there was a time in my life I worked at a funeral home I was an errand girl I
a funeral home I was an errand girl I
a funeral home I was an errand girl I had various duties I would make bank
had various duties I would make bank
had various duties I would make bank runs shop for supplies drop death
runs shop for supplies drop death
runs shop for supplies drop death certificates off dust the funeral parlor
certificates off dust the funeral parlor
certificates off dust the funeral parlor between services pick up and drop off
between services pick up and drop off
between services pick up and drop off items to the deceased families I didn’t
items to the deceased families I didn’t
items to the deceased families I didn’t realize it at the time but this job was
realize it at the time but this job was
realize it at the time but this job was draining because I was surrounded by
draining because I was surrounded by
draining because I was surrounded by death and people in mourning then one
death and people in mourning then one
death and people in mourning then one day the universe spoke to me on my list
day the universe spoke to me on my list
day the universe spoke to me on my list of errands I had to deliver chairs to a
of errands I had to deliver chairs to a
of errands I had to deliver chairs to a nursery school I pulled up to the school
nursery school I pulled up to the school
nursery school I pulled up to the school walked into the classroom and was
walked into the classroom and was
walked into the classroom and was surrounded by life 15 high-energy
surrounded by life 15 high-energy
surrounded by life 15 high-energy children running around literally
children running around literally
children running around literally resuscitated me I felt alive I knew at
resuscitated me I felt alive I knew at
resuscitated me I felt alive I knew at that moment I had to make a change in
that moment I had to make a change in
that moment I had to make a change in jobs I took my first position as an
jobs I took my first position as an
jobs I took my first position as an assistant teacher at that nursery school
assistant teacher at that nursery school
assistant teacher at that nursery school this opportunity transformed me
this opportunity transformed me
this opportunity transformed me I went from night today but there was
I went from night today but there was
I went from night today but there was more to the transforming that impacted
more to the transforming that impacted
more to the transforming that impacted me I found meaning to the famous quote
me I found meaning to the famous quote
me I found meaning to the famous quote do what you love and you will never work
do what you love and you will never work
do what you love and you will never work a day in your life at 19 years old I
a day in your life at 19 years old I
a day in your life at 19 years old I found my passion in life which today has
found my passion in life which today has
found my passion in life which today has become my purpose in the world things 20
become my purpose in the world things 20
become my purpose in the world things 20 years ago looked very different my time
years ago looked very different my time
years ago looked very different my time in the classroom was strongly impacted
in the classroom was strongly impacted
in the classroom was strongly impacted on classroom management every bit of the
on classroom management every bit of the
on classroom management every bit of the day was on a schedule intended for
day was on a schedule intended for
day was on a schedule intended for children to meet pre-planned agendas and
expectations led by adults let me see a
expectations led by adults let me see a show of hands of the people here who are
show of hands of the people here who are
show of hands of the people here who are familiar with a preschool daily schedule
okay
okay for those of you who aren’t I’m gonna
for those of you who aren’t I’m gonna
for those of you who aren’t I’m gonna give you a run-through
give you a run-through
give you a run-through it looks something like this the day
it looks something like this the day
it looks something like this the day would start off with 15 minutes greeting
would start off with 15 minutes greeting
would start off with 15 minutes greeting time 30 minutes free play 10 minutes
time 30 minutes free play 10 minutes
time 30 minutes free play 10 minutes hand-washing 15 minutes morning snack 10
hand-washing 15 minutes morning snack 10
hand-washing 15 minutes morning snack 10 minutes breakfast time 10 minutes circle
minutes breakfast time 10 minutes circle
minutes breakfast time 10 minutes circle time
time
time 60 minutes free play and pre-planned
60 minutes free play and pre-planned
60 minutes free play and pre-planned activity 15 minutes bathroom time
activity 15 minutes bathroom time
activity 15 minutes bathroom time hand-washing and cleanup 30 minutes
hand-washing and cleanup 30 minutes
hand-washing and cleanup 30 minutes outside time 10 minutes cleanup from
outside time 10 minutes cleanup from
outside time 10 minutes cleanup from outside one minute to come in from
outside one minute to come in from
outside one minute to come in from outside 10 minutes for hand-washing in
outside 10 minutes for hand-washing in
outside 10 minutes for hand-washing in story time 20 minutes for lunch time 60
story time 20 minutes for lunch time 60
story time 20 minutes for lunch time 60 minutes rest time which by the way if
minutes rest time which by the way if
minutes rest time which by the way if anyone needs to use the bathroom during
anyone needs to use the bathroom during
anyone needs to use the bathroom during my talk or any of the other speakers
my talk or any of the other speakers
my talk or any of the other speakers you’re not allowed TEDx Utica has
you’re not allowed TEDx Utica has
you’re not allowed TEDx Utica has designated a time for you
micromanaging children is a common way
