When I reread the questions that I answered from week four, I noticed not much of a change. I may look at things a little differently now, since I have learned much about Reggio Emilia, but my thoughts haven't changed very much about my answers to the questions. I chose "Who is Laura?" and "October 2: The Apple in the Kitchen" for the questions to answer. I think there are pictures of the teachers on the pages, because they are together in the process of teaching the children. They collaborate together to make it possible for their children to learn and grow in every way possible. Now that I look back on the first couple of pages, I realize the introduction is called Setting the Scene. This is showing what the environment looks like and who is part of the environment. The people who are in the pictures is probably the teachers who wrote the diary of Laura. I noticed that one thing changed about my answer to one of the questions. I just started working full time in a three year old classroom last week and we have to get to know the children and their families so well so we can build a relationship with them. We need to know everything about their child, because they are only three years old; they are still so young. We are potty training them and teaching them the basics of just holding cups and forks and pouring milk. We need to establish a good relationship with their parents so they are able to trust us with their little one and also so there is consistency at home and school.
There is a picture in my director's office of children walking by a cliff. The picture was taken in the 80's and she was telling me that times were different back then where we could do pretty much everything. Nowadays, everything is about safety and being careful. It's kind of sad actually that we have to shelter children so much that they are not allowed to do certain things. We usually have a little field trip to our kitchen and everything is so regulated that we have to all wear covered shoes and hair nets. Children would never be allowed in the kitchen when the cooks are making our school's food. It's actually too bad, it could be a great experience for the children. I am still not too sure why the teacher left the two children in the kitchen. But it seemed like the children loved the experience of being allowed to be in there. Being careful and safe may have its ups and downs, but I wonder how teachers would teach if being safe and careful was not a factor.
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that you noted about times in the 80's and compare them to today. We currently have a new teacher that is young and doesn't really see the difference of "back then" and "now". She always asks me, "Why is it so different?" and "How come it wasn't like this before?" The only thing that I can tell her, is that "things change" and "society is different from what it was before".
Parenting styles are different from before and the children appear to be less mature then before. For example, these days, I see parents carrying their children into the center when they used to walk in before. But why do you think that is? Doctors, grandparents, media? From a few parents that I have talked to, they say, they want to offer their children things that their parents didn't do. It's interesting to know how other people think and how they live their lives. I know that I am guilty for trying to provide my daughter with things that I didn't have when I was younger, but when I look at how I was brought up, I realize it wasn't so bad. Now that she is teenager, I tell her lots of stories about how I grew up and the things that my parents taught me and how I learned things. She laughs, but sometimes feels sad, but appears to take in the information that I share with her. As times are changing, it's a challenge to keep up with work, school, family and kids. What else are we to do?
I've enjoyed reading your blog this semester. Thank you for allowing me to comment and think about the questions that you have posed. Hope you had a great semester. It was great getting to know you.
myra
Dear Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you, looking back on that question I too feel the same. Being safe and careful with children are two really important factors and should be the main priority for every teacher and child. When comparing opportunities and experiences that children back then had and the opportunities and experiences children now days have, it is sad at times to see the change. Children now days don't get have the opportunity to experience half of what children back then did because there are more dangerous environmental factors today then there were before. For an example more diseases and illnesses. Although on the other hand our limitations and procedures today could be viewed in a positive way because teachers have to learn to be more aware of possible outcomes. For instance teachers today should know of possible outcomes for instance leaving a child on the counter unattended. the possible outcomes that teachers should know are possible of are: the child could fall off the counter, hit their head and get a concussion leading to brain damage, fall into the sink of water and drown, find an object on the counter and choke on it or get cut from a kitchen knife, etc...There are many possible scenarios and incidents that could happen from a single and quick decision as leaving a child on the counter top unattended. In your blog you talked about the changes of time how before children were allowed in the kitchen and now there are more strict health regulations; this goes back to now days there are more known diseases, infections and illnesses that could be easily passed on and spread through food contamination, so in my opinion there are both pros and cons to the ways of todays school environments. Well this is the last blog of the semester...I want to thank you again for sharing, I really did enjoy reading your blogs each week...and thank you for allowing me to comment on them...thank you again and take care!
Hi Ashley,
ReplyDeleteThere are advantages of allowing children to be in the kitchen to learn but there are also many disadvantages of allowing young children in the kitchen when an adult is preparing food. I am not in favor of leaving a child on the kitchen counter. I do not see myself placing a child on the counter for any reason, and I think I would feel uncomfortable if I saw someone else do it. This particular situation was a sure thing of the past, especially in the Early Childhood Centers here in America. When I read this before and also now, I cannot help but wonder if this has a lot to do with cultural differences and beliefs. Placing a child on the kitchen counter may be okay in some parts of the world but in some parts, it is considered unsanitary. Maybe there are still places in other parts of the world where they are not as strict as America, with less rules and regulations to follow, or this was really a thing of the past.