On the Summer Solstice, Friday, June 21st 2019, my Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program concluded our school year with a beautiful Graduation Celebration for our parents and guardians. It is always bittersweet for me and I would like to THANK my Executive Director Patricia L. Barone, Director Tomorrow Allen-Collins and all of the Doris W. Jones Family Resource Center Staff for their support in helping make this school year a success! On one hand I look forward to seeing my students grow into their purpose. On the other hand I know that it will be rare that my students will meet another black male teacher in their educational career. However, I am thankful to be entrusted with this opportunity to help set our youth on a trajectory of purpose.
Throughout my
work in early childhood development one of the most important lessons I’ve
learned is meeting youth where they are, striving to understand as opposed to expecting being understood. My teaching styles begins with doing accurate need assessments of my students in order to help me
meet their requirements. Because my students come from diverse cultural
backgrounds and socioeconomic circumstances, there is not a “one size fits all”
methodology that supports their social emotional development and/or provides
them with positive guidance. This is something that many teachers, and their core curriculum standards, often overlook and in overlooking the uniqueness of our youth some of them end up falling through educational system cracks.
In my preschool
class I promote intrapersonal development by exploring and teaching my students
about what “Self” is through activities and challenging ideas that limit or
stereotype one’s identity and ability. There are many
components to what makes us who we are and it is important for our children to
learn this early. In a social sense, I challenge the word “can’t” and show them
ways that they can through the use of scaffolding; the support needed to help students achieve their learning goals. Helping my students recognize that they are
infinite potential is vital to developing their sense of awareness, pride and self-confidence to authentically express themselves. It is also an investment in their sense of Antifragility; which enables them to absorb and redistribute the energy from attacks on their identity like Black Panther's bulletproof suit. Effective
intrapersonal development sets the stage for interpersonal development because how we
relate to Self will influence how we ultimately relate to others.
The basis of my Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program is to establish and maintain an
early childhood safe-space that fosters optimum health and a positive
interactive learning environment that encourages my students to think critically and creatively about the world around them. Below is a video I shared for my parents and guardians featuring some clips of my students school year which also includes some of my Atlantis School For Gifted Youngsters Animation Series.
Peace,
Saladin
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