When I Think of Research...

As I take time to reflect all I have learned in this course, I can only think about children and families and how they are subjects in research. I learned about ways to conduct an effective research simulation, how to read abstract and journal articles and how to gain the most out of reading them without having to read the whole article. I can definitely say that this course has taught me how to conduct research in a new light. By taking time to research, utilize interviews, observe, and focus on the subjects instead of any biases, I can really create a meaningful research simulation. In regards to children and their families, it is important to recognize that children can and do have a voice and they also provide meaningful research. My ideas about the nature of doing research have changed because I can now look at a research article and narrow my focus down to the subject matter, the participants, the findings, and the methods and determine if the research is valuable to me. I also gained insight about how to narrow my research question down to a specific model to provide the best results. I can now focus on a topic of study and locate my subjects, I can also determine how I will get information from them for my study and I can put it together to provide useful and appropriate information for others to use. Some lessons that I learned about designing my research include determining the processes of conducting research I will include in my simulation such as triangulation, finding relevant literature, obtaining consent from parents to get information from children or themselves, and deductive research methods or hypothesizing to gain results. Through all of these aspects, I can conduct research that is free of bias, is specific to the population being studied, and resourceful to others who may utilize my research for their own benefit. One lesson that I learned that stayed with me is the power relations model in research. When utilizing and speaking for children, it is important to recognize that risks can happen but it is important to realize that serious harm is unacceptable. Also, children do have a voice in research and consent is important in any research simulation. Some challenges that I encountered in my research and reading about effective research is that it is always important to narrow down the topic of study to a researchable and effective topic. What made it hard is when it involves children; the results may be broad because of the differing circumstances that they face. So, I learned to choose a topic and refine the research to focus on the particular topic and not get carried away into other topics. By creating subtopics the research becomes more thorough and the reader can see the research for its validity. Some ways that my perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified is that my job is more professional because I learned how to become a more effective researcher and I can now look at a topic and find ways to research that topic and come up with effective strategies and techniques to find a solution to that particular problem or concern. Lastly, my perceptions of an early childhood professional has changed because I realize all of the important roles, duties, responsibilities, and concerns that we are faced in any given day. From that, it gives me more opportunity to work harder and love even more what I do. Lastly, I give my outmost thanks and support to all those who have crossed my path in my journey to become an effective early childhood professional. I wish all the best and success towards any and all accomplishments having to do with the field of early childhood education. I also want to thank my instructors who have guided and mentored me throughout my program of study. A warm thank-you to all who have been there.

Week 5_Research Around the World

Research Around the World Early childhood Australia is a national, non-profit, non-government organization that works to promote the well-being of children aged 0-8, and offers a knowledge database of early childhood education professionalism to those who want to learn more about children. Some recent articles include topics of early childhood environments and inclusion. In October, Early Childhood Australia published an article about promoting children’s social and emotional well-being in childcare. Early childhood mental health is important because these issues can affect children as they grow into adults. To be aware how we as early childhood professionals can promote the well-being of children, we can help to create environments that offer rich and lasting relationships with children and their families. One surprising fact I learned based on my research about Early Childhood Australia is that there is little research about how early childhood environments promote the well-being of children. “Although Childcare centers have a vital role to play in the social and emotional development of children, the strategies used to promote children’s wellbeing in such settings are not well researched” (www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/). By researching this topic, the Australian Early Childhood website described some key challenges for not obtaining much research on such an important topic due to language barriers of families and teacher education or qualifications. One noteworthy topic that I discovered during my search from the Early Childhood Australia website is that they really focus on finding information on effective practices and obtaining information on Quality childcare centers. I think this organization is a good one to keep in our list of researchable resources because of the abundance of current and past information about the Early childhood Field. References (www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/). (200-2012). Elise Davis, Naomi Priest, Belinda Davies, Margaret Sims, Linda Harrison, Helen Herrman, Elizabeth Waters, Lyndall Strazdins, Bernie Marshall and Kay Cook. “Promoting children’s social and emotional wellbeing in childcare centers with low socioeconomic areas: Strategies, Facilitators, and Challenges. University of MelbourneLast updated October, 4, 2012). Retrieved from. (http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/australian_journal_of_early_childhood/ajec_index_abstracts/promoting_childrens_social_and_emotional_wellbeing_in_childcare_centres_within_low_socioeconomic_areas_strategies_facilitators_and_challenges.html).

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

Option 1: As I sat back with my family thinking about the positive effects research has on families, I could only think of one icon that changed the lives of thousands. Erin Brokovitch brings back memories of Julia Roberts and the movie she played in called, “Erin Brokovitch” Erin Brokovitch is an inspiration to many for her efforts of curing a small town from pollution form their own Electric and Water Company. Erin, a single mother, obtained a job at local law firm in Cali when she stumbled across some files that gained her attention. Through Erin’s research, she found that Pacific Gas & Electric was poisoning the residents of Hinkley for 30 years by leaking Chromium 6 into the ground water. (http://www.brockovich.com/mystory.html). Her efforts resulted in her performing massive research of medical files for the town, and setting up anti-pollution lawsuits. It is efforts such as Erin Brokovitch’s that helped over 600 Hinkley residents to receive settlements and the company Pacific Gas & Electric to pay out over 333 million. The reason I share this information is because one single-woman stumbled across medical files and took it various efforts to research about the town of Hinkley, and help the residents from a poisonous substance that infected the pipeline which housed their drinking water. References Official website of Erin Brokovitch. (2010). Retrieved from (http://www.brokovich.com/mystory.html). Wikipedia.org. (Nov 7, 2012). Erin Brokovitch. Retrieved from. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Brockovich).

My Personal Research Journey

My chosen topic of discussion for this course is the issue of Poverty. My main focus is how we as professionals can create and implement programs to help those children in poverty stricken neighborhoods. My subtopic of choice is how we can create programs within the poverty stricken neighborhoods for parents and children to come and receive advice, pamphlets or reading materials, meals, medicine, and immunizations to assist them in raising healthy children. I feel that just offering pamphlets to parents with information about nutrition, can help them learn about what good eating has to offer. Also, by including a shelter, or dwelling within poverty stricken neighborhoods, we can offer services besides pamphlets; we can offer medical advice, nutritious meals, after-school care, and job searching tips to help parents get out of poverty. My experience with this topic has been very rewarding in the new insights that I have gained about research and the topic being one which needs attention. I think by learning what it takes to become an effective researcher, I can come up with plenty of useful measures that cities and communities can adopt, low-cost to help Americas families. With, that we can go even further to help children and families globally. By asking each of my colleagues to offer any useful advice or resources to direct in the right path towards helping those families in need can be of great value towards my research. I know that two valuable resources that deal with global efforts to end world poverty include the Global Children’s Fund and UNICEF. One can find a tremendous amount of articles, measures, and expert advice in how to help those families in need. Resources Global Children’s Fund. (www.globalfundforchildren.org). UNICEF. (www.unicef.org).

