teaching children to “love the art of learning”.

We are as educators and as parents responsible for not only the quality of education that we provided our children, but the curriculum, the environment, and the context of our philosophy of what our mission is to educate, guide and nurture our children.  Our primary tenant of our philosophy that drives our mission, modality of teaching and educating children, as well as the curriculum and environment has to be that we give them the gift of learning to “love the art of learning”.  We must be so intentional about ensuring that what we are providing them is steeped in this mission!  We want learning to be exciting, relevant, transformative, informative to expand their breath of knowledge and comprehension.  We want this process of learning to love the art of learning to be reflective in curriculum and the modalities of teaching so that the process and outcomes are in alignment with what children need in order to grow and develop and what they want to learn. 

There are those of us that are under the impression that learning only takes place when children are quiet and passive, and the curriculum is adult centered and prescribed.  I believe that when children are unengaged in terms of experiential learning modalities, and when the curriculum and environment is not child centered and driven, learning is stifled, unimpressible, and does not translate into the fabric of their life.  When children are not in a collaborative relationship with their teacher, the curriculum, and the environment in which they are expected to learn, we don’t get integrated and utilitarian content that evolves into knowledge and consequently we are nurturing them wholistically and appropriately.  We are afforded a great opportunity to support the teachers of our children and the school administration in fulfilling the core tenants of our mission and philosophy of want we want and how we want our children to be educated.  It will take everyone being on the same page and equally involved and invested, but I know we can make a difference in the lives of our children and provide an opportunity for teachers who have been ”called” to this immensely sacred profession to fulfill their “Divine Purpose” in service to children.

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads-Ingredient #2. What does it take and whom must you be to serve children as their teacher?

Children are the greatest gift to humanity.

Ingredient #2:

You must have been “called” into the service of children to care, guide, nurture, protect, and provide opportunities for them that will allow them to discover themselves and their world.  This sets the stage for them to develop in the 4 Domains of their being: Cognitively, Physically, Social-Emotionally and Spiritually.

The Chat:

We really have to come to an understanding and commitment that when we are engaging with children whether we are parents advocating or our children, teachers, coaches, or extended family, children have in their design developmental stages that evolve at different times for each child.  We must also understand that it is our responsibility as parents, and as teachers that have pledged to be parents and teachers, that it is our responsibility to support our children in discovering not just the many wonders of the world, but that we support them in discovering who they are and to love themselves, respect themselves, and value the “divine gifts that make them who they are and what they have the possibility of contributing to humanity.  Their education and the modalities that we utilize in our classrooms and at home need to be in alignment so that there is continuity in the practices and approaches we use with each child. 

We know that it is not just unrealistic, but inappropriate to think that the same modalities work with each child, which is why we acknowledge that it is our responsibility to observe, record, and analysis the character, interest, and the modalities by which that child learns, dissects, and absorbs knowledge.  We need to experiment with different kinds of teaching tools that work with all the children to ascertain if there is a commonality, and at the same time implement tools that works with each child as an individual.  Teaching is not a one approach to learning fits every child!

Our children’s teachers make a lifetime impression on our children.  They remember the nature of every teacher that they engage with.  They remember if that teacher saw them for who they were.  They remember if a teacher was invested in what they learned and how they learned.  We have as teachers, the responsibility to make sure we are working with and nurturing the “whole child”.  Teaching children is so much more than addressing their academic development.  We have to be aware, sensitive to and responsive to all 4 domains that constitute who they are as human beings.  We are responsible, as are their parents are, responsible for the development and enrichment of their cognition, physicality, social-emotional, and spiritual well-being.  Don’t let the spiritual well-being frighten you or feel that is not your responsibility! The spiritual well-being is the soul essence of who that child is!  If you do not tap into this aspect of a child, there is no way for you to be in relationship with that child.  This is the divinity of who that child is.  It is the most sacred and important aspect of who that child is and how they respond to life and the world around them.

You feel like this is a lot?  You feel like this is not what you signed up for when you decided to become a teacher?  You feel that you don’t want to delve this deeply into this profession and don’t think you really want to invest that much of who you are into children?  You feel that what you are being compensated for financially does not warrant you making this kind of commitment to a “JOB”?  If you feel any of these emotions, then you honestly do not belong in the teaching profession, and parents need to assess whether they want to allow you to teach their child. As a professor who taught teachers how to teach children, I never had a problem assessing if a student should or should not become a teacher.  I taught the classes that took the student teacher through the entire program, which gave me a lot of opportunities to develop relationships with my students. I was always open and honest with them I had no problem taking them aside in a one-on-one conference and counseling them out of the field of Child Development, and at the same time supporting them in discovering what their gifts were that would direct them to their “divine destiny calling”.

