A Time to Remember

Play…the way it touched my life

As I reminisce upon my childhood memories play was an enormous aspect of it. I remember growing up with my 3 sisters, one younger and one older (the middle child) of the litter. My sisters and I always played with each other in the field, climbing apple and plum trees, or building mud pies. In addition, my dad built me a little shed house with a black chalk board, 6 desks, and a bag of white chalk. I would line up my adoption dolls up and know that I was teaching- you couldn’t tell me nothing. Then I would worry my friend s to be my pupils. Often times, they would with a smile, sometimes the guys would be grumble, but they would reluctantly come if I told them I would play freeze tag or kick ball two times in a row. Of course, I said yes!

Also on the weekends, I got the opportunity to do what I truly loved and that was hang out with my cousins-Rashad and Courtney. At this time, I could pretend I was Superwoman in the league of Super friends…it was so magical and my imagination would be free to run wild!  After playing super friends, we would switch to the “Miami Dolphins” and I was the quarter back… It was truly a time of self- exploration, half the time- I was unsure if I wanted to be a tom boy or act like a princess like in my fairy tale books I read.

I defiantly feel that play helped me build upon the social skills that I have today. I enjoy being around people, and having fun.  I am open, warm and loving…perfect- no, I am just me… I truly enjoy adding a little joy into the lives of others.

            Therefore, knowing the person that I have become, I can only imagine that as a child, that I was just a mass of intuition and exploration…always on the go, moving and shaking…I am sure I was would’ve been a great example of a child that could confirm the findings for Dr. Alison Gopnik on her thoughts about child development. Like in the video presentation, a conversation about Child Development, Dr. Alison Gopnik stated, “Play is a time of discovery and exploration- openness to the things around them-a pretending of the imagination”. A time to freely explore the world around them- this is called a theory of the mind.

Joy Overflowing, 

April

References:

 Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2013a). A conversation about child development [Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author. 

Inspirational Footsteps of Teaching

Greetings Colleagues of Education, 

Teaching for me is more- so much more than a career…it is a way that provides the opportunity for me to enrich, embrace, and shape the lives of others in such a remarkable way. When the hands of  time in my mind rewind to  my childhood years, as I surrounded myself with my adoption and cabbage patch dolls- all  lined up neatly in a row, preparing them to learn addition and spelling lessons for the day…It brings only laughter to my heart. All those many years ago, I knew then, what I was destine to be- a teacher. No one special or ever to be written in the world’s history books, simply just a teacher who would believe in her student’s ability to succeed that when she was presented with brokenness- she envisioned a masterpiece-waiting to be revealed.

Through the eyes of my students; I see something wonderful and unique-an open door to unlimited possibilities. In my classroom, the learning environment is a place of laughter and joy wrapped up in standard base instruction while safety is a priority. There is open communication between my students and I, we work as a collaborative team along with our parents as partners. 

As I think about the years, and all the changes in the standards- I know that at the end of the day, it was never about me, it was always about my students. This is what keeps me afloat. I know that I must continue to be a reflective learner, attending as much professional development, conferences and trainings as needed to evaluate my students towards greatness. I truly believe the path in which my state (Georgia) has taken is a wise one, our standards are teacher lead, but student driven, gives way for differentiated instruction, and allows that success is eminent.

To sum it up, Yes I could’ve told you all about me, but I choose to focus on something much more important- the beating of my heart-teaching.

Joy Overflowing,

April Burrough

Quotes that Move the Mind…

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”

― Nelson Mandela

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”

― Benjamin Franklin

“When one opens up a book…you open up the mind…”

-         April Burrough

“Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.

-      Maya Angelo

“The best candy shop a child can be left alone in, is the library”

-      Maya Angelo

“If you only have one smile in you, give it to the people you love”

-      Maya Angelo