EDUC 6163-6_Building Research Competencies

This is the fifth class towards my Masters Degree and I am excited to learn how to be an effective and professional researcher. I look forward to working with all of you to discover more effective methods of researching and to make new friends as well. I wish all of you success in your endeavors.

Week 8 Final Blog

Three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field lead to a whole new area of needs and issues. By taking on efforts to help children and families, it really is an eye-opener when we get a chance to read about and talk to people who are experiencing the same issues or worse consequences. The knowledge helps to bring forth new information about effective strategies to help those in need, or new experiences to offer knowledge and support to those who need it. Another consequence is the support system grows once we open our eyes and an ear to other’s who are fighting for the same cause. It makes it such a wonderful experience to share our ideas with others and to exchange information back and forth. One last consequence of learning about the international early childhood field is that maybe one day, we can be there helping those children and their families in other countries who need it. We can offer our support by getting to know the resources that open their hearts to allow us to travel with means to better their schools, or offer clean running water, or even new textbooks and toothbrushes for all children. One goal I have is to continue to grow professionally and offer my expertise to others around the globe in hopes that they utilize my information to help those in need. Lastly, I hope to continue to make relations with others around the globe to keep my knowledge database growing and reading newsletters to keep up to date on current issues related to funding, infrastructure, teacher education, diversity, poverty and many other issues related to early childhood education. With all said, I wish each and every colleague and fellow classmates a wonderful future and educational journey from here on out. I hope their ideas and knowledge gets put to use here in the US and in other regions globally. Thanks to each and all of you for your comments and continued support.

Getting to Know Your Professional Contacts-Part 3

The UNESCO Website offers information about access, equity, programs to help the neediest children, and the efforts help those by mainstreaming the children from low-economic homes into the programs to create a cost-effective learning environment for all of the children possible (www.unesco.org). One thing I learned is that from the 2000 Dakar Framework for Action describes the concept as universalisation, where governments create a universal approach to help those in need as well as minimizing the inequity of barely helping the other populations who need help as well. “A policy of universalisation with targeting can minimize inequity where governments aim for universal access among the target age group, but simultaneously prioritize the poor” (www.unesco.org). Another issue has to do with funding in other countries. Funding comes mostly from the government, which makes it hard to fund programs for the needy. “In general, government funding for early childhood is extremely small” (www.unesco.org). With, that I learned that state funding is another way that can benefit the poor, but it needs to be addressed. Lastly, private funding, through marketing proves to be the most beneficial aspect of obtaining funding because the word gets out that educational needs are underway. My professional goals include the well-being of all children, creating and implementing a safe and nurturing environment, and offering useful strategies and curriculum that is rich, full of print, and fun for children to excel and learn. In doing so, I can help ensure that my professionalism of running a smooth, and appropriate classroom environment for children. However, due to the economy and socioeconomic statuses of some populations, it makes it difficult to obtain an education and resources needed for survival. I hope that through government, state, donation, and private resources, we can offer all children a chance at an education. Also, I hope through all of the generous people in this world, we can create access to fresh running water, food, utilities, clothing, shelter, and medical so children can indulge in that chance at a healthy and full education. References UNESCO.org. (1995-2012).Education. Retreived from. (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early- childhood/access-and-equity/).

Week 6_Sharing Web Resources

The Harvard Family Research Project, and the FINE Newsletter, that I have been receiving emails from, offers insights about family engagement, family involvement within the classroom community, and family involvement in the home environment, which is pertinent for a child’s overall healthy development. By looking at the other links within the Harvard Family Research Project and the FINE newsletter, there are other articles that talk about transitioning into kindergarten and a voice from the field, Nikia Parker, offers an article about her family and early childhood experiences with Early Head Start. The article about transitioning into kindergarten has pertinent information about family involvement, the family’s role in their children’s success in preschool, kindergarten preparedness, and collaboration with families, teachers, and the community. School-readiness is a major factor that involves preparedness and skills. “A collaborative approach, particularly one that engages families, creates a sense of continuity in children’s lives and equips families with the information that they need to help prepare their children for school success” (Patton, & Wang, 2012). For the purpose of this article, States utilize Dept of Education expertise, and work towards transition in state level initiatives and local level initiatives. “(Patton, & Wang, 2012). All of the teams that get involved with the transition to kindergarten are parents, teachers, community members, and board of ed. members, states, and various other professionals. Transition teams and articulation teams each serve a purpose in getting programs ready for children in their transition into kindergarten. In a nutshell, in order for children to be ready for transitioning into kindergarten, they need parent-teacher partnerships. Parents need to be informed and a part of the classroom environment. California has private and public entities in which they rely on to implement the programs. Also, California has a Transitional Kindergarten initiative, which offers “young five- year olds born after September 2, the chance at early educational experiences. (Patton & Wang, 2012). As I furthered my search to the topic for this week on Excellence and equity of care, The Harvard Family Research Project newsletter for January 2006 has various articles about family involvement within the community to build trust and commitment amongst each other, HFRP’s complimentary learning concept, which includes parental involvement in supporting children in the achievement gap, and a program spotlight on the parent services project by getting families together to set goals. (FINE Newsletter, January 2006). The FINE newsletter has tremendous articles that have deepened my understanding about equity and excellence in the early childhood field because, I read about the importance of family involvement, the family’s voice when it comes to setting goals or understanding what their children are learning in school. I also learned about transitioning into kindergarten, and Pre-K initiatives, and I learned about how different states use funding and reach out to families. Lastly, I learned about how the Harvard Family Research Project gains firsthand knowledge by recruiting advocates, and professionals, and parents in the field to hear their stories of success and expertise in the field, which all display equity and excellence in the field. References The Harvard Family Research Project. (January, 2006). FINE Newsletter. Retrieved from. (http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/fine-family-involvement-network-of-educators/fine-newsletter-archive/january-fine-newsletter-resources-on-leadership-and-advocacy). Christine Patton, & Justina Wang, (September 2012). “Ready for Success: Creating Collaborative and Thoughtful Transitions into Kindergarten” FINE Newsletter, Vol 4, Issue, 3. Issue Topic” Facilitiating Continuous Family Involvement. Retrieved from. (http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/ready-for-success-creating-collaborative-and-thoughtful-transitions-into-kindergarten). Parker, N. (September, 2012). “We were a Hard-to- Reach Family” FINE Newsletter, Vol 4, Issue, 3.Issue Topic: Facilitating Continuous Family Involvement. Retrieved from. (http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/we-were-a-hard-to-reach-family).

