Farewell for Now...

I have hopes that we can learn to work together, accept one another, and view diversity as a welcoming experience to help us become better educators, community members, and family advocates. I hope that we can accept the challenges that some of us face on a daily basis and that we can be a voice for those who need us to stand up and speak for those who cannot.

My goal is to continue a welcoming environment to my preschool children/families and that my actions and behavior will allow children to see that we are all part of the world. They can lead by example. I will continue to find ways to do this by attending workshops, conferences, and visiting other early childhood programs so that I may have a better outcome for my children and families.

Thank you to each and every one of you for sharing your stories and experiences. What I have learned from you has been somehow instilled in my program and my views of how we can make a difference. I hope to see some of you in our last classes at Walden!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Creating Art

I am a child...

I am not a race
I am a face.

I am not a color.
I am like no other.

I am not a possession
I am an obsession.

I am not a country
I am the free.

Look at me
and you will see
All that life
is meant to be.

I am not perfect
but sit beside me for awhile
and then you will know
That I am a child.



This one I wrote for Sandy Hook, Connecticut and all the families

 

I am a child

I said to my mother.

Take good care of my

Sister and Brother.

 

I am a child

I said to my dad.

Please don’t forget me

You are the best I ever had.

 

I am a child

I said to my teacher.

I want to learn

And to be a good leader.

 

I am a child

I said to the man.

As he stood in my classroom

With a gun in his hand.

 

I am a child

I said to the angels ‘round the Heavenly Throne.

As they opened their arms

To welcome me home.                                      

Rest in Peace Sweet Angels. Gone but NEVER forgotten....

"We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

My co-teacher shared a story with me that she experienced in another classroom.One of the parents had brought their child into the preschool room one day when one of the Spanish-speaking families came in at the same time. The Spanish-speaking family was talking in Spanish and the other child and mom were standing there listening. This child turned around and looked at his mom and said,  "See Mom? He talks too fast and I can't understand anything he says." This mom turned bright red and told her child, "Sshh, he speaks a different language than we do."

The message communicated to this child was that something was wrong with the Spanish-speaking child because he did not speak the same language and the other child felt he could not talk to him because he could not speak English. It was also communicated that it was not really ok that this child spoke another language. It was more like the parent was embarrassed that the child realized it.

As an anti-bias educator, a helpful comment could have been, "He is so lucky to speak two languages isn't he? Maybe he can teach us some words in Spanish?"

If you have ever used or heard homophobic terms such as "fag," "gay," "homo," "sissy," "tom boy," or "lesbo" as an insult by a child toward another child? Or, by an adult toward a child? Describe what occurred. How might these types of comments influence all children? (Note: if you have not had a personal experience, ask a family member, friend, or colleague)

I heard the boys at recess playing and making comments like "That's so gay." I was not sure I heard them correctly the first time because I was shocked.  When they said it the second time I asked them why they thought the game was gay. They just kept saying it was stupid. Next I asked them why they used the word gay? They really could not tell me anything specific. I think they had overheard it used with their older siblings.

Any other related situations, thoughts, concerns, questions, and/or areas of discomfort you would like to share related to children, gender, and sexual orientation

I have 2 dollhouses and a Disney Princess Castle in my classroom and my boys play with these things all the time. I also see the boys playing with the dolls and dressing up in skirts in the dramatic play area. I do not have a concern but I have seen parents freak out when they see their child, especially a boy, playing with these toys. I feel that boys should have the opportunity to play with these toys without being judged. I tell parents that they are learning to be nurturing and are exploring, especially since some of the boys do not have a sister. The girls in the class will be the prince and the boys will be the princess. I do not feel it is my place to step in and stop that kind of playing because they are using their imaginations and their role playing skills.

Since I work in a Catholic school, the issue of homophobia is a closed subject. It is difficult to address this issue because of the beliefs in the Catholic faith. I think that people have a right to their preference but I really don't think I will face this anytime soon. I could be wrong but it's a subject that is not addressed or discussed.

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). (Executive Producer). Learning from another's life story:Families and children. {Webcast}. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Thanks and Goodbye

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to thank you all for sharing your experiences through each of your professional and personal lives. I have learned many things from you and have enjoyed being in this class. This class has taught me so much about communication, collaboration, and listening. All these have helped me to stop, think, and listen before I say something or do something.

Much luck and success to each and every one of you as your journey through Walden continues!

