Professional Hopes and Goals

One of my hopes in working with children and families of other diversities is to make them feel welcomed and appreciated.  I think that it is important that we make children feel accepted wherever they go.  I plan on doing this by interacting with my colleagues to gain insights about cultures I may not be familiar with and to find ways to include these families into our learning environment.

A goal I have is to teach children that we are not all the same, but that being different is okay.  I think that we need to start with our youngest children first and teach them about different cultures.  For me, learning about the "ism's" during the course, demonstrates a lack of education on other diversities.  By educating youngsters, we may be able to make a difference in years to come where we won't have any or at least minimal prejudices and biases.

To all my colleagues I want to say thank you for all your correspondences and opinions.  I have learned so much from each one of you.  I look forward to having more courses with you in the future.  Good luck with all your endeavors!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The country origin for my family is Romania.

The five ways I will prepare for my family are:

1.        I will research their Romania and learn all I can about the culture.

2.       I will talk with colleagues and try to find out any information they may have about Romania.

3.       If the family’s language is different from English, I will have a translator help me write a welcoming letter to the family.

4.       Through my research, I will devise a lesson on the culture of Romania and invite the family to share their culture with the class.

5.       I will develop a list of organization contacts for the family to make the transition to the United States easier for them.

I feel that with these steps, I will make the family feel welcomed to their new home.  I think the most important message I can send to the family is that I respect their culture and am willing to accommodate their needs.  The language barrier will be the most important aspect to overcome, and I know there are wonderful websites/programs that are available for translations.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

A moment that I remember of witnessing bias, prejudice or oppression is one that I heard about from my cousin.  It involved my cousin and uncle who both have their pilot licenses and live in Arizona.  They were both very prejudice of anyone outside the white race.  One day while flying, they spotted a group of Native Americans; so they decided to fly extremely low around them.  They did this several times, causing the Native Americans to be ducking.  Upon the fourth pass by, my cousin realized that the group was gathered for a funeral.  My uncle and cousin felt bad afterwards, and left them alone.

This act diminished equity in that all cultures have the right to mourn or show respect for the deceased.  With the ceremony being interrupted by the plane flying low, it was disrespectful to the living and also the deceased.

When my cousin told me about this I became so enraged.  I was ashamed to consider them my family.  I was also upset because our heritage includes Native American.  Our great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee.  This act was a disgrace to our family. 

My uncle and cousin since this act have changed their ways.  They have turned their lives around and appreciate that every person has the right to live their lives as fit.  I am no longer embarrassed to go out with them because I know that there will be no bias remarks made.   This incident was a total eye opener especially for my cousin.  Considering he was in his 20’s when this happened and is now approaching 50, it shows that people can change and sometimes it may take a while.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

A microaggression from my past that I remember is an example of micro insult.  It happened while I was in college working on my bachelors.  I had a friend that was from China; one day her and I went out to lunch at a fairly known restaurant.  When they waitress came to take our order, we asked her about one of the specials on the menu.  She looked at my friend and said to her "Well it has rice so you should like it!"  This comment simply implied that because she was a Chinese that anything with rice would be acceptable.  We were so shocked and appalled by the remark that we got up and left.

This experience made me realize how rude and ignorant people can be.  To stereotype someone based on ethnicity is so rude.  This made me take a hard look and examine myself as to not to stereotype or discriminate anyone for any reason.  Prejudism and discrimination are so hurtful, but unfortunately I don't think some people realize they are doing it. 

Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

For this assignment, I asked three of my family members for their definition of culture and diversity.

Culture

Mom:  Way of life’s instilments’ on us from decades ago.  Reflection of who we are and what we have become accustomed to.

Brother:  One’s way of life’s upbringing in religion.  It also includes different foods and social beliefs.

Dad:  Culture is a person’s way of life.

Diversity:

Mom:   Our reaction when there is a change in our culture.  How we can implement a substitution.

Brother:  The explanation that different cultures explain how and why of what they believe in.

Dad:  Being turned from a normal.  Adapting to a different type of lifestyle.

From these answers I noticed that my mom and brother both view culture with terms of food and upbringing.  As mom puts it, it is who we are.  It seems to me that culture is an easier concept for individuals to define.

I noticed that no one really mentioned social norms or body languages in either definition.  Language was also not mentioned.   Both my mom and brother struggled with this definition. 

As we have learned in this course, culture and diversity is very complex.  I think that they are so closely related that people have a difficult time differentiating between them. From this assignment, and viewing my family’s own perspective on diversity and culture, it has helped me to understand why I think and feel the way I do.  My family seems to understand the two and with my upbringing I have been taught to appreciate the differences.  We have never been a family to exclude individuals based on race, gender or sexuality.  My brother and I have been raised to treat all individuals with respect and dignity.