Getting to Know my Professional Contacts-Part 2

The global children’s initiative is designed in collaboration with The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University to join institutions and “across disciplines, drawing together the best and most creative expertise to achieve the initiatives goals”(http://developingchild.harvard.edu) focuses on three main issues: educating professionals about issues related to learning, behavior, and health in the early years of a child’s life, to raise global understanding of how to foster healthy development, and to build leadership by joining voices globally about efforts to raise healthy children. (http://developing child.harvard.edu). The Mother Child Education Foundation (ACEV) in Turkey is partnered with the global effort to support families worldwide. These efforts include informing other’s about strategies that prove to be beneficial towards the betterment of children and healthy approaches to their growth and development as well as, creating and implementing new ideas and knowledge from Harvard Scholars to inform center providers “about the needs of young children in various settings” (http://developingchild.harvard.edu). Issues of equity and excellence are indeed a part of the efforts of the global children’s initiative because on an international level, children and families are receiving expert advice, healthy living conditions, and knowledge about learning environments. In educating others and working on a global level, we can support more children and families to ensure that equity and excellence is being implemented for all children. By having multiple heads get together and offer ideas and advice, we can also create new and effective programs that support a child’s healthy development worldwide. References Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2010). Global children's initiative. Retrieved from (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/).

Sharing Web Resources

Based on the FINE Newsletter, I found some information that is particularly relevant to my current professional development in that the role of parental involvement is an important factor in overall student success. The September 2012 issue of FINE Newsletter focuses on “Facilitating Continuous Family Involvement” (www.hfrp.org). With regards to politicians, economists, etc, the issue discusses how professionals within the field and community members can help parents become involved in school. I truly believe that parental collaboration with professionals and within the community can help relationships and overall student success. If a child feels welcomed and has parental support, they can build trust and confidence. Also, I feel that when everyone is on the same page when homework is assigned or lessons are implemented, it is easier to be involved and have awareness of the child’s strengths and likes and dislikes. Lastly, by having parental involvement, they can be a part of their child’s development and overall growth. “…families understand not only why their continued involvement is important, but also how they can remain effectively engaged as their children grow and develop” (www.hfrp.org). By reading further into the article, I noticed that communities involve themselves in creating transitional programs to help parents and children get ready for Kindergarten. “…such programs not only inform families about the kindergarten experience, but also act as a bridge to facilitate parents’ ongoing commitment to and involvement in their children’s growth and development” (Rosenberg, H. 2012). I feel that programs such as these are beneficial, but can raise controversy because of the funding. Without funding, there can’t be programs such as Transitional Kindergarten. I believe that new ways of thinking about funding such as with Transitional Kindergarten, can really benefit all children in the Early Years, but the controversy can be with funding for the programs. The newsletter brought up the issue about community leaders putting forth effort to fund the Transitional Kindergarten program, which clearly shows their upmost concern for a child’s early years in development. “…The brief includes recommendations for how other states and local programs can help facilitate family engagement during this pivotal time” (Patton, & Wang 2012). The community does work together to create the programs for families, and they provide vital resources for family involvement. Some insights that I gained from the FINE Newsletter are that there are dedicated professionals within the local, community, State, and Political level who are working towards the betterment of children and their families. With an economy that has poor funding for Special Programs for children, there are current programs such as Transitional Kindergarten and Head Start that are indeed working and prove to be positive influences in a child’s overall development. Also, programs such as these help bring society and families closer together through family involvement. References FINE Newsletter: The Family Involvement Network of Educators: Harvard Family Research Project: Harvard Graduate School of Education September 20, 2012. Volume 4, Issue 3. Retrieved September 29, 2012. from. (http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/fine- family-involvement-network-of-educators/fine-newsletter-archive/september-fine- newsletter-facilitating-continuous-family-engagement). Christine Patton, & Justina Wang (2012). Ready for Success: Creating Collaborative and Thoughtful Transitions into Kindergarten.(FINE) Newsletter Vol 4. Issue 3 Retrieved September 29, 2012 from. (http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/ready-for-success- creating-collaborative-and-thoughtful-transitions-into-kindergarten). Rosenberg, H. (2012). Creating Conditions for Effective and Ongoing Family Engagement. (FINE) Newsletter Vol 4. Issue 3. Retrieved September 29, 2012 from. (http://www.hfrp.org/publications-resources/browse-our-publications/creating- conditions-for-effective-and-ongoing-family-engagement).

Getting to Know My Professional Contacts-Part 1

Upon visiting various organizations’ websites, I established some contact as to a few email responses. The responses led me to no personal reference that I can utilize to speak with someone on a weekly basis. NAEYC, gave me a link to a newsletter which is now submitting me emails about their current efforts in the field. The newsletter is called FINE. They can be located by going to (www.hfrp.org). And their mission is to help families be a part of their children’s life, and throughout their children’s adult years. They strive to bring families together. They also work on other projects such as Early Childhood Education, Complementary Learning, Out-of-School Time, Evaluation and other research areas. UNICEF sent me an email stating that they do not hire staff to work with student projects, but they did offer a lot of information to research on their website. They post many newsletters, and have various groups of volunteers and people who visit different countries to help those in need. I resorted to the alternative to the assignment because I have not established contact with an official. I visited the World Forum Foundation and listened to a podcast from World Forum Radio. The link can be found by going to: (http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio/). I listened to all 5 of the 10 podcasts in the current work section and found two people who have definitely made a difference. Delfena Mitchell is a Director of a children’s home in Belize City. She works with children under age five to aid them from abuse, neglect, and orphaned. Her example of a little boy she saved is special because the little boy came to her not talking for over a year, and after treatment, he talked again. Another touching podcast was from Meridas Eka Yora. He works as a founder of three boarding schools in Indonesia. His efforts resulted from the massive Earthquake that hit the Indian Ocean in 2004. He has no children of his own, but he and his wife love the children who come to them. He treats the children as his own. He also works with children who were orphaned due to the disaster. In the Earthquake and Tsunami, over 500,000 Indonesian’s were killed. From all of this research, I found that it is so amazing that there are so many dedicated professionals all over the world that put up their time, effort, and love for children to help them overcome abuse, poverty, natural disasters, and diseases. I gained tremendous knowledge in that although, there are World Organizations that work day in and day out to help children through rescue efforts, volunteering, and through donation efforts, we can’t always save all of the children. Lastly I learned that all it takes is one professional who has a voice for a cause, and positive things can happen. By taking these few individual Organizations and the people from the podcasts examples, we can put our dreams into play, and make a difference as well. References The Harvard Family Research Project. (www.hfrp.org). UNICEF. (www.unicef.org). World Forum Foundation. Retrieved from. (http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio/).

