Wonder Reflection #6
This photo represents 39 years of friendship. Our friendships began at 18 years old. We were a bunch of strangers thrown together by circumstance in a college dorm! We try to get together regularly.
Looking at these faces I see such strength and determination! Breast cancer, brain tumor, divorce, widowhood, re- marriage, never married, long lasting marriage, parenthood, single parenting, even a new cheesecake stealing puppy (who needed those calories anyway!).
When we get together is seems as we’ve never been apart. I have been living in Alaska and North Dakota for 5 years now and missed seeing my friends in person for 4 years until the visit pictured above in 2019!
We are spread out among 4 states, (5 if you count my AK/ND stint) different careers, healthcare, independent consultant, lawyer, lab techs, retired (all our goals!) and me, teacher. Never forget the women that lift you up! This is my tribe. I am in awe!
Who lifts you up? What do you do to honor the relationship?
Wonder Reflection #5
I spent a lot of time in 2018 and 2019 travelling from the East Coast to Alaska and back.
I cannot help but to “wonder” at all the “wonder” I’ve missed because I had “a job to do”. I was so busy being busy I missed things.
My wonder turned to “I wonder what happened here?”, “I wonder where my sunglasses are?”, “I wonder what we could do differently?” I missed the wonder and awe right before me. Not to say that I didn’t catch some but I surely did miss the point.
Change and growth and pinch points have always set me spinning. I am thankful I can now recognize this and perhaps be more intentional.
What are you doing today? Are you being intentional?
Wonder Reflection #4
2019. I turned Friendship Garden over to a new Director, the 3rd since I have been in Alaska. With the promise of spring she pulled out planting materials and our rain barrel that have been in storage for 4 years now!
I can smell the damp earth just by looking at this photo! I am full of admiration for her and the experiences she wants to bring to young children.
She’s lined up donations and helpers to get the garden ready as well as fill all the containers shown here and more.
I wonder how many children will recall these earthy experiences as they grow and leave our center. How many will connect with nature and never let that go?
With spring comes new beginnings, this year holds great promise!
Update to 2020! I feel the same!
Wonder Reflection #3
The snow is melting and what a wonderful ice sculpture the snow and sun have created. Take a minute to look around you, what do you see that inspires you?
As I continue to catch wonder in the big and small moments of my life, I did realize how much I was missing in my “rush, rush” world. This week I am setting the pace for slowing down.
Setting the pace and helping others to recognize wonder in the moments that we share. Working on helping teachers to recognize encouragement vs praise has opened another world of wonder for me.
There has been a shift in teacher behavior as they are being recognized with specific encouragement and not generalized praise. As we know from our early educator training, this works with children as well.
How will a natural photograph or something in nature inspire you today?
Wonder Reflection #2
This wonder journal is a result of my Wonder Based Education Certification course.
Just when “I wonder”, can I get back on track after life throws a curve ball, I see signs everywhere. Yes, of course I can. I see positive affirmations on Face Book, Pinterest, Instagram and within the Wonder Based training.
I watch a movie and the lines “speak to me”. It is in these moments that I stop and realize that the answer I was seeking was here all along. Nothing is “off track” at all.
Moving out of my comfort zone, making unfavorable decisions, missing my family and “home” has made me stretch and grow. I wonder how much more will change for me and how I will embrace this change?
Learning never ends!
This week I had to physically step back and reset rather than interfere with the children at play. This is what happened.
I said to the teacher that was outside with me that I was “hovering” near a couple of children monitoring the situation. She said to me, “hovering or in proximity, I am curious what you are thinking”. This caused me to pause and reflect on my own meaning.
For me, hovering meant I was ready to “pounce” in to fix or stop something that was happening. Proximity meant I was close enough for the children to rely on me if needed. In proximity I could observe without the intention of intervening. As is turns out I did nothing as the children solved their issue on their own. I do not even know what the issue was. I do know it was not my issue to solve. It was theirs and they were empowered to solve it.
My experience is the same when allowing children to test their physical abilities, even with practice it is hard to observe and not rush in to “protect”. Children need to assess the “risk” for themselves before proceeding. This makes for good decision makers, a lifelong skill we want to instill at a young age.
I am grateful for people who want a respectful discourse and allow for our respective learning and growth. I appreciate how language is powerful and sets up a way of being.
Will you empower children solve their own “problems”?
Early Education Wonder Reflection Series #1
I have been in a Wonder Teacher Education certification program and will post a series of reflections here. Enjoy!
While covering a shift in a young toddler classroom. There were magnets, tin cans, washers and metal lids set out as an invitation. Three children were exploring when one little boy, 19 months old picked up a magnet wand and a lid was stuck to it. Wide eyed he looked at me. I picked up a magnet wand with a can lid stuck to it. We exchanged several words.
He proceeded to drop and pick up the lid several times eventually spinning the lid on the end of the magnet. He did this several times until it was more fun to kick the lid when it fell, thus starting a whole additional investigation.
The child was so filled with awe and wonder I couldn’t help but be caught up in his learning. I also thought I could have so easily missed the whole thing by being “busy” elsewhere! Keep your eyes open to all the learning possibilities that surround you!
Merry Christmas!
Well hello there! Merry Christmas!
