William Faulkner His Life and Achievements Essay Example For Students

William Faulkner: His Life and Achievements Essay William Faulkner is viewed by many as Americas greatest writer of prose fiction. He was born in New Albany, Mississippi where he lived a life filled with good times and bad times. However, despite bad times he would become known as a poet, a short story writer, and finally one of the greatest contemporary novelist of his time. William Faulkners accomplishments resulted not only from his love and devotion of writing, but also from family, friends, and certain uncontrollable events. William Faulkners life is an astonishing accomplishment; however, it is crucial to explore his life prior to his fixated writing career. In 1905, Faulkner entered the first grade at a tender age of eight, and immediately showed signs of talent. He not only drew an explicitly detailed drawing of a locomotive, but he soon became an honour-roll student: His report card would show no grades below Perfect or Excellent (Blotner 21). Throughout his early education he would work conscientiously at reading, spelling, writing, and arithmetic; however, he especially enjoyed drawing. His deportment at school was very high, but it was not as high as it was at home. When Faulkner got promoted to third grade, skipping the second grade, he was asked by his teacher what he wanted to be when he grew up, and he replied, I want to be a writer just like my great granddaddy (Blotner 23). At last, (in 1914) Faulkner took interest in poetry, but no one in Oxford could tell him what to do with his poems. We will write a custom essay on William Faulkner: His Life and Achievements specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Meanwhile, Faulkner, who is very talkative, would always entertain Katrina Carter and Estelle Oldham by telling them vividly imagined stories. Eventually, Faulkner grew very fond of Estelle in fact, if he heard her voice he would deliberately attempt to be spotted by Katrina in hopes that she asks him to join her. Estelle soon became the sole inspirer and recipient of Faulkners earlier poems. Coincidentally, a gentleman named Phil Stone would fall in love with Estelles friend, Katrina. As a result, Katrina had told Stone about Faulkner and his poetry. So one afternoon, Stone walked to Faulkners home to get acquainted, and during his visit he received several written verses from Faulkner poetry collections: Anybody could have seen that he (Faulkner) had talentit was perfectly obvious (Blotner 44). Stone not only became Faulkners close friend, but also a mentor to the young writer at the beginning of his career. Stone immediately gave the potential poet encouragement, advice, and models for his study of literature. For example, Stone would give practice drills in punctuation, as well as lecture Faulkner on goals and grammars. Meanwhile, Faulkners main interest in school became athletics such as football and baseball, thus his grades started to deteriorate: Bill showed absolutely no interest in the education being offeredHe gazed out the windows, and answered the simplest questions with I dont know (Blotner 39). Eventually, he would quit both athletics and school altogether. In 1919, his first literary work was acknowledged and published in The New Republic. The poem is a forty-line verse with a French title that acknowledges the influence of the French Symbolist, LApres-Midi dun Faune. In September, Faulkner would enroll in the University of Mississippi, and during his academic years it did not deter him from writing more poems. The Mississippian, the student paper, published Landing in Luck by Faulkner- the story is a nine-page short story created from his direct experience in the Royal Air Force flight training in 1916. He has also written several other poems such as Cathay, which is published in the Oxford Eagle and Sapphic, which is published in The Mississippian. During the summer, Faulkner became a house painter in Oxford, and in the beginning of autumn he enrolled in the University of Mississippi; however, his early pattern of school started to take toll. Faulkner began to cut classes and finally just stopped going. Although, this time he participated in a drama club called The Marionettes, and began to publish book reviews in The Mississippian. .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 , .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .postImageUrl , .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 , .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604:hover , .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604:visited , .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604:active { border:0!important; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604:active , .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604 .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .uc421695dcaf90bd3656287294c8c4604:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Essay on Sex Trafficking And Human Trafficking EssayIn the summer of 1921, Faulkner decided to take a trip to New York to receive some professional instructions from editors and critics, since Stone was busy with his academic studies. Faulkner stayed with a man named Stark Young, where they shared an incredibly small apartment. Later, Young introduced Faulkner to Elizabeth Prall of the Doubleday bookstore to see if she wanted some help prior to the Christmas rush. Reluctantly, Prall accepted and never regretted her choice since. Faulkner made a good clerk-polite, interested, and one of the best salesman in the store All the customers fell for him like a ton of bricks (Blotner 105). During his stay in New York, Maud Faulkner and Stone became very worried about Faulkner and his financial troubles. Meanwhile, Stone immediately went to work on behalf of his friend, and soon became the Assistant District Attorney. As a result, Stone used his