Sharing Web resources

The link I chose to learn more about is UNICEF, but although they responded to my email and said they don’t hire a staff just to help out with school projects, they do have a lot of information pertaining to a cause, which is helping parents, families, babies, and children worldwide. I decided to change my views on such a large organization, and move toward a United States organization. I chose ZERO To THREE. They work for a cause as well. They support children, teachers, families, and other professionals in the Early Childhood Field. The link to the ZERO TO THREE website and their mission statement can be found by going to: (http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/). From here one can sign up to become a member, receive newsletters, and view a database of previous newsletters, find lesson plans, and read about current trends and policies within the field. I found one book review from a newsletter from The Harvard Family Research Project titled: “Inviting families into the classroom: Learning from a life in Teaching” By Strieb, L. Y. (2010). This newsletter reflected the topics we are studying at this time. Family involvement is an important part of teaching culture, getting families to have a voice in the classroom, and offering support by collaborating with teachers. “Such involvement both helps parents to understand the teacher’s role and teaching strategies, and offers a chance for parents to share their talents, skills, and cultures with the class” (Streib, L. Y. 2010). The newsletter offers various tips on how Streib used different strategies to involve parents in the classroom. Also, she gives great conclusions as to the benefits of involving parents in the classroom environment. I truly believe that having resources to help acquire new information pertaining to my field of study, helps one to keep updated and informed in the field. Lastly, by finding another source that works with young children, we can gain new techniques and find out useful tips and other ways to help families professionally. References Strieb, L. Y. (2010) Inviting Families into the Classroom: Learning from a Life in Teaching. New York: Teachers College Press. ZERO TO THREE (www.zerotothree.org/about-us).

EDUC 6162-1_ISSUES AND TRENDS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD

Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field Part 1: “Establishing Professional Contacts” I checked out the The Global Alliance of NAEYC, along with UNICEF. Both of these organizations work on a global level to help children and families in need. Upon visiting The Global Alliance of NAEYC, I found their mission to include not only helping children around the world, but they offer supplies and materials, and collaborate, and share information on a global level. I clicked on the World Forum Foundation and learned that they work with others to “exchange ideas on the delivery of quality services for young children in diverse settings” (http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp). When I went to the contact us link. I found an address which is in the United States; they are located in Redmond, WA. I also found some phone numbers, which I can try to call and speak to someone about keeping up on new efforts. Lastly, I found an email linked to the World Forum Foundation. I sent an email and I hope to hear a response. I also had the opportunity to join the site and become a member, so we’ll see what kind of member benefits are in store for my new knowledge database for the betterment of young children across the globe. I haven’t heard anything yet from the contacts, so I may have to result to working on the alternative to Part 1, for the purpose of this assignment. References The Global Alliance of NAEYC (http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance). The World Forum Foundation (http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp). For UNICEF, I found that they too, work hard to help families and children on a global level. I looked at info by country and found that they serve over 70 countries around the globe. I also was able to perform a search and found over 200 newsletters about different topics about children and their health and safety. I had the wonderful opportunity to subscribe to their e- newsletter as well. I feel that through UNICEF, I will find many topics to learn about, and be able to keep updated about current events around the world. Lastly, I sent a contact us e-mail, and hope to hear a response. One helpful tip about UNICEF, is that they help children on many accounts, they help treat Malaria, they offer nutrition, they help with immunizations, water sanitation, and many other efforts. References (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html). Part 2: “Expanding Resources” The Early Childhood organization I chose to study is ZERO TO THREE: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (http://www.zerotothree.org). They are a US based organization that “ is a national nonprofit organization that informs, trains and supports professionals, policymakers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers” (http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/). ZERO TO THREE has various projects targeted to help military families, parents, and early screening for school readiness. ZERO TO THREE also has a professional journal with many articles one can read about how children’s and families’ lives have changed and benefitted. Lastly, there are also handouts and brochures parents and teachers can view and print out for references and tips. I had the wonderful opportunity to register with ZERO TO THREE as well. Hopefully, they give me some valuable input. References Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/ (May have to use http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ ) (Newsletters: http://zttcfn.pub30.convio.net/child-development/from-baby-to-big-kid/ and http://capwiz.com/zerotothree/mlm/signup/ )

My Connections to Play

“

Play provides the ultimate curriculum for social, physical, and cognitive advancement

”

(Wardle, F. n.d.).

“

Play allows children to create and explore a world they can master, conquering their fears while practicing adult roles, sometimes in conjunction with other children or adult caregivers

”

(.Ginsberg, K. 2007). When we engage in play, we are letting loose, and using our deepest imagination to manipulate our world. Here are a few images that I used to utilize on a family outing to the Beach:

