As long as I can remember I have been interested in working with children. During grade school, I volunteered to spend my lunch periods in the special needs classroom to help out. When I attended church I helped out in the nursery. So once I hit college it was refreshing to learn that I would now be able to go to school to learn more about working with children.
It has been an experience-filled journey to get to where I am today. All of my experiences weren't wonderful but they all helped me learn what I know today. One of which is nothing works the way the books say they will, application is whole different animal. When working with children, families and staff you are working with people and this means unpredictability because they are capable of a wide range of reactions to daily plans.
As a scholar-practioner, as I am able to assist others, provide support and help people find resources in regards to the children they are working with I am constantly learning. I have to stay up to date on new research and findings so I am able to impart the newest knowledge I am aware of to those I work with. I want to be thought of as a resource to those I work with. I find it so rewarding to be able to offer the teacher or director who is becoming burned out a solution to a problem. I love to see the changes take place in the classroom and with the children as they apply new techniques in the classroom. I love to help them make their supervision stronger and safer for children.
One of my overall concerns is that all early childhood professionals are not getting enough support and do not have equal opportunities in education and trainings. This is very critical when it comes to them recognizing typical development in children and planning for it. Many early childhood educators are reactionary because they don't have the support to use developmentally appropriate approaches.
In the future, I plan to complete my current degree and continue to be a great resource for those I work with. I would like to begin educating at the college level so I can share the knowledge I am acquiring with others.
Family is very important to me and has always been. I have a very close-knit family and we do many activities together. I believe it is important to expose children to as many experiences as possible for them to learn. This hands-on experience is one of the best methods for learning. Play has been a big part of my life as I grew up as well as now providing those experiences for my own children. My own parents gave us many experiences through travel and allowing us to explore our surroundings. These are valuable experiences I wouldn't have learned in a classroom or through a book. This is the type of learning I am trying to share with those I work with so they will offer authentic learning to children.
http://tlewisblogdoc.blogspot.com/2013/03/about-tracy-lewis.html
