Week 8

       I think that three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field is wanting to advocate, feeling like you are not doing enough, and wanting to get involved through travel or other methods. As I learned about the challenges, accomplishments, and efforts happening internationally, I instantly wondered what can I do, and what am I doing currently? The feeling of inadequacy can come about and I think that it is healthy and sparks our professional flare and purpose. While exploring the UNICEF website and seeing where they are located and the work that they are doing, it makes me want to travel and see for myself what strides the early childhood field is making there. No matter how we look at it, or what consequences we come up with, we must admit that our professional interest was sparked and we reflected on our practices and questioned whether we are being a hindrance to the field or are we helping the progression.
       One goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends is that we all as professionals can band together and advocate from our perspective parts of the world and address issues and share trends that are growing in child development. The importance of having collegial relations is to have support, awareness, and others that can relate to our passion for our field.

Week 7 Blog Assignment

         For this week's blog assignment I had to review UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage because I have been unsuccessful with establishing contact with professionals from the podcast as well as UNICEF professionals in different parts of the world. I would like to talk with professionals because I think it is important to share ideas and gain professional insight from those that are already working in the field. I will continue to try to make some kind of connection with these professionals as I believe networking in the field of Early Childhood is important especially since it is constantly changing. 
        As I reviewed UNESCO's website, I read under the investment and financing tab that in developing countries, Early Childhood Education often takes the backseat to establishing primary education; other pressing issues and priorities can also take precedence over ECE. Here in America, early education is becoming increasingly important but it has not always been at the forefront. The website also suggested that private sector childcare was more likely to render quality and effective care than those programs supported by government funds. I personally always thought it would be the other way around, government funds seem more stable. Privately funded childcare centers usually have their own rules regarding curriculum, staff development, and operating policies; this sometimes makes it difficult for universal policies to be enforced. The third idea/insight that caught my attention was under the "Coordination and Integration" tab. I found it interesting that cross-sectoral coordination on the national level is an ongoing issue for both developing and developed countries. Some have resulted to dividing up sectoral task by age and services, others have developed an individual group that deals directly with sectoral responsibilities. This is only one of many obstacles that the field of Early Education faces globally in both developed and developing countries. 
       The website gave brief descriptions under each topic and presented ideas and information clearly. The site also had study related information out to the right side of each section. Under the worldwide tab information was available on five different parts of the world. This global website is excellent for teachers, professionals, parents, and those interested in Early Education. 


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

Week 6 6162

The website that I have been exploring over these past 6 weeks is zerotothree.org. The outside links on this website lead to statistical data, government website, and other organizational websites where more in depth information can be found on specific topics. I chose to explore "Care and Education", then i clicked on "School Readiness" and explored the section based on my daughters age range, 24-36 months. Once I clicked on the link it offered a video clip, links to sections of development such as language, thinking skills, self control, and self confidence. Each area had a "Learn More About This Topic" on the page that included FAQ's, activities, and resources. I clicked on the frequently asked questions tab and decided to click the first question, it offered an answer with two resources below it, a video and a written resource.

This weeks topic of equity and excellence is mentioned on this website in brief. A "pdf" link came up after I searched "equity and excellence";  the article was titled "Developing a Statewide Network of Infant and Toddler Specialist". This publication suggest the importance of make quality childcare available, and securing funding to protect and improve existing centers. This article also placing high importance on the education of teachers and staff members in child care settings. The purpose of the article is to propose a network that would train specialist instead of "workers", it changes the whole dynamic of early education. I never thought that changing the title of staff and training them as specialist, rather than qualified child care providers, it would possibly improve the quality of care provided as well as enhance equity and excellence with the center as a whole.

 www.zerotothree.org/public-policy/state-community-policy/nitcci/developing-a-statewide-network-of-infant-and-toddler-specialists.pdf