political powers and appeals to influence U. S. Senator Harrison to promise Faulkner a decent job as a postmaster at the university substation. Faulkners job would last him between 1922 to 1924 with an annual salary of fifteen hundred dollars. Even as postmaster, Faulkner still found time to write and publish a short prose poem The Hill, in The Mississippian. This poem was a great importance to Faulkner as it served to be the beginning of the rural setting of his future Yoknapatwpha novels, and his first objective to real life characters. As a result of friends and unexpected events, William Faulkner would soon write novels. Consequently, he realized his career faced the best of times and the worst of times. However, it became clear that his writing would eventually become his life long happiness. During the late months of June through November in 1923, there was a correspondence between Faulkner and the Four Seas Company, a publisher in Boston, concerning Faulkners manuscript entitled Orpheus and other poems. Unfortunately, the publication of the poems was futile without a financial contribution, which he was unable to provide. However, Stone helped Faulkner by writing to the Four Seas Company in hopes of offering Faulkners manuscript The Marble Faun. Reluctantly, it was accepted and by the end of the year the company published 1,000 copies of his novel, which was dedicated to Faulkners mother, and prefaced by Stone. In May, Faulkner finished the typescript for Soldiers Pay, which he sent to the publisher Horace Liveright, who gave Faulkner two hundred dollars in advanced pay. He used the money to pay for his trip to Europe. While in Paris, Faulkner began to work on the novel Elmer; unfortunately, it was never completed, but exists today in several versions. After arriving in England, Faulkner decided to go back home. Upon his arrival in New York, he immediately began his next novel Mosquitoes, which was published a year later by Boni Liveright. In September of 1927, Faulkner finished yet another novel entitled Flags in the Dust; however, it was rejected in the following month, and was returned in December. Afterward, Faulkner received the go ahead by his publishing company to send his typescript to another company, which is now Harcourt, Brace. Unfortunately, even though the novel was published, it was reduced to 110,000 words and the title Flags in the Dust was finally replaced by Sartoris instead. Within the same month, Faulkner began The Sound and the Fury, which was finished by October. The published novel soon became a critical success with only 1,789 copies. In 1928, Faulkner broke ties with Harcourt, Brace, and signed a new contract with a new publishing house of Jonathan Cape Harrison Smith, which entitled them to Faulkners new novel entitled, Sanctuary. Faulkner took the typescript and decided to correct the proofs on his honeymoon with his wife, Estelle. Finally, Faulkners novel, Sanctuary, was soon published, and in astonishment 6,457 copies were sold. As a result, Faulkner soon realized that he is now the most important figure in American letters. William Faulkner deserved every single award given to him, because of his intense love and dedication to literature. .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e , .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .postImageUrl , .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e , .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e:hover , .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e:visited , .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e:active { border:0!important; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e:active , .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u6ffd382d01c4c01aa060c84ea00bc43e:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Programming Under The Wizards Spell Essay Research PaperNevertheless, it is just as important to know what he has won, as well as how he won them. Therefore, in examining and analyzing Faulkners work it will help us understand and appreciate his gift of writing. Throughout Faulkners life he has won many awards on behalf of his talent for literature, and the following are just a few of his awards: (1950) Nobel Prize for Literature, (1950) American Academys Howells Medal for Fiction, (1951) National Book Award for Fiction, (1951) Legion of Honour in New Orleans, (1955) Pulitzer Prize, (1957) Silver Medal of Greek Academy, (1962) Gold Medal for Fiction from the National Insti tution of Arts Letters. Even though Faulkner won all these awards, there was at least one award that had many conflicting views by many American critics. That award pertains to the Pulitzer Prize awarded to Faulkner novel, The Fable. The story takes place within a fortress city of Chaulnesmont, two days after the mutiny of a French regiment. The chief plot is set when a regiment of soldiers refused an order to fight knowing that the attack would not be successful. The theme of sacrifice is the central meaning of the novel. Is it on the grounds of military necessity or expediency, or on the grounds of personal sacrifice for some universal ideal; as a result, the main question asked is what is actually achieved by sacrifice. Several critics have pointed out the dualism that runs throughout A Fable, in which there are presence of good and evil, guilt and innocence, and bravery and fear. Despite America judging Faulkners novel as a failing accomplishment of its literary goals, A Fable was for the European readers: The most important novela literary masterpiece (Blotner 595). As we have seen, William Faulkners interest in writing was so intense that the meaning of giving up never crossed his mind. As a result, whenever he experienced hard times there would always be family and friends to aid him in his career. In any event, Faulkner proved that with great dedication and devotion anybody could achieve their goals.

