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In my classroom, one student likes to grab things out of others hands. It is always a process to explain to him that he can't just grab things from others. My mentor deals with this a lot and tries to teach him that he could get what he wants if he goes about it a different way. She explains that he can maybe have what's in their hand if he offers them something in return. She is trying to teach him how to go about solving his own problems.

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At my placement, there is a variety of loose parts around the classroom. They have a variety of blocks, magna tiles, and other loose parts. Children can use these materials to construct structures of their own design, experiment with balance and stability, and collaborate with others to create more complex creations. One of the students used the fake bricks to make a path and then walked across it.
Right now at my placement, the students are learning about spring. For an activity that involves STEM, I could have the students plant their own plants. They can use a shovel to put the dirt in their cups then put the seeds in and water it. Then throughout the following weeks, they will see their plant grow.

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One of the most important aspects of building supportive relationships with children is developing a positive and respectful rapport with them. Teachers who take the time to get to know their students as individuals, and show a genuine interest in their lives, can create a classroom environment where students feel valued and understood.

Another critical element of building supportive relationships with children is fostering a sense of trust and safety. Teachers who consistently model honesty, transparency, and respect in their interactions with students create an environment where children feel comfortable expressing themselves and taking risks.

Dispositions that are often nurtured in the context of supportive relationships include empathy, compassion, and curiosity. When children feel seen and heard by their teachers, they are more likely to develop a sense of empathy and concern for others. Additionally, when teachers encourage questions, curiosity, and exploration, children are more likely to become lifelong learners.

An example of a teacher cultivating wonder and discovery might involve encouraging students to investigate a topic of interest through research or inquiry-based projects. This could involve providing students with resources and guidance, as well as opportunities to share their findings with others.

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The film highlights the importance of engaging in conversations with young children about race and other aspects of identity. It provides examples of how teachers can create a safe and inclusive classroom environment that values diversity and promotes equity. The film also emphasizes the importance of teachers reflecting on their own biases and continually learning and growing as educators.

I find the idea of engaging in conversations with young children about race and identity intriguing because it can help children develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of diversity. By having these conversations, children can learn to respect and celebrate differences in others and themselves.

Some of the anti-bias and anti-racist education practices from the video that intrigued me include:

Building relationships with families: The teachers in the video work closely with families to ensure that the children's culture and background are valued and integrated into the classroom.

Using culturally responsive teaching practices: The teachers in the video incorporate cultural and linguistic diversity into their teaching practices, including using books and materials that reflect the diversity of their students.

Creating an inclusive classroom environment: The teachers in the video create an environment where all children feel valued and included, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or other aspects of identity.

Reflecting on biases and stereotypes: The teachers in the video reflect on their own biases and stereotypes and work to challenge them in order to create a more equitable classroom environment.

In my own experiences as a student, I have seen some of these practices implemented to varying degrees. However, I think there is always room for improvement, and it is important for educators to continually reflect on their practices and work to improve.

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-One of my most significant learning experiences was during our lesson planning class when we learned about the importance of keeping students engaged. I realized how challenging it can be, particularly when there are many students, each with their own thoughts, ideas, and interests that they want to express and explore. It can also be challenging to maintain their focus when they are grouped together.
As part of my literacy project, I developed a lesson plan that I believed would keep the students engaged and focused. However, I soon realized that I was mistaken when I saw the children looking around and some walking away during the lesson introduction and activity. While observing their circle time behavior over the past weeks, I should have anticipated this outcome. I learned that teaching is not just about what you teach, but also what you learn about your students and how to enhance their learning experience. Through this experience, I developed my lesson-planning skills and learned how to keep students engaged. I look forward to further refining this skill as I embark on my teaching journey.

-Another significant lesson that I learned during my time at the Bennett Center was the importance of active listening when working with children. Initially, I found it frustrating when the kids interrupted reading time to share their ideas or stories, as I simply wanted to finish the book. However, I soon realized that allowing children to voice their thoughts and opinions was crucial for their development. Throughout the course, I learned how to prompt questions that encouraged the children to express their ideas and engage in meaningful discussions with their classmates.
A defining moment for me came during the filming of my literacy recording. While working with two children, I began asking questions during the reading, which led to them sharing their own stories and insights. I noticed that I no longer felt the need to cut off their thoughts prematurely, as I had in the past. Instead, I let the children guide the conversation and was pleasantly surprised to see how engaged and enthusiastic they were about reading. This experience taught me that active listening and encouraging children to express themselves is vital for creating an enjoyable and rewarding learning experience.