My Family Culture

If I had to leave and live in another country where the culture is totally different from mine, and I could only bring 3 items, they would be:
1)  My Bible
2)  A family cookbook
3) Photo Album
The Bible represents who I am.  It guides me in my daily life and helps me conquer my fears.
The family cookbook has recipes from many relatives that have been past on.  Many of these recipes are my comfort foods.
A photo album, helps me remember relatives from long ago, my friends who are no longer with me in this new land, and it has many special photos of special occassions that I do not want to forget.

If upon arrival, I could only keep one item, it would be my Bible.  I need this to guide me and keep me going spiritually.  As a family, we could gather around and read passages and enlighten each other. 

When I first thought about what I would take, I had a difficult time. I had to really evaluate myself and choose what are the 3 most important things to me. 

Research is not so Bad!

 During this course I have learned so much about research.  I think the most important insight I gained is how to recognize valid sites for information.  This is important for any research.  Prior to this class, I had never noticed key words before and just overlooked author credentials.  I now understand how these bits of information are important  and why they are important.

My ideas of the nature of doing research has changed in that now I know a main idea has to be continuously broken down to a more precise area of concentration.  Broad topics are very difficult to research and we need to identify the main idea that we want to investigate and know more about.   I think this has been the most challenging for me.  I feel that I have overcome this by really concentrating and looking deep into my research question to examine what it is I want to know.  With each bit of research I do, I fine tune my expectations even more.

When it comes to planning and designing research, I learned that you have to take it step by step.  Research is not something that can be rushed through.  It is very tedious and time consuming.  This is why it is important to break things down into small manageable projects.

I feel that this course has helped me to become better prepared to do research in the future as an early childhood professional.  I feel confident now that I will be able to be successful in research.

Research Around the World

I chose to look at Early Childhood Australia website.

On this website, I found the following current international research topics:

·         Everyday learning about responding to the emotional needs of children.

·         Research in practice series: Planning in the context of the EYLF: Powerful, practical and pedagogically sound.

The website allows you to view their newsletter. In the most current issue, there is an article titled Kids Haven’t  Changed; Kindergarten Has.  I thought this was interesting because as I have read in many other articles and newsletters, this issue is very hot even in the United States.  It was interesting to me to learn that this was an issue in other parts of the world.

Another article was about challenges in childcare.  This article discussed the decline in childcare workers due to low wages. 

 I found this site to be very informative. I really enjoyed learning about the research in practice series.  This is an easy to read resource, offering effective new approaches for challenging issues which arise in the care and education of young children.  This is a link that I want to explore more and possibly subscribe to.

Resource

Early Childhood Australia:  Retrieved at www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

Research That Benefits Children and Families

I found a very interesting article in regards to research on pesticides and cancer found in children.  In this research, parents of children with cancer were interviewed and asked the following three questions:

                1). If the household had ever been exterminated for pests that required the family to leave the residence for a period of time;

                2). If the yard had ever been treated with pesticides or herbicides to control insects and weeds; and

                3). Had they ever used hanging pest strips inside the home.

What was found is that homes exterminated were linked with children who had lymphoma type cancer but no other types.  The study did not prove a strong connection between extermination and brain cancer.

With the use of yard insecticides and herbicides, a strong but imprecise connection was found between them and soft sarcomas.  Certain pesticides are also likely to be related to non-Hodgkin’s disease in adults.  Certain insecticides such as Diazinon, was related to leukemia in men, but was not tied to leukemia in children.

The use of pest strips are strongly associated with not only leukemia but also brain tumors.

In this study, the following conclusions were made:  pest strips are associated with certain childhood cancers; and second, we need more study to determine specific duration times and more specific pesticides.

Reference:

Leiss, J. & Savitz, D. (1995).  Home pesticide use and childhood cancer: a case-control study.  American Journal of Public Health;  Feb, 1995;  85(2) p 249-252.   Retrieved from Proquest Central.

Research Journey

For the simulation project I have decided to focus on teaching methods used in  other cultures.We are living in a very diverse country now and I see so many cultures integrated in the classrooms.  As an educator, I feel that it is important that I am familiar with what children from other countries are use to in their education.  This will help me be more effective for them and also help them be more comfortable in a new setting and also help them become more successful learners.

