My Childhood Web

So many people in my life have a hand in making me what I've become. My childhood web begins with my mama.

This is Patti. She's my best friend and my mama. She raised me as a single parent and even through the hard times, she always did the best that she could. Those hard times made me who I am today and gave me the values that I'm proud to have. I didn't have any brothers or sisters so I feel like that's part of what drew me to early childhood. I'd always wanted a little brother or sister but never got one, so what better place to have all the fun with the young kids that I didn't get growing up than in the classroom! She really taught me what a loving human being was. I can't get through a day without at least texting my mom. She's my number one supporter, my sidekick, and my confidant. 

The next amazing person in my life was my Grandma Helen. Grandmas are such special people. We have bonds with them unlike any other. I have so many special memories of the little things with her. Visiting with the Elder Care members that she cooked lunches for, helping plant the garden and take care of it, cooking meals at home, learning to bake, and being crafty. We'd go to the American Legion and play BINGO on Friday nights when I was little. I could go on and on about her and the things we'd do together. One thing that always sticks out, was that she was always so proud of me. I was her little girl and her pal. She was the best grandma a girl could ever ask for, and the last 8 years without her have been hard, but she's still with me everyday. 

Being an only child, I don't have a lot of the experiences of having those God-given best friends of siblings. I was lucky enough, though, to have amazing cousins. My cousin, Marisa, really is more of a sister to me. She's 9 years older than I am but she's really been such a role model for me. Thinking back on our childhood, we share so many wonderful memories of our grandparents and camping trips with them. She is also an early childhood educator and it wasn't until she told me that she was going for her Masters degree in Early Childhood that I decided that I wanted to make sure I would get mine, too. I now have a "sister" who I can prep with, plan with, and craft with, all while thinking of those little minds who await us each day.

Finally, but most definitely not my last pick of this group, is my Grandpa Duane. This man was the father he didn't have to be to me, not to mention to my mom and her siblings; he was my step-grandpa. As much as I take after him though, one would think we were related by blood. My dad wasn't in the picture much until after I graduated from high school, so my grandpa stepped up to the plate. My grandpa was a Master Welder and owned a business called Hart Repair where he'd repair farm machinery and vehicles. I spent a lot of time when I was little in that big shop. He had a room off to the side where he had a 'once upon a time' stray cat named Mama Kitty and she'd always have her kittens in that back room. I remember tires, coal piles, any nut or bolt or nail or screw found being returned as "grandpa's tools", games of 52 card pickup (it took me years to catch on!), afternoon apples and they way he'd cut them, but most of all his knowledge. My grandpa was an everyday man, but the way his brain worked was amazing. He was so inquisitive and always curious about how something worked, and he'd figure it out!  A few short weeks ago at his funeral/burial, my uncle said as they were closing grandpa's casket for the final time, "He'd want to know how that worked too!" How true! He'd want to know the mechanisms and exactly how it worked and heck, maybe he'd fit that into something he'd make one day! The way he thought taught me to never just settle and to always give a little more effort and I'd be able to accomplish whatever I set my mind to. 

 

I feel so lucky to have such an incredibly close-knit family. We're all large pieces of each other's lives and each of the people I've written about have always supported me, no matter what. That is what has kept my dream of earning my MS in ECE alive; to better myself and to provide better education to my students. 

The Places I Can Go on the Pages of a Book

*Said in the most witchy voice one can muster...* "Are you washing girl?"

Those words have stuck with me throughout 32 years of read alouds, audiobooks, and independently read books. My mom would read my now favorite story book to me often as a child. The book, "Bony Legs" by Joanna Cole was a story based on Russian fairy tale. It's the tale of a witch who lives in the woods on a hut that stands on chicken feet. She has iron teeth and is as ugly as you can imagine! Alongside her are Sasha, a cat, a dog, a gate, and numerous other magical (and sometimes speaking) characters/items that opened my imagination to a whole different level. I have used this as a favorite book in college courses and read it to many of my classes throughout my nine years of teaching.  Any I absolutely read the line, "Are you washing girl?" the same way that my mom did all those years ago.

Do you have a story or a line from one that you especially remember as being your favorite? Growing up I was always at the public library checking out new stories that my mom would read to me and attending the Mother Goose Storytime at the local library. I used to have a picture of myself with Mother Goose and her assistant. Oh how I cherished that woman. I will find that picture someday and post it to the blog for all to see. 

I was read to daily as a child and read on a daily basis as an adult. I've grown up with an adoration of reading, libraries, book stores, the feeling of a book in my hands, the smell of the pages, and the sound of a spine cracking or a page turning. Not all children have or were able to have that luxury as a child. I think of it as a simple luxury, but to those not lucky enough to have it, it's not that simple at all. The saying that says, if you read to your child, you raise a reader couldn't be more true. Over the years I've met many people who don't enjoy reading. I later find out that they weren't read to very often as children. The connection between childhood reading and adult reading is very real. 

Thank you, Mom, for reading to me so much as a child. And for choosing such great books!

Welcome to my world!

Hello! This blog business...pretty high tech. I remember being a child thinking, "Why can't my grandma figure that out? It is so easy" about any given piece of technology. Now, I am in the shoes of my grandma thinking, "How in the world does this work?!"  Slowly, but surely, I have faith in myself that I will get it all figured out and just keep right on trucking.

The purpose of my blog, you ask? All the things about the teaching and learning and loving of the littles. I am currently in my first class on my path to pursuing my Masters of Science in Early Childhood Studies through Walden University. This will be my place to post ideas, assignments, findings, quotes, and all sorts of other exciting things.

I am a kindergarten teacher going into my 9th year in kindergarten but 10th year teaching total. I teach in a very small town in Northwestern North Dakota. I am approximately 4 miles from Montana and 35 miles from Canada. I am lucky to have small class sizes here (11 was my class last year) however, the availability of culture, fun, and excitement are generally too far to be used for school experiences.

My life goal is to open my own preschool someday. I adore watching the light bulbs flicker and then burn so brightly when concepts are finally understood. I love the endless hugs, the drawings, the creations, the life views, but most of all, I love being around the happiness of innocence. There is nothing I would rather do with my life; teaching is my one true love.

I am so glad to have you along with me on my journey. Welcome to my world!