-My last key learning moment for me was discovering the value of loose parts play. Through this experience, I learned how essential it is to encourage creativity and imagination in children. When we used loose parts in class, I found it both fun and fascinating, especially when working in groups where we could collaborate and be even more creative.
My understanding of the importance of loose parts play was further reinforced during my field experience at the Bennett Center. Working with the young age group I feel like the thing they play with the most is loose parts. One of the loose parts I see the kids play with all the time is a basket of keys and rings to put the keys on. One girl always likes to take the keys and pretend to unlock things around the classroom.
Similarly, I noticed the value of loose parts play during outdoor playtime. The children used sticks and pretend they are wands or just like to grab leaves and crunch them up. Overall, these experiences made me appreciate the power of imaginative and creative play and the value of loose parts in promoting this type of play.

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When I started at the Bennett Family Center I was much more reserved and didn't want to overstep. I now take initiative in the room, whether it is cleaning up, getting the kids ready for outside, or disciplining the kids when they grab or hit a friend. In the beginning, I was surprised at how much the kids could do. I have young cousins and I felt like the students could do so much more then them. I have also started to form bonds with the students and am going to be sad to leave.
I have a lot of advice I would give to future students. Starting with, step in and get involved right away, maybe observe a little on your first day but by your second day interact with all the students. When interacting with students don't just sit there and expect them to come up to you, Go up to them and ask questions. When they are more comfortable and are playing with you move with them to wherever they want to go. Don't be afraid to ask questions even if they seem silly or dumb. The last piece of advice I have is to listen to advice and constructive criticism and apply it don't just listen to it.

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In our classroom we are talking about spring right now so we are talking a lot about outside. We talk about rainbow's and weather. We also talk about planting and how plants grow. Also there is nature throughout the classroom. They have things hanging from the ceiling, one has pine cones and another is a cloud with rain coming down.
I can incorporate outdoor learning in my future classroom by doing lessons outside. Maybe I'm doing a lesson on plants, I can take my students outside to look at plants. I can show them how plants survive and grow with a visual. I can also bring things from outside into the classroom. When I was in 7th grade I remember we were learning about lichen and how it breaks down trees and rock so I brought in a stick with lichen on it.

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Today was my first day in the field and I was in an infant/toddler room. I was surprised that some of the younger kids could talk because I have younger cousins and at 1 they couldn't talk. There was also one kid who knew his numbers and the whole alphabet which I was surprised by. The same kid came up to me and wanted me to read him a book. When I sat on the floor he came and sat on my lap for me to read to him and I just thought it was so cute.
Most of the morning was free play but they also did a little science activity. They made a little garden in the sand box and then the kids got to play with it. I am interested to see how they do lesson because they age is so young I don't know how much they can really teach. I am also interested to see how they go about doing the lessons with the different ages.

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One idea for utilizing loose parts in a classroom could be to create a "loose parts center" where children can explore and manipulate a variety of open-ended materials. These materials could include things like blocks, sticks, stones, fabric, and other natural or recycled materials. By providing children with open-ended materials, they can engage in creative and imaginative play, develop problem-solving skills, and exercise their creativity.

Using open-ended materials can have several benefits for children's development. Open-ended materials can stimulate children's imaginations and encourage them to think creatively. They can also promote social and emotional development by providing opportunities for children to collaborate, share, and negotiate with their peers. Additionally, open-ended materials can be used in a variety of ways, so they can support children's learning across multiple subject areas.

I am pretty comfortable with risk-taking and adventurous play. It can be beneficial for children's development. By engaging in these types of activities, children can develop important skills like problem-solving, decision-making, and resilience. It is important, however, to ensure that children are safe and that appropriate measures are taken to mitigate potential risks. This can include adult supervision, proper safety equipment, and age-appropriate activities. It is also important to provide children with opportunities to engage in these types of activities in a supportive and nurturing environment.

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Week 6 Video Reflection - Milo's Museum video

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Week 6 Video Reflection - Milo's Museum video

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The book I selected for the group unit lesson plan project is "So Many Sounds" by Tim McCanna. This book has people of different genders, races, and professions. There is one page with a construction site with many different people there. I would show how the people there are of different races and gender. At the beginning of the book, I would point out how the dad is the one waking the kid up and doing the dishes. Both moms and dads can do dishes and help around the house.

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Week 6 Video Reflection - Megan Dowd Lambert's Freight Train read aloud

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Week 6 Video Reflection - Megan Dowd Lambert's Freight Train read aloud

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The whole book approach will be a little harder to incorporate into my literacy project because I won't be reading to kids in person. This doesn't mean you can't use this approach though. In my project I would pretend like there are kids in front of me and ask questions and pause for a response. I will think about things kids may say or notice and incorporate that into my questions.