Week 5 6162

I am still awaiting a reply from UNICEF and I am also awaiting a response from one podcast member. I decided to explore the Harvard Website heavily and find out what exactly are the aims for Early Education in other parts of the world. After reading the initiative, I could tell immediately that the program is aiming at policy makers, research, and advocacy. I think that this is a smart approach instead of head on tackling the educators. Once policy's are in place, educators will be held accountable to follow policy for quality education. In order to get high level decision makers to invest in policy that benefit early education, solid research must be available for presentation and review. Global research will allow for policy makers to think about the global investment and lean more towards a universal standard for quality care and education. In order for researchers to be able to collect the data they need, early education facilities and families need to approve. Educating the community, care facilities, and families on the importance of research leads to advocacy and researchers can extend their efforts because others will be more compelled to let them in their homes and other facilities. These three components: policy makers, research, and advocacy, are strongly linked and needed together in order for the global initiative to make a difference. In their mission statement they state "Catalyzing the implementation of effective, science-based public policies through strategic relationships and knowledge transfer"; this statement is the driving force behind the program and their international approach. The website also offers a newsletter that you can sign up for, as well as articles with research information, and what efforts are being made in other areas of the world. As with any child development website, I explored the employment section and the School of Education is looking for data analyst and researchers. Research and data is so important because it is the key to our foundation and it proves that our field is just as important as primary and secondary school. 

6162 Week 4

This week I explored the Challenging Behaviors section on ZeroToThree.org. This section aids in my professional development because I am working at a childcare center for the summer until school starts back, I have a three year old at home, and in the future I want to own a child care center. Some of the challenging behaviors outlined are sleeping behaviors, aggression, and inconsolable crying. When I think of challenging behaviors, I think that children are testing to see their boundaries, how far they can push the adult, and figuring out their emotions. Zero To Three suggest that challenging behaviors are all apart of a child's social and emotional development. Most parents at the center where I work complain about their children not cooperating and simply not following directions. The website has a section on how to get children to cooperate, they break each behavior down into a section instead of grouping it together.  Zero To Three states, "Toddlers are realizing that they are separate individuals from their parents and caregivers. This means that they are driven to assert themselves, to communicate their likes and dislikes, and to act independently (as much as they can!). Toddlers are also developing the language skills that help them express their ideas, wants, and needs. Policy makers support early childhood education by maintaining a standard for health, nutrition, and the four developmental domains. Policy makers want to ensure that children are cared for holistically and this website has a section for each main topic that policy makers look for in quality education. 

Week 3 6162

I have received confirmation from one UNICEF contact that confirms that emails are being received and that I am contacting the right agency. I am awaiting responses that give more information about what the agency is doing in their specific part of the world with children and families. I in turn had to do the alternative assignment for this week which was explore http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/) and give feedback on what was learned through website exploration. This website addresses childhood poverty and policies that are currently in place to aid with the poverty level. One policy that I found to be interesting is the population reduction policy that calls for fertility to be controlled. This policy is shown to be effective where fertility levels are high and country wide poverty is present in high levels. While this policy may be effective, it is not the most effective which is why family planning and counseling should be in place. This website addresses poverty by way of the families and communities. Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre also allows for readers to see what research is being conducted nationally and internationally; the results may or may not be given. The website called childhood poverty a crisis because poverty can be passed down from generation to generation. Poverty during early childhood years can strip a child from opportunities that they may never be able to regain; such a s learning opportunities and experiences gained through discovery. The main key point that I agreed with most is that we must deepen our understanding of the main cause of childhood poverty and poverty cycles and increase knowledge of effective strategies to take them in different context. 

Sharing Resources

The website I chose was Zerotothree.org. The focus of this website is for newborns up to the age of three, they focus on making sure the foundations for learning are built strong. While zerotothree.org is meant to aid children's learning, the content is meant for professionals and parents that interact with the children on a daily basis and that deal with their learning outcomes. The baby brain map was the most interesting article that I found on the website. It is difficult to study the brain of an infant or toddler but x-rays and new age technology are allowing us more into the mind of our newborns, infants, and toddlers.

