I’d like to believe that my great days always
outnumber the bad. I’m far from a
Pollyanna who sees the world through the rosiest of glasses, but I like to think I
am a positivist. Once in a
while, I tumble out of the wrong side of the bed but I’m ordinarily
thankful I have a comfy one to slumber in. Every so often I have a bee in
my bonnet about my husband’s quirks or kick up a fuss about one of my
lovely daughter's latest antics but every day I am more than grateful to have
them in my life.
I’ve recognized over the years that
it matters to be thankful each and every day. In the Thanksgiving season, it’s
something we habitually ponder and express. Other holiday seasons we tend to
remember to count our blessings, too.
And so, although we celebrated Mother’s
Day nearly two months ago, there is one mom I need to remember to thank
each and every day of the year.
That mother is my husband’s first wife who
passed away over seven years ago this past June. Besides her husband,
Jeanne Canelli left behind a son, a daughter and a young grandson.
Jeanne and Gerry had already tragically lost their youngest daughter,
Jennifer in 2004. Jen left a young son, Colin who had just turned six
years old. Colin lives with his grandfather, Gerry, and me in Norwood. Colin is
now a tall, articulate and handsome soon-to-be high school sophomore.
If you’ve followed all the sorrow I’ve written
about above, it’s also important to understand the blessings that often come
from life’s saddest episodes. While Jeanne’s family and a host of friends and
colleagues miss her every day, I like to believe that I have filled some of
that big void for the family she left behind.
I have
been immensely proud and supportive of
the recent achievements of Jeanne Canelli’s children. Gerry
Jr. received his master’s degree in computer programming from Brandeis
University in May 2011 and Jill, earned her master’s
degree in early childhood education from Framingham State University
in May in 2013. Jeanne’s colleagues at FSU were especially moved to know
that her daughter is not only following in her footsteps but
that Jill chose Framingham State as the place to continue her
education. Jill continues to work as a director of a cooperative preschool with
a mission to educate young children, just like her mentor and mother, Dr.
Canelli.
While Jeanne's passion was the importance
of education for the very young, she began her professional life as an
elementary school teacher in 1971.
Educated at Emmanuel and Wheelock colleges, she continued her graduate
studies at Lesley University, earning her PhD while working full-time and
raising her children with her husband, Gerry.
Jeanne was a teacher and professor
extraordinaire at Framingham State University (then College) until she passed
away of cancer in 2006. The early childhood center at Framingham State was
dedicated shortly after her death and was named the Jeanne M. Canelli Child
Development Lab. While Dr. Canelli did not create the early childhood center at
FSU in 1962, she is credited with its national accreditation under
her leadership in 1991. In fact, all
programs in the lab are full licensed by the Department of Early Education and
Care, a Massachusetts agency and the Academy for Early Childhood Program
Education, a division of the National Association for the Education of Young
Children (NAEYC). Dr. Canelli maintained
that accreditation throughout the years she was the director and it
remains so. The lab recently celebrated
its 50th anniversary with her family in attendance at the ceremony. I was
honored to attend, as well. A new logo was revealed and the lab is moving into
larger and newer space within the next year.
The National Association for the Education of Young
Children was founded between 1926 and 1929 in Washington, DC. Today it is an organization with nearly
80,000 members. It boasts an institute for Early Childhood Professional
Development and an annual conference held each year. In 1985, NAEYC established its accreditation
system. It is a voluntary program that
sets professional standards for early childhood programs. There are more than
7,000 such programs educating children in preschools across the United States.
The organization publishes a journal, Young Children
(1964 – current) and Early Childhood Research Quarterly (1986 – current)
available through the colleges in the Minuteman Library System. Teaching Young
Children, another publication available to NAEYC members, has articles
available online.
There are many educational journals available
through Educator’s Reference Complete or Expanded Academic, two of the Infotrac
databases available through libraries in Massachusetts like Early Childhood
Education Journal, Early Childhood Research and Practice and Early Childhood
Today.
Over 100 books and DVDs of the NAEYC publications are
available through Minuteman libraries.
Basics of Developmentally Appropriate Practice: An Introduction for
Teachers of Children 3 to 6 by Carol Copple and From Parents to Partners:
Building a Family-Centered Early Childhood Program by Janis Keyser are two
examples of NAEYC books. Developmentally-Appropriate Practice and Facing the
Challenge Working with Children Who Use Challenging Behaviors are two of
NAEYC DVDs available in Minuteman libraries.
There are thousands of other books and
resources dealing with early childhood education in the 43 libraries in
the Minuteman system. They can help families, college students and
educators who work with children learn the most effective
practices. Public libraries are a terrific resource for DVDs, books
and music for young children.
I will be forever thankful to the woman who raised
the magnificent children who today call me their “bonus mom” and to
her grandson who I love with all my heart. If Jeanne Canelli is
looking down today, I’d like to think she is proud of all of us.
If you’d like help finding any books on early
childhood education or development in the Minuteman Library Network, call or
visit the library. You may also call 781-769-0200 and speak to a librarian who
will place the request for you.
