Reflections on Lesson 3

Ironically, the reading for lessons 1-3, while being fascinating from a teacher’s perspective, has actually been more applicable for me as a parent, maybe because it is summer and I am home with my two sweet children.  For example, after finishing the videos and the textbook reading for lesson 3 on the importance of nurturing in the development of not only social, but cognitive development, my 7 year-old daughter entered the room a little sad and grumpy because she was no longer playing with her friends.  While my initial instinct was to dismiss her so that I could finish my homework, the overall message of the lesson hit me and I was compelled to sit with her, talk to her, and then spend some quality time together with her as we talked, laughed, and shopped for a plant for her room (an idea I had gotten from a previous lesson regarding the importance of one’s environment on cognitive development!)  Nurturing the development of my children, both my own children and my students, is a huge and joyous responsibility, and I have cherished the opportunity to hone and develop my skills for this monumental task.