Week Three-Curtis-The Circle of Life.

        This week I was responsible for reading three chapters from my Lifesmart textbook for class.  Chapters 3-5 dealt with the early years of life development: pregnancy, birth, and infancy.  All of these areas which are covered are examined through the lens of psychological health and development.  For example, the section dealing with birth offers a significant amount of information regarding postpartum depression.  While much of the information presented is quite basic, the text seeks to go beyond merely explaining the biological facts of birth and development, and instead attempts to see how psychological development is also carried out during early childhood.  Another such example of this psychological centered view is how premature babies are discussed.  Very little time is spent looking at the physical consequences of premature birth, but a great deal of time is spent focusing on how premature babies can lack much of the human contact which is necessary for their psychological well-being.
        I didn't expect to find these chapters as intriguing as the previous ones, but I found myself wondering how things such as premature birth can have ripple effects on development.  I wondered if perhaps a lack of physical contact many premature babies can suffer can carry lifelong consequences. Perhaps this lack of contact at an early age may lead children to develop an inability to connect with others or a lack of trust.  I was just remind of how events long since past can still effect young people and how this can effect the learning environment in the classroom.  I realized that even if I believe I know my students well, there may be past events which still impact their lives, whether they are aware of them or not.  Part of my duty as a teacher is to be aware that anything may be possible and to recognize that everyone has a different story.  My job is to teach all my students regardless of what past events still impact them today.