Best wishes,
Lori

Week 6 - Adjourning

 Are high-performing groups hardest to leave?

I would have to say yes because all the components to make that group experience worthwhile was present.



Groups with the clearest established norms?

Again I would say yes if you are the type of person who needs those norms established. I think for most of us, myself included, that organization and clear expectations help all of us know what is exactly expected of us.


Which of the groups that you participated in was hardest to leave? Why? What sorts of closing rituals have you experienced or wish you had experienced?

I think the hardest group for me to leave was the group of people I went to college with the second time. I was a non-traditional student (40!) and became sort of the "mother hen" to many of the students who were much younger than me! I walked through the arches on the campus when I first started and I walked through them on graduation day which put a closure on my college experience.

 How do you imagine that you will adjourn from the group of colleagues you have formed while working on your master's degree in this program? Why is adjourning an essential stage of teamwork?

I will definitely tell everyone thank you and best wishes as they journey into their professions. It helps to put closure on people that we have worked with. It also gives you a sense of pride in the work a group has accomplished!

Conflict Week 5

What an interesting time for this question to be posted in our Blog. I have to say that after last week, I have had to really hold my tongue and keep my mouth shut. I am not sure how to explain it without it coming out in a poor loser scenario. My daughter was a Homecoming queen candidate last week and no, she was not the winner. The girl who did win was someone that no one was expecting to win because of her attitude and her daily drama. She said some extremely mean things to my daughter (my daughter pulled her ham string in dance, this girl was jumping up and down, clapping, and saying, "Good, she is hurt. Now she can't try out for basketball cheerleading) and I felt that someone who said things like that should not be rewarded. Well, needless to say, I have had to do much soul-searching in this area and know that I cannot change the outcome nor is it important anymore.

I have unfortunately used the "escapist strategy" for this incident because I do not want a conflict with this girl's mother. Events that took place after the crowning just left me with little desire to congratulate her because I knew it would not be a geninune moment.

So, in light of this, my daughter teaches me the "challenging strategy" for her acceptance of losing and forgiving. My daughter said, " I would rather lose honestly than win dishonestly" and has been given several opportunities to continue to be a class leader. If my daughter can move on, forgive this girl for the comments she made after my daughter's injury, then I have to do the same.

I think we both have learned many lessons from last week and what and who really matters. I will continue to use these strategies as well as cooperative strategies to work through conflicts in my life that need solutions and closure.

Communication Week 4

I was surprised at how my husband perceives my communication. He thinks I am not afraid to do anything when it comes to speaking in public or doing activities in front of people. He wishes he could more like me but is not comfortable doing those things. He gives me a boost of self-confidence that I need some days I need very badly.

I also know that I am too trusting and I need to work on this area. I am a good listener and try to do the right things but in the end I usually get the short end of the stick. I need to set some boundaries for myself and hopefully this will help me to become a more effective listener and communicator. I am definitely a people person but need to work on the trust factor.

My co-worker and my husband rated me about the same. All three of my scores were about the same with the exception of my husband's communication anxiety score.

I hope to find someone who is a good example in all these areas so that I can improve my skills as well.

Communication Week 3

I do find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. I think the one thing I do is talk to them like I would with any other person who speaks English.  I use more hand gestures and facial expressions at times as well. I make eye contact and greet them every morning and afternoon in the classroom.

I am blessed to have a bi-lingual aide in my room this year and she is able to translate information for me in case there is a question or problem. It has been wonderful and she has taught me simple words and phrases to use with the children as well.

This week, the Platinum Rule, being aware of verbal and non-verbal communications, and translation of information were three strategies that I found extremely useful.

 

References:

Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J., & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Non-Verbal Communications

I watched an old show that my daughter likes to watch called “Sister Sister” with Tamara and Tia Mowry.  The season I watched was the girls were seniors and getting ready to graduate. I never did watch it when it was on.  The reruns are on the Style channel because the girls have another new show now called “Tia and Tamara.”

What do you think the characters' relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?

The show comprises of the twins living at home with their parents. They are well- cared for and have a comfortable lifestyle that is reflected in their home.  A tall African-American woman had a big part of this show; she was signing autographs on basketballs and shoes. The girls seemed like they had an excellent relationship with one another and their friends.

What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

Their facial expressions ranged from happy, nervous, worried, disappointed, mad, and confused. Arms crossed and pouting were also part of the episode.