Coaching and Mentoring
I have been posting current course work reflections and have not written any new posts, I stumbled upon this essay from 2011. This is the first half! I am now practicing what I was just coming to realize in 2011. I am surprised by how closely these words ring true today!
Happy reading and reflecting on your own ability to coach.
ECPK 401
Coaching and Mentoring in Early Childhood Programs
Susan Eliason
Bridewater State University
Final reflective essay
June 2, 2011
I have a new and different perspective about facilitating the growth and development of educators. After reading the text book, Mentor Coaching and Leadership in Early Care and Education by Mary Nolan and participating in class and blackboard discussions my perspective has shifted from, “more work to do”, to, “the outcome of this process will far outweigh the work of mentor coaching.”
Coaching others to take on more responsibility and accountability in leadership roles I will engage teachers in ways that make our school a better early education center and take some responsibilities off of myself, the administrator. I can also see that encouraging an educators’ growth and development might improve their motivation and self-esteem, thus providing a structure in which the result outweighs what I thought would be so much work.
I have been engaged in the status quo with my educators for quite some time, allowing the small team that I work with to stay in the same place professionally. I was very intrigued with the five minute mentor coaching activities as a perfect way to start easing into changing this status quo. I now see that mentor coaching is related to leadership in several ways. As one takes on more challenges professionally with the right supportive coach/protégé relationship success will follow. As these successes mount the quality of care for children and families will improve. If we can learn how to manage our professionalism and take care of each other, everyone wins. In a relationship filled with dialogue and respect, the feeling of one’s success as well as successes for the children and families served is deeply satisfying. Everyday feels new and engaging and not stale. Everybody wins.
I had believed that continuing ones professional growth and development by getting a formal education was simply to be expected professional development. I believed that the educators’ was responsible to be motivated and knowledgeable enough to realize that moving to a new level professionally was prudent for job security and staying relevant. Upon reflection I now see that this is why an active role in coaching is important. There is no separation between mentor coaching and professional development. I will try to understand the educator from the place where he/she is instead of being disappointed that they don’t want to advance educationally. I will recognize their value from a point of view of taking on leadership roles and developing professionally even though it may not include higher education at first. I now respect that there is a relationship to be built between mentor coach and protégé where kindness, trust and dialog need to be present. I will be skilled at better evaluating the phase of career the educator is in so as to suggest activities that may move them to a new level. As a mentor coach my role would be to make sure that we had a professional development plan in place that was appropriate for both parties. This plan could include many different leadership roles that might build the educators’ self- esteem and motivate him/her to continue his/her education. I will continue to be a model and a lifelong learner.
Program Director Reflection
This post is a reflection assignment for my Financial Management of Early Childhood Programs class at the University of Alaska.
After reading The National Association of Education for Young Children’s, Program Administrator Definition and Competencies, NAEYC, 2007 https://oldweb.naeyc.org/academy/criteria/core_competencies.html and the article, “Is Your Work a Calling? An interview with Kimberly Cothran” by Margie Carter, EXCHANGE, September/October 2016 Is Your Work a Calling_Kim Cothran.pdf I have summarized my own skills as follows.
Three personal qualities I possess that allow me to be a good director are first, organizational skills, second, interpersonal skills and third, analytical skills.
The first skill, organization, helps to ensure that all certifications and record keeping, and policy and procedure up to date and easily accessible. Organization allows me to prioritize daily duties and make sure that each classroom is staffed and functioning at a high level. Organizational skills help to ensure that the environment is beautiful and safe. At the end of the day, organizational skills assure that another person could fairly easily pick up where I left off. This is important to me to know that operations would continue smoothly if I were absent.
The second set of skills, interpersonal skills, allow me to listen and respond to children, teachers and families to meet their needs with competence and knowledge. These skills include an ability to suspend judgement and value each person individually. Compassion and empathy allow me to communicate with both families and the teachers I work with. Fairness in negotiation and evaluation of teachers is an important interpersonal skill. Meeting people “where they are” and looking for the good in any situation help me to be a good director.
Analytical skills are the third set of skills that allow me to perform as a director. These skills involve the ability to understand the fiscal aspects of the business to be able to respond to cash flow, profitability and budgeting. Remaining current in the field by attending workshops, conferences, enrolling in class and reading and understanding current research and trends in early childhood in important to my success as a director.
Three responsibilities of a director that these qualities allow me to excel in are leadership, mentoring and advocacy.
Leadership to me is the ability to walk away from my job knowing that I have left people empowered to continue where I have left off. It is providing direction and vision to the organization. Leadership includes the ability to motivate and inspire those around you to provide the best customer service in a positive environment. Leadership also means surrounding myself with people smarter than me and being humble to them.
The second responsibility of a director is to be a mentor as well as a mentee. It is important to be a continual learner, learning from each other in this role. Being a mentor involves elevating people in their own journey and allowing them to do the same for you. It is a way to identify for yourself and your teachers individual and collective goals and objectives.
Lastly, being a director means advocating for children, families and the child care provider on a daily basis both at the local, state and national level. Advocacy happens in the center every day, we need to see ourselves as advocates and help teachers take it to the next level whether it be community, state or national.
In conclusion the director must wear many hats all the while being cognoscente of his/her own well-being and taking care to replenish his/her energy.