Antarctic Explorer-Richard Byrd

Antarctic Explorer-Richard Byrd Richard Evelyn Byrd was born in Virginia in 1888. He joined the United States Naval Academy at the age 20 and joined the navy in 1912. He learned to fly in World War I during his tour with the United States Navy. He became an expert in flying and was appointed to plan the flight path for the US Navy's 1919 transatlantic crossing.On May 9, 1926, Byrd and Floyd Bennet attempted a flight over the North Pole. They claimed to have completed the trip but evidence from their diaries has placed doubt on their claim. Even though the made enough money for Byrd to explore the South Pole.In 1928, Byrd began his expedition in Antarctica. A base camp was setup on the Ross Ice Shelf. Scientific expeditions by dog-sled, snowmobile and airplane began. Photographic expeditions and geological surveys were done during summer. After the first winter, expeditions resumed and on November 29, 1929 the flight to the South Pole was launched.USS Preble approaches Richard E. Byrd during reple...Byrd flew the Fl oyd Bennet to the South Pole and back in 18 hours and 41 minutes. After further exploration, the expedition returned to America on June 18, 1930.Byrd went on three more expeditions to the South Pole from 1933-1935 and 1930-1941, taking part in Operation High Jump from 1946-1947, the largest Antarctic expedition to date. Byrd also commanded Operation Deep Freeze which made permanent Antarctic bases at Mc Murdo Sound, the Bay of Wales and the South Pole in 1955.Richard Byrd died on March 12, 1957. He had got twenty-two awards and special awards, nine of them were for bravery and two for heroism for saving the lives of others. He also earned the Medal of Honour, the Navy Cross, the Congressional Life Saving Medal, the Distinguished Service Medal and the Flying Cross.

