Almost there... almost there... almost there...

Just plugging away here, looking forward to summer when chaos shifts. It doesn't go away. It doesn't REALLY diminish even, it just shifts. Summer chaos is like no other. In the spring and fall chaos is due to deadlines and budgets and obligations. In summer chaos is due to the need to cram-jam every single fun, outdoors, indoors (on hot days) adventure into 3 short months. Throw afternoon thunderstorms in there and the time is even shorter. Around here, once the weather cools we're all more than happy to hole up inside our little den.

It is my own doing but I have 2 observations and a final project as well as 2 final tests to study for. The 2 observations are due Monday and I'd like to be well established with the final project by Wednesday. It's due a week from monday. In true Gwen style I couldn't just do something simple for this project like "making fruit salad for 4 year olds". For one thing, that was the example given. For another, at least 3 other people are doing it. In a class of 6, that's pretty bad. So, I set out to find a fantastic lesson plan idea. I ended up coming up with one on my own that is FANTASTIC and even better, I get to do it with my own kids. Also in true Gwen fashion I deviated from the assignment and had to get permission to even do it. It's going to be fantastic though. I am all giddy with anticipation for the ooohhhs and aaaahhhhsss. I'm such an exhibitionist sometimes :p.

On a related note, one of the observations I did was less than fantastic. The center I was at was awful. Just barely above "better than nothing" on my scale, and I'm sorry to report that it's a Head Start program. Really, truly, honestly, it does not take money to make a great child care situation. Ok, well, it does take some money, but after the initial expense it takes quality teachers who are willing and able to do the work to get an organized and developmentally appropriate classroom off the ground. I could, right this very second, swoop in there and make a dozen changes that would go a long ways toward fixing that program, and I don't have a degree. I wonder what the teacher qualifications were. I'm not conceited, I really just do not find this stuff difficult and I do not understand why others seem to ignore it. An example: The children each have a cubby. That's pretty standard, right? Only these children cannot REACH their cubby. It is at MY shoulder height which is barely low enough for WINNIE to reach, much less 3yo Zella. These are 3-5yo's and not one child could reach his own cubby. The result? stuff everywhere and kids who need help with EVERYTHING. What a time suck for the teachers. The simple act of lowering the cubbies would make a HUGE difference in that room. That pretty muc set the stage though. Centers weren't labeled, there were things everywhere. The selection of books was like 20 books and they were in a box, not on a shelf. There were at least 2 Dr. Pepper cans on shelves where toys go and teacher items were strewn about. I did not even see where teacher items should go, which could be why it's everywhere, but still. You do NOT, DO NOT drink soda in a classroom unless it is in a container that is not clear and it is not apparent it's soda. OMG. That seems like a silly thing, but in an early care setting it's totally not ok for many, many reasons. There was one heartbreaking incident even. Nothing to warrant a call to cps, but enough that made me physically cringe. It was so totally obvious that the teachers were behaving differently because I was there, and even then they failed. There is no doubt in my mind that the children did group only because I was there. They had these looks of utter confusion and bewilderment at what was going on and I assume, considering they've been there for months (these are not new children or a new class) that this is mostly because they've not done this stuff before, or at least not often. The more I think about it the more angry I get. I really REALLY wish I could open my own center. I would have a million locations in no time. My people would be paid for performance, and thus I would draw a considerable amount of quality teachers. To me, education is not really terribly important for an early care teacher. I know I am in the minority here, but the desire and drive to be a good teacher wins, over knowing a hundred little developmental theories, in my book. Knowledge comes better from experience. Excitement and love make good teachers. Would you rather have a doctor who has read all of the books but never actually worked with a patient or a doctor who loves people and is willing to look something up if he's not had experience with it before? I know which I'd pick, and it's the same thing for preschool teachers. Ugh. I have to finish my write-up and I just don't wanna, lol. It's too sad and I have a hard time not just going off. I really just want to swoop in there and take care of those babies. And the one little boy. Ahhh, my heart just breaks for him.