Parents have a huge responsibility and challenge to carefully and methodically invest time and energy into assessing who their child’s teacher is.  Parents must critique if their child’s teacher is invested in teaching and even more specifically “Sees”, who their child is.  Observe the interactions with the children in your child’s class.  Is the teacher open, warming, and inviting to the children when she greets them in the morning?  Does the teacher prepare the classroom so that it is child centered, set up for discovery and engagement?  Does the teacher make the children feel that the classroom belongs to them and that it is a sacred and safe place for them? Does the teacher provide “hands on experiences”, that allows the children to internalize what they are learning?  Is the teacher prepared each day for the unexpected and flexible enough to create substitute activities that although different form the routine schedule of the day, the children feel safe and are able to adapt? Does your child come home happy and ready to return to school the next day? If your observations provide a yes to these questions, your child has a teacher and an environment where they will not survive, but will thrive.

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads-Ingredient #2. What does it take and whom must you be to serve children as their teacher?

Children are the greatest gift to humanity.

You must have been “called” into the service of children to care, guide, nurture, protect, and provide opportunities for them that will allow them to discover themselves and their world.  This sets the stage for them to develop in the 4 Domains of their being: Cognitively, Physically, Social-Emotionally and Spiritually.

We never want to stifle the curiosity and innate thirst
children have to learn and discover their world.

You are going to see me refer to being “Called to serving children” a lot, because it is the foundation on which your mission as a teacher is founded and grounded.  We have to be clear as to what our responsibilities are in securing, imparting, and implementing not only a curriculum that is “Child Centered” and acknowledges that each child is unique and learns in their own way, but what we do goes far beyond just what is conceptualized as “teaching”.  We are creating the environment, teaching techniques and diverse modalities of learning, but we are doing something even more important in the development of a child.  We are teaching children about what it is to be human and validating who they are in their “divine identity”.  We are to guide them through their day-to-day learning experiences.  We are to nurture their social-emotional development. We are there as their protectors that take notice to how they are responding to and in the environment.  We are to secure an environment for them that is safe, loving, and gentle. 

We are responsible for creating an environment that will captivate their imagination and love for learning.  We must make sure that the environment allows each child to feel as sense of ownership and empowerment in what they learn and how they learn.  This means that we have to be imaginative and creative.  This means that our education is never complete, and that we as teachers have a responsibility to continue to learn, not just academically, but in all areas of our life so that we can enrich the lives of the children we serve.  We have to have adventurous spirits.  We have to come into the class with enthusiasm and joy.  We have to make sure that we are on “watch” and get the full story behind the interactions of the children so that we are not quick to judge and label children.  We have to set up systems for communication and arbitration.  We have to work on their development of inner controls so that they have the tools necessary to engage successfully in not just the classroom, but in life. 

Don’t ever think that a teacher’s job is stuffing academic curriculum down their throats and pray they can regurgitate the information to validate their learning.  No! No! No! We have the opportunity to engage with children in their “whole” development- All 4 Domains of their being: Cognitively, Physically, Social-Emotionally and Spiritually.  We cannot work with or for a child, until we learn first-hand who that child is and what that child needs in order to learn and be “Whole, healthy, and happy.  What a privilege it is to be one of those “Called Servants in the Service of Children”.  If you are called, it will be a life of fulfillment that cannot be expressed in words.  It will be going to the mall and all of a sudden, a young person or a child comes up to you and hugs you and says, “Thank you so much for being my teacher”.  It will be a parent seeing you at the grocery store and when they recognize you, they feel compelled to tell you, “Thank you so much for making a difference in the life of my child”!  40+ years later and I am still having the experience of my students remembering my contribution to their life.  My cup runneth over!  I am complete, but never finished working on their behalf.

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads #97 What does it take and whom must you be to serve as their teachers?

Children are the greatest gift to humanity.

Today’s Ingredient:

You must have a love for children and a deep spiritual connection to whom they are as gifts to humanity?

