CONESTOGA COLLEGE

Who am I in the lives

of children
Making practice visible
Holly Harris

Making Practice Visible Essay

Who Am I in the Lives of Children?
Making Practice Visible- Essay 30%
In this paper I will discuss professional milestones that I have endured that have led me to
where I am now. I will discuss my professional philosophy statement that I have created; as well
as connecting some of the statements I make throughout my philosophy with some philosophers
that inspire me. I will also be identifying four features from my philosophy statement and
providing a rationale for each one as well as provide examples for these key features of how they
would look like in practice.
As of now I am in my 4 semester of the early childhood education program I am on my 4
placement in a public school working in the kindergarten room with JK/SK split. I am also
taking another course on top of my regular course load to be able to branch into the degree
program they are offering here at the Conestoga College. I am taking the degree program in
hopes that it will help me get in to teachers college. My goal is to teach in public schools grades
1 to 5. I am looking for something throughout the summer prior to going back to school that will
hopefully be in the field of early childhood education. This is because I want to have as much
experience as I can with children. I have always wanted to be that person that can change
someones life for the better, at least make some sort of an impact on them. A career in helping a
childs education would be so meaningful for me; it is something I can see now doing the field
placements and class experiences that I really enjoy. I feel that as a child they are so full of life
and eager to learn. I would feel that it would be such a rewarding impact on my life, just to be
one of the people who have a chance to be part of that learning experience. Taking the ECE
program has helped me to understand a childs development and I will also then have a better

Making Practice Visible Essay

understanding of the children in my classroom. I feel that as a teacher it is important to have the
skills of an ECE as well.
When I was in public school as well as in high school I had always wanted to be a
teacher. When I was finished high school I decided to go work instead of going to college, this
caused me to not really know what I truly wanted to be. I did factory work for about 7 years
before I decided that I wanted to go back to school. I applied to Conestoga for the early
childhood education program but was not accepted. Fortunately, I received an alternate
acceptance to the human services foundation. This was a one year program that was very helpful
for me, I learned a lot from taking it. This then lead me to be successful in applying for the ECE
program for a second time. Now being almost complete the program and hopefully continuing
into the early learning development program I am well on my way to completing my goal of
becoming a teacher.
Being able to teach someone something new feels very rewarding, I have lots of people
who have influenced me in some way. I have had some teachers such as my grade 7 and 8
teacher Mr. Jackson he took the time to really give me the chance to understand all the material
in class whenever I did not understand what was going on he would sit with me until I
understood it. It felt like he really took the time to understand who I was as a person. Having
younger siblings and being able to teach them new things was always so much fun, I really
enjoyed the look on their faces when they learned something new and exciting. My parent are
also I big influence they helped me be able to go to school, and are supportive of my education.
As an early childhood educator I believe in having good quality childcare this is
important for the children, families and community to create more job opportunities for both
fathers and mothers letting moms and dads go back to work early (Rowell, 2007). Childcare
helps children increase their social development through play as well as the fact that they are

Making Practice Visible Essay

interacting with other children who are hopefully at all different ages interacting in group
activity. I hope to put forth the knowledge and experiences that I have gained in taking the early
childhood education program. By becoming an early childhood educator I hope that in my
classroom I will be able to show the children inclusion by having the classroom contain things
that pertain to the childrens cultures and backgrounds to have diversity is a great opportunity for
a child (Rowell, 2007). I will work hard to make sure everyone in the classroom feels at home
and safe. As an early childhood educator I would show them patience when it is needed, as well
as energy and enthusiasm to keep the children engaged and excited to learn (Gestwicki &
Bertrand, 2012 p.119). I will also hope to keep my sense of humour when I am working with
children in the classroom; humour is an important part to keeping education fun and exciting
(Gestwicki & Bertrand, 2012 p.119). I advocate for the children I want to be able to show the
children in the classroom respect and recognize that they are competent and capable. I hope to
have a commitment to self discovery and be able to model to the children the active process of
becoming human beings (Gestwicki & Bertrand, 2012 p. 119). I would also strive to keep a
healthy and safe environment with proper safety inspections in order and up to date. I would
hope to have great communication between the families and early child educators as well as the
community to have them involved with as much as possible so the child is able to advance to
their full potential with the help of the parents and early childhood educator and community
working together putting each others knowledge together and coming up with different ways to
do things different events outings they can engage in the community (Rowell, 2007). I will show
the children Autonomy in the classroom by showing responsibility and leadership, while still
being able to work as a member of a team (Gestwicki, Bertrand, 2012 p.120). I will show
empathy in the classroom as the students are their own individuals and are all learning at

Making Practice Visible Essay

different levels, and are at different areas in there development (Gestwicki, Bertrand, 2012
p.120).
By supporting the professionalism of the field of early learning and care I would be sure
to use what I have been taught in school in an everyday program. By referring to the
development of children and adhering to the proper terminology that is to be used. I would never
compare an early childhood educator to a babysitter as we have so much knowledge on child
development and how to help their growth in their interests in abilities it would not even be
comparable. To maintain my knowledge and learn new things daily I would attend workshops
and other events being held that are for educators to stay up to date in their knowledge.
The four key features that I have identified in my philosophy statement are to know that
children are competent and capable. As well as being able to mentor my actions with the children
by showing them empathy, autonomy and patience when I am working with them.
I have been inspired by Vygotskys theory because of how I feel it is important for
children to know their culture as well as others, I express this when I talk about how when I
become an early childhood educator I hope that in my classroom I will be able to show the
children inclusion by having the classroom contain things that pertain to the childrens cultures
and backgrounds to have diversity is a great opportunity for a child. As well as discussing that
childcare helps children increase their social development through play as well as the fact that
they are interacting with other children who are hopefully at all different ages interacting in
group activities. Both these ideas for my philosophy have been discussed in Vygotskys theory.
Lev Vygotskys (1896-1934): Play is a leading factor in development and is impacted by ones
community and culture. Group play is an essential venue for a childs social development
because it is through play that children think about problems and solve them in new ways
(Dietze&Kashin, 2012 p. 23).

