My Supports

What is the meaning of the word support?  The word support means to carry, to encourage, and to assist.  When I think of the word I think of emotional, practical, and physical support.  We need support on a daily basis and it comes from a number of places.  These daily supports help me emotionally, mentally, and physically.

            The emotional support I receive is from my family and friends.  My husband and I have been through some very challenging times and without our love, devotion, and support we couldn’t of held on to what started us 10 years ago.  My children (3 and 5) give me the unconditional love I need to keep me grounded.  Their love, empathy, and joy are my happiness.   My parents, although separated, have always loved, cherished, and have guided me through life’s challenging lessons.  My mother has always provided me with her love of faith and my father has always been very positive.  I would not be the person I am today without them.  Friends have proven to be just as supportive as my family is.  I never knew how much support I have until now. 

            The practical support comes from grocery lists, alarm clocks, schedules, calendars, monetary, etc.  Without these means, and so many more, I would be living my life in disarray.  As a student, full time worker, and a mother of two my life is somewhat crazy but well worth it.  I am a very forgetful person and I wouldn’t be able to keep up with everything without any lists, schedules, money, or calendars.  Not only do I have my life to plan and participate in but I also have to set my husband and two children’s up as well.  There is a lot of planning involved! I forgot to mention the household and all its chores needed to maintain a clean and kid safe place to live.

            The physical support I need is to keep my mind and body healthy in order to maintain a happy and healthy life style.  Our mind and body need to be exercised.  I don’t have any disabilities in which I would need physical support for assisting me in completing a task but I feel that exercising can benefit your mind, body, and soul.

            I couldn’t imagine my life with a disability.  I would embrace it and find the support need to assist me.  If I were to lose the ability to walk I would need many supporting factors in my life to help with everyday living.  I wouldn’t be able to go upstairs to my children’s rooms, need assistance in getting in and out of my chair for baths, transportation, visits to the doctors, etc.  Putting myself in this situation really makes me think about others and their needs.  It makes me think of the children I work with and what I need to do for them as well as their families.

My Connections to Play

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Stuart Brown, MD
Contemporary American psychiatrist

 

I tried to teach my child with books.

He gave me only puzzled looks.

I tried to teach my child with words.

They passed him by often unheard.

 

Despairingly, I turned aside.

"How shall I teach this child?" I cried.

 

Into my hand he put the key

"Come," he said, "play with me."

 

- Unknown

 

 

As a child I was ALWAYS outdoors.  The outdoors was my escape and my playground.  Being outdoors made me use my imagination to its fullest! I could be anything from a bird flying through the neighborhood to the queen of my kingdom.  I would be outdoors for hours on end.  My mother allowed me to play outside until sunset.  I was the only child for 7 years so I would spend my time with my neighborhood friends.  Outdoor play was encouraged a lot more than it is today.  I encourage my children to play outdoors when the weather permits it.  I do stay with them at all times because I am scared something or someone will hurt them.  They are still very small (3 and 5) but as they get older I will let them play with less supervision as I did.

 

 

I LOVED Care Bears.  I still do! I can remember playing hours indoors and out with all my toys.  I enjoyed watching the videos and reenacting special moments.  The Care Bears helped me through some very difficult times as a child and helped me learn how to care for others no matter how different we can be.  I have teddy bears and toys from my childhood that my children play with now.  Care Bears are now modernized and have a show on the HUB.  My boys and I watch them and play with my toys often.  I use them in my classroom as well.  It is a great resource for teaching about caring for yourself and for others.

 

 

My type of play was different when I was growing up.  We did have video games but they were not used as some children use them today.  We did not have hand held devices or the Internet at our fingertips.  We would be outdoors, use our imagination, and socialized a lot more than the children of today.  I try and encourage play as I had as a child.  I believe children need the freedom to be engaged and explore their environments and learn from the outdoors.  We can still have this.  We are the ones who can advocate for them.  Get out, discover, explore, and most of all PLAY!  You are never to young or old to play.   

Relationship Reflection

We live, love, and learn with one another.  We make connections and relationships with many people in our life.  Some will last forever while others come and go.  Relationships always start with trust. 

