The end has come :)

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that as I work with these families, I am able to make them feel comfortable. I hope that the diverse families that I work with understand how much I care for them. I hope that the families feel as if I am someone they can come for if they need support or have a question regarding their child’s care.

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is as an early childhood professional - who works with other early childhood professionals on a daily basis - I want to make sure that other’s understand the importance of diversity.  I have been sharing articles that I find to continue to inform the staff members at my center how important it is to be aware of the impact that diversity has on children. It is also important to understand how to deal with issues that arise that relate to diversity of others. By setting a goal to try to continue to inform other early childhood professionals with information that I learn, I am able to reduce the issues related to diversity, equity, and social justice in the early childhood field.

I would like to thank all of my colleagues who have shared their feedback, stories, and insights throughout our course together. I learn much more than what a book could teach me from each of you. Best of luck to you in your future! I hope to share future classes together at our time here at WaldenUniversity.

The "family" from Algeria

The name of “my family’s” country of origin is Algeria, Africa.

Five ways I would prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards the family is the following:

1.)    I would research the country itself – where the country is located, demographics of the country, etc.

2.)    I would look into the educational program that is held within the country and make comparisons to our education program as well as finding the differences. This would be important because it would allow for important information to be passed along to teachers so that they are able to know what to expect from the child(ren) in an educational setting.

3.)    I would want to look into finding out if the family/child(ren) can speak/understand English. Depending if the family/child(ren) can speak the English language, I would have to figure a way to translate so that I can explain to them in their language the policies, procedures, and payment method of our center.

4.)    I would look into finding out about the countries cultural background and the specific ways that the individuals from this country interact and communicate with others on a daily basis. There may be certain gestures that this country uses in order to communicate and it is important to understand this as a person who will be working with these people and having no idea of the countries origin.

5.)    I would also prepare myself and the teachers by making sure that the teachers are aware of the child(ren) and the country at which they are coming from. In each of ouir classroom we have pictures to represent diversity and the children in our classes. I would ask the teachers to add pictures to help the child(ren) feel welcome in our classroom.

 

I would hope that these preparations will benefit myself as well as the family by opening up my horizons to more diverse groups of people as well as showing the family how the leaders at our center want to connect to them at a personal level.  I would hope that my preparations begin as a positive learning experience for myself as well as the family.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

An incident where I witnessed a group of people as the target of bias, prejudice, and oppression actually occurred this past week. Last night I went to the Philadelphia’s Gay Men’s Choir Christmas Show. I went with a few close family members and the show was absolutely amazing! Earlier in the week when I told an acquaintance that I was attending the show as my Friday night event, I had a response which was the target of bias, prejudice, and oppression against gay men. The individual made a comment that referred to gay men in a very negative way and questioned why I would ever attend an event such as this.

The way that this person looked at this show as a negative event to attend because it was surrounded by the gay community is representative of diminishing equity. This person did not look at it this event as a Christmas show which was based upon the wondering music of the season with very talented human being performing the joyful music of the holiday season.  It was an injustice comment that was made and example of what the LGBT community deals with on a daily basis.

During this incident, I felt very angry and offended for the individuals who performed so wonderfully last night. How dare a person who has no idea how much dedication and time these men put into the show question me on why I would want to go support and see this show? I also felt sad for the person who made this comment because they I was able to realize that they must not fully understand the meaning of diversity.

The individual who made the negative comment would have to branch out and learn the meaning of diversity in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity. Next time. I will possibly invite this individual to come see the show with me so that they are able to experience the fabulous performers and this would perhaps take away from the negative outlook this person has on the LGBT community.

Detecting Microaggressions

An example of a microaggression that I detected this week is a gender microsaggression. I was at work and a teacher walked into the office. We began to have a discussion about how there was trash around the dumpster that needed to be picked up. We have been having trash issues with the cleaners so I am usually the person to clean up the mess. The teacher suggested that we ask our only male teacher that we have because “He is a male and it should be his job to clean up the trash.” Of course, I would never have asked the only male teacher to clean the trash just because he is a male so I did it myself. I realized now looking back that I experienced a microsaggression. In that situation I told the teacher who made the comment that there was no way that I would ever do that.

This experience has led me to believe that microaggressions happen more then I realize. Many are unintentional and not meant to hurt the other person’s feelings but can easily if not well-thought-out. Discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes are very serious and need to be taken into consideration as soon as possible. Within the work place it is very important to try and eliminate any type of negative behavior /comments toward others.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

1.       Culture is a way to express beliefs and traditions.

Diversity is a mix of different cultures and nationalities in the same community.

 2.       Culture is traditions of certain ethnic groups.

Diversity is the differences in traditions or ways of life.

 

3.       Culture is generally accepted customs within a certain demographic.

Diversity is the varying culture within one given demographic.

 

The aspects of culture that are included in the aspects that I received are the following: expression of beliefs and traditions within ethnic groups and customs within a certain demographic. The aspects of diversity that are included in the aspects that I received are the following: mix of different cultures into one community, different traditions, different ways of living, and the varying culture within one given demographic.

