Here are some options if you’re looking for temporary solutions to decorate a child’s room or playroom. Most of these wall decals are not reusable once removed; however, some are.

Surface Collective - a Vancouver based firm – call their work wall tattoos. Their unique collection includes some children’s designs.

If you’re looking for some designs inspired by nature, check out the offerings at mydigitalprints.ca

Dalidecals has a wide range of colour options that can be applied to cut-out/silhouettes. (A note about getting a 10% discount from Dalidecals.)

For some colourful, bold patterns check out Wallnutz.com’s collection.

For the nature lover who likes floral and nature inspired decals (some of which are repositionable) check out the British collection at Allposters.co.uk

Ferm living is a Danish company whose decals have a clea, woodblock print feel and colours that pop. They also have a children’s collection.

A search for decals on Etsy.com will reveal a wide selection of decals offered at a wide range of prices.

An appealing option for a child’s room is a custom made decal available from Figgy Wink (on Etsy.com)

Dvider.com offers “a mix of hip and playful vinyl wall decals designed for the young, or simply the young at heart. Baby your baby and stick em in the nursery, the playroom, the children’s bedroom…”

If you’re looking for unique, cutting edge, clean and simple lines, check out domestic.fr – a French company. (To progress to the next design company click on a name above the images.)

How to make your own decals

How to apply decals. This is a useful video if you’re ready to take on the “I hope this won’t be a sticky nightmare” wall decal challenge.

In the wake of Professor Randy Pausch’s recent passing, I decided to read my household’s recently purchased copy of “The Last Lecture” and watch the related video. The video shows a lecture held by Randy Pausch a few months before his passing following the rapid onset of a terminal illness.

Pausch’s cheerful determination and the brave presence of his wife at the lecture are most admirable. He explained at the outset that he planned to discuss three topics: how to achieve your dreams, how to enable the dreams of others; and, lessons learned. While watching the lecture you realize that the scope of the talk moves beyond these topics. Pausch’s ideas are illuminating for students, everyday citizens, academics and teachers of children from the Early Childhood years onwards.

Pausch suggested that people need to decide if they are an Eeyore or a Tigger. He explained that you cannot control how the cards are dealt to you in life, but you can control your attitude about your situation and how you play your cards.

It is not surprising to hear that Pausch saw “brick walls” as opportunities for the truly dedicated to show their passion and determination. They are simply a mechanism to filter out the less committed. In his talk, Pausch illustrates how he kept pursuing his dreams and his goals even when he encountered obstacles. “Don’t bail”, he advised, “the best gold is at the bottom of the barrel.” Lead your life the right way and this gold – your dreams – will come to you.

Here are some examples of the advise he offers. For each of these suggestions you will probably think about a story or circumstance that validates what Pausch believed.

- Students learn “head fake” learning indirectly while pursuing other activities. For example, while learning a sport, children learn teamwork, sportsmanship and perseverance. Examples of “head fake” learning may be found everywhere.

- Experience is what you get when you did not get what you wanted.

- Captain Kirk was not the smartest guy compared to his colleagues, but he had strong leadership skills AND cool toys.

- To be a success focus on people and learning how to work in groups.

- Consider the important role that parents, mentors and students play in your life.

- Allow your children to paint their rooms, if they ask.

- Never lose your childlike sense of wonder. It is too important. It is what drives us.

- Help others.

- Loyalty is a two-way street.

- People will help you if you remember to tell the truth, be earnest, apologize when you screw up and focus on other people.

- Get a feedback loop and listen to it. Anyone can get chewed out, but it is the rare person who appreciates receiving difficult feedback.

- Show gratitude

- Don’t complain. Just work harder.

- Work hard. That’s the secret to success.

- Be good at something, it makes you valuable.

- Find the best in everybody, no matter how long you have to wait for them to show it. Everybody has a good side.

- Be prepared. “Luck” is where preparation meets opportunity.

For more insight into Pausch’s approach towards living his life, read “The Last Lecture“.

While watching the recording of the lecture, I could not help but think of the relationship between Pausch and the members of the audience. Surely it was filled with colleagues, mentors, his students and family members. Pausch and his audience members were emotionally invested in each other and must have cherished such a poignant moment – one of the last times that they would be together.

Even at such a difficult time, Pausch explained that he was not dying. He was having fun and was going to keep having fun every day he had left because there is no other way to play it.

Randy Pausch’s update page

Slideshow:

The Legacy of Randy Pausch

ABC special about The Last Lecture with Diane Sawyer.

Aah the ’70s.

…but what can we recall about the contributions these teachers made? Since most of these teachers were university students during the activism focussed late ’60s, they were and still are in the “system”, working either as senior teachers or as district administrators or Superintendents. During the course of their careers, some of the teachers from this era continued to encourage their students to take up causes and make a difference.