How successful have development policies been in Latin American Select Essay

How successful have development policies been in Latin American Select one country and assess its economic evolution from Impor - Essay Example The economic strategy which is known by the name â€Å"Import Substitution Industrialization† arose in relatively under-developed countries as a response to global markets. It was clear that many Latin American countries in particular could not keep up with the fluctuations and demands of a free market system. Many of the participants in the world markets possessed vastly superior technologies, infrastructure and buying power due to their more developed status and stronger currencies. This left weaker economies very vulnerable and so their governments stepped in to guide industrialization in ways which assisted in the development of the country as a whole, rather than just successful trade between individual companies and external customers. The focus was on the internal market rather than on the export market, and the aim of this strategy was to reduce reliance on foreign goods and at the same time encourage local manufacturers to supply more and more goods. As one of the larger South American states, Brazil has played an important part in the economic development of this sub-continent. In the period from the middle of the nineteenth century until the Great Depression in 1929-30 the majority of Latin America enjoyed a phase of export-propelled growth. The combination of reduced buying and selling capacity in industrialized countries and the huge disruption of the Second World War caused great fluctuations in the world markets and this in turn prompted countries like Brazil to focus more on expanding their own internal market. This is where import substitution was devised, as a method of driving forward industrialization while at the same time reducing the country’s need for outside goods and foreign currencies. ... This encouraged innovation, and schemes were set up that allowed foreign companies to invest in Brazil, and transfer technology into that country so that the demand for finished goods could be met. Hirschman notes that countries who come late to industrialization can benefit from the knowledge that other countries have learned before them, for example Britain and other European states, and as a result of this the introduction of new working practices is much smoother. By the early 1960s import substitution industrialization in Brazil was judged to be a considerable success in the short term, but with some rather negative effects in the longer term. (Macario, 1964) One long term effect was that Brazilian industrialists became complacent, and they got used to the lack of competition that ensured their continued success, regardless how efficient they were. There was no external incentive to improve quality or efficiency, and so when Brazil wanted to participate in the world markets to o btain modern goods, it was found that Brazilian products fell far behind those of competitors. There was also very little independent decision making in the industrial sector, since most of the leadership came from government initiatives. When looking at the import substitution period in Brazil from 1930 onwards it is important to understand the significance of political changes which were introduced by the charismatic leader Getulio Vargas. By setting up a Ministry of Labor he managed to get dialogue going between industrialists and government and this eventually cemented his control over all aspects of the economy. (Roett: 2010, p. 38) This central control deepened import substitution policies and allowed various beneficial reforms such as

Statistical Quality Control Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Statistical Quality Control - Essay Example If one or more observations lie outside the control limits of the chart, the process is out of control. However, a process can be out of control even if all samples fall within the upper and lower control limits. A process can be out of control but may still fall within limits due to a false specification of limits. In such a scenario, the management will get an idea that the process is in control while actually it is out of control. This can be reduced by regular review of control limits. A process can be out of control but it may not be able to interpret the same from the control charts. The process may actually be following certain trend which is depicted in a better fashion by Run charts. The idea here is that there should not be too few or too many runs in a process. Run implies a series of observations on the same side of the centre line. The observations may lie within control limits but actually follow a zig-zag pattern (NHS). It is also possible that there may be a seasonality effect in the observations which has no explanation. Also, one or two observations may be quite distinct from others are can easily be identified to understand the fault in a process. In a real life scenario in a factory production line, it is possible that if the process variation is measured it is within limits. But if a day is broken into several hours and studied, possible trends are observed. These may be due to nature of working of machine at various times of the day, impact of wear and tear during the day, difference in the accuracy of tasks done by various workers, difference in availability of facilities such as light during various hours and so on. An experiment was conducted in a factory for two days to find out whether the process was in control. On the first day, it was noticed that during various hours in the day, the observations were within control limits. On the second day, when the process was studied after breaking the day

