Friday, July 22, 2011

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Quotable Quotes from Renatta Cooper, Program Specialist, Office of Child Care, LA County Chief Administrative Office:
               " It's not all about you; You have to take ego out to figure out what's best for this child."
               "I see Early Childhood Education, all education, as a civil rights issue."
               "We have a long way to go, until we achieve these goals, I will work."

Quotable Quote from Lilian G. Katz:
               "The issue here is not whether academic skills matter; rather it is WHEN they matter." (Katz, 2008)

Quotable Quotes from Sue Bredekamp:
               "For children to benefit fully from play, teachers must take their own roles seriously." (Bredekamp, 2005)
              "The Early Childhood profession must first increase its degree of consensus about these issues, then act with 1 voice to influence policy."(Bredekamp and Shepard, 1990)     

posted by Elizabeth King Santos @ 6:20 AM 4 Comments

Friday, July 15, 2011

Personal Childhood Web

I would like to take this opportunity to honour a few of the people who have made me who I am today... Those who have cared for, nurtured and helped develop me.  
At my wedding
Standing from left to right: sisters Jessica and Missy, Papa, myself, husband Jason, Mommy, brothers Robby and Ziggy
Seated from left to right: sister-in-law Tisha, brother/Kuya Edward


First is my mother, Josefina Anita Brown King.  Very loving, Mom never runs out of kisses and heart hugs for all her kids.  Compassion is one of her gifts, making her the go-to girl for everybody we know.  She has also been supportive of all my choices and endeavours.  She attended all Parent Teacher Conferences about me and all activities in school and was often voted PTA president too.  When I got low grades she never seemed disappointed or angry like the moms of my friends.  Instead, she always said with a hug, "I know you can do better.  Try again next term".  This inspired me to always try to do better, knowing that my mom believes in me.      
An educator herself, my mom has taught me and my siblings how to be very independent in studying.  She did not baby us when we had assignments or researches to do. She bought all reference books she knew and encouraged us to look for the references we needed by ourselves.  I also remember how my mom would respond when my siblings and I asked her what a particular word meant... she would always say, "we have a dictionary. Go look it up".  Frustrating for little kids like us but I see now why she did that.  
It is because of her influence and training that I did well in school.  It is because of her belief that I was able to also believe in myself.  Her loving ways have also helped me become more loving and compassionate to people around me.  


Second, my Papa, Edward "Dodie" King.  Everyone who knows our family thinks that I am our Papa's favorite, called often as the Daddy's Girl.  I do not think this is true though I admit that I think I am the closest one to him.  My Papa was very hands-on in caring for me, which he was not able to do for my brothers and sisters (work prevented him from doing so).  He never lacked in showing affection to his children.  We always received hugs, kisses and playful shoves from him.  A sport enthusiast, he is the one who inspired us to pursue sports.  He encouraged all of us to do our best in the sport we have chosen.  
I did well in sports mainly because of him and he made me feel like the most important person in the world.  His love for me helped develop a positive self image. 


Third, my Kuya (Kuya is a Filipino term for older brother), Edward B. King, Jr.  Yaki, as I fondly call him, took real good care of me.  Being 7 years older, he looked after me, baby sat for me and according to my mom, was very proud of me; he would brag about me to his friends and classmates while referring to me as HIS "pinky baby".  His affectionate ways, I believe influenced me to become very caring and nurturing to my younger siblings.  


Fourth person is my Kindergarten teacher, Prof. Dena S. Culaba.  Teacher Dena was a great teacher.  She always took the time to know each of us, encouraging us to be the best that we could be.  I remember her sitting behind the piano playing and singing for us.  A smile never left her face.  I loved her as a teacher.  That is why even if I got an abusive teacher the following year, my experience with T. Dena seemed to have balanced it off.  As a child, I kept thinking that when I become a teacher I will be like T. Dena.  Now, I am happy to say that my favorite teacher is now a colleague.  She is the chair in the department (Early Childhood) that I teach in (and she looks exactly the same as she did when she taught me in Kinder; she did not age at all).       
Me (seated center) with T. Dena (seated wearing white), my former Kindergarten teacher and now our department Head
   

posted by Elizabeth King Santos @ 4:12 AM 2 Comments

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

A Teacher Can Make or Break a Child

I have heard this expression a number of times already and I do know that it is true.  I was once physically and emotionally abused by a teacher during my early grades and this experience nearly broke me.  From a child who was known to be cheerful, active and very participative in class, I became withdrawn, insecure and scared all the time.  My mom said that she was surprised to see me change from a child who enjoyed school and did all homeworks way in advance to a child who would hide under the dining table and hold on to the table stand for dear life when tried to be carried to go to school.  I refused to go to school, crying everytime I was forced to.  My parents had no idea about what was happening to me in school for I never told... I guess I was too scared to tell them.  Fortunately, a classmate of mine who was just 7 years old at that time did not like what was happening to me, so when she went to my house, she told my mom everything. 

I was able to escape this horrible experience and I praise God for giving me the strength to withstand this.  He made me experience great teachers before and after my abusive one and helped me look to the other teachers for example instead.

Nonetheless, I still believe that this experience has marred me in a way for as a student until college and graduate courses, I would not recite unless I had no choice.  Reciting and being reprimanded by teachers still scare me.  That is why I do what I do... I train aspiring teachers so that they will be the best teachers that they could be... Hoping and praying that no other child will get to experience what I went through and instead have the fondest of memories of their early childhood years.       

posted by Elizabeth King Santos @ 6:25 AM 3 Comments

The Giving Tree - One of My Favorite Children's Books


The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein is a personal favorite.  Many people have different interpretations for this story, but for me, it represents the purest of love.  I am reminded of our Father's love for us by this story; a true example of agape love... unconditional love. 

I suggest you get a copy of this book and read it... let it move you as it did me...

posted by Elizabeth King Santos @ 4:33 AM 2 Comments

A childhood photo



I chose this photo because I often see my son with this same expression now... We do not look anything alike but when he does this expression you'ld see that we do look alike.  

posted by Elizabeth King Santos @ 4:25 AM 2 Comments