When you teach pre-k, you
learn just how primal and important it is. When you have done that and
THEN become involved in public policy, well, you have the backstory for
a superhero powerhouse pre-k advocate. Check out Fulfilling our Promise: The Prospects of Early Childhood Education by former Inside Pre-K blogger, writer, and public policy
expert Sophia Pappas. Only real experience with the benefits of pre-k
could start an article on federal early education policy with "I found
my calling in a pile of vomit and a smile." You gotta love when a
policy talk starts with puke and a grin.
heavy lifting of a young child's educational foundation, which includes
teaching him how to read and count while simultaneously caring for him. A typical day in pre-k has at least one or more of the
following: falling, spilling, sneezing, wiping, crying, tattling and
bleeding. It also has at least one of these: counting, sorting,
recognizing, naming, ordering, classifying, graphing, rhyming, and
reading.
deep respect for the process of learning and each student's
individuality. It also, if you let it, tug your heartstrings like the final scene in E.T. Here is how Sophia described Tyrique, a former student who helped her fall in love with pre-k.
His trajectory from an anxious newcomer without an
understanding of what a letter is to a self-confident early reader
required strategic and steadfast efforts to identify and meet his
needs. I paid attention to everything, from the toys and stories that
piqued his interest to his specific skill deficits, in order to create
individualized learning plans that maximized every moment.
magazine to get a sense of why we need more superheroes like Sophia on
the front lines of public pre-k debates, and don't forget to join the
Pre-k Justice League and Become a Friend of Sam.
Image: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_9ZUZOd9TeZU/StD1Y_GRwDI/AAAAAAAAAX4/kKRaOEliAYI/s320/super+hero+wonder+woman.jpg