 

There were no answers that I omitted for this assignment.

 

Thinking about other people definitions of culture and diversity has influenced my own thinking of these topics because I have further realized that finding one accurate definition of either culture or diversity is difficult. There is so many specifics that are involved in the meaning of culture and diversity. I think that is why I am continuing to learn more and more on the meaning as I continue my course work here at Walden.

 

My Family Culture

The three items that I would choose are the following: my grandmother’s wedding ring, my grandfather’s Purple Heart medal, and a picture of my family.

 

I would explain to others how my grandmother’s wedding ring is important to me because it symbolizes the love that my grandmother and my grandfather shared. I was very close with my grandparents my entire life and they taught me many of the things I know today.

 

I would explain to other how my grandfather’s Purple Heart medal is important because it is a representation of how he fought for my country which is where I am from. It reminds me of his dedication and work ethic that he represented throughout the World War II. 

 

I would explain to others that a picture of my family is important because I am able to remember the times we share together. My family is the most important thing to me in my life so I feel like a picture would help me feel at home if I had it with me.

 

If I was told upon arrival that I could only keep one of the three items I would be devastated. I cannot even imagine how I would feel if I had to leave my country and leave everything of importance behind. This assignment has taught me that it was difficult to narrow down to three items of what I would keep with me to represent my culture. Many of the things that I have symbolize my family culture because it is who I am as a person.

Closure to Building Research Competency

I have learned a large amount of information from this course in regard to research. I have learned that in order to conduct a research study, the researcher has to prepare in depth. I never realized the amount of time and effort that a research study takes before this class.

My ideas have changed about research because I now realize how much work that a study takes to prepare and complete. I also realize how important it is to follow the procedures in a study in order to correctly gather information.  The lesson that I learned about planning, designing and conducting research in early childhood that I learned is that it takes a lot of dedication and preparing in order to plan, design, and conduct the correct way.

Some of the challenges I encountered was thinking of the way to word the research question itself. I felt my topic was very broad so it was important to narrow down the topic. I met my challenge throughout learning how to research throughout the readings and feedback from my fellow colleagues.

Early Childhood Australia

“Early Childhood Australia will advocate ensuring quality, social justice and equity in all issues relating to the education and care of children from birth to eight years.” (Early Childhood Australia, 2012)

Some of the current Australian research topics addressed are the early childhood framework, school readiness, children’s transition to schools/grades, children’s health, children’s obesity, baby and toddler sleeping, sustainability, global warming, and climate change. There was a vast majority of research topics which touched base on many of the topics we focus on in the United States related to early childhood education.

I found it interesting that the website has the state/territory branches separated and describes the goals of each state/territory branch. I also found it interesting when I read the paper, “ECA Position Paper on Children of Asylum Seekers, Children of Refugees and Children in Detention”. It was interesting to see the perspective of Australia for children who are refugees. The paper discusses how children’s needs should/can be met and how individuals in Australia can help these children have special protection and care. “Half of the world's refugees are children. They need special protection and care.”

I found The Research in Practice Series was very interesting and worth taking notes on. “The Research in Practice Series is a practical, easy-to-read resource, offering effective new approaches for those challenging issues which arise in the care and education of young children.” The books are a resource for individuals who work within the early childhood field. The series focuses on the ‘hands-on’ aspects of early childhood education. I believe that ‘hands-on’ is so important to incorporate into the field of early childhood and is the core of children’s learning.

Resource:

Early Childhood Australia - http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

 

 

Conducting a Research Study

The one research study that I would conduct is a study of the impact that television has on children – mentally, emotionally, and physically. Within this study, I would focus primarily on children who have parents of the upper-middle class, who have very busy life styles. I would want to find out the percentage of children who have television take up most of their free time outside of school. I want to find out how many of these children have social issue concerning their ability to communicate with others and hold friendships and/or are in the percentage of obesity.

The positive contributions of this particular study would be the result of having the upper-middle class realizing the negative impact that television has on children. I would hope that this would positively influence parents to have their children become active and involved in society.  I understand that these studies have already taken place but I think it would be interesting to be able to conduct a study and choose the children to focus on relating to their mental, emotional, and physical abilities.

Research Simulation Topic

Hello all!

The subtopic that I decided to focus on during my Research Simulation for the duration of the course is the following: How building relationships with family members can positively affect a child’s life. I chose this topic because I believe that it is extremely important to have open communication with family members when working within an educational setting. I want to find out ways to handle situations when family members place their involvement in their child’s schooling as a last priority on their list of importance.

Throughout my research thus far, I have learned that it is important to take into consideration the demands of parents/guardians time and the expectations that are held to a parent in our society. I have also learned that teachers/leaders in the educational field should not expect family members to know how to be involved/judge a family if they are not involved. It is important that we as educators focus on the families strengths and look at the family communication in a new light.

