What Inspires me?

• What inspires and excites you most about your advocacy plan and being an advocate?

First of all my advocacy is all about literacy and how to help children, and their families be more involved in Early Literacy. Helping children understand what is being read to them is important and as  we see more ESL students in our classrooms we should also focus on them and making sure that they understand what is being presented to them and also help families incorporate early literacy in their home. I love books, especially children's books!! and I enjoy extending one book for a whole week or month.

• What challenges and/or anxieties do you feel related to engaging in the advocacy efforts you have targeted?

I think that a challenge may be presenting to those people who don't think that early literacy is important. Many people that I have mentioned my ideas to, think that children at a young age shouldn't be interested in books and only play. Of course people with no knowledge of education or in the field of Early Childhood wouldn't see the importance of it, that is why I need to gather enough information so that I could demonstrate and show the affects of early literacy and benefits.

• What do you believe will be most effective in helping you overcome any challenging emotions you may be feeling with regard to presenting and implementing your Advocacy Action Plan?

I believe that what would help me overcome challenges would be just to be prepared with my research and  have facts, charts and enough evidence to help me demonstrate the importance of what I strongly believe is important, and in this case its advocating for Early Literacy!

• How can you encourage others in their advocacy efforts, and how can others encourage you?

I would encourage other advocates by supporting their ideas and helping them get their advocacy plans known to other people and help them in any way that I can, such as researching and being a supportive. I believe that they can encourage me in the same way!