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.