The Passion for Early Childhood

Louise Derman-Sparks:

"I wanted to be continued as a teacher because I had a built in passion that it was important to make contributions and to fix all the injustices in the world and I wanted to do that through teaching."


"The passion to make sure that all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and to develop to their fullest ability."


I choose to share these two quotes because I believe in wanting the best for every child and to support their passions and abilities to their fullest capabilities.

T. Berry Brazelton and Janet Gonzalez-Mena

An excerpts from, "The Touchpoints Model of Development" by T. Berry Brazelton.

"All parents benefit from affirmation of their child’s development and the nurturing
environment they have provided for their child. Our goal as caring professionals should be to
join parents as allies in the systems of care for their children. Our present systems are too often
crisis-driven, deficit-oriented, and unwelcoming to parents. Many families, particularly those
who have a child with special needs, are often left feeling isolated and unsupported (Bowman et
al., 1994; Turnbull, Turnbull, & Blue-Banning. 1994). Our focus instead should be on
developing a system where providers are reaching out for stressed parents and where parents’
ethnic, religious, and lifestyle attributes are valued. For example, rather than treating a pregnant
teenager overtly or covertly as a failure, which will turn her away and mitigate our opportunity
for successful interaction with her, we could accept her pregnancy, point to the potential future
opportunity for her baby, and offer her our acceptance, understanding, and positively framed
services. When providers can offer the necessary support and modeling for parents to understand
their young child’s development and to enhance it, they can play a crucial role toward the success
of the family system.
 For the past several years, we have been working on the Touchpoints’ model (Brazelton,
Touchpoints 1992, Brazelton and Sparrow, Touchpoints 3 – 6, 2001). Touchpoints are periods,
during the first years of life during which children’s spurts in development result in disruption in
the family system. (Throughout life, there are, no doubt, similar developmental crises of
disorganization and reorganization that involve not solely the individual but those he or she is
intimately connected with as well.) The succession of touchpoints in a child’s development is
like a map that can be identified and anticipated by both parents and providers. Thirteen
touchpoints have been noted in the first three years, beginning in pregnancy."

A Quote from Janet Gonzalez-Mena.

“[P]art of being who you are has to do with feeling your feelings, which means you'll have a wide range of emotions--not just constant sunshiny happiness.” 

"The moment I decided to follow instead of lead, I discovered the joys of becoming part of a small child's world."  

Personal Childhood Web

This is my mother, Linda, who is a loving and caring person who does her best to help others in need, even her family.  She makes everyone around her feel as ease and makes everyone smile.  My mom influenced me to stay strong and to follow my dreams.  She encouraged me to stand up for what I believe in and to never give up when life brings you down.  My mom cared for me with a loving warm heart and to do things on my own with her guidance.  She makes me feel special by calling me and leaving me encouraging and supportive messages.  She always asks what I like and want even if its just for dinner.  My mom loves me for me.  My mom still makes me feel special by leaving messages and encouraging me today to be the best I can be.

This is my dad, Larry, who is a joking-around kind of man.  Even when things get serious he tries to lighten the mood.  He encouraged me that I could be anything I wanted to be.  My dad encouraged me to do well in school to go to college.  He never went, he went right off to work.  My dad showed me that even without a college education you can still go far in life and go through the ranks at work.  My dad loved me and took care of my needs.  He made me feel special when we could go to the movies together or ride our bikes through the neighborhood, which we would always race home.  My dad still makes me laugh and enjoy family vacations.

My grandparents, John and Pauline, were a great part of my life and influenced who i am today.

My Grandfather had a kind and nurturing personality.  He learned many life skills on his own through trial and error.  He showed me how to get out in the world to accomplish my goals.  My grandfather influenced my interest in math by teaching me how to play cribbage.  He supported me on my math skills through a simple card game.  I still love math to this day and still play cribbage whether its with my family or online.  My grandfather care for me by loving me and for teaching me all about the world we live in.  He made me feel special by being his granddaughter and taking me on trips to Maine to our family summer home.  Spending time together and enjoying each others company.  Even though my grandfather is no longer with me; he still supports and encourages me to be the best person I can be.  