What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?

I thought that Tia was being recruited to play basketball or that this girl was a family friend and was going to help Tia get on a team.  As it turned out, Tia was up for a job interview for the WNBA and was thinking of foregoing college to work instead. Lisa Leslie of the WNBA was the basketball player in the show.

Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

I think it depends on the show. Even though this show was a series for several years, it was easy to see that the girls had a great relationship with their parents and with each other. It was different watching it with no sound at first. I wonder if a show with more complications would have been a better one to view.

Competent Communicator

I have a good friend who used to teach kindergarten and when she retired, I was so sad to see her leave the profession. She taught for 33 years and was on the same page as I am about early childhood. I observed her in her classroom many times and was always amazed at how she spoke to her students with a quiet and calming effect. Parents were always so excited when they found out she was going to be their child's teacher.

I really enjoy getting together with her and we are famous for having 3-4 hour power lunches. We just seem to be able to talk about anything and everything. She helps me to expand my thinking when it comes to the classroom, communication, and the foundations of the early childhood.

I take our conversations and turn them into positive effects in the classroom with newsletters, lesson plans, and a warm nurturing environment. I feel truly blessed to call her my friend.

Professional Hopes and Goals

I have appreciated this class so much as it has taught me to listen, learn, and discover who I really am.

My hope is that I really take the time to learn about my children and families this year in the preschool program. I am going to make an effort to make sure that my communication with my families is applicable for all.

My goal for early childhood is that all children will be welcomed and accepted with their peers and that we can create learning opportunties for acceptance and that they have a place in our program and society.

I have enjoyed sharing thoughts with each and every one of you and have learned so much about how we all continue to take pride in our profession. Each one of you has made lasting contributions to our online classroom. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you all in the next class!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

My family is coming from Norway and there are several things I would like to do to prepare myself for their welcome. I chose this country because my great-grandparents were from Norway.

1. I would learn the spoken language and try to learn a greeting and/or key phrases in this language when being introduced to them.

2. I would find out about the family itself; parents, children, other members who might have a significant impact on the family. I would try to find out how parents and children are viewed in the family.

3.   I would try to find out if there are any common experiences that have been shared by the family and myself.

4. I would find out if possible why they are relocating to this area and their professions/jobs. I would find out if there are unusual circumstances.

5. I would find the specific foods that the family likes to eat and see if there is someone available in the community who could make the food.

It's important to know how families come to an area and how they can find the help they need to get situated. Making sure that resources are available in their language and they know where to find them is a big assistance.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

When I was in seventh grade, my “best” friend decided that she no longer wanted to be friends with me because I was not part of the cool crowd. She wanted to be more popular so she wrote me a “Dear John” letter telling me that we were no longer friends. She gave it to me at school and I remember crying while reading this letter and feeling so rejected. The cool crowd was a very mean group of girls who teased me all the time about my clothes, my hair, and my glasses, basically anything. I tried so hard to ignore them through middle school. I almost dropped out of school in eighth grade because it was so bad. As I got older, I always remembered that feeling and never wanted to hurt anyone that way. When I got to high school and we moved to a different school district, I had lots of friends in all grades. I had a group of wonderful friends in my class who were not judgmental and accepted me for who I was.

As an adult, I think I am a person who people can reach out and talk to. I have passed this on to my daughter especially because these situations do not seem to be going away. I suppose in a way, my experience was about being bullied. I did not talk to anyone about it so it so I should have stepped up and said something. I was not one who liked confrontation so I just tried to hide and not do anything to draw attention to myself.  Those middle school years were very painful and I have very few memories that are happy.  I remember how those words and actions hurt me and decided I had to move on and not let it become an excuse.

Microaggression Awareness

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I would have to say the microaggression I experienced this week was my own at the doctor’s office. I went to see my doctor because of some pain I have been experiencing in my foot and big toe.  I had some x-rays taken and some blood drawn and the conclusion came back as I have gout. Having no clue what gout was, my doctor explained that it was due to uric acid that builds up in the blood and begins to affect the joints of areas such as the big toe, knee, or ankle. I then asked him what causes it and he said it was due to lack of exercise, weight gain, and diet in which he asked me if I was interested in losing weight. I was not offended by his suggestion, because I said I was interested. I am very sedimentary and have not exercised properly in 9 years.  Someone else may have taken this suggestion the wrong way and it could have been as a microaggression suggesting that I am overweight which I am. I need to start eating healthy and exercising because I will be 50 in October and too many people in my area have died from massive heart attacks.

