Long-time provider; continued learning; children excel!
Hello everyone. I’m Kim Merritt from Petal, MS. Currently, I am the Director of a childcare center with 170+ children, with 25 staff members. I am President of our local State Early Childhood affiliate, an officer of our local Owners & Directors Network, and a members of the National Child Care Association and Association of Early Learning Leaders. I have presented at several conferences and love getting to meet so many early childhood professionals. I am also a mother of an 8 year old, who (I have to brag) is reading on a 4th grade level, as well as the Children's Coordinator and VBS Director at my church. I am happily married to my husband of almost 18 years (on Christmas Eve).
For me, the purpose of earning a Teaching and Diversity in Early Childhood Ed. Masters Degree at Walden University is to greatly expand my knowledge in the early childhood field. I do my best to stay up-to-date on current trends going on in our state, but so much is changing it is extremely hard to keep up. I am looking forward to learning new things and also getting to know my colleagues.
In Mississippi, it has changed so much in the last 5 years, providers, as well as teachers must be current new terminology, trends, and legislation to be able to adequately care for themselves, their businesses, and their children and families at the center. We now live in such a diverse and politically correct world that old school ways of doing things sometimes just don’t work.
Hello Kim,
ReplyDeleteI understand how the the school system has changed after so many years. In many ways, I am torn by this because I tend to like the old way of teaching. I like that we have to keep up with the times but because of this some children are left behind and it reflects in their grades. It seems like nowadays all the homework that comes home has to have a lot of involvement by the parents-which leaves me wondering who really is teaching the children. Although my children have excellent grades, I know that many are failing due to the changing school system policies.
Also be sure to check my blog out at http://nmooretellis.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteHello Kim,
ReplyDeleteIt is a true statement that old school teaching has gone astray. Here in South Carolina a program called core standards has been implemented in all levels of the schools. Teachers, parents and students are alike are struggling with this new concept. South Carolina is behind in Education according to national numbers. So to introduce a program of that caliber in already struggling education system is really undefined. Hopefully everyone will come on board soon.
Olivia, Mississippi also have the common core. We call it the Early Learning Standards. This year we are expected to incorporate it into the 3 and 4 year old classes. Next year, we will receive the ELS's for the Infant - 2 year olds. I agree those who are already struggling will struggle even more. But I feel like it is designed to basically set everyone to the same mid-level. No extra incentive anymore for excellence.
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