micromanaging children is a common way for adults to feel at ease and let me
for adults to feel at ease and let me
for adults to feel at ease and let me repeat that micromanaging children is a
repeat that micromanaging children is a
repeat that micromanaging children is a common way for adults to feel at ease
common way for adults to feel at ease
common way for adults to feel at ease and you may be sitting here right now
and you may be sitting here right now
and you may be sitting here right now agreeing with this that in order for
agreeing with this that in order for
agreeing with this that in order for children to do everything of what’s
children to do everything of what’s
children to do everything of what’s expected of them in one day you have to
expected of them in one day you have to
expected of them in one day you have to move them like that I’m here to tell you
move them like that I’m here to tell you
move them like that I’m here to tell you that that is something I have completely
that that is something I have completely
that that is something I have completely changed I once felt that way but today
changed I once felt that way but today
changed I once felt that way but today is very different for me today I am the
is very different for me today I am the
is very different for me today I am the founder of young Einsteins a Reggio
founder of young Einsteins a Reggio
founder of young Einsteins a Reggio inspired school for young children and I
inspired school for young children and I
inspired school for young children and I can happily tell you that there is no
can happily tell you that there is no
can happily tell you that there is no clock
clock
clock my classroom there is no clock hanging
my classroom there is no clock hanging
my classroom there is no clock hanging on my wall it was taken down years ago
on my wall it was taken down years ago
on my wall it was taken down years ago when a child asked to see it and when
when a child asked to see it and when
when a child asked to see it and when children asked to see something what
children asked to see something what
children asked to see something what they really mean is they want to touch
they really mean is they want to touch
they really mean is they want to touch it
it
it pull it push it bang it slam it and most
pull it push it bang it slam it and most
pull it push it bang it slam it and most likely throw it and that’s what happened
likely throw it and that’s what happened
likely throw it and that’s what happened to my clock I never replaced it because
to my clock I never replaced it because
to my clock I never replaced it because I realized I barely looked at it when
I realized I barely looked at it when
I realized I barely looked at it when children are engaged in my classroom in
children are engaged in my classroom in
children are engaged in my classroom in their interests they are allowed all the
their interests they are allowed all the
their interests they are allowed all the time they need with minimal interruption
time they need with minimal interruption
time they need with minimal interruption from me interest like digging organizing
from me interest like digging organizing
from me interest like digging organizing sorting creating building discovering
sorting creating building discovering
sorting creating building discovering and finding balance can go on and on and
and finding balance can go on and on and
and finding balance can go on and on and on as I stand beside them as a
on as I stand beside them as a
on as I stand beside them as a facilitator it is my job to listen to
facilitator it is my job to listen to
facilitator it is my job to listen to the dialogue happening between child and
the dialogue happening between child and
the dialogue happening between child and child child and teacher child and parent
child child and teacher child and parent
child child and teacher child and parent to watch how they move in the classroom
to watch how they move in the classroom
to watch how they move in the classroom work with materials and discover their
work with materials and discover their
work with materials and discover their interests it’s then that I am able to
interests it’s then that I am able to
interests it’s then that I am able to discover each and every child and once I
discover each and every child and once I
discover each and every child and once I make that discovery I am able to empower
make that discovery I am able to empower
make that discovery I am able to empower them do you want to see what this looks
them do you want to see what this looks
them do you want to see what this looks like I am about to show you what it
like I am about to show you what it
like I am about to show you what it looks like when children reach their
looks like when children reach their
looks like when children reach their highest potential through intellectual
highest potential through intellectual
highest potential through intellectual teaching my first photo is of a two and
teaching my first photo is of a two and
teaching my first photo is of a two and a half year old child working in black
a half year old child working in black
a half year old child working in black area he was balancing cylinder blocks
area he was balancing cylinder blocks
area he was balancing cylinder blocks and it was taking him quite a while
and it was taking him quite a while
and it was taking him quite a while because it was challenging for him
because it was challenging for him
because it was challenging for him I went to him and I asked tell me about
I went to him and I asked tell me about
I went to him and I asked tell me about your work the child reached his arm
your work the child reached his arm
your work the child reached his arm behind his body and began rubbing his
behind his body and began rubbing his
behind his body and began rubbing his lower back I realized he was recreating
lower back I realized he was recreating
