MY PROFESSIONAL CONTACTS For educ 6162

                                                             

I. Mrs.Bimbo Are

                                    Ajoke International School

                                     New Jericho, G.R.A.
P.O.Box 679, Dugbe, Ibadan
Nigeria
Tel: 080-23236933
Email: arebimbo@yahoo.com

                                                            II.      Jeannie Farr    Head Start Teacher, Oahu, Hawaii, USA. 

                                      jeanniekfarr@yahoo.com

 

                                                                                                                                                These First contact was sourced for from the Global Alliance of The Global Alliance of NAEYC and the second was a  colleague I discovered at the start of my program.
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance

1.    Barbara Jones (BJ)

Barbara Jones (BJ) founded the Pine Grove School in Falmouth, Maine in 1985 and celebrates the schools 25th anniversary this year. The school is a charming, wood-shingled building nested in a grove of pine trees and was used as a school house as far back as 1917.

The Pine Grove School was featured in the Program Showcase section of the July/August 2010 issue of Exchange magazine.

info@pinegrovecenter.com

I picked particular interest in Barbara and I really identify with the little profile written about her. I hope she respond to the mail I did to her school.  The source for Barbara is World Forum Foundation Radio. Includes links to podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals.
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php

MY SUPPORTS

Daily, I wake up and I am hopeful, I mean really hopeful.

Hopeful because there is life. for which I am grateful.
Hopeful because God is constant, and faithful.
Hopeful because I have a Family for which I am thankful.
Hopeful because I shall be helped just as I also have helped and I am helping- Praise Allagoa 

Factors within my daily Environment that are helping me to carry on and making sure that I am successful are:

God. In life we all have what makes us thick. For me, my primary strength factor is my connection to the One who holds and sustains my life. He is the peace I experience in the face of adversity. The first thought each time I feel any sense of accomplishment. I cannot do without communing with God each time I wake up and knowing that he goes ahead of the day gives me a disposition of, I can achieve all of my life's task.

Family. What is life without Family. My immediate family is so supportive. They provide me with encouragements, guidance, respect, and love.

My friends provides me with a great sense of motivation.They are not so many but few as they are, some of them spur me to so many good things and one of those good things is this studies in early childhood.

My professional colleagues are always there for me offering professional insights.

Clients: Our school Parents are there to patronize us, giving us the privilege to provide service, without which the sense of accomplishment felt would not exist.

Among these parents are a special few who liase between the school and their fellow parents.

I remember how I felt when I was introduced to websites and resources, I think the developmental supports I get by reaching out to the materials I have been exposed to so far has strengthened my stand both as an individual and as a professional.

Some technological tools, like my phone and computer for several things like communicative ability, organization, storage and memory help and, some organizational tools like my planner, my time table, both for home and work

I do not know if I can survive without these supports. How do I get into the day without a quiet time to pray and study? How could I exist without my family, both primary and extended, my friends, How? Who would I have turned to when those times of uncertainties come up, if I did not have access to my colleagues, mentors and my wonderful staff.

I cannot imagine it, I do not think it exist because I have never been without one form of support or another. I suppose however, that I would bear the shock and adjust.

If these supports weren't there, I just would not be where I am today. I would be way behind. Life would not gain acceleration like it has and development would be hindered.

With all of these factors, picture with me a my life without modern Technology in the forms of mobile phones, computer, internet access.   I would need to depend on maybe the media through, public Newspapers Analogue library and the Liberian. I would not be able to do this my masters program if I could not go to America. I would not be able to access information and would also lack the ability communicate.  All of these put together still would not be sufficient to provide me with the type of support that I currently enjoy.

Factors Within My Daily Environment  that would be supportive in the previous state. A mobile Phone, A Computer, and an I E- Library. They all would give me the speed like that of a lightening in my work.

If these supports weren't there, I would not be a member of this class. I would not be able to communicate effectively.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

MY CONNECTION TO PLAY

"If it's not fun, you're not doing it right."

Author: Bob Basso

"Play is the work of childhood." Author: Unknown

 

"To imagine the unimaginable is the highest use of the imagination."