These images represent the items I had many opportunities to utilize when we traveled to the Beach. I could spend hours and hours with just these three items. However, the water, sand, sand creatures, people, and bird life created even more endless opportunities to take advantage of. All I needed to enjoy my time at the Beach was my imagination and the natural environment around me. The cool breeze offered new and unique smells, while the water created beautiful waves, and an abundance of water to use to make sand castles, and swim in. The Beach was my playground as a child, and today as an adult. I now have the opportunity to take my children there and watch them do what I did when I played at the beach. My grandfather opened up many opportunities for me and my brother to engage in play. We took many trips to the park, beach, we traveled to Mexico, Texas, and Lakes, and Rivers. We had opportunities to play outside in the front and back yard as well. We had so much freedom as children. I remember taking my bicycle and riding around the neighborhood with my brother. We even used to travel for miles and explore different tree species, plants, and meet neighborhood children. We had no rules when we played, except basic life skills such as no fighting, stealing, staying out late, and especially not talking to strangers. These were not play based rules; they were just instilled upon us since birth. My grandfather gave us insights as to different names of plants, we planted our own garden, and we ate fruit and vegetables out of trees and gardens. He taught us how to enjoy ourselves outdoors by allowing us the time to explore and use our imagination. As I reminisce my past, I notice that I do not see play like I used to when I was a child. I barely even see children outside. Once in a while, I see children chasing each other in a neighbor’s yard, or a neighbor child playing a hand held gaming system. I feel that parents don’t have time to allow them to go outdoors, and the issue of safety due to a corrupt society. In my city, there have been ten shootings in one month. I understand the fear for children to be allowed outside. In my childhood, I had many life lessons as I had the opportunity to play outdoors. I had my share of bumps and bruises, which gave me the experience of trying to be careful not to fall, or how to take care of scrapes and cuts, I learned how to ride a bike, I can climb trees, I can grow a garden, I can cook, I know my weather patterns, I know smells of dirt, mud, sand, asphalt, rocks, worms, bugs, and various other animals and insects. Our young may not get the opportunity to enjoy the same freedom as we did, but I do hope that there are ways for them to learn and experience nature, science, discovery, and the ability to use their imagination as I did. The role of play is essential to learning life skills, the use of a creative mind, and opportunities to engage in a peace of mind and wonder. The role of play has created fulfillment in my life because of the many experiences that have taught me the things that I know today. Without it, I often wonder if I would have learned the skills that I know now. I know my Grandfather has contributed to these skills as well. But it was his allowance that let us venture out and explore that gave me the many benefits of motor development, physical, emotional, cognitive, and social experiences.

References Ginsberg, K. (2007). The importance of play in promoting healthy development and maintaining strong parent-child bonds. Pediatrics, 119(1), 182-191. Retrieved from (http://www.aap.org/pressroom/playfinal.pdf). Wardle, F. (n.d.). Play as curriculum. Retrieved August 1, 2010, from (http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=12 7).

Relationship Reflection

Relationship Reflection: Relationships are the whole reason why children become socialized and develop healthy interactions with people and peers. Good relationships are essential to supporting a child’s social development. A child who has developed a good relationship with his or her family, and others in society such as, teacher’s, doctors, and peers, can learn how to maintain friendships and gain a tremendous amount of information the world has to offer. Educators have long known that family involvement is vital to children’s success in school” (Souto-Manning, M. 2010). Children who have healthy support groups usually do better and school, or drop-out less. My personal web of relationships/ partnerships include: my boyfriend William, my 2 daughters (Christy and Sophia), my brother Richard, my Doctor and his Assistants, my Teachers, my Colleagues, my Church Pastor, my Friends, and my children’s Grandparents. Although the list can go on and on, I have developed a large network of trusted and dedicated professionals that I have learned from, gained knowledge from, and most of all…these professionals have made me what I am today. They have helped me in time of need, and offered their knowledge as a tool for me to utilize in my own life. It is from the wide range of important relationships that I have encountered and developed in my life that teaches me to be a good influence to everyone I meet. Here is a few of the supports in my life:

The first picture is one of my boyfriend of ten years, and our two daughters. These relationships are important to me because they are of my immediate family. Between the love me and my boyfriend share, we created two little girls whom I have developed a strong bond with. The bond I have with my girls is one of love, trust, devotion, dedication, and many other positive aspects of humanity. The love and partnership that I share with my boyfriend is similar, except that we are a relationship that we developed from friends. We did not create each other. But we certainly created a love for each other and our daughters. From that, it is our responsibility as parents to make sure that we teach our children right from wrong, important things that we know, give them love, and lead them into the right direction by helping them when they need it and offering our advice. In doing so, I can rest assured that my daughters can develop a sense of empathy towards others, and be confident in their decisions to make the right one’s without inflicting harm on others. The second picture is one of me and my baby girl. She is my youngest child. The relationship I have offered her is love, protection, care, guidance, and communication. I respond to her needs and teach her about her world around her. She is the whole reason I have a drive to make her world a better place. Moreover, my baby’s smiles, and her responses to my interactions shows me that she has love to offer me in return of my contribution of being a mother to her. Some insights that I have gained regarding challenges to developing and maintaining relationships are one’s in which we lose the loss of a loved one, or we find a dedicated teacher who touches our life, and then we move on to another grade in school and lose contact with that special teacher. Another challenge that parents face is the workforce has got them gone for long periods of time, and the relationships that they want to build with their children are torn between work and responsibilities of running the home. “In today’s fast-paced society, teachers and families face competing demands for their time, energy, and resources (Anderson & Sabatelli 2007). The workforce can sometimes make it difficult for parents to be involved in their child’s class, or to spend time reading to them, which can be discouraging for parents to try to spend quality time with their child. “For adults who work fulltime, it may be impossible to volunteer in their children’s classrooms” (Souto-Manning,M. 2010). Special characteristics that make these relationships partnerships are the ability to communicate, offer time, and offer healthy interactions. Also, by responding to a child’s needs, shows that we have formed a relationship of care and empathy. By working in collaboration with families, we can learn about their culture, their childrearing techniques, and their diverse contributions to society. Moreover, this strategy of forming healthy relationships with parents can better serve the children because they can form a trust for the teacher and feel comfortable with them. Lastly, by developing positive partnerships/relationships, we can better serve our duties as professionals in the early childhood field because children can come to a safe, guiding, nurturing, and fun environment to learn and play. Also, parents can feel comfortable in bringing their children to a safe environment and offer their wisdom and expertise. Lastly, the partnership of teacher and parent forms, which makes the duty of a teacher a whole lot easier. If everyone is happy, the children benefit. Because the teacher can focus on creating an environment that supports child development. References Anderson, S., & R. Sabatelli. (2007). Family interaction: A multigenerational perspective. 4th ed. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Souto-Manning, M. (2010). Family involvement: Challenges to consider, strengths to build on. Young Children, 65(2), 82-88 Retreived from. (http://search.proquest.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pqcentral/docview/197637257/fulltextPDF?accountid=14872).

