Welcome!

     Welcome to my blog! This blog has no rhyme or reason other than to share in the qualms of daily work with infants and toddlers. I may share some stories from my classroom, pictures of environments, or funny things I find from the line. 

     I decided to make this blog because, as an infant toddler teacher I am CONSTANTLY asked "are you going to teach real kids someday?" Hmm… "real" seems an interesting way to put it, but in that case, yes, I do teach REAL children. I teach them empathy, how to share, how to care for others, how to care for themselves, independence, a love for reading, a love for the outdoors, and most importantly I give them the freedom to be children and to feel like they can play and explore as they please, because we all know that play is how the youngest of children do learn, right? And we are also aware that the most brain synapses, i.e. learning, takes place in the FIRST FIVE YEARS, right? Of course :)

     A little about me: I am an early childhood teacher who has worked directly with children from birth through five for over ten years now. Most of my experience is with toddlers, as I find this age to be full of wonder and excitement, and you can literally see children learning new things all the time. I have a high interest in infant brain development, and have enjoyed exploring studies by John Bowlby about attachment during infancy. I also love the works of Jonathan Kozol who explores young children and their families in poverty, and the horrific qualms of our educational system right here in our very own country. Things are not as amazing as some may think they are… I received my masters of science degree in education with a specialization in early childhood education in 8/13, and if you ask what I "want to be" I will give you the same response I give everyone: I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up, but I know I want to make a difference. 

What does an infant toddler teacher have to deal with?
Parents!
Policies
Research-Based Practices
Expectations (state, national)
Un-educated staff
Low Pay (Luckily not me!)
Lack of guidance and support from supervisors uneducated in infant brain development
High staff turnover in the field
Physically demanding challenges everyday
Documentation/Portfolios (Lack of time given to teachers to accomplish high quality reports) 

Hmm… Almost sounds like teaching to me, just less pay, more physically demanding, less planning time, and the notion from society that you are not in a 'real job' and 'not really teaching'. I will vent on many of these issues and concerns through time. Enjoy :)