Early Childhood Educator in Calgary, Alberta

Working with young children, transformed me into a permanent student. Every child is so unique, beautiful and precious! Before all the work can begin, I have to get to know these little people first, which includes my striving to understand their amazing idiosyncracies. Establishing a routine and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, will help children to feel comfortable soon and to become acclimatized to an exciting new learning environment. I had often students who cried on the first day of school and beyond. One boy in particular, an only child, who had never experienced any type of separation from his family, was terrified with being in a large group of children. His family was new to this country and in the process of learning English. I witnessed their despair and exhaustion and also a sense of helplessness. It was not a quick fix but rather the understanding and trust that developed over time between this child, his parents and myself that made this difficult transition, after all, a very rewarding experience for everyone involved. So, I often ask myself: Who is this child? What is his or her competencies and attributes? How do I get to understand and use their personal strength? What does he or she needs in order to move on to the next step? In the past, I have had the pleasure to collaborate with numerous \'Artists in Residence\'. The Reggio approach, for example, gave me insights in allowing children to make sense of their learning their way. I will never forget this little boy...his wide smile, his turbulent energy, his clinging hugs...and he was in the process of repeating Kindergarten. He did not only arrived with a designated Educational Assistant and with a file three inches thick, but also with an entourage of specialists in the field of education and health to support him and and his family. Developmentally, he was possibly at a stage of a two year old. He desperately wanted to have friends, but couldn\'t initiate a positive rapport with any one of his 27 classmates for various reasons. His mates were quite wary of his unpredictable temper and rightly so. Indeed, it was very challenging assignment for the E.A. to be with him and so the first one, he came with, left. And so did the next one. And the one after that one and so on. The sixth E.A. was a mature, motherly type of person, who could \'read\' that little boy. Can you imagine?! To me, it was like a miracle!! You may ask, what happened? Well, before he would lose his temper, he was invited to sit on her lap and suck his thumb. It worked. That is exactly what he needed to do to sooth himself. This fabulous E.A. and I kept impeccable records and by the end of this unforgettable school year, he received for the next school year medication and a placement in a specialized program. A year later my principal shared with me that he is \'thriving\' in his new learning environment...and that he has expressed extremely fond memories of his time in my classroom. And I will never forget his wide smile, his turbulent energy, his clinging hugs...