From some of my previous experiences, I have learned that many cultures find it necessary to be in your face when speaking and if there is distance between you it is offensive.  Is this true in the classrooms also?  I want to find out.  Some articles I have ran across for various cultures states that students are encouraged to do all work in small/large groups to build social skills and problem solving.  Yet others encourage students to work independently to build their own knowledge and confidence.

I am very eager to get started on this research journey and share everything I learn with my classmates and colleagues.

International Education

During these 8 weeks I have learned so much by interacting with international sites. First I learned that many iissues we face here in the United States are shared amongst other countries.  It was interesting to discover the extent of the issue elsewhere but also to discover ways they are tending to them.  Second, I have so much more insight now on websites and publications that as an educator will benefit me in my career path. Thirdly these interactions helped me realize that it is important for all leaders to come together and develop a plan to help ensure the education of our youths.  The widespan gap in education due to status is devastating and is something that can be and should be dealt with.

My goal is to keep visiting these sites and to subscribe to as many publications as I can to help me develop better understanding and to keep up with current issues of trends and issues.  This will help me become a better advocate for children that have no voices.

International Early Childhood Professionalism

The UNESCO website is a very complex site.  I like how it is not only for early childhood but also secondary and adult education.   The site allows you to explore tabs in regards to education, culture, social and human services, etc.  There is so much information on this site. 

UNESCO adopts every 6 years a strategy which guides the objectives and expectations for the organizations work.  Their mission statement is:  “As a specialized agency of the UN system, UNESCO contributes to the building of peace, the alleviation of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information.”

From this site, I learned that 10.5 million children die a year from preventable diseases.  This is so heart wrenching to know that this could be prevented with care.  UNESCO  advocates for childrens health and nutrition.  They are believers in the holistic development of children. 

One site I explored was an article on Education for All.  This is a global committee that is focused on providing quality education for children and adults.  By the year 2015, 164 Governments pledged to meet 6 goals and to provide EFA.  These goals are:

1)  Expand and improve Early Childhood Care and Education especially among the most vulnerable.
2)  Ensure that all children, especially girls, underprivileged and minority groups, have access and complete a high quality program.
3)  Ensure that life skill programs and appropriate learning is available to all young people.
4)  Have a 50% increase in adult literacy by 2015.
5) To have gender equality in education by 2015.
6) To improve the quality of education and see measurable outcomes in literacy, math and life skills.

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Sharing Web Resources

I have been following the NAEYC website.  Today I chose to follow the link titled families.  Under this heading, the organization explains various programs and opportunities available to parents. 

In exploring the website for NAEYC, I found a link (Right Choice for Kids), that took me to an article about Engaging Diverse Families. This article identifies 10 programs and effective ways they reach out to involve diverse families.  NAEYC then shares this information with struggling programs trying to help their families.  The site also gives recommendations to parent s on what they should be looking for when choosing a program that promotes diverse participation.

From the site, it confirmed what I already knew.  That many programs struggle with including diverse cultures into the class.   It also reinforces that a meaningful relationship between families and school helps promote school readiness and later academic success.

I thought it was interesting that the NAEYC identifies using newsletters as a way to involve diverse families.  The organization recommends that in newsletters we should include community events that are happening, lending library information and tips on child development.   By doing these few things, programs are extending the learning outside of the classroom which encourages more parent involvement.

For more information on the organizations recommendations, visit the site at 

http://www.naeyc.org/

Getting to know International Contacts Part 2

I have had no luck in making any connections with my contacts.  Therefore I took a closer look at the website on Global Children’s Initiative.  On this site I found an article titled Reducing Developmental Barriers in Learning.  According to the article, the Early Childhood Innovation Partnership (ECIP) is a collaboration among four organizations that work together to help reduce barriers in learning.

Even though investments in training and curriculum are important, we are still seeing gaps in learning.  Neuroscience research has now proven the emotional, social and behavioral issues are a leading cause to gaps.  With this information, ECIP will focus on developing a group that will create new strategies that will help relieve the gaps in learning. 

One way of doing this is by the formation of a group known as the Frontiers of Innovation.  With this group one of their goals will be to develop a community that will then develop, implement and test interventional models.

With the help of analysts, policymakers, scientists and entrepreneurs from public and private sectors, the ECIP is planning on building upon strategies and techniques that will help the future of our children.

Resources:

Center on the Developing Child-Harvard University-Global Children's Initiative. (2011). Reducing Developmental Barriers in Learning.  Retrieved at http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/

Economists, Neuroscientists and Politicians as Early Childhood Advocates

In an article I found online in regards to NAEYC, it had a section on how to implement high quality programs in the early childhood field.  I find this an important professional development topic for myself.   The artcle mentions how certain types of funding are being used in various states to achieve a high quality program. 

