Professional Interests and Resources

Social emotional development

For young children, one important function of their life is how they react and respond to other people, including teachers, parents and other adults, and also other children in the classroom around them. For many children, preschool or kindergarten might be the first time they extensively interact with other children of their age group outside of their family, and it can be the cause of many problems and much drama as children first come into this setting. As a teacher, we should work and and empower children to overcome these issues and develop children's social emotional skills.

In this article, it talks about children talking and interacting in a positive classroom environment, teachers role in that classroom environment, how to model and guide appropriate behavior, and other techniques to help children adapt and improve. https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/mar2018/promoting-social-and-emotional-health

Just as Preschool or kindergarten might be one of the first places where young children interact with peers there age, it can also be one of the first places a child interacts with adult figures outside of their family. As an adult who is working with children in there formative years, it is beneficial to work on being a model for appropriate behavior and responses in the classroom. Being a good model for children can help them in their own lives and assist them in solving any problems they may have in the classroom. This article here has a few ways to model to children appropraite behavior. https://teachingstrategies.com/blog/5-ways-support-social-emotional-development-early-childhood/

This final article here has a wide variety of resources for children to aid them in development in any ways they need extra support. https://www.buildupmi.org/thrive?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=thrive3-5

Kindergarten preparation

One area that is near and dear to me is preparation for kindergarten. The majority of children I interact with is children between 45 to 60 months of age, generally children who are in their schoolyear before entering kindergarten. This is a time where I witness children make great strides in learning, with it being the foundation of their kindergarten life and school career ahead. As teachers, we all want the best for children under our care, and want to see them reach their full potential. To ensure this happens, I strive to apply and push children to reach or exceed their goals and expectations so they are better prepared for their lives ahead.

While children are the ones who are learning and developing, teachers can also learn and adapt, and are the guiding source for many children. Teachers and their curriculum are what can set the pace for children's growth, and may need to chance and adjust for meet children that come under their care. In this article, there is steps and advice that can be used and applied to aid children in preparing for kindergarten. https://teachingstrategies.com/blog/5-steps-to-ensure-children-are-ready-for-kindergarten/

To be ready for kindergarten, children need a large variety of skills to develop, including physically, cognitively and social emotionally. By developing these skills, children will not only be ready to go to kindergarten and learn and experience all the activities and education, but also to experience the social aspects of a more advanced school environment. Teachers, caregivers and kids themselves should apply themselves to developing children's skills in all of these aspects to best prepare children for their lives ahead. This article has a few of the most prominent skills and ways teachers and caregivers can show and apply these skills. https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/mde/Year/2016/08/15/Ready_for_Kindergarten_442865_7.pdf?rev=50d0e02b6c144a3fb233a7821ad4e1da

This article again has a wide variety of resources and options to help children learn and develop to lay the foundation of their lives. https://www.buildupmi.org/thrive?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=thrive3-5