So many times, I fear from my working with teaching students to become teachers, they have not done the work to find our if they have been “Called” to the profession, or if they just showed up because it was a “real job” and they needed the stability.  This then became the first thing on my agenda and the first part of my curriculum for teacher training.  I created spaces and assignments throughout their first semester that called them to first look at themselves and answer a series of questions that were purposefully embedded in the assignments.  I always started with the question-Who am I? this question involved writing their life story and sharing who they are with the class.  Then they could evaluate what areas in their “divine identity” were issues form these life experiences that created their life story up to that point, that they needed to address.

We talk about the baggage we carry as adults that for many of us were left over from our childhood.  There is a notion that became popular that “children are resilient and can overcome any trauma because it happens and resolves itself.  That is crazy!  Children do not forget the things people say and do to them!  What they don’t understand on a cognitive level, they retain on a physiological and emotional level.  Negative experiences impact the “expression of their soul being”.  At the same time, when people say and do things for children that are kind, loving, and make them feel safe, it builds their sense of wellbeing and confidence.  Teachers are the second most prominent influence in a young child’s life, with their parent holding first place in a child’s life.   

What we as teachers say and do to or for children has a lifetime compact on a child. “We cannot just show up to do this “work”, because teaching is not a “Job”, it has to be your “Work”.

Next, I ask them to define and identity -Who am I in the Lives of Young Children”?  This is a make it or break it question when asked of student teachers.  Their response is where I take careful evaluation as to if they are or are not “Called” to the honor of serving children!!!  I have the responsibility as their trainer and mentor to have a serious conversation with each student to make sure they are aligned with this- the greatest “Work” that impacts who our humanity will show up to be.  Every child deserves the best education our countries across the globe can provide.  Our children deserve the best teachers the profession can provide them with.  It is their birth right!!!

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I’m Just Sayin- Notes from Beth #76 No, No, No, No. No! The Founding Fathers in Our Country Were Very Intentional About -Separation of Church and State! Somebody Done Lost Their Mind!

We can’t make any sense of what is going on in this country!
Everything is out of our control and out of “Great Spirit’s” divine right order.
It’s a Mess!

I cannot believe that the State of Louisiana has mandated that every classroom in the public school system from Kindergarten through the University level must post a poster size copy of the Ten Commandments.  I can’t believe in this day and age in our so-called democratic society that we are slowly but surely walking backwards all the progress we have made to evolve as a country and a society. Conservative elements that want to control every aspect of our lives are rescinding all of the laws and policies that went into place to make our citizenry and our country free and self-sustaining.  Our rights and privileges are being violated and ignored. 

Those that think they are in power are under the illusion that we will remain uneducated and ignorant so that they have free run on doing whatever they want so as to control our lives and the quality of our lives.  There is no need to post the Ten Commandments in our public schools!  We are not a Christian country, we are a country of diverse religions, ideologies, ethnicities, cultures, and have as a guarantee of our Constitution to have freedom of religious beliefs.  We cannot exclude children in a classroom environment and demand that they abide by one sector of our citizen’s beliefs.  We are a democratic system of government that has been formulated to protect our rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  We do however have a responsibility to teach our children ethics, civic responsibility, compassion, respect for self and others, active listening to others, compromise, the importance of justice, and the value and gift of living in a Democratic society.

We have a responsibility to teach children the importance and value of living a life of gratitude.  There are basic attributes that we as their elders have a duty to teach them and nurture in them so that they become contributing adults that demonstrate a concern for the welfare of others in an effort to attain a sustainable humanity in which everyone has an opportunity to thrive not just survive.  We should be teaching civics and civility.  But to take the Ten Commandments as they are written and impose them on young children and think that by middle school through college, students are going to adhere to another religion’s doctrine, that is not going to happen in this country- This is wrong on so many levels.  I hope people wake up and come to their senses. 

These posters belong in religious institutions that are in alignment with this belief system.  I see what is happening in this country and we are in unchartered waters and at risk at drowning in stupidity and mind control to keep us dumbed down, illiterate, numb, apathic, void of discernment and critical thinking skills. Wake up America! Wake up!  Too much pain, sacrifice, and genius went into the creation of our Constitution to allow an element of self-interest and greed to demolish it with the support of the dysfunctional Supreme Court.

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads #74 The Safety of Our Children in Our Schools-Should Our Teachers be Armed?

Our Children have a birthright to be safe and secure
at home, at school and at play.

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Vermont

Wyoming

32 states that have sanctioned teachers bringing guns to school.