This week and this class continue to make me stop and think before I speak about someone. My husband had a microaggression moment last night in regards to the tragedy in Aurora, Colorado. He has expressed some very strong opinions about the person who committed the shootings. I am sure all of us at some point yesterday had those same feelings. I think I continue to make myself more aware of how I speak about someone because of my daughter. She is 17 and will be a senior this fall. I don’t want my lack of discretion and couth influencing her opinion because of something I said. There have been several times when she has had to remind me to watch what and how I talk about people, especially people she goes to school with. She does a great job and I am amazed at how she handles herself.

Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

The first person that I interviewed was a male in his late forties. He is a credit systems manager.  He and I went to high school together. His definition of culture and diversity was “the lifestyle and family values that have been instilled and passed down from generation to generation. Even though my lifestyle is different from the one I grew up with, I am still who I am and my family accepts me as I am.” He is gay and his family has never wavered at his revelation.

The second person that I interviewed was a female in her middle fifties. She retired from teaching 3 years ago and has been doing a wide variety of activities since. She defined culture and diversity as “culture is how you were raised. The people around you, your home, your beliefs, your mannerisms are all a part of your culture. We are all raised differently; some of us are raised in similar settings; some completely different. Diversity is what makes us unique, different, and special. Diversity helps us to learn and grow from others.”

The third person that I interviewed was a female in her mid-twenties. She teaches high school science classes and is about to move to a new school district. She sees culture as “my family and my family’s beliefs and values. We are distinctive and exceptional because of our past generations. Diversity is the encompassing of others and their lifestyles and meshing together as life carries on.”

With all three people, family and how they were raised seems to be a defining factor. All three, regardless of age, are all family – oriented. I feel I am close to my immediate family but feel rather disconnected from the others since we are all so far away. This all seems to be fitting into our readings and assignments.

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

The three things I would take would be:

1.       Family photo album

2.       My son’s favorite stuffed animal from his baby days

3.       My daughter’s favorite stuffed animal from kindergarten.

The family photo album contains photos from my grandma to my children and this would bring me comfort having the pictures to remember member s of my family and the memories. It would be a reminder of what our family structure was and could continue to be.  The reasoning for the stuffed animals that belonged to my children is the emotional attachment they represent. When I see these animals to this day, it reminds me of when they were small and how fast the time has gone. Both of them tell me that if there is a tornado or severe storm, I am supposed to grab those animals and save them!

If I had to give up any of these three items, it would be devastating. I would hang up on to the photo album because there are several pictures of the kids with their animals so we would have those to look at. I would try so hard to explain why those animals mean so much to me and to my children and how they represent their childhood and memories to me.

I know this situation happens. It happened a few weeks ago in the Colorado wild fires. It happens to people every day that are coming or leaving this country. I cannot imagine the agony that people feel when faced with this situation. It makes me understand how families feel when they arrive with nothing and are starting all over again. I saw this in a family a few years ago who came to our school. A simple doll represented so much to this little girl because she had no other toys while everyone else would bring Disney Princess dolls or other kinds of dolls that were expensive. She was so proud of that doll and the fact she had a toy to share.

When I Think of Research..........

Research has been an area that gives me a feeling of utter confusion.  This class was no different at the beginning because in the past when I have read research articles and tried to interpret what was studied and the terminology, I admit, I was lost! This class has helped me to understand research and the designs by filling out our charts each week and having the opportunity to reflect on the assigned chapters.

I feel I have a better understanding of the types of research designs and the pros and cons of each one. I also learned that it was important to keep your data and information organized and confidential.

I think the most challenging part of this class was our own research simulation. Finding a research question and narrowing it down to a specific topic was a test each week. It was not easy to do but with the readings each week and the explanations in our book, it was more understandable.

 There are many topics and areas of early childhood education that could be researched and studied. I have learned how to carefully read research articles and to check if the research is valid, biased, or if equity is questionable.

I have enjoyed getting to know everyone through our discussions and blog posts. Good luck and hope to see some of you again in the next class!