In Connecticut, the School Readiness Program can be funded only if it meets current NAEYC Accreditation requirements.  
In Massachusetts, their "universal pre-k program requires recipients of classroom quality grants to be accredited by NAEYC' (NAEYC, 2010).  They have the most accredited prekindergarten programs in the nation.

Another initiative being used are tax credits.  Arkansas and Maine both give families a tax credit if their child attends an accredited program.

Through funds/initiatives of private and public sectors a program can become accredited.  Again these programs ensure a high quality environment for our children.

After reading the article, it made me stop and think about how our early childhood programs could be if it was required for all to be accredited.  I know from my own experience that NAEYC is very structured and strict with their practices.  I wonder if this would be a good thing for all the states to mandate.  Massachusetts feels that it is a great opportunity for their youngsters.  It surprises me that other states have not followed them. 

This contributes to my understanding of how economists/neuroscientist/politicians support ECF in that we have private and public sectors that are willing to help fund these programs.  One organization that was mentioned by name was United Way.  I feel that these organizations are not going to spend funds if they feel they are not worth while. It is obvious to me that groups/organizations are willing to help our young children.  The accreditation process is expensive and time demanding.


Reference:

NAEYC. (2010).  State and local quality improvement support efforts.  Young Children Vol. 65(1) January, 2010.  Retrieved from www.oldweb.naeyc.org

Getting to Know International Contacts

I have been unsuccessful in getting a response from my international contacts.  Therefore, for this assignment I visited the website www.childhoodpoverty.org.

From this site I chose to take a look at poverty in India.

India Poverty

India has the second largest population under China.  With a population in 2001 estimated at 1.03 billion and a total of 260.2 million people living in poverty as of 1999-2000, we can see that the country has a definite poverty issue.  The majority of the poverty is located in rural areas.  Research shows that this is due to a lack of access to assets, skills, low education and health. 

There are approximately 400 million children between the ages of 0-18 years old.  Of this amount, 62 million are under the age of 5yrs and are malnourished; another 34% of the newborns are underweight. 

Although the country has seen an increase in primary school age enrollment, India still has the largest number of children workers in the world with nearly one third of the children working ages 16 and under.  Girls tend to make up more of the work force because they are less likely to receive education and healthcare.  India discriminates between the genders.  Boys are viewed as permanent members of a family whereas girls are seen as temporary.   Girls are more likely to be neglected as children.

From learning about the issues of poverty in India, my heart goes out to these people.  From my own experience dealing with families of poverty and the readings I have done, poverty is a cycle that just keeps repeating.  In India, the treatment of girls is terrifying.  Both genders need to have the education behind them in order to break free.  It is so sad that Child Labor Laws are not universal.  All children need the opportunity to go to school and learn.  My hope is that the India government will keep working on trying to put a stop to poverty.  From the site, it sounds like they are making some leaps in the right area, but they still have a long ways to go.

Issues and Trends

I chose to explore the National Association Of Young Chidren (NAEYC).  I chose this organization because their focus is on developing appropriate curriculum and guidelines for children from birth to age 8. I have experience with their guidelines for a quality environment .  Many daycares attempt to be accredited by the NAEYC because they are viewed as a very exceptional organization.

The NAEYC has two very distinct journals that they publish.  They are Young Children which is published 6 times a year and offers research based articles relevant to the Early Childhood field. Teaching Young Children is published 5 times ayear and is directed forwards preschool educators.  They also sponsor the journal Early Childhood Research Quarterly which is published 4 times a year and offers research topics in the ECF.

I have been trying to decide which journal I would like to get a personal subscription to, and I think it is Young Children.  The assisitant principal I use to have had a subscription and she highly recommended it.  The issues I have read, has had many topics that I found beneficial to me and for my classroom.

From the most current issue I found an interesting article on promoting prosocial skills  in young children.   According to the article, prosocial skills include but is not limited to:  empathy, sharing respecting others and cooperating.  Why are these skills important? According to the article if yung children develop these skills early,  they will continue into the primary grades.  So how do we as educators  promote these skills?  The authors listed five ways:

1.       Build secure relationships.

2.       Create classroom community.

3.       Model prosocial skills.

4.       Establish expectations.

5.       Support families.

In this same publication, there was an article relating to dual language learners with challenging behaviors.  I was not able to access that particular article.  Once I get the subscription I will be able to share the information.

References:

Hyson, Marilou & Taylor, Jackie L.  (2011).  Caring about caring:  What adults can do to promote young childrens prosocial skills.  Young Children July 2011.