lower back I realized he was recreating the human backbone which by the way his
the human backbone which by the way his
the human backbone which by the way his mother is a doctor I’m sure he’s seen
mother is a doctor I’m sure he’s seen
mother is a doctor I’m sure he’s seen the human skeleton a few times
the human skeleton a few times
the human skeleton a few times this began a six-week investigation on
this began a six-week investigation on
this began a six-week investigation on the human body human skeleton I began
the human body human skeleton I began
the human body human skeleton I began filling the classroom environment with
filling the classroom environment with
filling the classroom environment with materials to enhance the children’s
materials to enhance the children’s
materials to enhance the children’s curiosity pitchers from medical
curiosity pitchers from medical
curiosity pitchers from medical magazines were hung throughout the room
magazines were hung throughout the room
magazines were hung throughout the room it was Halloween time a convenient time
it was Halloween time a convenient time
it was Halloween time a convenient time to find skeletons and bones so they had
to find skeletons and bones so they had
to find skeletons and bones so they had materials to play with x-rays of human
materials to play with x-rays of human
materials to play with x-rays of human skull human hands and feet and x-rays of
skull human hands and feet and x-rays of
skull human hands and feet and x-rays of animals were placed in the light table
animals were placed in the light table
animals were placed in the light table area the children were able to draw and
area the children were able to draw and
area the children were able to draw and discuss their observations I also
discuss their observations I also
discuss their observations I also designed half of the room to represent a
designed half of the room to represent a
designed half of the room to represent a doctor’s office it was filled with
doctor’s office it was filled with
doctor’s office it was filled with actual tools and materials that a doctor
actual tools and materials that a doctor
actual tools and materials that a doctor would use in the beginning of the
would use in the beginning of the
would use in the beginning of the investigation
investigation
investigation I had the children sit down and draw me
I had the children sit down and draw me
I had the children sit down and draw me a picture of their representation of the
a picture of their representation of the
a picture of their representation of the human skeleton this picture is of a
human skeleton this picture is of a
human skeleton this picture is of a child at three-and-a-half years old six
child at three-and-a-half years old six
child at three-and-a-half years old six weeks later I had the children draw me a
weeks later I had the children draw me a
weeks later I had the children draw me a second representation of the human
second representation of the human
second representation of the human skeleton this is the same child’s second
skeleton this is the same child’s second
skeleton this is the same child’s second representation
you have just witnessed how rapid the
you have just witnessed how rapid the brain develops at such a young age when
brain develops at such a young age when
brain develops at such a young age when I had the initial idea to have children
I had the initial idea to have children
I had the initial idea to have children draw me their first draft there was no
draw me their first draft there was no
draw me their first draft there was no intention behind it other than me
intention behind it other than me
intention behind it other than me gaining an understanding of their
gaining an understanding of their
gaining an understanding of their understanding in other words I needed to
understanding in other words I needed to
understanding in other words I needed to know what their perspective was on the
know what their perspective was on the
know what their perspective was on the subject it was through the six weeks of
subject it was through the six weeks of
subject it was through the six weeks of working with the children interacting
working with the children interacting
working with the children interacting with them that I realized how they were
with them that I realized how they were
with them that I realized how they were gaining a deeper meaning of the subject
gaining a deeper meaning of the subject
gaining a deeper meaning of the subject and therefore I became curious of what a
and therefore I became curious of what a
and therefore I became curious of what a second draft would look like stepping
second draft would look like stepping
second draft would look like stepping back from control sends a message to
back from control sends a message to
back from control sends a message to children that their work in their
children that their work in their
children that their work in their learning process is valued and respected
learning process is valued and respected
learning process is valued and respected it is not my job to determine outcome
it is not my job to determine outcome
it is not my job to determine outcome but to simply enhance the children’s
but to simply enhance the children’s
but to simply enhance the children’s experiences
I forgot to click through the photos so
I forgot to click through the photos so excuse me
excuse me
excuse me here’s some of them they’re documenting
here’s some of them they’re documenting
here’s some of them they’re documenting their own work in this photo the next
their own work in this photo the next
their own work in this photo the next series of pictures is when I worked with
series of pictures is when I worked with
series of pictures is when I worked with a boy and a girl
a boy and a girl
a boy and a girl the boy told me that the more you roll a
the boy told me that the more you roll a