I just received my first position in management in the early childhood field. I am going to be an Assistant Director in a day care center. I would like to ask my fellow colleagues a question – can you give me any advice on what to do in building relationships with families as a new leader in the center? Also, do you have an advice on how to deal with difficult parents/guardians? Any advice at all to give a beginner related to building rapport with family members within a center? Any information/advice is very much appreciated!

Final Blog ~ Consequences & My Goal

The first consequence of learning about the international early childhood field is I have broadened my understanding of the way in which early childhood programs are run in other parts of the world. It was interesting to be able to compare international programs to many of our programs that are run here in the United States. I was able to gain an understanding of schooling in different parts of the world which overall, helped me have a better understanding of our world.

The second consequence of learning about the international early childhood field is I was able to read about the connections that many colleagues had with ECE professionals in different areas of the world. It was interesting to hear the perspective of other early childhood educators in the field. I also felt a connection through their responses because many of the educators are in the field for the same reason as I am - to change the lives of children we are surrounded by.

The third consequence of learning about the international early childhood field is I formed a relationship with many of my colleagues through the connections and research that we prepared. We learned from one another if it were unintentional or intentional. I was able to learn about new resources available, international early childhood programs, and feel connected with early childhood educators in other areas of our world.

One goal for the early childhood field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations is that we continue to work together for the children. Every voice counts. If we continue to learn from each other about the resources and commitments we can make through the field then we are able to grow together to ensure quality education and care for children across the world. We must take a step towards making a difference in the field. I believe it will all pay off one day.

UNESCO

While exploring the website for UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization) I gained some new insights about issues related to international early childhood education that relate to my professional goals. UNESCO works to build peace with individuals and is a worldwide network with headquarters in Paris (France) and 52 field offices, as well as six Institutes and two Centres which specialize in education. UNESCO specializes in education and at the same time, I specialize in early childhood education. UNESCO touches the lives of children around the world. Having an impact of the lives of children is a professional goal of mine so I can relate to UNCESCO.

I have learned the mission of UNESCO, which I believe is very powerful. I also feel that I can relate to their mission in my professional goals as an early childhood professional. The mission of the UNESCO Education Sector is to: 

·         provide international leadership to create learning societies with educational opportunities for all populations.

·         provide expertise and foster partnerships to strengthen national educational leadership and the capacity of countries to offer quality education for all.

·         work as an intellectual leader, an honest broker and clearing house for ideas, propelling both countries and the international community to accelerate progress towards these goals.

·         facilitate the development of partnerships and monitors progress, in particular by publishing an annual Global Monitoring Report that tracks the achievements of countries and the international community towards the six Education for All goals.  

The one goal of the UNESCO relates to my professional goal because it aims to work as an intellectual leader. As a member of Walden University within my master’s program I am working to become an intellectual leader in the early childhood education field. I am learning the background of the field as well as many resources that are available to me so I am able to further my knowledge in the field and work to become an intellectual leader.

The 1990 Jomtien Declaration for Education for All stated that learning begins at birth. A decade later, the 2000 Dakar Framework for Action reaffirmed the importance of early childhood by including the development of early childhood care and education as the first of its six main goals. It is very rewarding to hear that early childhood care and education if held at such high importance. I work as a member in the early childhood field because I want others to understand the importance and the impact education has on children in the early childhood field.

Overall, I believe that many of the goals that are set and accomplished through UNESCO can relate to my professional goals. Individuals who care about the education of children realize the importance of focusing on early childhood education and the impact it has on children.

Resource:

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/

NAEYC ~ Week 6 Blog

One of the outside links from the NAEYC organization website that I have not yet explored that I decided to explore is the June/July 2012 issues of Teaching Young Children (TYC). The link led me to a description of the TYC magazine and the current issue. Each issue of the TYC magazine provides useful, research-based ideas that preschool educators can use in their classrooms. This issue includes articles about gardening, family-friendly practices, sorting activities, and using graphic organizers. (NAEYC, 2012)

Another outside link from the NAEYC organization website that I have not yet explored that I decided to explore is the Young Children magazine. The one issue that I explored is “Finding the Education in Educational Technology with Early Learners.” Young Children is an award-winning, peer-reviewed professional journal published bimonthly by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. (NAEYC, 2012) Young Children issues are organized around topical clusters that devote special attention to issues in the field of early childhood education. (NAEYC, 2012)

The one area which I chose to be my focus is the membership section of NAEYC. This section describes how to sign up to become a member of NAEYC and the advantages you receive as of member of NAEYC. There are 6 reasons stated why to become a member of NAEYC. The six reasons are the following: Get great content, Save 20% off NAEYC books and resources, get discounts off conferences, build your network, change the world, and become a leader. This section also includes a list of benefits of becoming a member of NAEYC as well as FAQs listed for those individuals who may need some question answered. This section also lists the resources that are available at discount through a membership of NAEYC.