The website for the organization is:

www. naeyc.org

Establishing Contacts

During this first week I have attempted to make several contacts with professionals outside the United States.  Using the Global Alliance of NAEYC, I contacted the Phillipines, Honduras, Singapore, Romania and Haiti.  Some of these attempts were returned to me because the email address is invalid.  As of date, I have not had any response from the others.  I am hopeful that I will hear something by mid week.  If not, then I think I will need to do the alternative assignment.

For part two of this assignment, I chose to follow the NAEYC.  I chose this organization because I am familiar with them.  I have enjoyed many of their publications in the past and value their information.  The daycare I use to work at actually tried to become NAEYC accredited.

Stay tune for further developments on these contacts!

My Supports

I have many supports in my life.  The most important one is my family.  Without my mom and dad in particular, I can't imagine what my life would be like.  They have always been there for me emotionally and finacially.  We have such a great relationship, and recently it seems that it is getting stronger.  My life has been very stressful the past 6 months, that I have really had to count on them.  They have never disappointed me, and my mom is great at giving that tough love speech!

Another support I have are my friends.  Unlike my parents, I can tell my friends all the intimate little details that happen in my life.  I share so much with them, and they are great for lending an ear when I need one.  We have all been friends since 6th grade, so we know each other very well. 

The last support I have is my church/faith.  I feel that my faith has really carried me the past 6 months.  My church family has really been there to pick me up when I felt alone.  My parents live 2000 miles away, so I depend on the church for emotional support.  With the help of them and my belief in God, I know that there is nothing that I can't handle.  I have learned to take everything with a grain of salt and to take everything day by day. 

My Connections to Play

                                                                                                                                                         

Famous Quotes on Play

It is a happy talent to know how to play.

--Ralph Waldo Emerson, philosopher, poet, essayist

Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning....They have to play with

 What they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they

 learn in new forms of play.

--Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Play is a major avenue for learning to manage anxiety. It gives the child a safe space

 where she can experiment at will, suspending the rules and constraints of physical and

 social reality. In play, the child becomes master rather than subject.... Play allows the

 child to transcend passivity and to become the active doer of what happens around her.

--Alicia F. Lieberman, author, The Emotional Life --

of the Toddler

When I was growing up as a child, I was always on the go!  From the time I woke up until the sun went down, I was outside running, riding my bike or playing group games with cousins and friends.  I was encouraged, along with my peers, to be creative and imaginative.  I still remember my favorite game to play was kick the can.  It was hide and seek with a twist.  In fourth grade, my best friend and I had imaginary friends.  We would talk to them all the time.  Adults didn’t think we were crazy or that we had problems, they went along with it.  It was a healthy developmental stage that children go through.  I remember my brother and I loved the show Lost in Space.  We would watch an episode, and then go outside and throw a Frisbee (representing the spaceship) and then act out scenes from the show. It was fun!

Unfortunately, play today lacks imagination.  Video games and technology has robbed our youths of this important concept.  Children struggle now to find ways to occupy themselves if there is a power failure – what no TV or computer???  Children are also becoming so obese because of the lack of exercise.  Children don’t go outside and run and jump like they use to.  They complain because it’s too hot and they want to stay in the air conditioning.    I love to see children outside riding bikes in my neighborhood – I give them credit because I know how easy it is to stay in and play videos.  I also give the parents credit for making them go out and be physical.  I hope that these children will keep these habits up in life.  I worry about school budgets being reduced because sports are usually one of the first things to get cut.  We really need these programs for kids.

I strongly believe that my being active as a youngster has greatly contributed to me being a physically active adult.  I still ride my bike and would prefer the outdoors to the inside.  I hope that I set an example to kids by being an active person; that they realize just because we get older doesn’t mean we sit in front of the television.

                                     

Loved board games!                                                            Played school/house all the time!

                                                                       
                                                                      

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because I feel that it is a necessity to a healthy life to have people that know you and care about you as an individual.  It's nice to be able to contact someone and discuss issues that you are both familiar with.  The person/people you have a relationship with knows you as a person; they know everything about you and what is important to you. 

I have so many people that I have positive relationships with.  To start with are my parents.  They have always been there for me, been supportive of all my decisions (whether good or bad).  I feel that I can talk to them about anything.  They are the ones that I can count on for that tough love.

My best friend April.  Her and I have been best friends since 6th grade.  We are like sisters.  We make it a point to talk everyday, even if it's just to see how the other person is doing.  Our relationship is very open, we hold nothing back from each other.  She is probably the one person who knows me better than I know myself.