My mother-daughter relationship has changed since I was younger.  My relationship with my mother deepens as I grow older.  My mother taught me everything I know and she still continues to teach me to this day.  She was a single mother who had overwhelming work hours and always found the time to be with her little girl.  She has taught me to be a young lady, a caring sister, a true friend, and a loving mother.  I will always be her little sweet pea. 

My husband, my soul mate, and my best friend. We have been together for 9 years, have two children, and have a very cozy home. We started our relationship as friends. Through trust, faith, and love we have overcome many obstacles that have been placed in our path. Our relationship continues to get stronger. He is the one I will always run to.

The relationship I have with my children is the one I learn from the most.  I learn to love and let go of the things I cannot control.  Although they are still quite young our relationship is the sweetest, funniest, and craziest.  They are the apple of my eye.  Our relationship has grown very deeply and will continue as we nurture our journeys together. 

I have learned that in order to have successful relationships you must take part, nurture, and learn from each other.  A challenge I have in maintaining relationships is time.  My time is divided into my full time job, my family, and my pursuit for higher learning.  Time is the factor I deal with the most. 

Successful relationships are based on trust, good communication, supportive of one another, and make efforts to maintain these relationships.  It is a lot of work but it is definitely worth it. 

To be an effective teacher we must have relationships with our students as well as their families.  We must get to know the child, know where they come from, know who they are, and what they need to be successful.  All this is attained through mutual respect and trust.

Thank You!

I want to personally thank each and everyone of you who have helped me through this small chapter of my life.  Just as children learn and grow so do we.  We learn best through our peers and experiences.  You have made my studies and experience a memorable one.  We have more to learn and together we can achieve more! Let's make long lasting memories that our children will thank us for one day : )

Quotes About childhood Education

"A person's a person, no matter how small."
~ Dr. Seuss, author

We must cater to the needs of all children! Size or age should not be a factor when working with children.  We need to treat them as growing individuals who are soaking up all the knowledge around them.

"Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them."

~ Lady Bird Johnson, former U.S. first lady

As educators we need to have high expectations for all children.  They will live up to these expectations!  We need to provide them with the tools necessary for achieving their goals and the first step is to believe in them.

 

 

"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."
~Anonymous

Children learn through experiences and watching interactions.  Being a great role model gives them the ability to believe in themselves. 

 

 

"What connects people is not mere ideas but deep personal commitments. Commitments involve feeling, passion, and drive. Ideas only bring heads together."

~R. B. Williams, author and communications specialist

We are connected as educators.  We have the same goal in life.  We want all of our children to succeed and become great people that will change the world for the better.  We are a T.E.A.M. (Together everyone achieves more)!

 
"The best way to improve the American workforce in the 21st century is to invest in early childhood education, to ensure that even the most disadvantaged children have the opportunity to succeed along side their more advantaged peers"
~ James Heckman (Nobel Laureate in Economics)

Disadvantaged children need us the most.  They need more help, attention, and most of all love!

Testing for Intelligence?

We are alike and different in so many ways.  I feel that standardized testing gives us a few samples of the population.  Not all will pass because we are so different.  I had a student 2 years ago that had speech problems but was one of the brightest students I have ever had.  She lacked in social skills and could never start or keep a conversation.  Her family was from Mexico and they had just moved to the states through a work visa.  She wouldn't speak much and when she did you couldn't understand what she was trying to convey.  We figured out how to work each other.  Instead of having her speak to me she would show me things.  She was embarrassed to talk because of her accent and because she was afraid that children would laugh at her.  If I were to give her a standardized test she would have failed miserably.  Very understanding.  These tests should be for the whole child and not just certain parts.  Towards the middle of the school year she gained enough confidence to talk more, play with peers, and even join in on group discussions.  She is know a 2nd grader who can fluently read, write, and talk in English. 

What also comes to mind is the smart students who are bad test takers.  I was and still am the girl who will bite off all her fingernails because I cannot make the butterflies in my stomach go away when it comes down to being tested and timed.  We see this when our state standardized test results come in.  We look at the child's score and compare it to their academics.  Many times the child's anxiety kicks in and prevents them from doing well. 