Research Around the World

I chose to research Early Childhood Australia. This website provided several links to various areas that deal specifically with early childhood issues, concerns, and information.
I clicked on Early Childhood News archives and read about the budget implications for young children and families in Australia. The government is investing $55.7 million dollars into a program called HIPPY (Home Interaction Program for Parent and Youngsters). This program is much like Head Start in the United States as it focuses on children and families to help them become active in their child's life and gaining the assistance they need to do this by providing activities and materials. Another $225 million dollars is being given to families who are out of work and need assistance with child care.

I also checked out several other links that included Australasian Journal of Early Childhood, Every Child magazine, Every day Learning series, and and Research in Practice. Some of the links you need to subscribe to but some provided articles about current topics in Australia. I found an interesting article about play-based learning at this link http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/every_child_magazine/every_child_index/why_play-based_learning.html.

This website could be compared to the NAEYC link as there are many of the same links. I found that Australia is on a mission to take care of all of its children as well.


Reference
Early Childhood Australia. Retrieved June 2, 2012 from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/.

Research that Benefits Families

I chose an article to share the positive aspects of Home Visitors. Currently at the school that I work at we do not do home visits. The school I worked at before did do home visits and I feel that we this is a good idea to start. I appreciated a look at each child's unique home situation and the visits gave me a better perspective of the child's life. I also think some parents felt more comfortable when we came to visit.

The article I read, "Home Visits: How Do They Affect Teachers' Beliefts about Teaching and Diversity?" was written by Miranda Linn and Alan B. Bates and it reflected on the impact of 6 Head Start educators and the two home visits they participated in. The first visit took place about 6 weeks into the school year and the second visit at the end of the semester. Participants had to journal about their visits and what they learned from the visit. The visits helped educators to bring diversity into the classroom and what traits their students have picked up from their parents or other family members. It also helped educators understand their students' background and to get a perspective of the makeup of families in our society.

I did choose this article because of my own personal experience with home visits and how I believe they are important part of an early childhood educator's classroom. I also know that we have much diversity in our school and it would help us to understand what some families are made up of and what is going on. At the end of the article there was a series of questions to ask at a home visit and I thought these were very thought-provoking and would provide excellent background information.


Reference:
Linn,M., Bates, A.B.(2010). "Home Visits: How Do They Affect Teachers' Beliefts about Teaching and Diversity?" Early Childhood Educ J (2010) 38:179-185 DOI 10.1007/s10643-010-0393-1

Play in Preschool

I chose the topic of play and how it relates to child development, what types of play best support child development, and is teacher-directed play more effective than children’s free play. I am a huge proponent of play time in preschool. I taught in a three year old classroom last year and had a 45 minute free play time frame. This fall I will be teaching in the four year old classroom and I plan to do the same exact time frame. I observed my children develop fine and large motor skills, social skills, and cognitive skills during this time and then apply these skills to small and large group activities.  

Through our course so far I have learned to pay close attention to a variety of objectives while researching articles. The URL seems to be one of the most important components of researching as well as authors, dates, and legitimate resources/agencies/ etc...

If anyone has any research articles supporting play, I would really appreciate your thoughts and links. I would also like to know your own personal thoughts on play time, your time frame of play, and if you are able to still keep it in your daily routine.

Final Blog Revisited

I wish I would have been able to connect with someone on an international level. My thought is that I just need to try another avenue and keep pursuing this. The websites that have been posted, visited, and researched have provided us with very supportive information for our profession. It has also shown us that early childhood education is a universal component that has many similarities in our country and around the world. We have seen the faces of children who are in dire situations and brings a real message to everyone who needs a reminder that they are our future. We need to be a pro-active association and continue to advocate for programs, families, and children so that they have every opportunity to grow and be successful in their lives.

I hope everyone continues on the journey you have found. I hope your passion has been re-ignited from this class and that you are the voice for those who can't or are not able to speak. Let's give hope to the children so that they can see and feel it too.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

I was really surprised at all the partnerships of organizations around the world that were listed within this organization. I was happy to see that there are countries trying so hard to help children who are at a disadvantage when the country itself is struggling. "The 1990 Jomtien Declaration for Education for All stated that learning begins at birth. A decade later, the 2000 Dakar Framework for Action reaffirmed the importance of early childhood by including the development of early childhood care and education as the first of its six main goals" are two statements that it seems as though we, as a global community, are on the same page when it comes to making choices for our children.