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Week 5 Video Reflection: Bev Bos - Starting at Square One

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Week 5 Video Reflection: Bev Bos - Starting at Square One

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The speaker emphasize the importance of childhood and how it lays the foundation for a person's entire life. The speaker believes that childhood should be filled with wonder, discovery, and experience. They suggest that adults should not limit children or impose strict structures but instead, create environments where kids can explore and discover things for themselves. The speaker also mentions that it's important to pay attention to each child, be sensitive, and not push them towards predetermined milestones.

The speaker seems to value hands-on exploration and discovery over rote learning and memorization. They mention a few examples of activities that foster discovery, such as playing with flour and water, mixing vinegar and soda, and playing with blocks. They seem to believe that kids need to experiment and move things around to truly understand how they work. The speaker also touches on the idea that kids never fail due to lack of intelligence but instead due to a lack of self-esteem. They suggest that it's crucial for adults to encourage kids and help them develop a sense of self.

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Week 5 Video Reflection: Thinking Big Extending Emergent Curriculum Projects

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Week 5 Video Reflection: Thinking Big Extending Emergent Curriculum Projects

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The speaker describes how she has changed her own beliefs about children and play, from feeling like she needed to entertain or police kids during playtime, to recognizing the value of careful observation and the role of the teacher as a researcher. The speaker also describes a specific project about height that lasted several months and involved all the children in the class. Through this project, the children learned about building structures and became confident and safe builders, while the teacher learned to trust the children and respond to their good ideas.

The speaker also highlights the importance of open-ended materials and long stretches of uninterrupted time in the classroom. She describes how amazing things can happen when these conditions are met, and how the height project evolved from children building structures as tall as they were to building structures taller than their heads. The speaker reflects on how the project fed her deeply as a teacher, helping her feel curious and wondering about what was going on for the children. The speaker also highlights the importance of taking risks, both for the children and the teacher, in order to support the children's learning.

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I would like to have a reading space that is comfortable and inviting for students. If the reading space looks fun and enjoyable it may encourage kids to want to read or read more. When I was younger I hated reading and would always try to avoid it. I had one teacher that had a little tepee for a couple of weeks and we were allowed to read in there. It make me want to read and made it exciting.
Another element I would like to include in my future classroom is a play kitchen. Play kitchens are great for imaginative play. They create roles for everyone and a whole storyline. They create problems and solve them themselves.
The last element I would include is an art center. Having a designated space for the kids to express themselves and get a little messy is a great thing to have. Art is great in many ways, for one it is great for producing those fine motor skills. It also allows kids to use their creativity.

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I thought it was really interesting how the teacher in the first video ask a student what would be a good solution when they wanted another students toy. She guided the girl through solving the problem allowing her to figure out what to say or do next. This is really important because it is teaching the children how to be independent and solve problems on their own.
I liked how the second teacher creates a supportive classroom environment where children feel safe and comfortable expressing their feelings and opinions. She does this by actively listening to children, validating their emotions, and providing a safe space for conflict resolution.

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Week 2 Video Reflection: No Small Matter

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Week 2 Video Reflection: No Small Matter

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"No Small Matter" is a documentary that explores the critical role of early childhood education in shaping a child's development and future. One of the key learnings from the film is that early childhood education is not just about teaching academic skills but about providing a safe and nurturing environment that helps children develop social, emotional, and cognitive skills. The film highlights the importance of investing in quality early childhood education programs that provide adequate resources, support, and training for teachers and caregivers to deliver high-quality care to children.

However, the documentary also sheds light on the challenges facing the field of early childhood education. One major challenge is the lack of public investment in early childhood education programs, which often results in underfunded programs that cannot provide quality care. Another challenge is the low wages and lack of benefits for early childhood educators, which leads to high turnover rates and a shortage of qualified teachers.

In the documentary it talks about teachers having to provide a safe environment for student. I've seen how important it is to make sure kids feel comfortable in the classroom. In the field I have seen the kids not want to leave their parents but the teachers make them feel comfortable and excited to be there.

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Week 2 Video Reflection: The Color Investigation

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Week 2 Video Reflection: The Color Investigation

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I liked how the teacher watched the students playing and incorporated it into their learning. She saw the kids mixing different paints together and decided to incorporate that into the lesson by having the students take pictures and then match the colors in the photos and paint them. I also liked that this incorporation led to learning that would not have happened if not for the student's exploration.

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Hi, my name is Alexandria Daries. I am from Newtown, PA. I have nannied and babysat a lot. I also sub as an aide in an elementary school when I am home on breaks.
In this course, I hope to see different styles of teaching and classroom management. I also hope to learn more about the planning process.