Yes, NAEYC does have information which relates to the understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education. There are training videos as well as an abundance of resources which correlate to the equity and excellence in early care and education. There is also a very helpful resource called the National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development, which helps guide professional development through research, policies, and practices. Walden University is actually a sponsor to the institute which is something that made me very proud of the school that I attend.

http://www.naeyc.org/institute/

I have learned and come to the realization of how important professional development is in the field. Professional Development is a continuum of learning and support activities designed to prepare individuals for work with and on behalf of young children and their families, as well as ongoing experiences to enhance this work. (NAEYC, 2012) These opportunities lead to improvements in the knowledge, skills, practices, and dispositions of early education professionals. (NAEYC, 2012) NAEYC has a variety of learning opportunities designed for early childhood professionals. I believe these opportunities will help early childhood professionals understand equity in the field and the definition of excellence: Online learning programs on “must-know” topics, Intensive Training-of-Trainers sessions on critical early childhood subjects, Training DVDs for self-study or group instruction, and NAEYC’s annual Conference and Institute for workshops, networking, and more.

Resources:

http://www.naeyc.org/ecp/dvd

http://www.naeyc.org/institute/

Global Children’s Initiative

Three new insights that I have gained from exploring Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” Global Children’s Initiative is the centerpiece of the Center on the Developing Child to focus on children’s health around the globe and development an agenda. Through exploration of the website, I learned about some of the activities that are a focus on the Global Children’s Initiative.

One activity is the Zambian Early Childhood Development Project. The Zambian Early Childhood Development Project focuses on the early childhood experiences and development within sub-Saharan Africa. A number of states have shown the impact a child’s development, health, and educational outcomes but there is little evidence on the areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The Zambian Ministry of Education, the Examination Council of Zambia, UNICEF, the University of Zambia, and the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University launched the Zambian Early Childhood Development Project (ZECDP) in 2009, a collaborative effort to measure the effects of an ongoing anti-malaria initiative on children’s development in Zambia. In order to do this successfully they created a new comprehensive instrument for assessing children’s physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development before and throughout their schooling careers—the first assessment tool of its kind in Zambia. The ZECDP collaborators hope that the data collected as part of this project, as well as future work in this area, will not only improve understanding of child development in this context but also help identify key interventions towards improved outcomes in a rapidly changing developing world.

Another insight is I learned that the Center on the Developing Child is launching its first major programmatic effort outside the United States. This effort is a part of the centers Global Children’s Initiative and is called Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância. In collaboration with local experts, this project aims to use the science of child health and development to guide stronger policies and larger investments to benefit young children and their families in Brazil. Through this effort to work towards benefits of young children and families in Brazil, organizations are working together to catalyze more effective policies and programs that will, ultimately, foster a more prosperous, sustainable, and equitable society.

The third insight that I learned about was the video Super-Cérebro. Super-Cérebro is the Portuguese translation of Brain Hero, a three-minute video depicting how actions by a range of people in the family and community can affect a child’s development. This video corresponds to the child’s development and what impacts a child’s development including but not limited to their brain development, the community in which a child grows, the experiences a child faces throughout early childhood development. This video was a very informational piece for parents of children of young ages.

Reaching excellence is every parents dream for their child. Many children do not have a chance when it comes to the standards of excellence our society sets. With organizations such as the Center on the Developing Child and initiative programs which work at finding excellence and equity in children, many more children have the opportunity to excel.

Resources:

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/

NAEYC

All of the information within the organization of NAEYC is relevant to my professional development. There are publications, information about accreditation, information relating to conferences that were help or conferences coming up and how to sign up, and many resources available.  There is so much useful information that I can use as a professional who is starting out in the early childhood field. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 80,000 members, a national network of more than 300 state and local Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations. (NAEYC, 2012). Being familiar and acting as a member to NAEYC will do nothing but keep me updated with the issues and trends in the early childhood field.

An issue from the website that made me in different ways is the issue of becoming an active member in the early childhood field and becoming involved. There are a number of organizations that are related to early childhood education, many in which I am not familiar with. I realized that there is a lot for me to learn about the field of early childhood but I think the NAEYC organization will help me along the way. I cannot only just show interest and learn about the programs and organizations in early childhood education, I need to become an active member. I can do this by becoming involved.

The piece of information from the website that adds to my understanding of politicians support the early childhood field is the way to become connected in your local state/community. There are state and/or local leadership opportunities through NAEYC. There are specific people who work to represent the local or state to inform individuals who want to get involved of the opportunities available. There are service opportunities which are available through the state and community.

The National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) is the profession’s mechanism to help establish high quality teacher preparation. (NAEYC, 2012) NCATE partners with states to serve the state and the institution. Through NCATE, the states involved have professional and state alignments, professional development opportunities for the professionals, training for the professionals, and serve as a resource to ECE professionals. The Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) was a founding member organization of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education in 1954 and remains one of its 35 constituent organizations today. (NAEYC, 2012 As a member of NCATE, CCSSO appoints representatives to the NCATE Executive Board, Unit Accreditation Board, State Partnership Board, (SPB) Specialty Area Studies Board, Appeals Panel and the Board of Examiners to establish NCATE policy and issue national accreditation decisions to teacher education institutions. (NAEYC, 2012)

Every time that I explore the NAEYC website I learn something new. This week, I have learned about the NCATE and what it does for educators in the early childhood field. I am exciting when I explore the NAEYC organization on their website because I know there is still so much for me to learn. NAEYC is an amazing organization for any early childhood educator.

