Aracele Melgoza

Child Development 201

Professor: Benita Hunter

Introduction of Self
I, Aracele Melgoza have lived in Chicago for the past 27 years. Over the years I have
dedicated my time working with children, youth and families. My passion in life is to engage
parents in their childs development by providing new strategies and organize art workshops to
engage together. Before becoming an early childhood educator, I worked for Northeastern
University at Chicago Teacher Center as an Art Teacher. I was able to worked for different
community areas those include Pilsen, Little Village, Bridgeport, Cicero and West Lawn. This
experience help me gain knowledge and new skills on how to communicate with a variety of
ethnicities. The organize art workshops was a tool that I view as a success in engaging families.
The programs offered art, dance, literacy and music. The programs were offered as a tool for
both children and parents. I had the opportunity to learn from different cultures. Many parents
were encouraged to open themselves and share a skill they wanted to share or even teach other
parents. Those parents who were open guide those who were shy. Parents shared a type of dance
in their culture, sang songs, play an instrument and even shared an art technique such as weaving
etc. We as teachers learned about the skills each parent had and then gave strategies on how to
use those skills with their child. For example, using music to teach literacy and math skills will
help the child keep engage in the material. Parents in the program were divided based on their
skill and then we brought each group of children to learn each skill. At the end of the semester
each group of parents presented their performance. We invited families from the entire school to
come and view the performance. The program was a success over 200 hundred visitors attended

the performance. The program allowed me to learn new outcomes of a successful family
program.
Throughout, the process of working with families I was able to observe and hear parents
challenges of why they dont engage with their child. Many parents mentioned that is was due
to overtime work and lack of how to communicate with their child. Learning from the parents
helped me learned the responsibility a teacher has as working with children. As an early
childhood teacher I maintained good communication skills with parents. The best way to help a
child in his or her challenges is to work with both the child and the parents. I encourage parents
by providing strategies and tools to help their child progress in his or her challenge. Some of the
parents feel more confident and open when you as a teacher not only say the challenges his or
her child is having but also by providing feedback and resources. While working for
Northeastern University at Chicago Teacher Center, I heard parents challenges in raising a
child. The most challenges mentioned were lack of communication and strategies to help their
childs challenges. Many parents didnt know where to receive assistance for those challenges.
This is when I learned and comprehend that a good teacher should give guidance and support to
families. Learning the struggles of parents encourage me as an Early Childhood teacher become
more open to parents and not judgmental. Every day, I welcome parents to the center and give
them a brief description of the activities we did in class. When I see their child through a
challenge I provide easy tools to help their childs need. I tell parents if we work together we
will help your child succeed its through dedication and patience. Like Ive always said, when
you work with children you have to stay committed with both the child and the parent. I like

going over the line when a child needs assistance in his development by even doing outside
research. Creating a curriculum plan for a childs needs will help him only if a teacher keeps on
top of it. Teachers like me should observe a child daily to see the childs progression. It is also,
important to communicate with the parent to see if he has any new changes at home.
As a teacher, in Early Childhood education I provide my class with new experiences daily
and keep them motivated throughout the day. Children are capable of accomplishing tasks if the
activity is engaging. My responsibility as an educator is to maintain a healthy environment and
teach positive experiences throughout daily activities. Lastly, engaging parents in their childs
development will help their child succeed in life.