Some of Patty Smith Hill’s thoughts and quotes I found that resonated with me were these because I believe in them also.
Not so much a quote as one of Hill’s beliefs was that she believed that children being allowed to play freely were valued as much as learning about hard work. She was quoted as having said in an article I read this week:
"When I was about eleven, someone told me about a foundling's asylum, and I decided that a whole houseful of babies would be the finest thing in the world, and I went as far as to ask my mother to help me take charge of one when I grew up" (quoted in Chaffee, 1925). In her retirement, Hill, like many of her eminent Progressive contemporaries, started a settlement house for families in her Harlem neighborhood near Teachers College in a building that was given to her for that purpose by Jewish Theological Seminary, thus fulfilling her childhood dream. (Rudnitski, 1995)
A quote by Maria Montessori that I really liked was this:
“A child will learn naturally if they are put in an environment containing the proper materials.”
I really liked this because sometimes adults interfere with children’s playtime when the child if left alone would learn as much or more without our interference. A child can learn by just playing with an object and figuring out how it works or using their imagination and playing with that object. Children also learn naturally from each other.
Some thoughts that were quoted from other early childhood professionals that I liked were:
Raymond Hernandez said his passion comes from wanting to make a difference.
Hopefully, we all want to make a difference in the lives of children. If not, then we need to find a different profession!
Renatta Cooper said to take our egos out of the picture. It’s not all about us, what’s best for the child?
I love this, because there are many times when we want to do what is best for us as teaching professionals when that isn’t what is best for the child.
Hi Niki,
ReplyDeleteI really liked the quote from Maria Montessori. I truly believe that children learn naturally and sometimes as teachers we forget that exploration and playtime are important times for children.
Hello Niki,
ReplyDeleteI believe so much also in this quote from Montessori because what children learn and discover themselves stick longer than what is fused into them. It's a matter of exploring and discovering.
I chose this quote from Renatta too, like Janet-Mena said, when we let the kid take the lead, then we will discover another level of joy
Hi Niki,
ReplyDeleteI also love the quote from Maria Mntessor because I am also a true believer that children learn through play and if you have the right materials for them to explore it allows them to discover and learn on their own with a little guidance. I love watching the children in my classroom learn through play and how they can take the materials and use them in so many different ways at times.