Passion comes from Within

" Passion comes from within each of us; it cannot be imposed or mandated from outside."

As a director of an Early childhood School, I know the above is true. When working with team members, I cannot induce passion. If they develop passion for the field it starts from within them. I just like to stoke the fire ( encourage them in their passion) and kindle it (providing education and knowledge.)



What is passion about?

"Passion is about Pursuit
Passion is certainly not the same as happiness
Passion is about performance
Passion is about progression
Passion is about connection
Passion pulls
Passion is not predictable
Passion is about risk- taking
Passion is about authenticity"


http://edgeperspectives.typepad.com/edge_perspective/2009/11/pursuing-passion.html

Whitebook

"Despite the greater variability in the birth to 5 workforce, both the early learning and K-12 communities grapple with similar questions about developing strong teachers and ensuring that all children, particularly those most at risk, have access to them. A review of the evidence for both K-12 and ECE reveals three key ingredients that contribute to effective teaching across all age spans:
First, preparation matters -- the content and the method of delivery of the educational program influences how effective teachers will be;

Second, support matters -- even the best educated and seasoned teachers need ongoing opportunities to continue learning on the job, and

Third, reward matters -- absent a respectful work environment, and that includes earning a living or professional wage, even the most competent teachers will falter and often leave their jobs or the profession altogether. No Single Ingredient: 2020 Vision for the Early Learning Workforce Early Learning Tour, Denver, Colorado, April 26, 2010 MARCY WHITEBOOK, PH.D. Center for the Study of Child Care Employment University of California at Berkeley 4


No single ingredient -- preparation, support or reward -- stands on its own and reform is needed across all three -- the very areas where we shortchange the early learning workforce and thus the children they serve."

http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/ed/earlylearning/denver-whitebook-speech.pdf

Zigler Father of Head Start

 

Interview question Zigler

Authors:

Connors, Kathleen A.

Source:

Children Today. 1994, Vol. 23 Issue 1, p10. 2p. 1 Black and White Photograph.

Document Type:

Interview with Edward Zigler

Ms. Connors.: Then how do you go about making the change happen?

Dr. Zigler: First you need to decide where you want to go with it, you need a goal. Best reduce this to one clear idea that people can grasp quickly, that will stay with them.

The goal needs to be grounded on sound principles from a knowledge base. For example, take the problem of providing good child care. We can all share the assumption that good child care rests on good caregivers. The development of good caregivers used to be equated with a college education, but when the demand increased but the pay didn't, it became an unaffordable way to prepare caregivers. Enter the idea of competency-based training. NAEYC was able to mobilize the field to identify the best competencies from their knowledge base and to develop a certification process.

Knowledge is basic to system change.

 

http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?sid=bf83dee1-a36c-4306-8913-a2605b7b24b1%40sessionmgr112&vid=1&hid=119&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=9410067639 

Edward Zigler Web site

Child Study Center

Edward Zigler Center in Child Development & Social Policy

 

http://medicine.yale.edu/childstudy/zigler/index.aspx

Our Mission

The Zigler Center's over-arching mission is to improve the well-being of children and families by bringing objective child development research into the policy and public arenas.

Our Objectives

1. To produce rigorous, objective and timely research and policy analyses that address pressing child and family social policy questions;
2. To actively disseminate knowledge through channels of scholarship (e.g., books, journals, conferences), popular media (e.g., print, radio and television news, op-eds), and direct work with legislative and executive branch government;
3. To train future generations of professionals who work at the intersection of child development research and policy formation.

http://medicine.yale.edu/childstudy/zigler/index.aspx
 

Childhood Web

 

My Family Web is so important to me! I would not be the person I am today without all of them.

 

JESUS 

 

 

My faith in Jesus Christ is the most important piece in my family web. I am nothing without Him in my life. My parents introduced faith to me when I was a child. Jesus has always been the one constant in my life.

 

 

MOM

My mom although in heaven now, played a big role in my life. I learned so much from her, she really supported my singing. Sometimes my mom and I clashed, but she taught me many lessons and helped make me the person I am today. She encouraged me to build my faith in Christ, she was in the early childhood field too. I watched her when she got sick stay strong and throw up every day but still go to work. She had impeccable work ethic and dedication. She self sacrificed her whole life. One of my fondest memories of her is when she laughed she always had to cross her legs so she wouldn't pee her pants...back then I didn't understand why, but now after having babies, I UNDERSTAND! :) My mom was the voice of reason in my life, she was strict and was always on me for my behaviors and attitudes. My mom tried hard to ensure that good values, standards, and Godly ways were instilled in me.

 

DAD

My father was the first love of my life. My dad understood me more than most people did. I am a lot like him in that we both feel that life is full of many things we do not understand, and should not be despised or shunned, but explored. My dad was my biggest supporter. His opinion met more to me than any others. My father and I had some special times together; he took me to my voice lessons every week. It was our special moments. When I would choose songs to sing he would talk with me about how to express them. My dad was the one that told us how we should wear our hair. He is very artsy and creative. My dad was a spiritual leader too; however, he approached it more as a choice not a demand. He allowed me to express myself, and discover new things. My father was the leader of my self-discovery. His voice and approval gave me strength. 

MY FATHER THE COOK

My dad is Italian and meal time during the holidays is very important. We have tradition that when we are all together we follow. Christmas eve is a smorgasbord of Italian food, every kind of pasta you can think of along with antipasto and stuffed mushrooms. When dad calls dinner you better come while the pasta is perfect, or else he will get very upset. Family dinners were a must growing up even if it was only once a week due to the busyness of four kids. I have many memories from the dinner table from playing the umm game-(talk about your day/week without saying um) It was a great way to teach us not to use filler words when communicating. Another game was we would sit on our dads lap and talk and he would be our hands. It was so fun.  

