A quote that you find inspirational regarding the role that advocacy can have in the lives of young children and their families.
“Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each”.-Plato.
•What inspires and excites you most about your advocacy plan and being an advocate? With education being one of the categories
The most exciting and inspirational part about my advocacy plan are being able to make a difference in a family’s life as well as haring valuable information that will not only benefit the child but the parent as well and for them to use it as a daily routine.
•What challenges and/or anxieties do you feel related to engaging in the advocacy efforts you have targeted?
The challenge at the moment is having parent involvement during socialization events. Due to the parents work schedule and not for them not being able to participate at the events therefore I have not being able to approach them. Also a biggest challenge and anxiety is to get the parents interested and this is the second category persuasive. I will have to use many stretegies to convince the parents to become their child's advocate.
•What do you believe will be most effective in helping you overcome any challenging emotions you may be feeling with regard to presenting and implementing your Advocacy Action Plan? My biggest challenging emotion is nervousness about public speaking. I believe that I can overcome that by being very well informed about the material that I will introduce to my audience. I have the great feeling that the site director and teachers are on board with me with my advocacy plan. It’s a good feeling that I have their support and they are more than happy to help me out.
•How can you encourage others in their advocacy efforts, and how can others encourage you?
To encourage others I would talk about my plan and my different strategies for the plan that I have put together. Others can encourage me by giving me their opinions with some suggestions. I also feel that another way to encourage others to advocate is by telling them to find something they truly believe in or something that has touched them personally. We all have a voice and everyone can help someone else. I think it is important to know your voice is valuable and powerful. I think that a way to encourage others is by not losing hopes and to keep on their efforts for a positive change. A support that I can gain from my colleagues is by them suggesting ways to involve the parents to come to our events.
The most inspiring thing to me is that we are helping other people. I am working on increasing the number of parent involvement. A challenge for me is changing the attitudes of some of the teachers. The attitudes are so horrible this is why parents don't volunteer or feel welcome when they walk in the building. Getting them to adjust to change has been truly difficult but I will not give up.
ReplyDeleteHello Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteI understand how you feel when there is not parent’s participation. I agree with you that it can be because of the schedule they have, or because they just don’t want to participate. I talk to parents in a daily basis and I invite them to the different workshop the center offers to them, they tell me ok teacher I will be back for the training, but I know if they don’t stay after they drop-off their child, they won’t come back. I am sure that the strategies you want to use are going to help you to have more parent involvement in the child’s education.
Hi Vanessa, I agree with you about the quote that you chose. Also I am sure that we can make the difference in families and children lives, with our advocacy work. I see that most of us are very nervous about public speak speaking, but I think as far we start to do that will become easier, this is my goal. Also like you said when director and other staff are willing to support us that will work better. It is very important to encourage each other to keep our effort and obtain the positive changes
ReplyDeleteHello Vanessa,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoy the quote by Plato. The first thing came to my mind after reading the quote is how people think children should catch on to things very fast such as: potty training, tying the shoes or doing math. So, when a child struggle doing one or all of these tasks, they are pushed instead of giving them time to suppress grasp the task. A child needs support not to be suppressed.
Yes that what being an advocate is all about making a different in the lives of others. To stand up for their rights and be their voice when they need to express their concerns or thoughts. I have noticed that it has become hard for my parents to make certain events (parent meeting) at my job as well.
It is good to tell others about your advocacy plan and they believe in it. They are able to give an opinion, but not be negative and judgmental. I love to encourage others because I know from experience it surely feels good when you hear someone sees your work. In other words, Keep up the good work Vanessa and be the best teacher you can be.