When I think of Child Development

More Quotes about children: "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents." — Emilie Buchwald "Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Now is the time his bones are formed, his mind developed. To him we cannot say tomorrow, his name is today." — Gabriela Mistral "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go." — Dr. Seuss, "I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!" Retrieved from. (http://www.readingrockets.org/books/fun/quotable/). These quotes about reading and children are inspirational to me because they are true about the benefit of books and reading. I value books in my house, I love to read, and I love to offer new and exciting books to my children. Books offer new information, as well as a journey, or escape to a world of imagination, which makes us unique. Lastly, books are a way to offer children a new way to obtain information other than their relatives, or through the internet. I would also love to give a shout of thanks to all of the important people in my life at the moment. My colleagues and Instructors are important for helping me through my journey to advance in my field of study. I value all of your remarks, criticisms, and words of wisdom. You indeed help me go another day with true passion to teach and love young children. I hope that you continue your positive path towards making an impact in our world, and to value the job that you do because it does help others. You helped me. Thanks again and take care. References Reading Rockets: Teaching kids to read and helping those who struggle. Retrieved from . (http://www.readingrockets.org/books/fun/quotable/).

Testing for Intelligence?

• Considering a commitment to viewing young children holistically (i.e., a commitment to "the whole child"), what, if anything, do you believe should be measured or assessed? Explain your reasoning. I do believe that children should have testing to measure if they are developing or progressing as expected via their age. Also, I believe that some tests can let teachers and parents have ideas as to where a child needs improvements or is advancing. I also, believe that as teachers and parents learn about how children learn, they are also developing strong bonds and relationships with the children. • In what ways are school-age children assessed in other parts of the world? (Choose a country or region of the world for which you have a personal affinity.) School-aged children are tested in West Germany, the Netherlands, and England just as it is in the US. Standardized Tests are used for special needs assessment and educational guidance and there is some trend toward increased use of graded objective tests. Germany uses testing to measure intelligence, while standardized tests are rarely used because “it was generally found that teachers do not use standardized tests of their own accord, mostly because tests are not tailor-made for what the teachers have been teaching” (Neville, P. T. November, 1986). • What additional ideas, comments, suggestions, examples, and/or concerns related to assessing young children would you like to share with your colleagues? I feel that testing children to see if they are progressing in school is a great way to see if they are ready to move on to higher learning. Also, by watching them in their natural environment, with their peers, and during play, we can really see how a child is developing and grows. The issue of testing can be a way to measure competency, and to measure skills of the whole child, but testing can also discourage children, especially the kind of test that measures intelligence. I feel that observation is the best way to learn from a child. References Neville, T. Postlethwaite. (November 1986). “The use of Standardized Tests in Secondary Schools in four European Coutries. National Center of Educational research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. (38 pp.). retrieved from.( http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED304455.pdf ).

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

Poverty affects children on a global level, not just children of the United States. As a young child, I was raised by my single grandpa. He by no means could afford to pay for me and my three siblings. He had to rely on his Social Security Income, and his retirement just to pay the rent. I remember him also having to spend all day in the local Welfare office to apply for food stamps for us. Although, we were at the low-income level, we still had food in the fridge and clean clothes. There are many things that I remember when I was a young child- like not having the cool or hip clothes that my friends had, or more than three pairs of shoes, but I had family, happiness, and parental guidance. One of the ways that I dealt with our hardship was to make friends at school and not to let my financial hardships embarrass me. I remember my friends telling me that they loved to come to my house because my grandpa made the best beans and rice ever. They never judged me for my clothes or shoes, my friends came over and we played, and some even spend the night. Japan is one of the biggest financial powerhouses in the world, but they still suffer from poverty. Not only parents suffer from economic burden, but children are the ones who suffer the most. According to Masanori Matsumura, “a primary school teacher for 30 years, a growing number of children in Japan today cannot even afford classroom supplies "such as paints or craft materials." He adds, "The expanding poverty is hitting the most vulnerable victims – children." (Murakami, M. 2010). Parents are having to work more than one job just to make ends meet, which leads to parents not having time to spend with their children. “Children grow frustrated – even turn violent in some cases – when their parents are not around to take care of them because of the resulting neglect by parents” (Murakami, M. 2010). There are other consequences to being poverty level as well. Parents cannot provide for school lunches or pay for health insurance, which leads to poor health. “The local media, for instance, reported that 33,000 children across the nation did not have health insurance” (Murakami, M. 2010). To overcome the issues of poverty, Japan is relying on tourists to spend money at their shops, food, and vacation resorts. “Another policy guarantees free senior high school education for everyone, with the government pledging to pay 120,000 to 240,000 yen (1,287 to 2,574 dollars) for each student, depending on the schools’ and parents’ incomes” (Murakami, M. 2010). Although poverty strikes everyone, there are certain measures that can be done to help allocate for spending, but if children are important enough, society will do everything in their power to ensure a safe and healthy future for the children. References Mutsuko, Murakami. (January 8, 2010). Japan’s rude awakening: Poverty hurts. Retrieved from. (http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=49915).

child Development and Public Health

Today I am going to talk about Breastfeeding and why I feel that it is an important topic relating to public health and healthy child development. Breastfeeding is the best form of nutrition for a child’s first year of life. Breast milk contains all of the important nutrients and antibodies that an infant’s body needs for proper growth and brain development. Breast milk is also convenient because there are no bottles to carry around and it is always warm and ready to eat. Breast milk offers a mother and her baby a time to bond because of the closeness and interacting involved in breastfeeding. “Babies who are exclusively breast-fed are less likely to get sick, because breast milk provides them with antibodies against any disease to which the mother is immune” (Berger, 2009, p. 154). As a currently breastfeeding mother, I feel that I am offering my baby Sophia with the most nutritious meals that I can offer her. I have always wanted to breastfeed. I have had difficulty with breastfeeding my first daughter due to hospitalization and her death in 1996, my second daughter was an emergency cesarean and she wanted nothing to do with the breast. As I have successfully been breastfeeding for 8 months now, I have learned a great deal about the benefits as well as, the dedication to my child. Breastfeeding requires a lot of time and patience because there is no given time to complete a task when you have a hungry baby. But the closeness and bond that comes out of breastfeeding is the greatest gift one can be blessed with. I would never trade it for the world. In other countries, where majority of the population is at risk for HIV, breastfeeding may not be the best for the baby. “Other researchers find that bottle-feeding may sometimes be better, such as when the mother is HIV-positive or uses toxic or addictive drugs” (Berger, 2009). In Africa, where mothers may have HIV it is sometimes encouraged because the risk of contracting the disease is “less than their risk of dying from infections, diarrhea, or malnutrition as a result of occasional bottle feeding (Cohen, 2007). Information such as breastfeeding can impact my future work because breastfed babies tend to be sick less often and their immune systems are stronger. Also, it is important to learn about the benefits of breastfeeding to help parents to create better bonds with their infants and to offer their babies all of the nutrition that they need. I feel that having information about breastfeeding is important to share with others so they can raise their children via breastfeeding to reduce infant mortality, obesity, heart disease, and various other killers in children. References Cohen, Jon. (2007, March 9). Hope on new AIDS drugs, but breast-feeding strategy back-fires. Science, 317, 1315-1317. Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Childbirth here and elsewhere