Making Practice Visible Essay

I admire Piaget and how he talks about cognitive development and how it is important
because it helps children understand everything around them I talked about this when I discussed
my philosophy earlier I will show empathy in the classroom as the students are their own
individuals and are all learning at different levels, and are at different areas in there development
(Gestwicki, Bertrand, 2012 p.120). Piagets theory: emphasizes the different stages of thinking
that result from childrens changing theory of the world (Kail&Zolner, 2012 p.15). I also admire
Reggio Emilia and his belief that children are competent and capable I mention this above by
saying I advocate for the children I want to be able to show the children in the classroom
respect and recognize that they are competent and capable. This comes from Reggios approach
which is based on the belief that children are competent, intelligent, curious and social beings
(Dietz&Kashin, 2012 p.279).
From the four key features that I picked out of the philosophy statement I will explain why
they are important to me; first one I discussed is that children are competent and capable I
believe this to be a very important feature to my philosophy because I was recently placed in a
FDK program where there where so many rules in place that the children were not able to
experiment and learn on their own. The teachers did not feel that the children were capable of
doing things on their own neither. This affected the children by inhabiting their imagination in
fear that they will be told that they are not allowed to do something or disapproving any further
creativity that could have came out of something that the children were inspired to do. Another
feature I have chosen for a part of my philosophy is empathy I believe this is very important
when working with children. Sometimes children do things that you may not understand why
they have done. By being able to show empathy towards a child you are showing them that you
understand that they are experiencing something and you are taking it into consideration which is

Making Practice Visible Essay

then showing the child you care for them which thus is creating trust between the two of you.
The third feature I have chosen from my philosophy is autonomy I want to be a good role model
for my students which I believe is important because of how much children look up to adult
figures throughout their childhood and I would strive to teach the children responsibility and
leadership in the classroom to help them become confident individuals. The fourth feature I
chose from my philosophy statement is patience I want to be able to demonstrate patience with
the children by taking the time to listen to what they have to say and being able to demonstrate
patience with all the different activities I will do with the children. This is great role modelling
for them to then have patience with not only each other family and friends as well.
Some of the ways I would take these key features and put them into practice would first to
let children use tools that some people may not feel confident letting children use such as glass
cups and plates or knives for carving. I would show empathy towards a child by understanding
that they are frustrated for example and I would sit with the child explain to them that I
understand they are upset and give them the chance to explain themselves before jumping into a
conclusion that never resolves the situation. When it comes to autonomy I would demonstrate
being a good role model as an early childhood educator in the classroom. By demonstrating
leadership and responsibility while still being a member of the team this will be demonstrated
because as an early childhood educator you usually will work as a team in the field and children
are able to sense when there is tension or when everything is going well. I will demonstrate
patience in the classroom by not overreacting when something goes wrong, I have seen this
happen in field placement with one of my teachers where the children have been frightened and
it also frightened myself so from being able to see what its like from a childs perspective it will
strive to refrain from letting this happen.

Making Practice Visible Essay

In conclusion I have surpassed many milestones throughout my life experiences. I
discussed my professional philosophy and connected some of the theorists that inspire me with
my philosophy paper. I talked about my philosophy statement and identified some of the key
features and provided a rationale for each. I have also provided examples from practice for the
key features that I talked about. The children are our future and in order to optimize their feature
for the better we need to start with them.

References

Making Practice Visible Essay

Rowell, P. (2007). Extract from Putting Children First. Developing a Service Philosophy, (23),
10-12.
Gestwicki, C., & Bertrand, J. (2012). Essentials of early childhood education (4th Canadian ed.).
Toronto: Nelson Education.
Kail, R., & Zolner, T. (2011). Children: A chronological approach (3rd Canadian ed.). Toronto:
Pearson Canada.
Dietze, B., & Kashin, D. (2012). Playing and learning in early childhood education. Toronto:
Pearson Canada.

Who Am I in the Lives of Children Rubric 30% Name: _________________________________

Requirement Descriptions
Incomplete
As Required
Very Good
Shows Little or
Evidence of
Thorough
no
basic
understandin

Making Practice Visible Essay

understanding
Does not meet
stated criteria
0-2.5

understanding
Criteria met
minimally
2.75- 3.5

g
Meets all
criteria
3.75-5

Milestones of professional practice. Describes the

milestones of professional practice, through reflective
documentation. Identifies what has led you to this program
and your desire to work with children.
Professional philosophy statement. Professional
Philosophy statement clear & supported by research based
evidence. At least four features of philosophy identified.
Rationale for Features of philosophy in practice. Each of
the four features identified with rationale for each choice.
Why you have selected the features of the philosophy
statement is addressed.
Operationalization of philosophy in practice. Practical
examples of the each feature of the philosophy statement are
included. What the philosophy will look like in practice is
clearly addressed.
Connect statements found in the written philosophy to
philosophers and theorists. At least one clearly related
philosopher identified with a rationale. Research based
evidence (readings from the course) used to support claims
and facts.
Organization & Clarity:
Composition of the paper is clear. Writing is organized,
concise, and easy to follow. Proof reading evident.
Introduction sets up the reader and outlines the intentions
clearly. The body of the paper addresses all main points
identified in the introduction. The conclusion summarizes
the paper with an effective closing statement. APA format is
used. Research based evidence from course cited accurately
using APA criteria in text and on reference page. Paper
submitted on eConestoga evidence of plagiarism = 0
Comments:
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Total Marks: ______ /30%