Verbal Exam Questions Essay Example for Free

Verbal Exam Questions Essay 1. What is meant by the term â€Å"fear of failure†? That is, what does it mean to you personally and professionally. Fear of failure means being afraid of going after what you want because you might not be able to get it. People who experience this believes that it is okay to not achieve their dreams as long as they do not see themselves fail. Many people prefer to play it safe and do not like to get out of their safety zones because they do not want to be disappointed or they do not like changes to happen in their lives. 2. Describe a past experience with fear of failure. Please explain. In the past, I had several chances of running for a position in the school body but I was too afraid that I would not be elected or do a good job. This made me decide that it would be better for me not to run for a position and just enjoy my time as a regular student but still active with other school activities. The down side of this is that I did not get to experience and do what I wanted to do. 3. In general do fears affect employee performance on the job and employer relationships with fellow employees? Also, relate this to yourself as the manager in the scenario and Marcus. How do fears affect you and Marcus? Being afraid does affect employee performance, as well as the relationships of employers and employees because some people might not understand this fear that certain employees or employers experience. As a manager to Marcus, I think that I would not like how he behaves when it comes to changes. Changes are important, especially when this would bring more money to the company and all employers do want their companies to succeed. This kind of behavior would create conflicts between Marcus and I. 4. This is a key question. Is failing OK? What about mistakes? What is gained? What is lost? Contrary to what many people believe, failing is actually okay because this is when people learn from the experience. Without failures, people would not be able to realize what they are capable of. It is important that people remember that they are allowed to make mistakes because they are not perfect. Nobody is perfect and making mistakes is only normal. They lose only when they give up and not try. Failure can make people humble and would make them want to achieve more and do better in the future. 5. Can you use your own fears to your advantage? How can you be used by your fears? Relate the lessons you have learned to you in the scenario and how you would approach Marcus. Relate this to yourself as the manager. Fears can be used to ones advantage when a person believes that fears will produce positive outcomes no matter what. Overcoming fears will give people the experience even if they fail. However, when people let their fears use them and get the better from them, they will be limited and would have no worthwhile experience from life. 6. How can you encourage your employees to reduce their fear about making mistakes, and failing? How would you tell an employee so that he understands and believes you? Be specific and realistic in your answer. It is always good to have an open communication with everyone, especially employees. It would especially be beneficial if managers and employers would encourage their people to conquer their fears and assure them that making mistakes are normal. I would relate a past experience about my fear of failure and how I overcame it to inspire them to do the same. 7. What is the story about? Please summarize it. Why did you choose the topic? What makes you feel interested in the choice of the topic? The story is about a manager and his employee named Marcus and demonstrates how Marcus is afraid of change. Although Marcus was a very good employee and performs his job in a very satisfactory way, the manager realizes that he does not do well when it comes to applying changes. He would often make excuses just to get out of the situation, and the manager feels that he should do something about it. I chose this particular topic because I believe in the importance of overcoming ones fears, especially in the workplace. Being afraid is a normal human experience but people should not let this feeling limit them on the things that the should be experiencing because they might be missing out on something great like a

Abraham Lincoln :: essays research papers

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States. Born in a log cabin in the backwoods, Lincoln was almost entirely self-educated. In 1831 he settled in New Salem, Ill., and worked as a storekeeper, surveyor, and postmaster while studying law. The story of his brief love affair there with Anne Rutledge is now discredited. In 1834 he was elected to the state legislature, and in 1836 he became a lawyer. He served one term (1847–49) in Congress as a Whig; in 1855 he sought to become a senator but failed. In 1856 he joined the new Republican Party. He ran again in 1858 for the Senate against Stephen A. Douglas, and in a spirited campaign he and Douglas engaged in seven debates. Lincoln was not an abolitionist, but he regarded slavery as an evil and opposed its extension. Although he lost the election, he had by now made a name for himself, and in 1860 he was nominated by the Republicans for president. He ran against a divided Democratic party and was elected with a minority of the popular vote. To the South, Lincoln's election was a signal for secession. By Inauguration Day seven states had seceded, and four more seceded after he issued a summons to the militia. It is generally agreed that Lincoln handled the vast problems of the Civil War with skill and vigor. Besides conducting the war, he faced opposition in the North from radical abolitionists, who considered him too mild, and from conservatives, who were gloomy over the prospects of success in the war. His cabinet was rent by internal hatred, and the progress of the war went against the North at first. In 1863 he moved to free the slaves by issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, but preserving the Union remained his main war aim. His thoughts on the war were beautifully expressed in the Gettysburg Address (1863). In 1864 Lincoln ran for reelection against George B. McClellan and won, partly because of the favorable turn of military affairs after his