Resource :

http://www.naeyc.org/

CHIP - Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre

Insights from CHIP – Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre

“Over 600 million children world-wide live in absolute poverty - an estimated 1 in 4.”

From reading the article, “CHIP – Knowledge for Tackling Childhood Poverty”, there were some insights that caught my attention.  I was having a conversation with a friend of mine last night about how poverty is a revolving vicious cycle. I think that tackling childhood poverty is the key to reducing the poverty rate in our country. Today's poor children are all too often tomorrow's poor parents. (CHIP, 2012). Poverty can be passed on from generation to generation affecting the long-term health, wellbeing and productivity of families and of society as a whole.  (CHIP, 2012). From reading the case studies of children, my heart cried for them. Children who have to work towards getting a better life and overcoming poverty have to work harder than some children ever will.  I believe that you truly have to have a desire to become better. Many people do not have any motivation because they feel that it is impossible to better themselves. Organizations like CHIP are what give people the hope and support to reach higher. Children especially need to have the support and love of others to realize that they have opportunities to have a better life. Tackling childhood poverty is therefore critical for eradicating poverty and injustice world-wide. (CHIP, 2012).

NAEYC

The name of the organization is the National Association for Education of Young Children (NAEYC) which was founded in 1926. The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 80,000 members, a national network of more than 300 state and local Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations. NAEYC is an organization in which inspires and motivates early childhood educators to be passionate about teaching and continuing to learn. Being a member of the NAEYC organization allows professionals to gain content, discount on books, discount at conferences, build a network, work at becoming a leader and change the world.

An issue that NAEYC addresses is DAP - Developmentally appropriate practice. Developmentally appropriate practice is an approach to teaching grounded both in the research on how young children develop and learn and in what is known about effective early education. Its framework is designed to promote young children’s optimal learning and development. (NAEYC, 2012) DAP involves teachers meeting young children where they are (by stage of development), both as individuals and as part of a group; and helping each child meet challenging and achievable learning goals. (NAEYC, 2012) DAP is the foundation for all of NAEYC’s work. NAEYC offers publications, different training programs, conferences, and accreditation of child care programs and much more.

I am excited to continue to explore the NAEYC program - there is so much more to learn and read which will help me grow as a professional of the early childhood field.

 http://www.naeyc.org/

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

The steps I took in my effort to locating two professionals out of the United States were the following:

·         I ask my co-workers/other early childhood professionals that I know if they knew EC professionals outside of the U.S.

·         I contacted the University of Galway in Ireland to try to find an EC professional to come in contact with.

·         I emailed my friend who is an au pair in Spain. I asked her if the family she was an au pair for knew any EC professionals or knew how to speak English who wouldn’t mind sharing insights with me on their experiences.

As for now, I have not had any feedback in which made me believe I will be able to contact an individual outside the U.S. Unless I hear back in the near future, I believe I am going to have to choose the alternate assignment for Part 1.

The website I decided to study is the The Global Alliance of NAEYC. I chose this study because I know that NAEYC is a very important organization within the early childhood field. I want to learn as much as I can about it and I know it is important to do so. This is a perfect match for me for this assignment.

Daily Supports

SUPPORT. What a powerful word that means so much in many different ways. I never stop to think of how thankful I should be for all the support I have in my life. Sometimes, I do not stop to think -where I would be without all of my support? I would not be here  today if it weren’t for the support I have had throughout my life.

Emotional Support ~ My intermediate family as well as many of my extended family show their support and love for me. My intermediate family – my mom, dad, sister, and brother have supported me throughout my entire life. Each family member have supported me through what friends I chose to hang out with, what sports I chose to play, what schools I chose to go to, sending me to parochial school, giving me a place to live, food to eat, clothes to wear, etc. I feel like the list could go on forever but what is comes down to is my family showed that they cared for me. They let me know they loved me, not only through words, but through their actions.  My friends also have supported me. Many of the friends I have today are the friends I have had since grade school. I know that if I ever have a problem or need a friend to laugh with, I will have someone to call for support. My friends have showed me support in many different ways and that is what makes our friendship so special.

Practical Support/Physical Support ~ I have many forms of practical support throughout the day. I make “To-Do” lists daily and that is my support to get through the day. I am able to have reminders of what is important that  I accomplish each and every day. Also, a way for me to feel sane is keeping my room nice and tidy. My room is a support through helping me feel better at the end of the day. I have many co-workers who help answer my questions and explain scenarios to me so I better understand my job. With the support of my co-workers, I am able to build my skills to become a successful employee.