 

 

MY FAMILY MINUS MY MOTHER 

 

 I was 8 months pregnant in the above picture

 

 

 

Dad, Me, my twin sister Jasmine

 

My siblings twin sister Jasmine, brothers, Stephen, and Jared. We taught each other how to love even when you hated each other that blood is thicker than water. We went through a lot together, mom being sick and much more. We grew up as military brats; therefore, we had no choice but to be friends because when we moved we only had each other.

I was very competitive with my sister. She taught me the skill of working harder.
Stephen and Jared were my little brothers and we fought often, but we always loved each other in the end.

Isaac my youngest brother came along after I left for college. Our mom died when he was two. So I think he taught me how to share memories and keep my mom alive in our hearts.

 

 

GRANDMA

 

 

 

 

My Grandma has played and still plays a great role in my life. When I graduated from high school, I chose to go to TN where she and my grandfather lived. My grandma and I are friends. I aggravated her sometimes, and grandpa would have to make the peace, but she loved me and I her. After my mother died, my grandma became my mother figure. I love her with my whole heart. I am so blessed to have a grandma like her who taught me not to put my wet towel on the bed and so much more! Love is what I feel from her most. I know her and she knows me, and that means so much to me. I can be who I am with her with no fear of reprimand. I love sitting on the porch and drinking coffee with her and just talking about everything and nothing.

GRANDMA GERMAN -SHARED HERITAGE

Grandma is full blooded German. She has a German accent mixed with southern. It is so fun to listen to her talk. Grandma cooked many German meals for us and spoke German with my mother. I know a bit of German. Wish I knew more.

 

 

 

 

 

This assignment has really opened my eyes to how much my family means to me, and how influential they have been in my life. I have many more family members, but the ones above have played such a big part in my life. I have discovered that friends weren't as important as I thought they were back in the day. I venture to say that if I really sat down and dissected my life, I would find many more people that had an influence on my life.  I pray that I have a great role in my children's and students childhood web. 

 

 

 

 



Together Forever!

This picture means a lot to me because my daughter that became a part of me through marriage drew it when her dad and I were dating. My husband and I dated and parted for about 8 months, but Katie knew we were meant to be together! Now she is 17 and going to graduate this year. My how time flies and love grows! Jossy, is my mommy name for my two daughters adopted through marriage.  I always tell them I birthed them from my heart! We were meant to be together forever as a family!

Your heart can see too!




Love like a child and your heart will see too!
-Jocelyn Richter

                                           

A Heart and Intuitiveness

Children have such heart and are so intuitive. I have had so many experiences that prove this true. As a preschool teacher in Germany 15 years ago, I was going through a rough time. My mom had just passed and I was coping. I tend to throw myself into my work keep busy and my mind off things when I am going through hard times. The children in my class when I returned seemed to be extra loving and caring. As the day passed my co-teacher, a very insensitive person said something to me that rubbed me wrong and I was thrown off balance and was having to concentrate to control emotional. The students were outside as I was cleaning up the art table. I was trying to gather myself, and thought I was doing ok, but the teachers outside sent little Ashley in to go potty. Ashley walked over to me and patted my leg.

Ashley: “What’s wrong Ms. Jocelyn?"

Me: “Oh nothing”, I told her.

Ashley: “Why are you sad? “

Me: “oh my heart just hurts “

Ashley gave me a squeeze and told me she loved me, the tears started to fall, but I quickly got my composure. Ashley stayed close to me the rest of the day. What a heart that little 4 year old had. Since then I have taken the time to observe children and their intuitiveness.

 

 

A Childrens Book I Love!

There are so many different types of children’s books new, old, and classic. I treasure and adore many of the classic stories such as Stellaluna, Green Eggs and Hams, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, and so many more; however, I have come across a new book by Kristi Yamaguchi. ( Yes the figure Skater!)

This book is about a girl pig that has many dreams and tries to do her best at everything she wants to from dancer, singer, and more. She ultimately does not succeed at everything but her family and friends support her and cheer her on.  My favorite supportive line in the book that is stated by her grandparent say is “You Go Girl”. People say she cannot do specific activities, but she tries anyway and says, “I believe in dreaming big!” Eventually she finds her greatest strength ice-skating. She is not perfect at it and she falls down but gets back up and practices more and more soon she becomes a STAR.  Her dreams do not stop there she keeps dreaming big.

I like this book because it teaches many positive lessons!

1.     Its ok to try and fail

2.     Don’t let anybody say you can’t

3.     Its ok to dream big

4.     Dreams can come true if you work hard

5.     Never stop dreaming

Some kids may not "get" the messages of the book without assistance, but the book can be referred to when a child says I can’t. If you haven't read it yet, you must! It is only $4.99 through Scholastic.

Quotes an Early Childhood Teacher Should Live by!

I like this quote because as a teacher I strive to meet every Individual child's needs. As an administrator I encourage my team to think outside of the box and meet EACH child where they are at. That is what makes teaching challenging and rewarding is when you meet the need of a child after you tried new techniques!

Another favorite is:
 
"Fair is not equal!"
-Unknown

Sometimes we get caught up in making everything fair. But in reality some students need more assistance than others. It is not that we are giving more to an individual student, it is that we are giving each student what they need.