6162 Getting Ready

For part 1 of this assignment, I have chosen to reach out using the UNICEF website, I sent emails to representatives in China and Northern Africa. I sent my emails on Thursday and have yet to get a response, if I do not receive a response by Thursday of this week, I will move towards the alternate assignment. I look forward to their response because I think that it will be beneficial to establish contact with professionals abroad.

For part two I chose Zero to Three because I used that website quite a few times during previous classes. I find it to be beneficial if you are consistent, once you establish contact with a representative, keep it going.

My Supports

In my daily routine, my husband and coworkers serve as my main supports. I depend on my husband to pick up my daughter before daycare closes. I also depend on him to sometimes run errands, cook dinner, and perform household chores such as taking out the trash, washing cars, mopping, and cleaning the kitchen. Without my husband I would have to adjust my schedule and drop extracurricular activities so that I could pick my daughter up and perform all household chores. My husband is also responsible for his portion of our bills so without him I would have to get a second job somehow to make my money stretch. The benefit of having this support is greatly emotional and physical. My husband is a great asset to me and we work smoothly as a team, his love and support also helps me to maintain school, my career, and other activities that enjoy. He is always encouraging me and cheering me on to the finish line and without him I would be motivating myself which is difficult.
My coworkers provide great support to me because as a first year teacher I need them to help me plan lessons, do necessary paperwork, and help me make it through the day. When I first started I had no idea what I would be doing even the first day of school. My coworkers were there to give me handouts, activities, and other simple first day materials for my students. My coworkers provide a relief for me when I am having a bad day with my students, administration, or other colleagues. We often vent to each other and give advice where it is needed. Without my coworkers I would feel like I am alone, I would often feel lost at work and feel like I need to find someone to help me. When I am having a problem I would have to hold it in until I got home to talk to someone which could make me a worse day. The benefit of my coworkers support is the overall professional growth as well as the reduced stress. I know that they are always there to help me and provide guidance and direction for when I get lost.
If I were faced with the challenge of getting into a doctorate program I would want the emotional support of my family, the physical support of my husband and coworkers, and the practical support of my professors. I would need each of these supports so I could focus on the goal, get direction and guidance towards the goal, and so that I could prepare myself for what the goal entails. It would be hard to overcome this challenge if any one of these supports were missing. I need my family to encourage me and be my "cheerleaders" when I feel like giving up, I need my husband to help me maintain our household so I could dedicate time to my studies, my coworkers could help me move towards my professional goals by editing papers and post, and making sure that I stay 100% at my current job while working towards another degree, and my professors would of course be there to answer questions and guide me towards an appropriate doctorates degree. Every support that exist in my life is necessary and needed and it would be very difficult for me to function without them.

My Connections To Play

Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.

-Diane Ackerman
Contemporary American author

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

-Kay Redfield Jamison
Contemporary American professor of psychiatry

 

When I was a child, it was safe to go outside with other neighborhood kids and walk around, go to the park, the creek, ride bikes, play tag, run around, and play in the streets. I grew up in the country and it was perfectly normal to be outside playing; someone was always "keeping an eye" on us. My grandparents allowed us to stay out as long as we wanted, we only had one rule, and that was be inside before dark. My family supported my play by allowing me to explore my environment. I was not confined to my yard or backyard, I could actually walk the neighborhood, go to the park, and I preferred to do so over watching TV. Play taught me to be aware of my surroundings, how to share, how to entertain myself, how to maintain relationships, and how to be creative.

Play today is very different, people are not as trustworthy as they were back then. There are a lot more instances of kidnapping, rape, abuse, and molestation. You really cannot let your kids go outside without your supervision, and they can not go too far away from home. With the advancement of technology, children have a since of security in their home, watching tv, playing video games, and snacking. It is really not safe to allow your children to wonder the neighborhood. Play has to be very contained now and limited to few hours, inside a gate, under supervision, etc. Many children do not like the heat, the outdoors, or anything dealing with nature; and it is very unfortunate. Seditary lifestyles aid in increased obesity rates and laziness.