My first birthing experience was a rather traumatic one. I was 17 years old and was having contractions at 35 weeks pregnant. The doctors told me that it was false labor because I was 5 weeks early. They sent me home after telling me that I was one cm dilated and once the shot they gave me to stop the contractions started to work. Later that evening I was sitting down to eat dinner that I prepared for me and my husband at the time and a sudden pain started again. This time it lasted for a day and a half. I timed my contractions and went to the hospital once they were 5 minutes apart. The doctors hooked me up to the monitors and measured my contractions. After one hour of monitoring I went from 2 cm dilated to 8 cm. it was now time to have my very first baby. I was in a hospital in California, which included a private birthing room. I was placed on a birthing bed, and my feet were strapped to stirrups. The nurses gave me an episiotomy and I did not have any medications or pain relief due to the fact that I was already in the later stages of labor. It was 11 pm and they called the Doctor on call to come and deliver my baby. The doctor performed the incision so I wouldn’t tear while performing natural childbirth. After about thirty minutes of pushing Anna Marie came out. At first the doctors were not sure if her feet or he head was coming out first. That alarmed me. Anna was born with her skin peeled off from head to toe. She was bald and had no fingernails and eyelashes. She was rushed to the ICU and treated as a burn victim. She only weighed 5lbs. 8 oz. and she was determined to have a rare skin disorder. She was then transported the next day to Children’s Hospital LA, where they placed her in Neonatal ICU solitary unit. She then passed away three and a half weeks later due to an infection that lead to her heart. Anna Marie’s skin biopsies were stored for future testing in case any other children would be born with the rare skin disorder. Anna’s case was a rare and unique one because further findings were that there was no disease known to man that was exactly like my Anna. I laid her to rest in the family cemetery and have had two more children since. My two little girls now are my blessing from Anna, for I have always wanted to have a daughter of my own to love and hold. The reason I chose to discuss my story about Anna is because I experienced a healthy pregnancy, I ate the right and nutritious foods, I exercised lightly, and I had prenatal care. Anna gave medicine a sample to study and learn from. Anna gave us a little bit of her life to see the world outside the womb, and to greet her mommy and daddy. I feel that her little bit of life gave me strength and knowledge about Child Development in regards to skin diseases and incidents that we have little knowledge of. Feel the world can learn from her and in hopes that no other child will have the same outcome. I performed some research about birthing in Korea. It seems that they have most of the same technology that the US has in birthing. They perform cesareans like the US does. Korea has one unique method of birthing such as a birthing pool. It is only used for non placental deliveries. I feel this is a comfortable way to relieve contractions while getting ready to birth. Korea also performs episiotomies and they have private rooms for the baby to room in but only through private consultations with the Doctor prior to the birth. (http://www.korea4expats.com). I have noticed a few differences with Korean tradition of birthing than with Western procedures. In Korea the husband or father is not present in the birthing room, “Korean births are not always in a private room” (http://www.korea4expats.com). I feel that the birthing experiences in Korea are similar to the US, but the father not being present leads me to believe that the father to child bond is not as strong as in the US or in hospitals that allow fathers to be present. References Korea 4 Expats. com “Having a baby in Korea-Giving Birth” (2011). Retrieved from (http://www.korea4expats.com/article-giving-birth-in-korea.html).

Examining Codes of Ethics

Three ideals contained in the NAEYC codes of ethics that are especially meaningful to me are 1-1.1 —To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training. I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child. I-1.8—To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities. Retrieved from 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). In ideal 1-1.1, I think it is meaningful to possess knowledge of Child Development so we can be passionate about children. Also, it is equally important to be knowledgeable throughout our lives of working in the field to experience new trends and policies in Child development. An experienced and educated child care provider is better than one that makes only educated guesses about the needs and safety of children. In ideal 1-1.3, I feel empowered to be able to experience a wide range of unique qualities that children possess. Each child is different in their abilities and capabilities to perform tasks. I think it is a special privilege to be able to combine children together to learn from one another and to share their unique characteristics with me. Ideal 1-1.8, is meaningful because regardless of their abilities, children can play with children who have limited or no disabilities. I have seen it for myself. And the amazing feats that technology put forth for children with disabilities is amazing. There are walking devices, special chairs, and devices to help children grab and hold things. Inclusive environments help children advance and learn about diversity, and that is a special trait to experience and understand. Three ideals in the DEC codes of ethics that are meaningful to me are numbers 2 and 6 of the Professional and Interpersonal principals. 2. We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all our professional activities in order to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families and of those with whom we work. 6. We shall build relationships with individual children and families while individualizing the curricula and learning environments to facilitate young children’s development and learning. And number 1 of the Enhancement of children’s and families’ quality of lives principals. 1. We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and others with whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture. Retrieved from. The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from (http://www.dec-sped.org/). Ideal 2 is extra meaningful to me because one should possess honesty and develop special relationships with all children and their families. These relationships will develop into strong ones, and the children will benefit in the long run because parents and teachers will have open communication with them. Also, a parent will have trust and show empathy towards teachers whom they trust and confide in. This positive relationship makes learning about the child easier. Ideal 6 relates to ideal 1, but it requires one to establish their learning environment to meet the needs of families and children. A center becomes an encouraging place to grow and develop when the children can play and work together in small and large groups. Also, a center is beneficial if all children are advancing and no one child is left out. Lastly, ideal 1 of the enhancement of children’s’ and families’ quality of lives is meaningful to me because when a teacher shows outmost concern for a child’s development and their colleagues, we can make sure that the policies and curriculum that is implemented works with everyone’s interests and concerns. By showing respect and interest in other’s religious preferences, customs, and traditions, we can learn about diversity, and try different foods too. Respecting language is also important because communication is the most important way to reach children and their families. I feel that educating ourselves in recognizing different languages can really make a lasting mark on Child Development because we can learn about a child’s full potential. A quote that is meaningful to me states: “Above all, we learned that policy leaders need to be skilled at bridging the worlds of early care and education and public policy as they embark on a long-term journey toward improving the lives of young children and their families” (Rigby, E., & Neuman, M. 2005, January). This quote gives light as to the journey we embark as educators and the roles we must assume in order to do our job in the best way possible. But it also helps guide one to be a constant learner about the field and to learn in every way possible about Child Development in order to help children to succeed and grow.