Another positive relationship I have is with my Pastor and his wife.  This bond has just recently developed and it has been wonderful.  The last couple months has been very difficult for (bitter divorce, lay off notices at work, parent illness, my own illness just as a start).  I finally reached a breaking point and my pastor and his wife took me under their wings.  I now have a special relationship that is very spiritual and uplifting.  I know that I can call them and they are there to listen.  I think what makes this relationship so special is that they don't take sides.  They are neutral parties, and they help ground me when things are messed up. 

One of the challenges that I have encountered with developing relationships is that of trust.  I am not one that rushes into things.  I like to really get to know the person and get a feel for them.  I think for a partnership it is important that both parties have a sense of trust and respect for each other.

Another challenge is communication.  Sometimes people are afraid to talk things out or discuss issues that are important to them.  This may be to the fact that they don't want to bother the other person with problems or they don't want to hurt the other person's feelings.  Communication is very important in a partnership.  It goes back to the trust thing.  If you trust that person, you should be able to talk to them about anything.


I think my experiences with relationships/partnerships will have a positive effect on my role as an Early Childhood Professional.  I feel that I am an easy person to get along with, and I have had lots of experience working with people.  I know that it is important at the beginning stage that the other person feels that they are being heard  (especially parents).  Working with children and families, I know that I must be open to their ideas and to honor their beliefs. When building that relationship with families, I give as many avenues to them to contact me.  My parents have my email address, work number and cell number.  They know that if there are any concerns or questions, I want to be available to them to help relieve any anxiety they may have. 

When I Think of Child Development

Children are inclined to learn from television [because] it is never too busy to talk to them, and it never has to brush them aside while it does household chores.

National Commission on Causes and Prevention of Violence on the influence of violent television

If a child is given love, he becomes loving ... If he's helped when he needs help, he becomes helpful. And if he has been truly valued at home ... he grows up secure enough to look beyond himself to the welfare of others.

DR. JOYCE BROTHERS, Good Housekeeping, Aug. 2010


From these quotes, we can see how important it is to take time for our children.  I have learned so much from these past 8 weeks. 

Testing for Intelligence

I think that assessments are necessary in school.  These tests help parents and educators understand the needs of the individual child.  Today, so many students need to be on Individualized Educational Plans (IEP’S).  These plans are based on the child’s needs and what is going to be best for their education.  These plans and the tests required help teachers to differentiate lessons, modify teaching tehniques/strategies that will benefit the child.  We need to remember that children are different and we all learn in different ways.  In the school I work, the teachers use to have Phonic Ears in the classrooms.  These were worn by teachers and the helped students with hearing and language deficiencies.  Unfortunately, with budget cuts, these were the first things that were removed from the classrooms. 

In Japan, there are schools set up for children with disabilities.  These special schools are designed for students with specific disabilities such as visual, hearing or cognitive.  The disadvantage of these schools is that students are not with non-disabled students.  The mainstreaming would be beneficial for these students.

I also learned that every school is also set up with a special needs committee and the team is required to visit mainstream schools when necessary.

Childrens growth and development are measured at 4 months, 8 months, 18 months and 3 before entering school.  These evaluations have proven to be beneficial in detecting disabilities at an early age. 

 For more information check out these websites:

http://www.childrenwebmag.com/articles/education/the-special-needs-education-system-in-mainstream-japanese-schools

http://www.jicafriends.jp/vocational/gi2005/material/resume/1022_school.html

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Poverty is certainly on the rise in the world.  Working in the school system, I see so many children living in poverty.  I am drawn to one child in particular and her struggle for survival.  This little girl lived with her mom only.  Mom had many issues that she was dealing with, drugs, legal problems, drinking just to name a few. The little girl was 3 years old at this time.  She bascially had to raise herself.  She had no bed to sleep on, went days with no food and had horrible living conditions.    Eventually the mother was put in jail. At this point, dad received custody of the child.  She moved in with dad who lived with his parents, siblings and their children.  In all their were 10 people living in this house.  The child had never used a utensil before, so at the age of 4 she was learning to eat with a spoon and fork.  When she would get hungry, she would rummage through the garbage looking for food.  This was just a norm for her from living with her mom.  She didn't know to look in the fridge or cupboard for food. I have her in my class now, and she still picks food up off the floor and eats it.  She steals food from the other kids.  I try to give her more so she doesn't have to do this.  In short, this child has had a very difficlut life.  She is now almost 6 years old, and she has so many trust issues and behavior issues to deal with.  She is a very angry child.  I feel so bad for her, I know she has a long ways to go.  I fear she is scarred for life and wonder if she will be able to have a happy normal life.

