Professional Quotes

Louise Derman-Sparks

“It was the most joyful experience where I felt everything in me was being called on to teach and also it was very rewarding.  It made me feel whole and creative so it became my lifelong work in early childhood education and the passion to make sure all children were taught in environments and ways that were truly nurturing their ability to grow and develop to their fullest potential.”

I could not agree more.  I have always had such a passion for teaching young children.  Watching children blossom and grow is so rewarding.

Renetta M. Cooper

 “I see early childhood education, all education really, as a civil rights issue because the right to what we think about a childhood that leads you, leaves you ready.  A childhood and an education context experience throughout your life cycle that opens up the world to you and gives you the tools you need to ask questions and investigate things.  Those are the things I want for children.”

A good teacher can help foster a love of learning for a child.  I want to be a part of creating lifelong learners.  To give children the tools to ask questions, investigate things and problem solve.  

Professional Quotes: Marcy Whitebook and Susan Bredekamp

Marcy Whitebook

"The question of who will teach our children is as pressing at the preschool level, if not more so, than for older grades.”

This quote resonates with me as early childhood teachers are so important to the growth and development of young children.   


Susan Bredekamp

“Child-initiated activity is all that’s important and that teacher-directed instruction or any form of teacher-directed activity is not appropriate.” 

I like this quote, because I truly believe that children should use their own creativity and imagination.  Cookie cutter art is not art.  A child should be allowed to express themselves without being told what their creation is supposed to be.

Personal Childhood Web

          I have two twin second cousins, Sheila and Letty Sustrin.  They are now 75 years old and children’s book authors.  They had a huge impact on me growing up.  I admired them so much.  They were both kindergarten teachers.  They had a love for teaching that was so contagious.  They took me with them to their classrooms so many times.  I could see how much they cared for their children and the families that were in their care.   This is where my love for children and teaching began.  They were the kind of teachers that made a difference in the lives of every family and child they touched.  I wanted to become that kind of teacher.  Now authors, they are always going into schools to read their books and still love every minute of it.  They have always encouraged me to pursue early childhood education.  They have always followed along my journey and still have the same kind of excitement about teaching as they always did.

          My mom always made me feel loved and as if there was nothing I could not do or accomplish.  I learned so much from her and continue to learn every day.  She always felt for herself there was nothing she could not accomplish.  My parents were very young when they got married.  My mom was only 18 years old.  For many girls back then, it was get married and have babies.  When my brother and I were school age she went back to work.  She only worked part-time and was home for us every day after school.  Her drive and passion for a career was inspiring.  I learned from her that hard work and drive will get you far in life.  She started off as a secretary and just retired as Assistant Director of a Development Department with only a High School Degree.  What an example she set for her children.  She instilled in me passion, drive, hard work and a never ending belief in myself.  

          My father, Joel, taught me to have a love for learning.  Growing up I remember, him always having a hobby.  He always wanted to perfect something new.  He loved to cook and invited me to join him in the kitchen to help.   He loved woodworking and had every tool. With his help, I tried every utensil and appliance and held all the tools.  Unfortunately, I am not a great cook or a master craftsman, but I am not afraid to experience new things and learn as much as I can about things that interest me.  All of these people in my life helped to make me who I am today.  

          My grandmother, Dorothy was so important to me growing up.  I spent a lot of time visiting with her staying at her house for long weekends and on school vacations.  We never went anywhere special or did anything away from home.    She made me always feel special and loved for just being me.  She was so important because it was just quality time together.  She was such a great listener.  Everything I said was important.  My fondest memories are sitting at her kitchen table eating ice cream, talking and playing cards. She made me see the value of taking time to talk and play with the children in your life.   I felt as if there was no one else she would rather be with.  She made everyone in the family feel as if they were the most important.  She instilled in me the importance of strong family connections.

Family Picture

A child began this school year.  His father passed away the year before when this child was two.  In the beginning of each school year, we ask the children to bring in family photos and we put them together in a book.  Each child has one page.  This helps the children with “beginning of the year blues”.  When the children feel sad or are missing family, they may go and look at the book and find their page.  It very quickly becomes the favorite book in the classroom.  Before we put the book together, we allow the children to come up and share their family with the rest of the class.  It was his turn to share.  He came up and shared his page.  He said,” this is my dad and he died.”  I said that my daddy died too.  The part of the story that most touched my heart was at lunch that day.  He and I were sitting next to each other and he again said that his daddy died and again I said I know and my daddy died too.  It happened to be thundering.  He said,” my mommy told me that when it is thundering that is my daddy bowling in heaven.”  He looked at me and said, “maybe our daddies are bowling together.”  This child and I talked many times about memories of our daddies.  I hope it helped him in some small way. I will always remember and tell this story as it always touches my heart.  

My Favorite Quote

"Play is the most useful tool for preparing children for the future and its tasks."

-Bruno Bettelheim, The Importance of Play

While children are actively engaged in play they are learning.  They are gaining knowledge through their own experience and discovery.  There are so many skills to be learned through hands-on exploration.  Articulating this to the parents is so important.  I hope we come to a point where we do not have to justify play.  

My Favorite Book

Leo the Late Bloomer

By Robert Kraus

This is one of my favorite stories to read with my class of 3-4 year olds every year. We read this book at the beginning of the school year and at the end.  It’s a great book to help children realize their own growth and progress.  These little children that came in to us a year ago were so little and unsure of themselves are now more confident and capable.  They have grown up.   It is a great book to get a discussion going about how the children feel when they are not able to do something.   We also talk about how it feels to do something they have never been able to do before.  We teach our children to verbalize, understand  their feelings and express them in an appropriate way.  

Welcome to my first blog entry.  My name is Lisa Bogart.  I am so excited to be starting this journey.  I hope to learn and grow in the field of Early Childhood Education.