Love Our Distance Neighbors Better

Love Better

-Loving the Diverse Neighbor

        -John 17:20-23

        -Gal. 5:13-15

        -Gen. 1:26-27

        -Acts 10:34-35

-God is showing me how to love Hispanics in AR, not just in their own country. 

-My mission field like I've always wanted. Now more then ever. Have that chance this year at Headstart. Few kids for now, all Hispanic. 

-God has me around at least one of every people group that I can love.

              -Hispanic

              -Singles

              -Homeless

              -Disabilties 

-Romans 15

-Live our distance neighbors better by:

            -In your diversity, live in Harmony.

            -Know your part in God's story.

            -Pary:

                  -"God, save more."

                  -"God, open doors."

                  -"God, send more."

Working Preschool Through and With COVID

                 I just got done with my first week of school at a preschool/headstart in 2020 with kids and it was hard at first but by the end of the week it got a little bit easier. I was so worried and anxious about how things were going to go. I think that is why the first couple of days were hard. I couldn't think about things normally like I know what and how to do them before this whole COVID because everything changed I had to rethink and retrain my mind. I had to remember all the things they trained us on weeks before through video chat. I mean how can you remember things that way. I know I can't. I am a visual learner. 

                  The major changes that the headstart where I worked at had to make were how the parents came in or didn't come in. Teachers had to wear masks all day even outside in the 90 degree weather for recess. We had to put our masks in a baby bottle drying containor while we ate breakfast, lunch and snack with the kids. We couldn't ever family style meals anymore. The teachers have to serve the children.  Parents didn't understand at all how they should pick up their child because none of them would get on video for a open house the week before. They had to stay at the front door at drop off and pick up. We had two children drop right before we started like the Friday before. We had to do vitual learning on Fridays for 10 children so I was worried about that too. 

                 Parents have 15 mins for drop off and pick up and if they are late at all the child can't come to school that day. They have to stay in their car and the teachers go around and take the child's tempature, ask health questions and have the parents sign in. That is at drop off. Then we have to hold up a green sign and they can get out of their cars and line up on a red X. Then we take the children inside with us. At pick up, they just sign the child out and we have to call in on a walkie talkie and tell them that so and so is ready for their child. We are the only class that has to go to the front door. The other classroom have doors in their rooms that goes straight out to the parking lot. 

                 We had parents complain about little things like why do we have to stay in our cars, why are we taking their temps. and why can't we come in later. We also had parents that kept getting out of their cars and we had to remind them to stay in their cars. We have to take all the signs, clipboard, walkie talkies, papers, and gloves with us too. The children also get shorter times because we have to have time to walk to and from the front door. 

                  We had one child drop out because they just couldn't do all of this. We thought two more children were going to drop but they haven't yet. We now have 6 kids in the classroom and none vitual. We should have 20 children. 10 in class and 10 doing vitual but we have none doing vitual right now. Fridays are just teacher working days and days were we do vitual learning if we have children which we don't have yet. Now that is just getting and ending the day. That isn't even anything to do with during the day with the children. That is so strange too since we get out at 2:30 so we have a hour to really clean til 3:30. 

                  I feel like I can't get anything done in the classroom. There is no time for a long art project. Barely no time for naptime. The children get a hour and a half nap instead of a 2 hour nap time now and that is if they go to sleep right away, which we all know they don't. All I feel like they are doing are playing in centers, listening to books, and singing, which isn't bad but boring when that is all you do everyday. The day also goes by slower then I would like with only 6 children. We try to sing or do different movements when we are going outside and coming back inside. We read 2 or 3 books a day. We play in centers for about 3 hours a day. We do get calendar time in so we do some counting and letter learning there. We also watch an educational show before naptime like Sid the Science Kid or Wild Kratts. we also have recess for about a hour. I also try and fit in a question of the day like this week they were: What are your friend' name and do you know how to use a paintbrush. 

                  The days go by fast and we really can't do much but at least I am back with my children and have something to do instead of just sitting around home.I know I will look back on these days and enjoy them someday, the children part that is, but right now it's slow. I hope things will get better and  faster though.I know be careful for what I wish for but it's true to some point. I don't think I can do this the whole school year or for headstart the whole calendar year.  

                   

COVID-19 for Headstart/Daycares/Preschool

Here is what my headstart center is changing and doing so far: 

-10 out of 20 children in classroom

-other 10 children on computer

-hours changed 7:30-2:30 for children

-still 7:30-3:30 for teachers

-extra hour for teachers to clean

-4 days a week for children

-all week for teachers Friday without children for planning and AMI

-CPR training over the computer-teaching part

-Some will come later and do in person training with dolls

-doing art boxes for each child

-parents can't come in to drop off, using different doors then the front door

-teachers wearing masks all day even outside

-teachers can get written up for not wearing masks even when children aren't there 

-little containers to out masks in during lunch

-schudle change because hours have shorten

-break the room in half but children can go everywhere

-no more family style lunch

-parents have schudle times to drop off and pick up

- if parents are really late, can't let them in

-have to clean outside toys once a week

-one sibling sent home, other is not

What else is going to change in a short time?

Quotes About prayer

"Pray as if it depends on God, and work as it all depends on you."-pastor

"Prayer is profoundly simple, yet simply profound."-pastor

"After valleys come mountain tops. Keep working towards the mountain tops! It's worth it!- said by my Mom