POVERTY IN BRAZIL

I chose to look at the poverty situation in Brazil.  What I found is that 2.6% of the population lives in poverty. 42% of the children live in poverty and 150,000 children under the age of 5years die due to hunger.  Many children lack education, health care and nutrition.  Many families cannot afford to raise their children and therefore many are abandoned and live on the streets.  These children often turn to drugs, crime and prostitution in order to survive.  The Ministry of Social Asstistance is a program setup by the government  to help fight poverty and starvation.  In order to survive, children are pushed into the workforce instead of education.  There are no child labor laws in Brazil, so this leads to a breeding ground for malnutrition, viloence and sexual exploitation.   

To read more on the poverty situation in Brazil click on the following link:
http://hubpages.com/hub/Poverty-in-Brazil

Child Development and Public Health

The public Health topic I chose is on breastfeeding.  It seems that more mothers are breastfeeding their infants and steering clear of formula.  Research shows that breastfeeding has many benefits.  The child is receiving all the important nutrients and vitamins from the mother.  They also receive the antibodies to help fight off infections and illnesses.  It's proven that children who are breasfed are healthier and spend less time at doctors offices. The contact that comes between mother and child helps build a secure attachment.  It also helps the mother lose weight after childbirth and helps the uterus to get back to normal size.  I don't have children, but if I did, after researching I am confident that I would breastfeed because of the benefits.

As I was reseaarching, I discovered an article about breastfeeding and mothers of Yemen.  It appears that this phenomenon is not very popular in Yemen.  Doctors recommend that for at least the first 6 months of life, infants should be exclusively breastfed.  This mean they only consume human milk, no water or juice is allowed.  In Yemen, the mothers feel that this is not sufficient for a baby.  They will breastfeed for short periods of time but not the entire 6 mos.  yemen, is a country that has a very high malnutrition rate.  The mortality rates of infants due to malnutrition has not changed for several years.

After doing the research, I understand now why my student who is of Yemen decent was so sickly.  Even though mom was American, dad was Yemen and did not believe in breastfeeding and had very strict dietary requirements.  I think this information will help me in the future if someone wants my opinion about formula or breastfeeding I can give accurate data and help them be informed.

To read more about The Yemen's lack of breastfeeding , go to the following website:

www.yobserver.com/sports-health-and-lifestyle/10012767.html

Childbirth - In Your Life and Around the World

I myself do not have any children.  I have an older brother who has 3 children, but I was not present for any of those births.  I have a friend who gave birth 16 years ago, so this is the best experience I have with childbirth.  When my friend had her daughter, she had a private room.  I was amazed at how big the room was.  At the time my boyfriend , myself and the father were the only people in the room.  There were not many nurses or doctors coming in.  The baby was in the nursery and was brought to the mom a couple times during the day for feeding and bonding.  If I remember correctly, my friend stayed  in the hospital for 3 days.  Unfortunately, that is all I remember of the child birth experience I have.

I chose to take a look at Denmark and their practice of child birth.  It was surprising to me to learn that the mother can choose to have the baby in a public hospital or at home.  The doctor assigns the mother a midwife who will attend to her regularly.  Giving birth is considered a natural event, so only the midwife is present during the birth unless she feels there are complications in which case the doctor will also be present.

The child sleeps in the room next to the mother.  The child is never taken away.  The mothers are encouraged to take care of the baby right after birth.  Nurses are available to help and to take care of the baby if the mother is tired and needs to get her strength back.  If it is the first child, the mother stays in the hospital for a couple of days; otherwise the mother leaves within a day or two.

What I found most interesting is that when the mother returns home from the hospital with the baby, she is visited by a nurse who makes sure mom is ok, does checkups on the baby  and answers questions that may arise during the first year of life.

There seems to be many differences between these experiences:  The midwife instead of doctors in the delivery room,  the baby stays with the mom in the room isnstead of going to a nursery.the fact that a nurse comes to the house after the birth.  The duration of the mother’s stay is pretty similar in both experiences for the first child, I do not know if it is the same for the second child.

The website I found this information from is: 

  http://paguro.net/expat-life/local/denmark/all-documents-denmark/denmark-pregnancyandbirth

A Note of Thanks and Support

I have truly enjoyed working with everyone during the first course of our program.  I have learned so much from each of you.  This experience has been rewarding for not only myself, but for my students.  I have taken things from each of you and incorporated it somehow into my classroom - whether it is a book recommendation or a quote you posted.  I look forward to continuing our journey together and lending support to each of you.  To all, I wish you the best of luck!