the boy told me that the more you roll a ball of clay the bigger it will get so I
ball of clay the bigger it will get so I
ball of clay the bigger it will get so I picked up the blue ball of clay began
picked up the blue ball of clay began
picked up the blue ball of clay began rolling it placed it back down between
rolling it placed it back down between
rolling it placed it back down between the red and the green and I asked him
the red and the green and I asked him
the red and the green and I asked him did the ball grow and the boy told me
did the ball grow and the boy told me
did the ball grow and the boy told me yes it is bigger to the adult this
yes it is bigger to the adult this
yes it is bigger to the adult this answer is obviously incorrect but to the
answer is obviously incorrect but to the
answer is obviously incorrect but to the child his theory has not been proven
child his theory has not been proven
child his theory has not been proven wrong yet some time went by about a week
wrong yet some time went by about a week
wrong yet some time went by about a week and I had the opportunity to work with
and I had the opportunity to work with
and I had the opportunity to work with the same two children this time it was
the same two children this time it was
the same two children this time it was with play-doh
with play-doh
with play-doh and I started off with two balls the
and I started off with two balls the
and I started off with two balls the exact same size I picked up one and I
exact same size I picked up one and I
exact same size I picked up one and I began rolling it and I asked the boy if
began rolling it and I asked the boy if
began rolling it and I asked the boy if I begin rolling this will it grow and he
I begin rolling this will it grow and he
I begin rolling this will it grow and he tells me yes you need to roll it 88
tells me yes you need to roll it 88
tells me yes you need to roll it 88 times and I did it was a great counting
times and I did it was a great counting
times and I did it was a great counting exercise I place the ball blade back
exercise I place the ball blade back
exercise I place the ball blade back down and I asked if it grew and he said
down and I asked if it grew and he said
down and I asked if it grew and he said no it is the same size you need to roll
no it is the same size you need to roll
no it is the same size you need to roll it 900 times
I’m no dummy
I’m no dummy I said let’s set a timer I set the timer
I said let’s set a timer I set the timer
I said let’s set a timer I set the timer for several minutes rolled the ball
for several minutes rolled the ball
for several minutes rolled the ball placed it down and asked him the
placed it down and asked him the
placed it down and asked him the question did the ball grow the boy told
question did the ball grow the boy told
question did the ball grow the boy told me no it is the same size the girl
me no it is the same size the girl
me no it is the same size the girl however found a way to make the ball
however found a way to make the ball
however found a way to make the ball dough by grow by rolling it and this is
dough by grow by rolling it and this is
dough by grow by rolling it and this is what it looked like she told us the more
what it looked like she told us the more
what it looked like she told us the more I roll it the longer it gets I want it
I roll it the longer it gets I want it
I roll it the longer it gets I want it to reach from one end of the table to
to reach from one end of the table to
to reach from one end of the table to the other and the boy tells her it won’t
the other and the boy tells her it won’t
the other and the boy tells her it won’t reach she says to him it will it’s
reach she says to him it will it’s
reach she says to him it will it’s getting bigger and he tells her you need
getting bigger and he tells her you need
getting bigger and he tells her you need to add more dough to it that’s when I
to add more dough to it that’s when I
to add more dough to it that’s when I asked him one last time what makes a
asked him one last time what makes a
asked him one last time what makes a ball of dough grow adding to it or
ball of dough grow adding to it or
ball of dough grow adding to it or rolling it and the boy responded adding
rolling it and the boy responded adding
rolling it and the boy responded adding to it
watching his understanding unfold was
watching his understanding unfold was amazing but it was also really
amazing but it was also really
amazing but it was also really incredible to see how two children
incredible to see how two children
incredible to see how two children worked together in exchanging ideas to
worked together in exchanging ideas to
worked together in exchanging ideas to bring him to this point allowing the
bring him to this point allowing the
bring him to this point allowing the flow of children to work together with
flow of children to work together with
flow of children to work together with no obstruction leads to so much
no obstruction leads to so much
no obstruction leads to so much intellectual and emotional growth skills
intellectual and emotional growth skills
intellectual and emotional growth skills like negotiating scaffolding rural
like negotiating scaffolding rural
like negotiating scaffolding rural setting rule-following experimenting in
setting rule-following experimenting in
setting rule-following experimenting in behaviors in role-playing are all
behaviors in role-playing are all
behaviors in role-playing are all fundamentals to the children gaining a
fundamentals to the children gaining a
fundamentals to the children gaining a better understanding of themselves
better understanding of themselves
better understanding of themselves becoming better thinkers
becoming better thinkers
becoming better thinkers and lifelong learners the last series of
and lifelong learners the last series of