My hope is that parents will engage in play with their children, venture out with them, explore and teach them to enjoy their surroundings instead of being afraid. Relationships are fostered through play; children learn how to build, maintain, and mediate in relationships. Play allows children to use and explore depths of their imagination and become engaged in imaginary play; they learn how to be self sufficient and reliant. Play enables children to learn so much and its unfortunate that children now do not have the freedom to explore and be comfortable in their environment. Play into adulthood allows us to teach our children and other children how to play, explore, use their imagination, etc. By teaching others we are revisiting the area and stimulating our creativity. If we continue to use play into adulthood we will never lose that creative spark.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because I value people as individuals and I strongly believe that all people have something different to offer. I place the highest value on my familial relationships; I try to maintain a strong connection with my family, even those that are a distance away. Technology has definitely made it easier to stay in touch with my family; facebook, twitter, Instagram, face time, and email are the forms of communication that I use heavily. I can post pictures, comments, and view them as well during my convenience. It is important to stay in touch with my family and to know what is going on because we are family and we should be able to rely on each other and feel that sense of belonging.

Friendships and acquaintances are also important to me because friends can sometimes be closer to you than family. Strong friendships allow you to go through difficult times and not feel alone, they fill the void of not having family near by, and friends are great stress relievers. Friendships present opportunities to open up and allow yourself to express emotions and feelings. Friends teach us some of life's most important lessons; and they are awesome to have around. Acquaintances are similar to friends but we do not allow them to get as close to us because we not see them as often, or we may not feel able to trust them. Acquaintances can be coworkers, people we see often in places such as doctors offices, grocery stores, family/friends functions, etc. In the 21st century with all the present competition, it is all about who you know, not what you know. The more people you build rapport with, the better; you never know who you will need in a lifetime.

The main relationship that I have right now is with my husband. We are newly weds and we had been together 5 years before we go married. We met in high school and had typical high school drama between ourselves. After 3 years we decided to have our daughter Lilly and of course a baby brought on stress to me as a college student, and him as a man in the workforce. We had to work hard to maintain and build our communication skills as well as develop our relationship. My husband and I decided to sit down one day and have a conversation and I remember feeling like I could tell him what I needed to say without feeling like he would dislike me afterwards. My relationship with my husband taught me to say exactly how I felt and not let it stay bottled up because it only gets worse. It showed me that if people respect you and truly value you, they will respect your opinion and listen openly to what you have to say. My husband and I have created a partnership, we discuss everything amongst each other and view each others point of view objectively to make sure we make the right decisions. Our communication is the best it has ever been because we have established respect, openness, honesty, and true commitment.

My relationship with my mother is also important to me since she serves as my main support and cheerleader. She and I do not always get along because she is very protective and wants the best for me. Although I did not always see it that way, once I allowed myself to see things from her point of view, I realized that she was not trying to make my life miserable, she just wanted me to make the right choices. My relationship with my mother showed me that just because she thinks I am making the wrong decision, does not necessarily mean that I am. We had to learn to agree to disagree; we never had an "I told you so" moment because we respect each other. As I was growing up and becoming independent, my mother struggled because I am the baby of my family. She wanted to be involved with my daughter and make key decisions and be involved with those decisions. I had to make my mother understand that I was capable of making wise choices and that I would consult her when I needed her. This relationship is important to me because she cares for me and I need my mother, but sometimes she oversteps her bounds and I must take a step back and let her know how I feel. I learned how to be sensitive to others needs while making sure that my point is stated.

I have a good relationship with my colleagues and administration but it could be better. I often feel intimidated by them because I am new but I am slowly asserting myself. In meetings I have thoughts, ideas, comments, and concerns and I usually do not speak up because I do not want to disturb the "order". These relationships are not beneficial but they are necessary. I have to make sure that I can work comfortably and have support for when I need help. I plan to build upon these relationships by engaging in one on one conversation, attending extra professional development sessions, and participating in clubs to build upon relationships with teacher advisors. This situation has shown me that it is important to build upon relationships while being yourself; you may be in an uncomfortable predicament and people will not always be so open to you, but you have to put forth effort. If we can recognize our biases then we can work through our differences.

