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