Developmentally Appropriate Environment

For many years, teachers, parents and child care providers saw how young children learn through play. Studies of child development play, reading, and writing show that young children learn differently from adults. Young children must be active while they learn. They must experience first hand and in very real ways how things work, how spoken words can be written, and how reading helps them function in the world. Structured learning activities such as paper and pencil tasks, workbook pages, drill, and sitting and listening for long periods of time do not work for young children. The National Association for the Education of Young Children represents the early childhood profession. Their book on developmentally appropriate practice and accreditation criteria define quality programs for young children. Developmentally appropriate environments help children develop in all areas—physical, social, creative, emotional, and cognitive. No one area of development is more important than another in the early years of a child’s life. It is often not possible to separate children’s development in one area from another. For example, as a child masters a physical skill such as climbing, self-esteem grows. The new physical skill makes it possible for the child to learn more about the world and to interact with friends. Children use problem solving to learn and perfect each new mental, social or physical skill. This integrated approach to learning is one of the hallmarks of a developmentally appropriate program. Parents want a warm and loving person to care for their children. Research supports the importance of this relationship. Staff characteristics are the most important criteria for determining quality care. A trained provider will interact well with children because of her knowledge and expectations of behavior for that age group. A developmentally appropriate provider knows and works with each child as an individual. Individual children have their own interests that motivate their learning and good behavior. Developmentally appropriate programs value individual interests as strengths that help children learn In appropriate settings, teachers arrange learning centers in which small groups of children can work and play. These centers may be for different types of play: quiet, messy, and active. Most programs have an area for block building, art, water play, playing house, music, books, table toys, and games. For school-aged children, there is an area for doing homework or projects. What most adults remember from their own public school experiences will not be in a quality early childhood program. There are no individual desks where each child sits to listen to the teacher and do work. There is no large space where everyone has to do the same thing at the same time. Children can choose to be with a friend or alone. This increases success in getting along with others. They do not need to compete for materials or attention. It is easier to take turns. They learn to listen to others, express themselves, and eventually understand another person’s viewpoint.. The curriculum is everything that goes on throughout the day. Chances for learning occur during play and routines like snack, lunch and rest times. Children learn good health practices, positive social interactions, independence in self-care and decision making, as well as science, mathematics, music, art, language, and social studies. The caregiver plans learning activities after seeing the children’s interests and abilities. Children learn the same thing in a variety of activities. They learn a variety of things in one activity. For instance, learning colors can take place in art, through songs and stories, through table games, cooking activities, and in costumes for play. There is no need to have children sit down and teach them the color red all at one time. There are many opportunities throughout the day for children to learn about colors as they actively work with materials. The children who already know about colors are not bored. They attend to other things like shape. Trained child care teachers know that children grow according to predictable developmental patterns. They match activities to the children’s age and stage. For instance, children younger than three will have difficulty sharing. To reduce the conflicts over toys, a teacher provides more than one of each toy. The teachers model sharing as they work together. When a child does share, the teachers consistently compliment and encourage the child’s sharing. In an inappropriate program, the adults would impose sharing before children are developmentally ready to share, then they punish children for not sharing. This results in frustration, behavior problems and unhappiness for children, parents and staff. Look for activities planned for an individual child. For example, you told the teachers that your family goes camping on weekends. The teacher puts out a tent, sleeping bags and picnic supplies for the children to use in play. A caregiver will provide musical instruments and recorded music for a child who shows an interest in music. After a child has been in the hospital, the teacher puts books and objects related to hospitals in the classroom for the children to use. The child can tell others about the experience and play through fears and concerns. Individual children and their families feel valued when these activities relate to their interests and cultural backgrounds. A trained provider will not rush children to be ready for the next stage of development. Living this year fully is more important than getting an early start on next year’s curriculum. Children with diverse interests and learning styles do not experience boredom and frustration when the program offers creative activities and challenges so children can learn at their own pace.