Challenges come when we are close minded, others are close minded and we refuse to view others point of view. We often have prejudices and biases  that govern how we act and react to people; if we are open and objective to our feelings and place them aside, relationships would come easy and would not seem like such a hassle or chore. In my career as an early childhood professional, my experience with relationships can help me remain open to new ideas, help me place a value on relationships, and allow me to know what it is like to be secluded.

6160 Week 8

"An aware parent loves all children he or she interacts with - for you are a caretaker for those moments in time."


-Doc Childre

6160 Week 6 Assessment

Critical thinking areas are left off assessment although with Common Core, constructive responses are becoming more important. I think this is important because all children do not learn the same and they all do not test well. With constructive response, they are asked a question and allowed to answer the question however they like. Teachers can better assess knowledge and understanding through the responses. I believe that if a student can teach you a lesson back, or sum up the main points then the concept is understood. Critical thinking areas need to be explored to ensure that concepts are mastered before moving forward to high level classes. Core classes are like a staircase, if one step is missed, the student will fall and fail to be successful.

Children in China are assessed through progressive test that judge their level of competence and they are placed into their next classes accordingly. The children their spend 6 to 7 years in elementary, 3 years in middle school, and 3 years in high school. The students face end of term exams, year end exams, and graduation exams. Science is not introduced into the curriculum until middle school which is why the math background is so strong. In elementary school the focus is Chinese reading and writing and mathematics. The other core subjects are introduced in middle and high school. The gap between our students in the US and students in China comes from dividing our focus between four subjects: language, math, social studies, and science from kindergarten through high school graduation.

I believe that Common Core will help our students be better prepared to compete globally. Common Core is a new system set up so that every child is learning the same material in each subject and tested the same way. It is important for educators to hop on bored with Common Core and get a full understanding so that all students are getting the same quality education and will be prepared upon completion from high school.

Reference

siteresources.worldbank.org/EDUCATION/Resources/278200-1126210664195/1636971-1126210694253/China_Skills_Assessment.pdf

6160 week 2

The topic I chose is SIDS. After I had my daughter I was worried the most about SIDS. Sudden infant death syndrome can affect any child under the age of 12 months, male or female, healthy or otherwise. Researchers can now conclude that SIDS may be caused by the baby's bodies inability to detect high level of carbon dioxide in the blood, as well as sleep arousal difficulty. There are other factors that increase the risk of SIDS such as laying a baby on their stomach to sleep, co-sleeping, cigarette smoke, soft bedding, and multiple births. The two main factors that increase the risk of SIDS that stood out to me is being born to a teen mother and living in a poverty situation. I work with teen mothers living in poverty everyday, so this information came as a shock to me. I was 20 years old when I had my daughter and live in a great environment and I was worried sick, so for teen mothers I can't imagine how worried they would get if they knew that they were placing their babies at risk.

While the United States has had approximately 544,000 cases of SIDS so far, China has had approximately 2 million. These numbers are disturbing and mind blowing; it struck a curiosity in me to research why China has so many deaths due to SIDS. I tried to search the internet for more information but other than numbers, there was not a lot to go on. I came to the conclusion that since China is industrialized and modernized like the United States, their statistics should be similar. Since China's SIDS cases are extremely high, I think that it may be due to their large population, and their higher birth rates. This is obviously a topic that could use more exploration by researchers.

The lack of resources for my topic just goes to show how important our role as educators and advocates really is. We need to be informed and share information; educators in other regions should do the same.

Week 5 Resources

• Course Media: "The Resources for Early Childhood"
  Five early childhood professionals discuss their preferred and trusted resources.

• NAEYC. (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://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 media segment 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/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.

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/
• 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/
• 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.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• 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 Resources

• http://www.fsifamily.org/headstart.cfm
• McLoyd, Vonnie C. (2009) "Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Child Development."
• http://kidshealth.org/