New Inspirations

Thought flows in terms of stories -- stories about events, stories about people, and stories about intentions and achievements. The best teachers are the best storytellers. We learn in the form of stories.

"

-- Frank Smith

"

Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of becoming.

"

-- Goethe Just a few more inspirational quotes to keep the passion flowing for the Early Childhood Professional.

Course Resources

Video Program: Laureate Education, Inc. (2012). “The Resources for Early Childhood” Position Statements and Influential Practices NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://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 Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53. Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf Websites: World Forum Foundation http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage World Organization for Early Childhood Education http://www.omep-usnc.org/ Read about OMEP’s mission. Association for Childhood Education International http://acei.org/about/ 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/ Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library 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 Some other websites that I found useful for Teaching and creating lesson plans are: http://www.readwritethink.org/ http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/ect/ Caplan, Frank & Teresa. (1983). The Early childhood Years:The 2 to 6 Year Old. The Princeton Center for Infancy and Early Childhood. Bantam Books, NY.

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Two inspiring people that have a voice in the Early Childhood field, and who have definitely made a mark on children’s educational opportunities is Lyndon B. Johnson and Marian Wright Edelman. Some famous words from these icons are as follows:

Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity

. Lyndon B. Johnson

I am concerned about the whole man. I am concerned about what the people, using their government as an instrument and a tool, can do toward building the whole man, which will mean a better society and a better world

. Lyndon B. Johnson Retrieved from (www.brainyquote.com). Lyndon B. Johnson was the founder of Head Start which was a program for children ages 3-5 that included health and dental care, mental health care, and an education to prepare them for Kindergarten. Lyndon B. Johnson formed head start in 1965, and over 560,000 across the United States were served. (www.ilheadstart.org). Marian Wright Edelman is an African American inspiration to America because she was the first woman to pass the Bar Exam in Law School. She also fought for the ending of segregation and worked hard to create the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), which serves disadvantaged Americans. She fights for abused, neglected, and poverty stricken families and children. Some of her famous works include many papers, books, speeches, and literature in which she has won many awards and honorary degrees. Some famous words from Marian Wright Edelman include:

Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it

. Marian Wright Edelman

Far less wealthy industrialized countries have committed to end child poverty, while the United States is sliding backwards. We can do better. We must demand that our leaders do better

. Marian Wright Edelman Retrieved from (www.brainyquote.com). Both of these figures have motivation, passion and wisdom in the fight for children’s rights to a better education and living condition. However, a few other important people who maintained jobs in the Early Childhood field have some words of wisdom as well: Loiuse Derman-Sparks is a Professor from Pacific Oaks College in California. She has been teaching for over 30 years. Her passion is to

create a safer, more just world for all kids

(Laureate Education, Inc. 2012). She still feels it is her lifelong passion and motivation. Sandy Escobido, is a deputy Field Director who works with Los Angeles Advocacy Initiate which is a part of the California Community Foundation. Her job is to work with parents to help them advocate for their children and learn how to have a voice in their community. Her words about her motivation are as follows:

…when I go to these parent meetings and actually see parents learning how to speak to policymakers, learning how to write letters, learning how to tell their story and share their voice, that’s what keeps me motivated, regardless of all the challenges going on

(Laureate Education, Inc. 2012). References Brainyquote.com ilheadstart.org Laureate Education, Inc. (2012). “The passion for Early Childhood”

PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB

My Grandfather (PAPO)

PAPO was my Grandfather. He raised me and my three siblings. I came from a family of six children, and as soon as my grandpa laid eyes on each of us, he just had to hold us and love us. He raised us until he passed away in July 2008. He taught me the values of family,how to run the household, and to go to school and get a higher degree. My grandfather taught me many skills that I use in life today. He taught me the Art of Southern Style cooking, how to set my mind to something and accomplish it, and he taught me that no matter how much pain we go through in life, we have to keep going. My grandfather was a WAR Veteran. He fought in World War 2, and received many medals for his heroism. He was a single grandparent who raised four of his Grandchildren all by himself. He loved to cook, and I loved to watch. He believed in God and used to ask God to help him have enough life to see his grandchildren grow up and become adults. Funny thing: He passed away when my youngest sibling turned 19. I believe in god because of him and I witnessed for myself gods true power. I want to dedicate this space to my grandpa to let him know that he is my inspiration and my drive to succeed in my life. Another important figure in my life was my High School Teacher Mr. Scott Alan Weakley: Mr. Weakley took me into his class when I was a run away and a High School drop out. He took the time and patience to teach me that finishing school was very important. Although I got married in High School, and I lost my first child due to a rare skin disorder, he was there for me and allowed me to show my true colors. I had the opportunity to be a Teacher's Aid in his class on multiple accounts because I was the top in the class. Where ever he is on this earth today, I really wish I could find him to let him know how much of an inspiration he has been in my life to accomplish not only high school, but 2 higher degrees. A favorite memory I have with my Grandfather and MR. Weakley is my High School Graduation. They were both there. Mr. Weakley being a military captain saluted my grandpa and he saluted him too. Then they embraced each other in a hug. It made me smile as they showed their respect to each other and to my accomplishments. It was a special day in my life that can never be forgotten.

Passion, Motivation, and Wisdom

This is an etching of a Butterfly that my 2 year old daughter drew. She is turning 4 in four days. How amazing it is to see the talent and visualization process a young child possess. Watching a child at play gives me a powerful feeling of love and motivation to want to pursue a Teaching Position in the Field of Early Childhood education because I have the drive to share my experiences with children and help them achieve their dreams. “It is a happy talent to know how to play” -Ralph Waldo Emerson, philosopher, poet, essayist. References Scribd.com (2012). Retrieved from. (http://www.scribd.com/doc/22929/play-quotes).

New Program of Study

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2012 New Program of Study For the purposes of my new program of study, I am creating a new blog post. I have current new knowledge about the field of Early Childhood Education that I can use for my future career. Since my last blogs, I have discovered that my passion to teach children grows more and more unique every day. I love to see children smile and hear their interactions. I also love when they trust in us to be there for them and we guide them safely and effectively. you will continue to see more postings about my knowledge and experiences. So keep following.