I was looking into standardized testing in Mexico and all I could find was an article from 1996.  The article states that parents, teachers, and students protested the streets of Mexico.  Four thousand people took to the streets.  Mexico was forcing students to take a standardized test and pay for it even if they attended a public school.  The cost was $13 when its minimal wage was $3 a day.  Students then had to prepare a list of possible schools to attend after receiving their scores.  There wasn't enough room for all students which caused protest among its citizens.  As a result they now have scholarships and more space was available at schools.

To read more about this click on the following link: http://fairtest.org/protests-against-teaching-mexico

Consequences of Strss on Children's Development

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

            Many stressors can hinder a child’s biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial development.  Poverty, war, racism, hunger, and chaos are a few of the many that may have devastating effects on adults but especially on the young lives of children.  Violence is the stressor I have the seen the most. 

             I have a student this year that has severe behavioral problems.   He is very emotionally disturbed, with an extremely short fuse, and who is quick to react.  I was aware of this when our Pre-K teacher gave me the heads up.  Everyone knew this little 4 year old that would knock furniture down, through objects, kick, and use foul language.  I kept hearing, “GOOD LUCK!”  I was hesitant and didn’t know how to reach him.  So the first few weeks of school we got to learn from one another.  He is an intelligent child who has social problems due to domestic violence.  The students in my class who knew him from the year before would say things like, “He does that all the time” or “He is a bad boy”.  These comments, student stares, and laughs would set him off and we would have a complete melt down, including room rearrangement, about 2-3 times a day.  While taking my Early Childhood Development course and its readings I have taught my students to use empathy and help our friend who is a part of our family.  The results have shown improvement among my students and my classroom environment.  We have a give and take type of relationship that seems to be working.  My little buddy no longer throws things or knocks anything down.  He does have a temper tantrum or two but it is understandable and we work as a class to help each other out.  He is a great kid and everyone can know see that. 

            I chose to do more research on violence in Mexico.  I am of Latin decent, first born American, and live in a city whose population is mainly Hispanic.  Many stressors impact children in Mexico.  I will continue to focus on violence.  UNICEF is sponsoring a program in Mexico schools called Education for Peace.  This program is designed to reach children who experience violence at home and school.  The program also involves adults and teaches them how to recognize violence in their lives and how to avoid directing these feelings towards children.  The school dropout rate in Mexico is due to children in poverty having to work as well as abusive teachers, and parents.  Yes I said it…teachers!  I was shocked to read this.  We are supposed to be the safe haven they don’t have elsewhere.  Mexico’s government has taken over this project because of the wide results and impacts the children have made.  They want it to spread to countryside, cities, and eventually nationwide. 

Reference: http://www.unicef.org/protection/mexico_30660.html

Child Development and Public Health

     One of my biggest concerns in life is the well being of all children.  They depend on us to provide them with love, support, and healthy development.  Other than feeding, exercise, and giving them their multivitamin on a daily basis immunizations are also needed. 

     Immunizations are also called vaccines.  "Vaccines stimulate the body’s own immune system to protect the person against subsequent infection or disease." (WHO 2012).  Families who vaccinate children save lives against deadly diseases.  The World Health Organization reports that China has had a 92% drop in Measles as a result of its measles immunization effort.  These kind of diseases can be prevented by simply vaccinating.  China isn't the only country reporting these findings.  Other countries with these findings are Cambodia, Japan, Laos, Philippines, and Viet Nam. 

WHO is focused on eliminating the Measles disease in all the Western Pacific Region (WPR) countries.  Below is a graph depicting a four year study of the region.

 

"Since 2001 the Initiative has supported 80 countries to deliver more than 1 billion doses of measles vaccine, helped to raise measles vaccination coverage to 85 percent globally and reduced measles deaths by 74 percent." (WHO 2012). 

     This topic impacts my future and the future of children all over the world.  Where there is a need we must do something to fill in its void.  What ways can we help with this initiative?  The Red Cross gives us ample opportunity to help by donating, volunteering, fundraising opportunities, and by being advocates. 

For more information click on the following links:
http://www.who.int/topics/immunization/en/
http://www.measlesrubellainitiative.org/
http://www.redcross.org/support/international-support

Childbirth In Your Life and Arounf the World

I am fortunate enough to have two little boys in my life.  The pregnancies and birth experiences were very different from each other. 

