my first blog ever

  Within my environment, there are many factors that provide support in my life. I cannot imagine where I would be without my family, friends, co-workers/career or even the chance to go back to school to get my master's degree, amongst other things.  The various people in my life support me by giving me encouragement to get through the hard days and being there for me through the happy or sad days.  My colleagues and professors reassure me that I am not alone on my journey to finish my master's program.  The children and their families, in my class, make me feel like I chose the right career path, by creating positive and long-lasting relationships with me. Plus, my career allows me to live a comfortable lifestyle.      If I did not have one or more of these support systems, I would find it difficult to be the person I am today.  I can't imagine having to go through life feeling alone, maybe unaccepted or not having the funds to live...

Essential play items for when I was younger: I have many fond memories of playing as child. One such time was when my siblings, cousins and I would pretend to be students and teacher.  We would make up an attendance list, "homework" and tests.  We each would take turns being the teacher and come up with our own set of rules. I also remember being able to play outside, especially playing kickball with the kids in the neighborhood. On the front lawn, there were two trees, a rosebush and a large rock, which all served as the bases. We would play for hours, until it was time to go in for dinner. Our parents supported our play by allowing us to play.  They did not interrupt or interfere with our play unless it was necessary.  They allowed us to have fun. Times have definitely changed since I was a child.  I feel when I was younger, children were able to play outside more often and without adult supervision. Nowadays, children do n...

        The most important relationships I have are the ones with my family. I am close to not only my immediate family (my mom, dad, sister and brother), but also to my extended family. We do many things together, whether it's going on a family vacation  or getting together for no particular reason. My family has supported me in everything I do and I can't imagine what my life would be without them.        My family isn't the only positive relationship I have in my life.  I, also, have great relationships with many of my coworkers. Several of them I can talk to, not only about situations happening at work but also about personal things.  We always have a fun time when we're together.      Lastly, I have two friend who mean a lot to me.  Between us, there's over 30 years of friendship.  Even though our friendship may not always be the best it could be, I know they will always be there for...

When I think of child development, I think about how important play is and how some believe that children do not learn while playing. I think that this quote sums it all up. THANK YOU!!! To Haleema, Thank you so much for your insightful blog posts and comments.  I have learned a lot from reading all of them. Your passion shows in all that you write and share. I want to wish you the best of luck as you continue through this program. Best wishes, Trisha To Jaqueline, I would like to thank you for sharing your thoughts and opinions throughout this course. I enjoyed reading your blog and your point of view. I wish you much success on your journey at Walden.  Hopefully we will cross paths again in our other classes. Best wishes, Trisha

As individuals, we are all unique with our own special characteristics that make us who we are. So, when it comes to assessing children or measuring their intelligence, why should there be one standardized test that tests specific aspects of children’s intelligence?   Plus, considering we all have various learning styles, how could these types of tests be accurate?   When I was younger, I had problems with comprehension, and when it came to standardized tests, I would run out of time to complete certain sections.   I wasn’t smart or didn’t know the information, I just couldn’t retain it even if I read it five minutes prior. Assessments should focus on children as a whole, with all their abilities (creative, physical, musical, etc.) taken into consideration and appropriate for their age. In Ontario, Canada, children new to the country are given preliminary assessment tests to find the correct grade placement, however not all school boards provide assessments. Childre...

     Every child deals with some type of stress throughout his or her life.  One stress I can remember from my childhood was when my parents separated and thought about divorcing.  My parents barely fought in front of my siblings and me, so it was a shock when they sat us down and told us this news.  I didn't understand how this could be happening.  I was scared of what would happen to us kids if they did get divorced. Who would we live with? What would become of our "happy" family?     Because we were young children, my parents thought it would be best if we would talk to a counselor, by ourselves and together as a family.  And that's what we did. However, not only was I able to talk to a professional about what I was feeling, my parents were extra supportive during this difficult time, which lasted for a little more than a year.  I can't remember how much and if either of these things helped me back then, but I know it did affect...

                                                                      Immunizations Prior to 2010, as an adult, I got immunizations because I was working in a school and it was required for me to get certain ones (i.e. MMR, Tdap, etc.). I never thought about getting the flu shot because who wants to be given small dose of the flu in the first place, right? However, in December of 2010 when my nephew was born, my sister, in the most loving way possible, let our family know that if we wanted to be around her newborn son we needed to get the flu shot.  Of course, I wanted to see my one and only nephew, so I got the shot even though I, like most people, do not like any type of shots or needles. Yes, my arm becomes a little sore but that is the worst side effect that has ever come from getting immunizations. ...