As a child of four going on five, one of these teachers used to like to play One Tin Soldier in my class. I was attracted to the story and could picture the low mountain and the village people scrambling up the hill to kill the mountain people and claim the treasure. (I thought of the height of the mountain in Irish terms.)

The lyrics contain a simple message about peace and people getting along.

A few years later I was taught, along with my classmates, to sing the song “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”. I recall liking the concept that everyone in the world could join hands in peace and sing about apple trees and honey bees.

As a child I had many ideas swimming around in my head, and a fierce sense of justice. During my adult years – either as a teacher, friend or aunt – I have always tried to respect the intelligence of children while speaking with them and listening to their ideas and concerns.

(Short video featuring Montessori infant programme)

The Montessori educator’s community has, over the years, developed a strong programme for children from age 2 to 3 months to 2 years. These infant programmes offer inspiration to professionals working with infants. They are warm and beautiful environments staffed by caring and well trained professions.

The Montessori infant toddler programme is divided into two stages. The first programme caters to children up until about 14 months (when the child is walking well) and is called Nido (Nest). Nest programmes accommodate up to 9 children and have an adult/child ratio of 1 – 3. The second Infant Community programme runs until the child is age 2 1/2 and progresses to the Montessori Primary programme.

An group of Infant Toddler centres in Yokohama, Japan is a fine example of the quality of the programme and possibilities for the physical environment that can be provided. One of these centres was developed with the cooperation of the local government. Local families enter a lottery so that their child can attend the centre. The interior is purpose built with a tatami area for sleeping; special Montessori equipment; child sized furniture; and, Japanese inspired Montessori infant exercises. The landscaping of the centre includes a beautiful pond and gardens for the children to explore.

The Association Montessori Internationale, Holland (AMI)lists the following components for the training programme taken by professionals working in an Infant setting from birth to three years:

- Anatomy and Physiology.
- Obstetrics: Prenatal, birth, and postnatal development.
- Nutrition and Hygiene: Maternal care, digestive system, food preparation, and health issues.
- Child Neuropsychiatry: The Nervous System and normal psychological development.
- Development of Movement and Development of Language.
- Environment: Preparation of the home and Infant Community as an aid to human development within the first three years of life.
- Music, Art, and Spiritual Development.
- Observations: practical training for observation of children in maternity hospitals, homes and infant communities.
- Material Making: Hand made materials.
- Practicum: Work in an infant community evaluated by a course staff member.
- Preparation of reference albums and curriculum albums.

It can be difficult to access AMI training centres locally. The AMI believe that it is important for trainees to have face-to-face and hands on experience. Therefore the AMI does not support distance learning programmes.

The AMI following centres offer the Infants training programme:

Australia Australian Montessori Teacher Education Foundation West Lindfield Australia Assistant to Infancy
Japan Montessori Institute of Tokyo, location Osaka, c/o Shuji Matsumoto Osaka Japan Assistant to Infancy
Montessori Institute of Tokyo, location Yokohama Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken Japan Assistant to Infancy
Mexico Instituto Montessori de Mexico A.C. c/o Mrs. S. Carbone-Singh D.F. Mexico Mexico Assistant to Infancy
Instituto Internacional Montessori Mexico Assistant to Infancy
P.R. China International Training Center of Montessori Education of China Hangzhou Zhejiang Province P.R. China Assistant to Infancy
Sweden Maria Montessori Institutet Lidingö Sweden Assistant to Infancy
East USA Montessori Institute of Atlanta Atlanta GA USA Assistant to Infancy
Mid USA The Montessori Institute of North Texas (MINT) Dallas TX USA Assistant to Infancy
West USA Montessori Institute Northwest Portland OR USA Assistant to Infancy
The Montessori Institute Denver CO USA Assistant to Infancy
The North American Montessori Teacher’s Association (NAMTA) provides general information about infant programmes.

Both the North American Montessori Center and the Montessori Centre International provide distance learning programmes focussed on the infant years.

Image source

CBC backgrounder on ECE

A commonly told Canadian story about why ECE teachers are leaving their profession.

Many ECE teachers have completed an undergraduate degree at university. Some have completed a Master of Education or PhD degree as well. The average K – 12 teacher’s salary is well above the typical ECE salary. Recent Vancouver rates being offered to ECE teachers are as low as 18,000 – 20,000 per year. This is $5000 – $7000 less than the average starting salary ten years ago.

If we value our children and want them to have enriched educational opportunities, why don’t we, as a society, value the people who will help these children start their school careers?

Salaries for K-12 public school teachers (in comparison)

Image from MGEU (Manitoba) Postcard Campaign