Words of Inspiration and Motivation....

No government can love a child, and no policy can substitute for a family's care. But at the same time, government can either support or undermine families as they cope with moral, social and economic stresses of caring for children............Hilary Clinton

When I am talking about "It Takes a Village", I'm obviously not talking just about or even primarily about geographical villages any longer, but about the network of relationships and values that do connect us and binds us together................Hilary Clinton

If we invest in our children now, money will be saved for costly services down the road....Lyndon B. Johnson

We have entered an age in which education is not just a luxury permitting some men an advantage over others. It has become a necessity without which a person is defenseless in this complex, industrialized society. We have truly entered the century of the educated man.
Lyndon B. Johnson

From Week 2
I have the passon to make sure akk children are taught in an environmentand in ways that nuture their ability to grow and develop to their fullest potential..... Louise Derman Sparks

I am not here to save the world. I am here to make a difference in my community.... One little spark will make a difference............Raymond Hernandez

Personal Childhood Wb

I grew up in a family of women. My grandmother raised me in a home with four aunts. We had no males living in my home and my mother nor father was around.

My grandmother raised me to always act like a little girl, and to always have manners. She along with my aunt Mixie made sure that I had the best of everything!

My oldest Aunt Mixie helped my grandmother to raise me. She worked to provide for me and her younger sisters. Paid for one of her sisters to go to college, then turned around and paid for me to attend college as well. Today, she is known by children as granny. My mother is not around. Therefore, she is their grandmother.

My aunt Bev was my motivation. The first person of our family to attend college. She received her BS, MS, Ed Sp., and now earning her Doctorate. She started out as a teacher and is now a principal at a local elementary school. She is one of the five highest paid persons in our school district.

My aunt Terri was my hairdresser. She made sure that my hair was fix and always took me on fun outings like on Easter every year we would go to the Pavilion, an amusement park in Myrtle Beach. She was also the one who took me trick or treating every year.

My aunt Dedra, was the baby of the family. She was my babysitter. She would play games with me at home and always take me places with her. She was the first one to have children. Her children grew up with me as my younger brothers and sisters.

In my home growing up I had many rules to abide by. My grandmother was very old school and therefore had many rules to live in her house and in order to “turn out a decent young lady”. Many of my grandmother’s rules has followed me into my own family. Although my grandmother was strict, I think it helped to shape me into the motivated, strong, smart, sophisticated, and independent young woman that I am today. This is why many of the same rules and boundaries that my grandmother instilled in me as young girl, I use with my own children and family.

 My aunt Terri with Jordan, my nephew and my daughter

 My grandmother playing a clothespin game at a baby shower

 My Aunt Bev

 My Aunt Dedra with her children and grandchild, Jordan.

My Aunt Mixie, just getting home from work.

My Favorite Childrens Book....

The Polar Express!!!!
The Polar Express is my absolute favorite book (and movie). Ever since I was a child, I remembered reading this book. in elementary school, I was a part of a Polar express play and something about the story just makes me feel like a kid again. Now, I have The Polar Express book for my children and also a special Polar Express Santa that rings the "bell of Christmas". My daughter takes the book with the Santa Claus to school every December. The day school gets out for Winter break, the elementary schools in my district have a Polar express day, where the kids are allowed to come to school dress in their pajamas. The kids are allowed to watch The Polar Express all day, drink hot chocolate, exchange gifts and partake in other holiday festivities. My daughter even has several Polar express songs downloaded to her Fisher Price IXL for her to listen to. My children enjoy the Polar Express as much as I do!

An education quote I find especially meaningful.........

Education which stops with efficiency may prove the greatest menace to society. …The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically... We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character—that is the goal of true education.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

WOW, this is my first blog!

I always wanted to know how to create one and never even thought of researching how to do a blog. So excited, this is my first blog ever!!!! This first week of class has been great. I got to meet my colleagues through self portraits and got to create a blog. Can"t wait to see what our assignments are for next week.