It just amazes me to be in this place at this time in my life where now as a professor that has taught “teachers” to be “teachers”, that our country is allowing teachers to bring guns in the classroom.  What is their thinking?  32 states out of our 50 states have children in a classroom where teachers have the responsibility of safeguarding a lethal weapon on top of the responsibility to safeguard the lives of our children.  I can’t imagine taking my child to school and leaving her in the care of a civilian who has a gun.  I might add to my concern that teachers are not law enforcement officers and have not had the training to discern what is an appropriate response in a volatile situation.

As it is, our local police officers need a longer more expansive time and firsthand experiences in their training.  Another thing that concerns me is that teachers-most teachers- get their bachelor’s degree and then do 1 additional year to acquire their teaching credential.  The criteria for becoming a teacher are exams and practice teaching experience.  There is a background check to see if the potential teacher has a criminal record, but there are no psychological test and evaluation that establishes the mental and emotional health of prospective teachers.  This to me this should be a serious consideration before putting a gun in someone’s hands. I can tell you from first-hand experience that there were times I had to gently encourage some students to consider another profession.  

Even with teachers coming into the field that seem to have a sound emotional and mental healthy persona, life happens, circumstances of traumatic events happen, and people have break downs. 

I have witnessed these kinds of events where teachers lose control and have emotional breakdowns in the classroom.  Our teachers in our public schools are under extreme stress just trying to deal with the everyday things they have to overcome and solve to maintain a functioning classroom environment where children can learn. 

We need for our classrooms to be safe, and we are intelligent enough to know how to secure the schools.  Yes, 30 years ago, my brother-in-law, as a principal of a high school, requested that their school board consider installing metal detectors and to check backpacks as a daily procedure.  He made suggestions on procedures and protocols for securing our school facilities. He has even written a book that should be taken seriously if we want to secure our schools.  The whole American cultural is being driven by violence and weapons.  Some are physical weapons and now there are virtual internet communicational weapons as well.  We have to do better!  We have to get a handle on “Gun Control”!  We have to take the safety of our children seriously and demand that our government be called into action against gun lobbyist and gun manufactures.  We need to make sure that guns cannot be sold or made via the internet. 

Right now, with 32 states doing their own thing and there is no consistent, intelligent, attainable, law in place to protect our children, we have to advocate for them.  We have more power than we use, and we have more power than we can imagine.  Contact your representatives and advocate for your children.  Contact your local city councils and educational district boards and voice your concerns and demands.  This is our “Call to Action”!  We are all our children have!

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Tiny Tips for Moms and Dads #56 There’s No Need to Yell-“We Parent from the Heart”!

Lei has such a beautiful way of communicating with her children.
It is open and receptive! It is engulfed in unconditional love!
And founded on a lot of patience!

It is such a wonderful challenge to try to figure out how to communicate with our children.  So much is involved and so much is at stake in formulating how we develop our communication relationship.  It is the foundation of how we will talk to and with our children into adulthood.  The basics of our modality of communicating must have strategies that evolve as our children grow and develop.  We always want to be truthful with them in words that are age appropriate and are in alignment with their personality and character. We have to feel the nature of our children and what they respond to and how they respond to different situations.  Every day is a day of learning who they are and even equally important, in the process we learn things about ourselves. 

Communication is a two-way operation. So much can be lost if we are not tuned into all the clues that are part of the communication designed. As we engage with our children through all their daily experiences if we are “present” in their lives, we will pick up those clues and learn how to translate them into what we are trying to express to them.  We are teaching them how to communicate not with just us and our family, but we are laying the groundwork for how they will navigate communicating in the world.  It takes a lot of practice, mistakes, misunderstanding, trial and error, but if we are conscientious, we will succeed.  Always remember that communication is not a perfect science.  There will be times that we come to a point where we get stuck in our ability to communicate with one another, but that is part of the human design. Remember to always:

Take a deep breath-

Speak in your normal natural voice- no yelling- that shuts communication down!

Listen attentively!

Reiterate what you think you heard!

Make sure you follow up with checking in with your child’s feelings behind the words!

Never open a conversation when you are in a state of anger.

Remember, you are the adult in the relationship, so you have the responsibility of taking the lead, keeping channels open and receptive, keep a balance in who speaks and always keep communication civil and respectful.

“Save the Yell for a “Safety Issue”- when your child is in a dangerous situation!”

P.S. Like when my child Niki at age two tried to investigate the mouth of a Doberman Pitcher and pried his mouth open to look inside!!!!