Another insight I found was under the "Quality" link. Learning involves the culturally and appropriate materials and child-centered activities but it is easier to push the formal learning practices, thinking this will better prepare children when in fact, it is not.

Lastly it seems funding for early childhood programs in other parts of the world are struggling just as much as the United States. The money is seen to be spent more appropriately in the formal school settings and what funding is left could be given to programs for the youngest learners, depending on what other issues need attention.

Reference:
UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/)

Sharing Web Resources

I chose the website National Association of Early Childhood Educators.

Follow some of the outside links that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead?

There are Links to Related Organizations that has 18 organizations listed. There are web sites from Australia and Canda as well.

Thoroughly search one area of the site. What do you find?

I chose to explore the Australia Early Childhood Association. This website and organization remind me of our own National Association for the Education of Young Children. You can research everything from magazines to books to newsletters relating to every issue young children face.

If you receive an e-newsletter, follow a link related to one of the issues you have been studying.

What new information is available?
This organization has really been pushing to get early childhood educators into the forefront of why educating young children is so important and that quality is a necessity in this area.

Does the website or the e-newsletter contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education?

I think this website is mainly focused on the educators themselves and how to become a better teacher. There are resources and conferences that allow teachers to learn more about the importance of educating young children. There are grants and scholarships available as well.

What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or the e-newsletter?

I found it interesting to see which states are very active in this organization and what they are doing to  better their teachers and the children. I think that personally you have to be motivated to get involved in this organization and find others in your state. I don't think that every state is sharing information about its progress. I hoped to find more but many have not been updated for over a year.

Reference:
National Association of Early Childhood Educators. http://www.naecte.org/

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

I have yet to establish an international contact so I reviewed the link at the Center on the Developing Child and the Global Children's Initiative.
This program has committed to the health and development of children, research and demonstration projects, and building leadership in the role of child development research and in addition they are also focusing on early childhood development, child mental health, children in crisis and conflict situations.
Several of the articles discussed how toxic stress can and will affect early childhood adversites. Doctors are now more aware of situations that are harmful to children and are in the position to help those who are dealing with these. Stress can be harmful to young children and if children are constantly exposed to toxic stress, it is likely "that the development of brain architecture and other organ systems, and increase the risk for stress-related disease and cognitive impairment, well into the adult years".
Knowing how stress effects children needs to be addressed immediately and that their development is vital. Their health will take on all kinds of negativity and their coping skills will be absent. Social situations and adults modeling the positive reinforcement is a great opportunity for children to understand how to deal with stress.

Reference:
 Center on the Developing Child. "The Lifelong Effects of Early Childhood Adversity and Toxic Stress". Retrieved on April 1, 2012 at http://developingchild.harvard.edu/topics/science_of_early_childhood/toxic_stress_response/

Sharing Web Resources

What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?

           I checked out the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators and read through the E-letters and regional reports. The regional reports were from different states and what legislatures in these states and advocates for early childhood education are doing. It seems as though the main concern for early childhood education is to not let it become lax in licensing and accredidation. Licensing and teacher quality are important and needs to be kept in the forefront.

Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?

I did not find anything controversial on the website. I felt that this website makes you think about how important our jobs are as early childhood educators or anyone involved with children to be strong advocates in this field. There are many conferences held throughout the  United States and the organization is linked with others to help decide the best practice for children and what is needed for quality preschool and early childhood programs. This organization is definitely about making sure we have the appropriate teachers in place and are of good quality.

What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

In the Regional reports of the newsletters, governors and other members of the state's political parties are very much a part of the organization and are interested in how early childhood and the educators are important. There is also a toolkit on the website that explains how to get in touch with those people so that you are able to voice concerns.

What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

I really liked the toolkit because of the information it contained. I printed it off for my own files and hope to locate someone from the Iowa affiliation of this organization to find out more about it here in my state.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

I have yet to establish contact with someone outside of our country so I am choosing the alternative assignment for this week.

My first insight was how kindergarten in the country of Kyrgyzstan has declined from 30% to 6%. Many of the children here have to work as laborers on farms or are street vendors. There also seems to be a rise in child prositution and trafficking. What a sad situation for these children and the country as more and more families are forced further into poverty.

The second insight is in regards to the country of Mongolia and how migration impacts families. Families are moving into the urban areas and this move can either be a benefit or a hinderance. The result of migration of a family who does not benefit from moving can be devastating. One would think that moving to a more populated area would bring better job opportunities and resources but it may not be the case for all families.