Author: Cynthia Ozick

 

 

 

 

 When I look back at my childhood. I do see that we could play in the neighborhood with our friends. We were allowed to have friends and we would sometimes come together and play in the sand and we also did chores like fetching water together, which our families needed, and children were the ones who helped to do this. As long as we are in our friend's company, it is still fun.
With others in the community we would rule six squares in the sand ans there was a way we would jump and skip that determined whether you won or lost. We also played a girls' game called, ten- ten, in which we are actively clapping and throwing legs, and you either win or loose by the leg you put forward, if it is left or right.  My parents allowed us to go and play once we are done with our chores, I do not remember coming home with homework from school that early, 6yrs and +.

Some weekends, Dad would also take us out to the beach or to the amusement park and those told me a lot that I was loved and cared for. We were allowed to make choices and we would spend the whole day in one adventure after the other. 

Oh, I remember the universal play that every girl child plays. Pretend play as mums, who cooks for her dear children. empty cans were the pots and enough broomsticks are available for to function as spoons.

Play now is different, although, occasionally we find some of what we used to have. The gender pretend play of girls adoring their dolls. We still find the pretend cooking. However, we find these days children who would rather stay in front of the screen.  I wish that everyone understood the essence of creative, constructive play so that we encourage better development in our children.

Like Rivera Miquela (2009) said in  The Powerful Effect of Play IN A CHILD'S EDUCATION
, Play in adolescence shifts slowly to "work" that continues into adulthood. Unfortunately, some people trade their "childish toys" for a "career," unwittingly setting aside the activity that fostered their creativity, enabled their growth, and taught them important lessons. Fortunate are those whose career is a form of play - mastery and continued building of competence-for which one gets paid!  This is my idea of quality life, for my carrer to be a form of play. I believe that adults need time to unwind and free their minds like children.

RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

If God had intended us to be alone, there would be more pleasure in massaging our own shoulders. ~Robert Brault, www.robertbrault.com

 

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.  Some stay for a while, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never, ever the same.  ~Flavia Weedn, Forever, © Flavia.com


RELATIONSHIP IS EVERYTHING. Author unknown.

I heard this some years ago and it left an imprint on my heart and generated some guiding principles in my life. For instance;

PEOPLE ARE NOT TO BE COMPARED WITH THINGS.

HUMAN RESOURCES ARE THE GREATEST ASSETS OF ANY SUCCESSFUL ORGANIZATION.

Every human being with the exception of none cannot live alone.

  People in my life Currently who are important to me

My love, Theophilus Allagoa.

My husband is so supportive of my goals and missions in life. He available to listen when I get back from a busy day. He guides and offers help when things do not go the way we expect in the school. From the onset of the school, he supports us financially. provides accomodation for some of our staff and joins us in some of our visitation to families. I do not know what I would do without him. Thank you heartthrob, for all that you ve been, I hope that you can say this good about me,

Praise and Theo, intertwined

My reasons for living, From the left, Edmund, Deborah, Theodora and Eric.

My children give me intrinsic reasons for wanting to be my best. I feel like I have to model for them what they must view life as. I love you!

I cannot do without them, my preschoolers.

The children in our program are the most adorable. They call me mummy Praise El and it gives me a sense of fulfillment. They have given me (us) the opportunity to impact life and we see positive change everyday. our end of session event was so great as they all performed on stage . Hey little mighty men, I am so proud of you.

Praise El schools Parents Teachers Forum Executives

Left to right: Praise and Nyiedum

My fellow early childhood practitioner who is always available to lend listening ears and to give professional counsel each time I have the need to go to her. God Bless You!

Vera Kelly, our Trusted  program coordinator
Mrs Kelly is a rare Gem. A leader who serves selflessly. Sometimes in life, God sends us angels to make life's smoother. 

The team that is making a difference.

If all other resources were available without any limitation, I still would not impact young lives positively without you guys. You are the best.

One thing that can pose as a challenge to developing relationship is the threat of busy schedule. We get too busy that we forget to do the little things that matter. things like listening, giving assurances that we are there to support. We allow consistency to dwindle and die. 

The special feature of these meaningful relationship include:

Ability to be available when needed.

Ability to listen.

Ability to be consistent.

Empathy.

Going the extra mile when it is not convenient.

My experiences with relationships make me understand that every one in any kind of partnership must constantly generate a sense of commitment and one must devote time above all else to grow the relationship.