My Grandmother is a kind and sweet person; she influenced me to be kind and honest with those around me.  My grandmother encouraged me to be an honest person and to treat others with respect and kindness.  She cared for me and loved me for who I am not for someone else.  She made me feel special by teaching me how to make a puzzle.  My grandmother supported my interest by modeling how puzzles were trial and error and to start by building with similar colors.  Over the years we would make puzzles all through the summer in Maine and make different kinds and including shaped puzzles.  Its our favorite hobby to do together.

This is Me

This is a picture of me in Walt Disney World.  I am posed here with Winnie the Pooh, my favorite!!!  I used to read and watch Winnie the Pooh all the time when I was younger.  I continue to as well with my Toddler Classroom!!

Children are Special in their own way!

The summer of 2003, I started filling out applications to different schools for Early Childhood Education.  I got an acceptance letter from Northern Essex Community College (NECCo) in the Early Childhood Education Program.  I was so excited to start a new journey after I failed out of the Electrical Engineering Program at UMass Lowell.  On campus, I noticed that there was a Day Care Center, and I went to see if they were hiring.  I explained that I was a student in the Early Childhood Education Program and was looking to receive some more experience in the field.  I was hired as an assistant teacher and worked part time.  I was there only a few short months and was asked to be a one-on-one aide with a children who had special needs.  This child's name is Chloe, she was in a wheelchair, and had seizures.  When I went to the center I was greeted with a smile from ear to ear and her saying, "Erin read me books. Erin read me books."  I told Chloe that I would read her books and that she could read me books.  I took care of her needs as well.  I was shown how to hold her and support her weight to help her take steps out of the wheelchair.  I stretched feet and placed her AFO's on that were extra support to help her walk.  I gave her her seizure medicine every afternoon to prevent her from having a seizure at school.  Chloe showed me how to look at life in a way I never would have seen if it was not for her.  She brought out the best in me that I never thought was possible until I met this child.  After working with her and forming a bond with Chloe for 2 years, I was inspired to want to work with special needs children.  I wanted to help children and give them the encouragement to help them grow and succeed.

Favorite Children's Book

A Snowy Surprise or You Can Do It, Sam by Amy Hest

I enjoy this story very much and the message behind it.  It encourages young children to be themselves and to take risks.  It also encourages young children sharing is a fun way to get to know each other in the neighborhood.

I am a Learner like Children

My name is Erin Earley and I have been an Early Childhood Educator for 12 years.  I am currently a Toddler Teacher in an Early Head Start Program.  My journey as a teacher has been a full ride with wonderful experiences.  I started teaching children in High School and I was certified by the Department of EEC in Massachusetts.  Then I went to college and studied engineering.  After two years I switched my major and attended NECCo, where I received my Associates Degree.  I also worked at a day care that was on campus throughout my schooling.  I was a one-on-one aide with a child who was handicapped in a wheelchair.  I then moved onto to another center to work with preschool age children at a few other days cares along the way.  I also received my Bachelor’s Degree from Lesley University.   I then had the opportunity to become an Assistant Director in a small day care center.  The goal was to be trained to become the Director but do to certain situations I changed my mind regarding the position.  I am now working for a Head Start Program which is called Early Head Start which is a brand new program that started four years ago.  I have worked there for three years and I am finally where I want to be.

Some of my interests are martial arts (karate) and gardening with the children, as well as at my home.  I enjoy reading and writing stories during my free time.  The challenges I face are trying to work with another co-worker with different ideas and has a hard time communicating with others.  I am trying to support her the best way I can to make her comfortable.  Some of my qualities are that I am a team player, offer suggestions and ideas to team members, and offer advice when I can to help strengthen my team members.  The strengthens I will bring to this community is my variety of professional experiences as an Early Childhood Educator, offer support and suggestions to others to help them grow professionally, and to share ideas they have as a challenge to help them see it in a different light.  Some challenges I may face will be my changing work schedule of multiple meetings and trainings I need to attend throughout the week.