My first pregnancy was relatively smooth.  From the moment I found out that I was pregnant I started to take better care of myself by taking prenatal vitamins, having regular checkups, and eating healthier.  I wanted to do all I could do to give my child a healthy start at life.  It was such an exciting experience too, from the first movement, getting everything baby would need, to his birthday.  After waiting 9 months the day finally arrived.  Our families patiently waited at the hospital for the moment to meet Tyler.  I remember being so scared and so happy at the same time.  Everything was fine and our bouncing baby boy was as healthy as can be.  He is now 5 years old.

My second pregnancy wasn’t so smooth.  Again, I did everything I could to give this new baby a healthy start with vitamins, checkups, and being healthier.  Everything seemed ok until one day at work I began bleeding.  I rushed to the doctor and after several months and bloody episodes we discovered I had placenta previa.  My placenta was covering my cervix and each time it would try and fix itself by moving it was like pulling a scab.  I was eventually bedridden and hospitalized still having episodes.  To make a long story short after all the tests and all the specialists we finally had to make the decision to have an early birth through C-section.  Kyle was born 5 ½ weeks early at a staggering 7 pounds but had to be in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit.  He had several problems which included breathing and feeding.  After a little over a week we were finally able to bring him home.  He is now 3 years old.

This week’s readings about pregnancies and births made me think of what may have happened if the tables were turned.  What if I gave birth at home and not in a hospital? Would I still be here today? Would my child be alive? We both needed medical attention from birth complications.  Thinking of this and all the other complications others have during pregnancy saddens me.  Many children have been lost due to poor health care on the mother’s part, financial burdens, and even outside factors: teratogens.  What if I gave birth in one of the least developed nations?  Reading about the woman in Ghana giving birth in a dark, hot, hut curled in a corner with no sound amazes me.  It seems so peaceful yet not all are so.  She was fortunate not to have any birthing complications but what if she did.  I am very thankful to have given birth in the United States! 

Examining Codes of Ethics

3 NAEYC codes of ethics that are meaningful to me. 

I-1.1—To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

All educators should be life-long learners.  The only way to meet the needs of our ever changing society is to keep up with it through professional development.  It will not hurt us, it only benefits us as well as our students.  Through professional development we keep up with current issues, research, and practices.  It is imperative for professionals working with children to become more familiar in these topics.

I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.

The best thing a teacher can do for a child is to create this type of environment to foster the age appropriate development a child needs.  Sometimes we are the only constant balance a child has.  There are several hidden factors at home we can be unaware of such as cleanliness and parent/adult involvement.  Giving them a secure environment also gives them something to look forward to.  We must always be positive and create positive environments, lessons, and skills they will use for the rest of their lives. 

I-2.7—To share information about each child’s education and development with families and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of the early childhood profession.

We must build a positive relationship with the students and their families.  They need to understand that we are here to serve the needs of the child and what we want more than anything is the successful development of their children.  Together we form a T.E.A.M. (Together Everyone Achieves More).  Through this team we can help foster the development of children in all areas needed at school and more importantly home.  If a child sees how important school is not only through us but through their parents then they too will agree.  Without help from home we are in this alone. 

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved August 4, 2012, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Course Resource

Course Resources:

Course Media: "The Resources for Early Childhood"
Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf

• Walden University Library:  Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
   

Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
  
• Websites:
• World Forum Foundationhttp://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
   
• World Organization for Early Childhood Educationhttp://www.omep-usnc.org/
   
• Association for Childhood Education Internationalhttp://acei.org/
   

Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Childrenhttp://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhoodhttp://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Familieshttp://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTEDhttp://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letterhttp://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institutehttp://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conferencehttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScopehttp://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children's Defense Fundhttp://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforcehttp://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Childrenhttp://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
• Institute for Women's Policy Researchhttp://www.iwpr.org/
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Educationhttp://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Associationhttp://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Researchhttp://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Nowhttp://www.preknow.org/
  
• Voices for America's Childrenhttp://www.voices.org/
  
• The Erikson Institutehttp://www.erikson.edu/

Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Books

 

 

 

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

QUOTES

"Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them." – NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8 (2009)
~Susan Bredekamp, Ph. D

"I had a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution in the world and to fix all the injustices that existed in the world." "So the passion to create a safer, more just world for all kids is there and suppose will be there until I die and maybe even after."