Codes Of Ethics

1). 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.

I chose this ethic from the NAEYC because I feel that as an educator and future advocate for children, I need to stay current with the early childhood field.  Studies and research are consistently changing and I feel that it is my responsibility to stay on top to help my students succeed and for my families to understand their child’s education.

 

2)   I-2.2 To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.

This also is from NAEYC.  In order for students to be successful, they need to see that educators and parents are working together in collaboration.  Parents need to have a sense of trust that the teacher is doing everything they can to ensure their child’s safety, well-being and educational needs.  As a teacher, I need to trust that parents will cooperate and work with me if there are problems.  When we all work together, we have the child’s best interest at hand and the child benefits from it. 

3)  Responsive Family Centered Practices #6:  We shall respect families’ rights to choose or refuse early childhood special education or related services.

I chose this ethic from the DEC because I feel that ultimately the parents/guardians have the final say in what services if any their child receives.  As an educator, we have the responsibility to inform our parents of services that we may feel benefit their child.  We need to give the families all the information required to make their decisions.  I feel that when parents have the opportunity to discuss options with the teacher and other support staff, and they are able to have their questions answered, then I as an educator have done what I can do, but ultimately the family has the final say and I have to be respectful of it.

•  Article:  NAEYC. (2005, April).  Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment.  Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

• Article: The Division for Early Childhood.  (2000, August).  Code of ethics.  Retrieved May 26, 2010 from  http://www.dec-sped.org/

      

Course Resources

Position Statements and Influential PracticesNAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap

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://www.blogger.com/goog_698327916
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
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. 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://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
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.

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/

Additional Early Childhood Resources
Early Childhood News: Professional resources for teachers and parents.
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/

Education.com : An education and child development site for parents.
http://www.education.com/

Finding Dulcinea. Articles and resources on Early Childhood.
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Education/Early-Childhood-Education.html

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

“As Early Childhood Professionals we have an opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better.”  Sandy Escobido

My passion is to create a safer and more just world for all kids.  Louise Derman-Sparks

A passion of mine is to “honor diversity and seek to understand what culturally sensitive care means for each family being served.  To meet such a goal, professionals have to establish close communication with families and work together with them toward positive outcomes for children’s identity, sense of belonging and cultural competence.”  
 Janet Gonzalez-Mena

Words of motivation: “In the good years, work very hard to win everything that’s possibly winnable.  In the bad years, work just as hard to keep your losses to a minimum.  There are good times, and there are bad times.  But you have to stay in the game.”
 Edward Zigler

Personal Childhood Web

Mom:  My mom Chris  has always been the one to nurture and care for me.  Whenever I was sick, she would be the one to stay up with me.  When I have problems, I can always talk to her.  She may live 3000 miles away, but we talk almost every day.  Even now, I’m going through a rough time, and she always seems to find the right card to send me to make me feel better.  I learned from my mom, that it’s okay to voice your opinion.  You can disagree with someone and still be nice about it. Don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself!

Dad:  My dad is the funniest person I know!  He is always doing something silly to make me laugh.  He was a cook in the Army, so while growing up, he did alot of the cooking, and yes we always had plenty of leftovers.  We use to tell him he only needs to cook for 4  and not 400!  I remember when I was starting my Senior year of high school, he wanted me to quit my part time job.  He wanted me to enjoy my final year of high school.  My dad dropped out of high school in the 9th grade, and he was determined that I was going to be different.  I was to graduate and go to college.  He is my driving force to who I am today.

David:  My brother.  He is 6 years older than me.  As a child, he was my tormentor but also my protector.  He tried to teach me not to let others push me around .  Even to this day, he still protects me.

Mama:  my grandma on my mom’s side.  We grew up living next door to my maternal grandparents.  When both my mom and dad worked, mama would babysit us.  She taught me how to cook some of the best southern foods!  I remember when I would get ill, she would come over with some back woods remedies/cures, but they worked.  She would sit and tell stories about her younger days and how things were so different.  I loved those stories and miss them.

Aunt Freda:  She is my absolute favorite aunt.  When I was growing up, she would take me shopping, we would do errands together and I would spend the night at her house.  She makes the best coconut cake ever.  Just for my last birthday, she made one special just for me and brought to my work!  She is feisty, and speaks her mind.  She has taught me to have a backbone.  She maybe 76 but she is still going strong. She still works full time.  We talk at least 2-3 times a month.  My mom tells me everyday I’m just like her!

My Favorite Quote About Children

“Children are like wet cement.  Whatever falls on them makes an impression.”
                                                                                          Dr. Haim Ginott