and lifelong learners the last series of photos is significant to me learning
photos is significant to me learning
photos is significant to me learning doesn’t just happen in the classroom at
doesn’t just happen in the classroom at
doesn’t just happen in the classroom at young Einsteins there are a lot of
young Einsteins there are a lot of
young Einsteins there are a lot of outside opportunity and on this day we
outside opportunity and on this day we
outside opportunity and on this day we happen to be have have our driveway
happen to be have have our driveway
happen to be have have our driveway repaved so naturally i brought the
repaved so naturally i brought the
repaved so naturally i brought the children out to watch there were just a
children out to watch there were just a
children out to watch there were just a few children who were really engaged in
few children who were really engaged in
few children who were really engaged in the experience I gave them clipboards
the experience I gave them clipboards
the experience I gave them clipboards pens and pencils so that they were able
pens and pencils so that they were able
pens and pencils so that they were able to make markings and drawings for us to
to make markings and drawings for us to
to make markings and drawings for us to reflect on after the experience as the
reflect on after the experience as the
reflect on after the experience as the process was happening I would ask
process was happening I would ask
process was happening I would ask open-ended questions to the children at
open-ended questions to the children at
open-ended questions to the children at this point of the time I asked the
this point of the time I asked the
this point of the time I asked the children what is happening right now
children what is happening right now
children what is happening right now most of them called out they’re dumping
most of them called out they’re dumping
most of them called out they’re dumping dirt and I agree that’s all I saw
dirt and I agree that’s all I saw
dirt and I agree that’s all I saw dumping dirt then one specific child a
dumping dirt then one specific child a
dumping dirt then one specific child a three year old speaks up and tells me
three year old speaks up and tells me
three year old speaks up and tells me what he is doing is called back
what he is doing is called back
what he is doing is called back spreading when a bobcat puts its bucket
spreading when a bobcat puts its bucket
spreading when a bobcat puts its bucket like that backs it up and spreads it
like that backs it up and spreads it
like that backs it up and spreads it that’s when I went and grabbed my pen
that’s when I went and grabbed my pen
that’s when I went and grabbed my pen and paper
and wrote everything down that he told
and wrote everything down that he told me because the more I watched that is
me because the more I watched that is
me because the more I watched that is exactly what I saw I wanted to take it a
exactly what I saw I wanted to take it a
exactly what I saw I wanted to take it a step further I went to one of the
step further I went to one of the
step further I went to one of the workers the expert and I asked can you
workers the expert and I asked can you
workers the expert and I asked can you tell me what is happening by the way the
tell me what is happening by the way the
tell me what is happening by the way the little boy told me I just told you what
little boy told me I just told you what
little boy told me I just told you what was happening he confirmed exactly what
was happening he confirmed exactly what
was happening he confirmed exactly what that boy had said that this process is
that boy had said that this process is
that boy had said that this process is called back blading and it’s a way for
called back blading and it’s a way for
called back blading and it’s a way for the Breville to be spread throughout the
the Breville to be spread throughout the
the Breville to be spread throughout the driveway this process was the most
driveway this process was the most
driveway this process was the most significant to me because if I didn’t
significant to me because if I didn’t
significant to me because if I didn’t allow the children to experience it this
allow the children to experience it this
allow the children to experience it this one child’s deep passion would never
one child’s deep passion would never
one child’s deep passion would never have emerged to have given him the
have emerged to have given him the
have emerged to have given him the opportunity to speak to his peers and
opportunity to speak to his peers and
opportunity to speak to his peers and teacher and to teach them from him
giving time to children is essential
giving time to children is essential time for them to process experiences to
time for them to process experiences to
time for them to process experiences to develop relationships in time for them
develop relationships in time for them
develop relationships in time for them to dig deeper on their thoughts and
to dig deeper on their thoughts and
to dig deeper on their thoughts and ideas but time is also essential for
ideas but time is also essential for
ideas but time is also essential for adults give yourself the opportunity to
adults give yourself the opportunity to
adults give yourself the opportunity to be fully present with the child or
be fully present with the child or
be fully present with the child or children in your life you will find
children in your life you will find
children in your life you will find yourself gaining in building meaningful
yourself gaining in building meaningful
yourself gaining in building meaningful relationships with that child which is
relationships with that child which is
relationships with that child which is filled with discovery thank you
filled with discovery thank you
filled with discovery thank you you
”
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