I have known many people who have struggled with the vicious disease of cancer. If I were to have cancer, it would definitely be a life-challenge each and every day. If I were a cancer patient, I would need emotional, practical, and physical support to fight the disease. If it hard to imagine what I would be like if I was in a situation equivalent to this, but I think that each day I would need the support of my loved ones. My family and friends would be supportive and would turn the negative into the positive. I am a very positive person so I feel as if I would want to do the same. I believe that I would physically not be as strong and I would maybe change my physical changes but my heart would still be where it is today. I believe in miracles and that things happen for a reason. No matter how horrible the situation, my support team would help me get through my struggle.

My Connections to Play

“In our play we reveal what kind of people we are.”

 –Ovid

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”

–Kay Redfield Jamison

When I was younger my parents, grandparents, siblings, and friends supported me through my play. They encouraged me to go outside and play, gave me suggestions of what would be fun, or were my partner(s) in play. My brother, sister, and I had play dates almost every day with either my cousins or neighborhood friends. It was very beneficial that my mother was a stay-at-home mom which helped support my play as a child because we were able to do things that we may have no had the chance to do if it weren’t for my mom.

I believe that today I still take time to “play” whenever I have a free moment. If it is laughing with my family during a game of cards, playing tennis with my boyfriend, or playing a game with friends sitting around a campfire - I find time for play and I always will. It is essential for me to relax and take time for myself. As a child I learned the importance of taking time for myself through our homework routine every night. After I completed my homework and it was checked by my mother, I had “free-play” to do whatever I wanted to do. This set a balance in my life which I still have today. I know when it is time for work and when it is time for play.

Today’s play has similarities and differences to the play I experienced as a child. I am able to enjoy myself as I was as a young child but it is a different kind of enjoyment. I feel as if I appreciate the time I get as an adult for play more then I do as a child because I was able to play much more as a child. Now I am balancing my own life without the help from my parents. I am on my own so I have taken what I learned in the past about how if I balance my life, I will be successful. It took some down falls to realize how much I can put on my plate at once, but I truly believe that each day I learn a better way in balancing my play and work. I find time for both and I do it successfully. J

Relationship Reflection

"Human relationships, and the effects of relationships on relationships, are the building blocks of healthy development" (Shonkoff & Phillips, 2000, p. 4).


Relationships are important to me because it is the people that I am surrounded by in my life who have made me into the person I am today. I lean on others as they lean on me for support through anything. I know that if I ever have a problem or need something to talk to, I have family and friends to turn to who are a phone call away. I consider myself very lucky to have the relationships that I do with the people that I love.

Rich and I ~ I have a very strong relationship with my boyfriend. We have been together for five years and I consider him one of my best friends. The relationship that we have continues to grow each and every day. I believe that our relationship is one of the strongest I have ever had with anyone and I would not change it for a thing in the world. We have trust in each other which is the most important factor in our relationship and is what makes it so strong.

My brother and sister ~ we have had a very close relationship ever since we were born. We have been through a lot together but have stuck by each other's side. We use eachother for support through the good and the bad. We know that if one of us was ever in trouble, the other would be there. I believe that our support as siblings that we have built over the years is what makes our relationship the way that it is.

My parents ~ I have such an amazing relationship with my parents. My parents have shown my brother, sister, and I how important is it to show the people in your life how much you care for them. I know that if it weren't for my parents, I would not have the opportunities that I have in my life. We have a close relationship where I can explain to my parents how I feel and they can explain to me what they think I should do but leave it up to me to make a decision. I am so incredibly lucky to have my mom and dad as my friends as well as my parents. Our relationship has continued to grow through the years. It just keeps getting better.

In order to keep relationships with people, you need to care. You need to show that you care through being there for them when they need someone to talk to. Relationships grow and strive when both you and the other person care for each other. Trust is another important factor of building a relationship. This is seen in the work place. In order to build relationships with other people in the work place, one must have trust. It is hard to give someone your trust or trust other people. It is important to always keep your guard until you feel comfortable with other people. It is easy to be fooled by people so you need to keep your grounds and the people you care about close to you.

Thank you. Thank you, Thank you!

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all my fellow classmates for sharing their stories, thoughts, comments, and ideas throughout our course together! I have realized here at Walden how much you can learn from one another. I have learned important information about the Earfly Childhood field as well as the development of young children within different age groups. Each of you have been very insightful. I am a young educator beginning my career within the Early Childhood field so it was very helpful reading postings from those of you who have been in the field for quite some time.

I wish each of you the best of luck as you continue your education at Walden University. I hope that I am able to work with many of you in our future classes together.


