Throughout completing this master’s degree there were lots of ups and downs. The “downs” have shown me that I can motivate myself to take on challenges and has also shown me that no matter how big the obstacles are, I should always continue taking steps forward and never give up! These studies have allowed me to explore my goals for the future, as well as making me more aware of how I can improve my teaching practices to better serve the children whom I work with. I have learned about educational systems across the world and these studies have especially encouraged me to begin my journey as an anti-bias educator.
Fostering inclusion used to be a challenge for me, however, through these studies it has become my passion! My long-term goal is to continue to foster an anti-bias, inclusive learning community (Derman-Sparks and Edwards, 2010). I will also continue to research ways, in which I can foster inclusion, seek out professional development opportunities on inclusion as well as support other teachers on how they can foster inclusion.
I would like to thank Dr. Embree for her continued effort to supporting me in creating a capstone project that I can be proud of. I would also like to wish her all of the best with her new job opportunity! A big thank you to all of my classmates for your support, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to learn from so many well informed and educated teachers.
Some of my favorite quotes:
“Every Child Has A Different Learning Style And Pace. Each Child Is Unique, Not Only Capable Of Learning But Also Capable Of Succeeding”. – Robert John Meehan
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize accepts and celebrate those differences.” – Audre Lorde
“A child’s life is like a piece of paper on which every person leaves a mark”. – Robert Heinlein
“Every child is gifted. They just unwrap their packages at different times”. – Unknown
“As early childhood educators, we are in a position to shape a child’s life for the better” – Sandy Escopido (Laureate Education Inc., 2016)
Image: (North Hastings Children’s Service, 2018)
Image: (Cruse Bereavement Care, n.d)
Wishing you all the best with meeting your future goals!
I would like to share my contact information for those of you who would like to stay in contact after this program and also if you are planning on traveling to Thailand, Bangkok and need some traveling tips or want to meet up!
Lindie Denny
Work Email: l.denny@ris-swiss-section.org
Personal Email: lindiekdenny@gmail.com / kruger.lindie@gmail.com
P.S We have an extra room in our house, so if you decide on making it out to Bangkok you are more than welcome to stay with us! 🙂
References
Cruse Bereavement Care. (n.d). Cruse Bereavement Care – Leeds: Children and young people. Retrieved from http://www.cruse.org.uk: https://www.cruse.org.uk/leeds-area-children
Derman-Sparks and Edwards. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for young children and ourselves. Washinton DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Laureate Education Inc. (2016). Five early childhood professionals share passion, motivation, and commitment to the early childhood field. Retrieved from Walden University: https://class.waldenu.edu
North Hastings Children’s Service. (2018). Special Needs Support. Retrieved from http://www.nhcs.ca: http://www.nhcs.ca/special-needs/