Computer and digital technology is a topic touched on in several of my classes. Over the past few semesters, the conversations have begun to shift from open-minded positions to intolerance.
Continue reading “Video Games in Preschool?”
Last semester, when talking about self-care among early childhood professionals a student said, “In my program, they put a massage chair in the teacher’s lounge. If I take a break to use the chair then I am shamed by other teachers.” Heads of other students nodded. I paused to give students an opportunity to process the comment and formulate a response.
Continue reading “Self-care among Early Childhood Professionals Demands Self-Resilience”
The topic of communication in the field of early childhood education is more dynamic and complex than most people inside and outside the field recognize. Early childhood professionals must communicate with families, children, and co-workers at the very least. But those roles are just the beginning.
Continue reading “How Early Childhood Professionals Can Approach Communication”
“Andrew, you talk so much about inclusion, but I feel like what you talk about does not transfer to our virtual classroom,” said a student the second night of class. I paused for a minute to process the question. In class, I always frame inclusion as an environment where everyone feels a sense of unconditional belonging and high access to opportunities. I use the DEC Recommended Practices and emphasize equality versus equity versus liberation. The classes I teach are virtual. We use Zoom. Are MY classes inclusive?
Continue reading “Inclusion in the Virtual Classroom”
Last week both of my kids were introduced to a video on peer pressure. It wasn’t formally part of the virtual school learning, but it was included in a program that their classrooms use. Shortly after watching a movie where a character is “drunk” my daughters gave me a lesson on peer pressure. It started with, “Dad, peer pressure can be really bad.” The lesson was great, but it didn’t include anything on how peer pressure provides an opportunity for learning and growing. So after they were done teaching me we had a conversation on exactly that.
Continue reading “Dad, Peer Pressure Can Be Really Bad”
It’s been about a month since most of the United States quickly ground to a halt. As many have said, as a country entered a self-induced coma. Each day is unlike any that has ever been experienced. All the while, like all other parents of young children we have been forced to take on challenges that exceed our expertise, resources, and patience.
Continue reading “Thinking About Gen Alpha During COVID-19”
We were eating breakfast the other day when by daughter asked,
“Daddy, what is mental illness?”
“…well sweetie, like all of the other amazing questions you ask me, the answer is not easy for me to explain. Can you let me think about it for a little while? I won’t have a great answer, but I’ll try my best…” Continue reading “Will I Have and Mental Illness?”
About three years ago, just as my older daughter discovered riddles I came across a new one for me in a news article. This riddle was more striking than any others I had seen in the past and I thought I would run it by her. She solved the riddle immediately without hesitation! Me, it took a minute.
Continue reading “Drawing a Scientist – Representation can Disrupt Stereotypes”
There’s a lot of stop and go traffic in our city. Our 3-mile drive to school tends to take us 15 to 20 minutes each morning. Needless to say, over the years we’ve been at a traffic standstill behind many cars that are…colorful. Especially the language on bumper stickers.
Continue reading “Why Do People Have Bumper Stickers?”
Boarding the plane for a recent trip, my daughter inched patiently behind me counting each row we passed anxiously waiting to get to row 26. As we approached our seats she tapped me on the lower back and said, “Daddy, can I sit next to you? Sister can sit next to mommy.”
Continue reading “Why are Most of the People Who Work at Airports of Color? And Pilots White?”
Parenting My Alphas 