Here are some quotes that remind me of the important of Early Childhood Education ~

"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." - Marva Collins

"Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand."
- Chinese proverb

"In early childhood you may lay the foundation of poverty or riches, industry of idleness, good or evil, by the habits to which you train your children. Teach them right habits then, and their future life is safe.”
- Lydia Sigourney

"Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don't begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten."
- Robert. L. Ehrlich

Testing for Intelligence ~ Blog Assignment

When measuring a young whole-self/holistically, I believe that it is important to measure the child’s ability to socialize with others, their cognitive ability, and their physical ability. Throughout life, a child needs the ability to socialize on a regular basis. If the child seems to need help with socializing with others, there are ways to help the child at a young age. Through assessing a child’s cognitive skills, we are able to see a child’s reading development. We are able to determine the pace at which the child’s information processing, conceptual resources, perceptual skill, and language learning skills are developing. Assessing a child’s physical ability determines many things, such as walking, running, jumping, catching a ball and many other physical activities in everyday life.

I found an article while searching the web which focuses on the similarities and differences in schools in Mexico and the U.S. Each country has their own specific differences in education based on the country’s government. Mexico and the U.S. have similarities in that there are so many children that come from Mexico to go to school in the U.S.

I believe that when assessing young children it is important to add humor to the assessment. I assess children to determine where they will be placed within the Phonics Enrichment course that I teach. The children are able to stay focused for a specific amount of time. By breaking up the assessment and making the assessment interesting and engaging for the child, I am able to get a real assessment of the child’s cognitive ability.

http://www.piton.org/Documents/term6.pdf

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/002244059390050S

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

I had a friend growing up who experienced family violence within her home. As a young child, it was hard to help a friend who was in horrible place in her life and being so young, I did not know how to help. Since I have a close relationship with my parents, I was able to turn to my parents for help. Thankfully, our school was aware already because my friend had spoken with the school counselor. Eventually, my friend’s father “went away” for some time and everything at her home became a much healthier environment for her. Throughout life, the effect of the family violence has affected my friend tremendously. To this day, she continues to see a therapist for her personal problems.

I found a resource online, which supports individuals/families that have experienced family violence. “The Alabama Coalition against Domestic Violence is a nonprofit organization dedicated to working toward a peaceful society where domestic violence no longer exists.” This is a fantastic resource for people to turn to if they are in need of help for how to overcome domestic violence.

http://www.acadv.org/

As I was thinking of a specific part of the country where I have a special affinity, I did not go far from home – Philadelphia. There are children in Philadelphia that go to bed every night hungry. I realize that there are many families on food stamps, receiving free meals at school, etc. The Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger is an organization which supports feeding the children in our area. Philabundance is the region's largest hunger-relief agency, which supports the families in Philadelphia. These are oppurtunies for familes to make sure their children receieve food, but at times it seems as if parents are giving up the meals they have so that their children do not starve. But how long will they last?

http://www.philabundance.org/

http://www.hungercoalition.org/news

http://www.hungercoalition.org/news/phillycom-how-hunger-affects-children-philadelphia-area

Why to appreciate the small things in life...

The topic that I chose to focus on is access to healthy water. This topic is important to me because I feel as if I take the healthy water that I have to drink for granted. I should be more appreciative for the water that I have to bath, drink, cook, swim, etc. Many parts of the world do not have access to healthy water as we do in the United States.  For example, Uganda is an area in our world where there are major health issues. In the small villages, many people, including children, are at risk each day with the areas of water that are close by which contain bilharzia, which is a parasite that can cause life-threatening illnesses. (UNIVEF, 2012)  Nearly 9 million children died before their fifth birthday, mostly from preventable causes. (UNIVEF, 2012)  An estimated 4,000 children die every day from diarrhea caused by poor sanitation and dirty water. (UNIVEF, 2012) To think that 4,000 children die from poor sanitation and dirty water is heart-breaking to me. This helps me learn to appreciate my upbringing and access to clean, healthy water tremendously.

http://www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Our-mission/Childrens-rights/Health/

EDUC - 6160 ~ Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

I have never had a child or took part in any birth of a child. Many times my parents have discussed with me the story of my birth. Discussing the moment my mother’s water broke, to the moment I was born. I know that from the moment I was born, I had the support team of my parents, sister, and grandparents. As I grew older, my support team was the same but grew bigger as an additional sibling was born. I believe that the birth of a human impacts a child’s development. If something were to harm me at my birth, it could have impacted what type of physical, cognitive, or emotional person I am today.

As I did some research on child birth, I was amazed to know how dangerous having a child in Africa is. 1 in 16 women die as a result of pregnancy or childbirth in Africa compared to 1 in 4,000 in industrialized countries. (AMREF, 2012) The reasons that maternal death is so high in Africa is because of the lack of skilled midwives, obstructed labor, unsafe abortions, anemia, and malaria. (AMREF, 2012) In Africa up to %40 of girls give birth before they are 14. (AMREF, 2012) There is not enough trained staff available to the amount of pregnant women in Africa. It is hard for me to fathom what it must be like to be pregnant and having to travel miles by foot or bike to find a midwife who could help you deliver your baby.  Many women die or lose their baby along the way. In America, many families are eager to have their child and go on regular check-ups a car ride away. In Africa, being pregnant is almost a burden but something that has to be done. This shows how a child born into a family who’s SES (location, economic status, etc) is extremely higher than an individual who is born into a family of a low SES can affect it’s development. There may be no support team, no clothes, no food, no shelter – compared to a child who has all of this and more. The children are going to grow up, each beginning their individual adventure of development at birth.

http://www.amrefusa.org/what-we-do/create-healthy-communities-/women-/

BIG thanks to all my fellow classmates!

