Here is My Teaching Practice Reflection

Posted on February 10, 2023 by LaShawndra Williams

I attempt to ensure that I say hello and goodbye to each child and family member when they enter and exit the room. The messages I think my hellos send are that I see and acknowledge the child and family member. It can change someone’s mood and open the door for communication which can lead to helping us connect to one another at a more personal level. The message I think my goodbyes send are that until next time, we will keep in touch. The messages I believe the lack of my hellos and goodbyes send is that I am rude and don’t care for or about the parents or their kids.

When a kid cries a lot when his parents say good-bye I think that it is hard for the kid and that he may have separation anxiety. I also think that maybe something is bothering the child. His crying makes me feel a bit upset because I feel sorry that he is hurting but I understand that it is normal and will find ways to help his goodbyes go smoother. Yes, I feel differently about a child who never cries at drop-off time. It makes me feel good because it lets me know that the child is comfortable with me.

One reason some parents may leave without saying goodbye because they are running late for work. Another reason that parents may leave without saying goodbye because they care too much ad can’t handle seeing their kid crying. There is also the reason of not allowing their kid to persuade them to give in and take them back home with them. When the parents leave that way I feel like they may not be in a good mood. I think the children feel confused, upset, and maybe even hopeless.

At the end, I help parents reunite with their child by allowing the child to show them the art they created for them. I also tell the parents how their child’s day was and one or two helpful things that they did. When a child continues to play, a parent may be pleased to see her child having fun or disappointed that her child has not acknowledged her. When a kid cries, a parent may feel guilty.

Here is my Language learning development reflection

Posted on February 4, 2023 by LaShawndra Williams

Concept of development using descriptive language
- One example of this is when a caretaker points to and identifies photographs of the child’s family. Inquiring where grandma is.
- Another example of this is when a caretaker describing to children how the sky looks by saying things like “the sky is real cloudy today”
Describing events and actions
- One example of this is the caregiver describing the process of hand washing while demonstrating how.
- Another example of is while playing with cars, a caregiver instructs children, “Look, you can roll after the car,” and asks, “Are you going backwards?”
Social and emotional development
- One example of this is responding promptly to cries and other attempts to communicate.
- Asking children questions and pausing to allow them time to consider and respond.
Responding to communication attempts
- One example of this when the infant begins to cry, and the father asks, “Are you hungry?” before getting up to prepare a bottle for her.
- Another example of this is while looking at stuffed animals, a child begins to fuss, prompting the caregiver to inquire whether he or she would prefer to complete the activity while sitting down.
Positive language for guidance
- One example of this when the caregiver instructs the child to be gentle because the child desires to hold the infant.
- Another example of this when the caregiver asking the child to find a toy the baby can hold and thanking the child for his or her assistance.

Here is my reflection of a webinar on The 4 Components Infants Need for Healthy Brain Development reflection

Posted on February 4, 2023 by LaShawndra Williams

Before viewing the webinar what I knew about the topic was that the topic was that everyday experiences contribute to shape the foundation of infants brains. These every day experiences include things like routines and people that infants come in contact with. The environment also plays part of the brain development of an infant. If the infant’s environment includes support, love, consistency, and proper care this will build healthy brains and come with positive effects. If the infant’s environment includes neglect, abuse, and bad-mouthing this usually will tear down or delay the development of the brain and come with negative effects.

I feel that this approach is extremely beneficial in order to achieve healthy brain development for infants. Being present for your infant in combination with the four elements of them needing to be seen, soothed, feel safe and be stimulated will wire the infant’s brain for healthy development. In terms of being seen it means being in tune with your infant is doing or trying to say to you. In terms of being soothed it means that adults must regulate first to help their child self-regulate. In order for your child to feel safe it is best to respond calmly. In terms of being stimulated face to face interactions are best.

I can apply this philosophy in my teaching practice by making sure to incorporate the four elements into my classroom and all areas if possible. I will aim to create an environment that engages the children to learn, and I will do this by asking them of their interests and incorporating the interests into my lessons and centers. I plan to gain my students trust simply by getting to know them, acknowledging, and listening to them. Taking the time to talk and listen to my students shows that I care about and value them. When students feel their teacher care about them it makes them feel safe.

I find the “I love you” rituals to be interesting. The description of the book grabbed my attention most. It states that there are 75 activities listed and that they are all designed to strengthen adult-child relationships and create connections. They ensure the building of positive, lifelong bonds between adults and children. I wonder if the 75 activities differentiate by domain.