The third insight was looking at the pictures of children and families in the different areas. I put myself in their position and wonder if I would be able to survive in the conditions they live in. Looking at those children smiling and looking much like any early childhood classroom is absolutely astounding. I look around my classroom and see the toys that my students have to play with and they have barely anything and they are still smiling. What a difference our children have compared to those in areas of poverty who do not know the difference.

I hope that the faces of those children can somehow be a reminder to us that if we, as a world, do not look for ways to help, we could be facing similiar situations everywhere. I think that time is coming faster than we think.

Reference
http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php.

Sharing Web Resources

I chose the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators for my resource because I had never heard of this organization. This resource has a wonderful array of journals, e-letters, conferences, and research articles. The organization is worldwide and addresses issues that affect educators from all over and brings the issues into the forefront.

The newsletter is issued every quarter and contains information regarding upcoming conferences and regional news. This resource is more focused on the education portion of early childhood so that educators know how and where to further their education and how to voice their concerns and opinions in regards to early childhood education.

The issue that caught my eye was the doing away with or watering down the early childhood license or certification standards in each state. I think this is a concern in regards to educating our youngest learners and making sure that educators and programs are top quality.

I am continuing to try and find out about the affiliate in my state which is Iowa. I would like to know more about the organization here and some of the concerns facing the state.

Links:

http://www.naecte.org/
http://www.naecte.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=29 )

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Like many of my colleagues in the class, I was excited about trying to establish contact from early childhood professionals from around the world. The first website I tried, The Global Alliance of NAEYC, provided several email addresses and I tried contacting the German National Committee for Early Childhood Education emails. I tried both and have yet to hear anything back so I hope to hear something this week. I also tried contacting the South Africa National Early Childhood Development Alliance with no response yet but I don't want to give up yet.  I guess if I have to do the alternative portion of the assignment I will but I really want to wait and see if I hear something from these two countries.

I chose National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators for part 2 of our blog assignment. I am familiar with just about all of the websites listed so I decided to try this one. I read the current newsletter and am very excited to establish a contact within my state to see how I could possibly become more involved at the state level.

I think we all need to keep trying to establish contacts and but do the alternative part if necessary. I hope that all of us are able to talk to someone from another part of the world and share it with each other.
Good luck to everyone!

Daily Supports

I am blessed with several factors:

My husband- Without him I don't know where I would be. He is the gift that I can never imagine living without. He is always there with a listening ear, a shoulder for support, and wonderful insights that keep me going in my career.

My Faith - My faith has sustained me through the darkest moments in my life when my first husband died in a car accident and my daughter was seriously injured. I never knew what kind of strength I had until that moment and my faith was tested beyond words.

My friends - I have a wonderful system of friends whom I laugh and cry with. I talk to my friends every day and love to get together with them.

My Mom- She has been my support for many years through my single parenthood and staying at the hospital with my daughter while I planned my husband's funeral. Now she is in a nursing home and I treasure every day she is here.

My School - I have been blessed to go back to work at a school system where staff is treated as family. Our small school is an extended family and we are very close-knit. We all sit together at basketball games!

Without them, my life would be empty.

My challenge- An illness that would be life threatening. Every one of my supports would be there through every aspect of this challenge. My husband would be the rock and would do everything to help. My friends and school family would do those little jobs that come with fighting for your life on a daily basis such as cleaning house, rides to the doctor, sitting by your side, wiping your tears, holding your hand, or making meals  for my family. This challenge would fall completely on me if I did not have my supports. I guess anyone would really know what they are made of if they are all alone. You would have to reach deep down in your soul to find the strength to go and fight. You would have to have a positive mindset and take one day at a time.

I am truly blessed. I do not take each day for granted. My supports are there for me and I am there for them.

My Connections to Play

I have very fond memories of playing as a young child. I lived in the upstairs of a very old house with my mom and there was an elderly lady who lived downstairs. I had my own play room and every Saturday morning, I would clean out my toy box. After I had cleaned it out, I would sit in for awhile and play with my toys before putting everything back in.  I played by myself, with my mom, my grandparents, my babysitter, and a little boy who lived next to us. 