I want to thank each member of the Foundations to Early Childhood Studies course. I have had an amazing experience with my first online course. I believe that each week reading each of your discussion postings, providing/receiving feedback, and reading each of your blogs -- I have learned more then I would have if it weren't for each of you. Learning about the experiences that each of you had has really taught me a lot that I will take with me as I continue at Walden. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! Best of luck in your future classes at Walden University!

NAEYC and DEC codes that are meaningful to me:

I-1.1—To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

This code is meaningful to me because I believe it is crucial to stay informed with your profession. Especially when one is in a profession such as Early Childhood Education, you need to stay informed. Changes happen very often and it is extremely important as an administrator or a teacher to stay “in the loop”. Missing out on one important topic could result in a major consequence, such as losing your job.  

I-1.4—To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults.

A child at an early age is dependent on adults because adults are the figure they look up to. Children at an early stage are sensitive and as adult figures, we need to appreciate their vulnerability. Each day I experience children’s sensitivity. At times, it is hard for me to understand why a child feels so upset. Instead of getting angry at the child, I try to comfort the child and have them explain to me the situation. I think on their level and what it was like when we were their age. It is important to remember we were all there.

I-1.8—To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities.

It is essential as a teacher and/or administrator to make sure the needs of each child are met within the classroom. Every child learns differently so it is important for the teacher to realize this and make accommodations to each of the students.

Learning Resources for Early Childhood Education

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/78618/CRS-CW-6284754/educ6005_readings/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
  • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP’s mission. 
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/about/
    Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
• Children’s Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
     

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Additional books that are excellant resources for ECE:

Foundations and Best Practices in Early Childhood Education: History, Theories and Approaches to Learning  by Lissanna M. Follari

The Exceptional Child: Inclusion in Early Childhood Education by Eileen K. Allen, Glynnis Edwards Cowdery, Jennifer M.(CON) Johnson in Books

Outdoor Learning Past and Present By Rosaleen Joyce

Inspirational Quotes from Inspirational People. . .

“Toddlers are active explorers. They eagerly try new things and use materials in different ways. Toddlers want to be independent and they have a strong sense of ownership.” ~Janet Gonzalez-Mena

"Attachment to a baby is a long-term process, not a single, magical moment. The opportunity for bonding at birth may be compared to falling in love—staying in love takes longer and demands more work." ~T, Berry Brazelton

 “I am not here to save the world; I am looking to make a difference.” ~Raymond Hernandez (Executive Director, from video segment Week 2)

This post is dedicated to: My Personal Childhood Web

My mother; My relationship with my mom has always been close knit. When I was younger she was who inspired me to try my best in all that I do. She supported me no matter what may have happened. I would not be the person I am today if I did not have my mom. She continues to support me in all that I do and encourages me to reach for the stars. I am very thankful for the mother that I have.

My father; My relationship with my dad is one of a kind. Ever since I was a child he has been a figure that I can look up to. He has taught me so much about how hard-work pays off and because of my dad I am a hard-worker today. Every day, my dad continues to let me know how proud he is of me. I will always look up to my dad, no matter how tall I am.

My sister; My sister is my other half. When we were younger we argued and bickered at each other like any sisters, but throughout the years, we have learned so much from each other. She has pushed me my whole life, in a good way, to continue to try my best at everything that I do. We talk each and every day and she is my continued support through life's struggles. My sister is a person in my life who no one could ever take the place of or ever will.

My brother; My brother is the closest to me in age. Our whole life we grew up together playing sports and running around outside, meeting new friends, and overcoming obstacles together. We worked together as a team and we still do today. I know that my brother supports me and always will. I feel confident going to my brother if I have a problem and I know he will do his best to help me. There is nothing like having a brother that is someone who supports you.

Grandmother; My nana encouraged me my entire life to try new things because I will never know if I like something until I try it. Every time I try a new activity, new food, new exercise, new book, etc.I think of my grandmother. I think that she gave me one of the best qualities that I have as a person. If nana was still alive today, I know that she would be continue to teach me values that I would cherish the rest of my life. 

"Oh, the Places You'll Go!"

The children's book that I adore most is "Oh, the Places You'll Go!" by Dr. Seuss. I received this book as I graduated from my undergrad. Each year, I make sure to read it to my students as they "graduate" from their grade and are onto the next. This is the most inspirational children's book I have ever read. It gives children a sense that throughout their lives they will come to "bumps in the rode" but if they stay positive and keep their heads high, it will all workout in the end.

"You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left."
                                                  - Dr. Seuss