Friday, January 11, 2013

Neil Postman quote

This Quote is so true for us, especially today when we continue to teach our children in the old way. 

We are entering a new Era, a new time. While many parts and ways we are teaching are still effective for most, we need to step up our game and teach for the Future!


From Wikipedia: "Neil Postman (March 8, 1931 – October 5, 2003) was an American authormedia theorist and cultural critic, who is best known by the general public for his 1985 book about television, Amusing Ourselves to Death. For more than forty years, he was associated with New York University. Postman was a humanist, who believed that "new technology can never substitute for human values.""

Blessings

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Blissful Teacher offers classes


I am offering my first education classes. Coming this February I will be teaching locally two classes through Freecycle. These classes are being hosted by Mendocino Baby, and this is where they will be offered.

Here is my Public Service Announcement sent to several local radio stations, this should be read aloud:
“Learn the recipe for play! Come To Mendocino Baby for two unique Mendo Free skool classes. Come on February 12th to learn some fun recipes and potions for play with young children. Then on February 19th for ideas to turn activities like sorting socks into learning math and shopping for food into pre-reading experiences. Hosted by Mendocino Baby in their classroom and starting at 4pm,. Contact Kristi from Blissful Teacher at 707-360-7334. Come have some fun!”

Here is the class information for the Mendo Free Skool Calendar:
Recipes for fun with young children Tues. Feb. 12th 
Parents will learn how to use everyday ingredients to create easy and fun recipes, potions, goos and goops! Make like a Preschool Teacher and make your own, will also have some recipes for gluten free options. See you at Mendocino Baby!

Making Learning Fun at home Tues Feb. 19th 
Everyday we are doing chores and typical life goes by while our children are watching. Use these activities to encourage math and literacy skills in your children. When you sort socks into size and color talk about it with your children and they will learn color names, counting, mathematical thinking, and critical thinking skills. Come to this class and learn other ways to make every moment a teachable moment.

I am very excited for this opportunity to practice sharing my skills with our community. I hope that lots of parents, homeschooling teachers and preschool teachers come and see what I am offering in these classes. It will be fun and educational.


Blessings

Monday, January 7, 2013

Rock Stars




Preschool teachers are Rock Stars! We are, we know cool recipes to make play dough and paint, can plant things, create interest centers in a few minutes; we decorate our walls with cute and professional documentation that is both attractive and educational all while juggling theoretic knowledge and Developmentally appropriate practice.

Talk to any Preschool teacher and most have gone to more college, workshops and classes than most people; We have a better understanding of how children actually learn and can control 12 to 24 children under the age of 5. Now that is a Skill not to be taken lightly. So why do we, with all the love of our job, and all the understanding of how important it is, still allow it to be minimized. The funding for early education is one of the smallest of budgets, pay is anywhere from $9 to $18 and hour. This means that the cashier at Costco is making more money than a preschool teacher.

Preschool teachers come to their job with extensive training and passion for the work involved. They love to learn new activities, new therories, new educational methods. This is not an entry level position, and why when so many parents are literally fighting to get their children into great preschools are we not working harder to make all preschools great.

Remember to thank your preschool teacher! Your preschool teacher is a Rock Star and puts a lot of thought into what “PLAY” your children will learn from today.

Blessings