~Louise Derman-Sparks

   

   

Personal Childhood Web

As we now know many individuals help mold us into the adults we are today.  Here are a few people that made and still make dramatic impacts in my life.

My very own Super Mom!  Eleonora! She was a very busy mom working a full time job and raising 3 girls as a single mother.  Yet she always instilled love, family, and religion.  I have so many memories from spending movie time, lazily talking around the house, playing "bolita" (dog pile on one another), and helping us in good times and bad.  My mother is my rock, my friend, my support!  Always supports my crazy ideas, different phases, and will give me the shirt off her back.  She has shown me that we should always be there for our family by showing us through example.  I LOVE MY MAMA!!!

This is my father Joseph.  Unfortunetly I grew up in a divorced family.  Fortunetly I have a father who moved mountains for his little girl.  He was and still is as involved in my life as much as possible.  Not living with my father was very hard on me.  I was extremly blessed to have my dad "make time" for me as often as he did.  He would constantly call me, send me mail, and even spent his lunch time with me at school. We would go on many adventures like concerts, zoo trips, and exploring what good old Texas had in store for us while learning all about my family.  I have learned so much from my father and I am SO PROUD to be his daughter.

These are mis Abuelos , my Grandparents, who I lovingly call Pepa and Mema. I have learned about traditions, family, values, religion, and most of all never ending love. My Mema still cooks the greatest foods from scratch. A great memory I will always cherish is when I assumed my grandmother made watermelons (she made everything else). Mema looked at me with so much love, and laughter, in her eyes she grew me my very own watermelon patch. My Pepa has always been the strong head to our family and showed my how to

                                                      draw.  I LOVE DRAWING!

My late Grandmother Rosita. From the beginiing my grandmother instilled the love of family, religon, and culture. Rosita would show my unconditional love, taught me about relationships with people, fundamental family values, and showed me how important family is to one another. What she pushed the most was education. She gave up education to provide for her family. As do most parents, she wanted us to get ahead in life and live our lives to the fullest. Mama Rosita is gone now but she lives on in our hearts, minds, and actions. Her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren carry on her memory. Education is a top priority. I can still see her smile and hear her laugh.

These two lovely ladies are my aunts Sandra and Rosie.  They have been like mother's to me.  Always instilling the love of family and the need for education.  To this day they watch over me and love me like their own. 
Both of them are educators as well.  I can easily say that I look up to them and they might have influenced me to continue the "family tradition".  My aunt Sandra teaches at the collegiate level and Rosie teaches middle school.  I have had the chance to see them shine in their classrooms as a younger child.  I remember watching them and learning from them.  I am very thankful to have them in my life and I love them dearly.  Thank you for your guidance!

One of my favorite children's book is Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.  I really enjoy sharing this book with my students.  There is so much you can do with this book from introducing letters, rhyming, rhythm, movement, emotions, and you can even use it as an observation tool. 

Here is a great link I use:
http://www.schooltube.com/video/2490bb8cd9848c3af3ec/Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom-With-Lyrics-Alphabet-Song

All time favorite teacher quote

One Hundred Years From Now

Author: (excerpt from "Within My Power" by Forest Witcraft)

One hundred years from now
It won't matter
What kind of car I drove
What kind of house I lived in
How much money I had in the bank
Nor what my cloths looked like
BUT
The world may be a little better
Because, I was important
In the life of a child.

I couldn't have said it better myself.

I just finished a week long workshop for Phonemic Awareness.  I really enjoyed the book study we did with Teaching Phonics in Context by David Hornsby & Lorraine Wilson.  The book has these beleifs:

That reading and writing of connected text takes priority over the traditional teaching of phonics

• That teaching and learning of phonics is always contained within, and subordinate to, genuine literacy events
• That children spend much more time reading and writing (in which they learn to applt their phonic knowledge) than they do in the actual study of sound-letter relationships

This book describes classrooms that shine with stories, read alouds, singing, rhyme, poerty, role-play, science, writing, etc.  The authors share ideas for reading, interpreting, enjoying picture books, sound-letter relationships as well as engaing in particular titles.  The book has valuable advice for using strategies with ELL students.

If you have a chance to read this book you will definetly see things in a different light.  I will be using this book when it comes to my lesson planning.