week 6 monday 09/30

Hi Daniel, Just sorting through s and realizing it has been a long time since I have ed you! I spent three years teaching in a Reggio-influenced school in Richmond. I just started in May as the National Guard Youth Coordinator for the state and it has been an awesome opportunity for me. I have been a long time volunteer with the National Guard through supporting my husband's unit, as well as the youth program. Last year, my husband was deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan for 10 months so it has been a crazy year! I am enjoying getting to help other military families. My main job is so support kids who have a parent in the National Guard, especially through deployments. So it is a really unique job but one that seems to bring all the experiences I have had in the last few years together. It is a big change from being a classroom teacher. I have a lot more administrative work, but I am finding it interesting and very enjoyable. What are you up to these days? Are you still a professor? Or have you moved on to something new? Hope to hear from you soon! Allison Mecadon 07

Hello to the ECE14 cohort! I know things are a little hectic this semester with all the classes and preschool practicum. A little update since graduating from SPED Master's program in July. The situation with CPS is a little crazy but getting a job can happen if you have faith and keep trying. After graduating, I had yet to receive an interview for CPS, but I got a call for a preschool position at a daycare center. I took the offer because I really wanted to teach, and it was all I had. I was still waiting on CPS to or call so I felt I could take this job for a while. I also remembered what you taught us, "Don't worry about what you can’t control." I took control of what I could and was okay with it. I got a call from a principal Thursday the first week of school. I interviewed and got hired the next week for a Pre-k position. I was not able to start until the third week of school. You never know how your career is going to start, but when life gives you an opportunity, you should take it. The last three weeks have been hectic, I am having a great time getting to know my students, parents, and my pre- k team! Getting my room ready little by little. A lot of work. My students are a little energetic, to say the least, but are intelligent, full of life, and pretty funny all at the same time. I am learning a lot more about patience. I hope the 14s will do their best to gain patience as well. Hope things are going well this year and I cannot wait to hear about the great things you all are up to. If you need anything or some advice I am available through or phone. I know school and practicum can be hard when doing them together but they can be done! Try and have some fun as well. Get plenty of rest and take the time to get to know one another. Julia Perez, 12.

JoAnne “So, Jimmy, when are you going to get a woman fire fighter around here?” (59) “I’m often asked, ‘Aren’t these kids much too young to be aware of social issues?’” (62) “I love it when kids are passionate about anything…” (64) These are some of JoAnne’s “specialties.” (65) “I get so angry at the options that were never open for me.” (70)

JoAnne describes how she can remember the exact moment when the first important connection was made with each child. (73) “I won’t be teaching. I can’t worry about money all the time.... Perhaps I’ll have a bookstore for children.” (78)

A Place Where One Belongs: Shaping the Environment the environment as a complex world of values, beliefs, and expectations microcultures ibasho: where a person feels a sense of peace, security, satisfaction, acceptance, belonging, and coziness “smack-dab in the middle”

ibasho place of peace, security, acceptance, belonging, coziness mimamori: watching over carefully as a protective figure, avoiding interference or correction that inhibit free exploration and developing sense of responsibility. kanshi: to keep under surveillance anshin: sense of security achieved through trusting relationships