Quotes About Children and Play:

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning…They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.” ~ Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood)’

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” Kay Redfield Jamison (professor of psychiatry)

This is one of my favorite toys! I remember when my mom bought the box of Crayola Crayons with 64 crayons and a built-in sharpener! I drew pictures until the crayons were just stubs! I loved crayons with points  and looking at all the colors in the box.

Here is my other favorite toy! I have no idea how many miles I put on my tricycle but I have the scars on my legs to prove that this toy was the best! I took it to my babysitter's every day and rode it up and down the sidewalk and then would try to go as fast as I could around the corner and into the driveway without falling off. Ha, I think I feel in the bushes more than I did making it around the corner! 

   My third favorite toy was the sandbox/dirt pile. I played in those two places and Alice, my babysitter gave me all kinds of shovels, bowls, containers, watering cans, whatever I needed to build with and get extremely dirty with! 

I feel that everyone around me as a young child supported me in play and allowed me to do so many hands-on activities with them. It seemed I was never in the house during the day but outside playing. I think everyone really engaged my imagination and that allowed me to pretend and create.

I think play today is similar with outside toys and activities at least. There are still tricycles, sand boxes, and other large motor developmental activities that children still play on and with. But play is different too because children now have video games, computer, hand-held games, television, cell phones, and a whole slew of electronic gadgets that do not encourage them to do anything but sit. 

I felt like I played a lot longer with toys and other outdoor activities because my imagination was so well developed. I played with dolls and Barbies until I was in 6th grade. I played outside whether it was in the snow or going swimming at the pool. I enjoyed play time because I had to find things to do and had no trouble doing it. I now find myself playing with the children in my preschool and trying to be a good role model to them by allowing them to use toys and other open-ended items that will hopefully encourage their imaginations. I think adults need to find a way to play to perhaps get rid of the stress that seems to take over our lives. I think working in a preschool keeps me young at heart!

Relationship Reflection

I was blessed to have found two of the most perfect relationships in the world between my first husband Gary and my second husband Dave. My first husband Gary was an outgoing, friendly, gentle soul who was my best friend for almost 10 years. He blessed me with our daughter and was a good father to my son and his two children from his first marriage. We had good times and bad times but worked together to get through the tough stuff. He was killed in a car accident in 1999 and I thought my world had come to an end. I was brave enough to try again 2 years later when I went on a blind date with a classmate's uncle. This man is truly my soul mate in so many ways that are different from my first marriage. We have so much in common from growing up and graduating the same year to experiences that most people would not understand unless they too had been through the same thing. He took on me and my two children (ages 15 and 8 at the time), not an easy job by any means but did it and has done it well ever since 2003. My children are now "our children" and he loves them as his own. He will do anything for them. He knows me better than I know myself and I can tell him anything and vice versa. In some ways he is like my first husband but in other ways he is the complete opposite.

I can probably say the same thing for my best friend Barb. She and I got to know each other through teaching and our daughters who are the same age. We always say we are sisters separated at birth because we have shared similar experiences, not always happy, and have come a long way in our lives. She truly is the sister I never had and she and I share a bond that cannot be explained. We did not grow up together or even live in the same area until 1992. I can talk to her about so many things and she can talk to me and those confidants are never shared with anyone else. 

My other friend Sherrie and I met through the workplace and just clicked from the first day.  We have a unique friendship that I treasure dearly. I talk to her every day through text or a phone call. She reminds me of my best friend from high school. We both provide a strong shoulder for one another.

I could probably say the same thing about several friends who I have close relationships with. I am not sure if it is because I do not have siblings but I take my friendships and relationships seriously. These relationships are more with people I have met since moving away from the area where I grew up and graduated from. I am not in contact with classmates from high school at all anymore. I feel that the relationships I have now are extensions of my high school friends but on a different level. One fault I have with friendships/relationships is that sometimes I put too much trust into people who I think are a friend but are not. I have learned to step back and evaluate the situation before revealing too much or investing too much. I like to think I am a very outgoing and friendly person. My husband says I can talk to anyone about anything.

Relationships/friendships take work; they are not born that way and need nurturing. I think this is how I see parents in my program who do not know me. We continue to build and establish that relationship and I hope my parents think it is a relationship worth nurturing. I have enjoyed getting to know my parents this year. I have a very unique group of them and  we have established an excellent rapport. I try very hard to communicate with them through newsletters, phone calls, emails, and face-to-face contact. I know I can improve my skills even more and hope that I can do this throughout the remainder of the school year.