Final blog for Issues and Trends

Three consequences that come to mind learning about the international early childhood field for my professional and personal development are as follows:

·         Having awareness of others in the international ECE field

·         Ways to help financially, physically, and mentally with international ECE professionals

·         Feeling of appreciation of what we have here in the US and how we still have leaps and bounds to ensure that our children have the ability to continue with the best education

A goal that I would want to set for my international awareness of issues and trends would be that we always remember each other.  Lend that helping hand and do not turn the cheek to each other.  Giving each other ideas and willing to listen to others when they are being challenged by the early childhood field. 

Getting to know other International Contacts?

Becoming an effective educator to colleagues, families, and to my children that I serve is a goal that I want to achieve daily.  Am I that person every day?  I try.  I have shared my thoughts, my goals, and even my dreams with my fellow peers and instructors and have trusted each one of them to be honest with me when they were in need of tweaking.  I have had no luck with any communication with a fellow peer in another country in the ECE field.  But have learned so much from the instructor’s thought out readings and my peers.

I have explored the many countries through their websites and I have learned so much through the readings.  As a professional in this field we have our challenges and our overcoming of them.  With that said we are all are in this together and we can achieve the many obstacles that come in front of us.  With the continuous of advocating for what is in the best interests of our children we WILL overcome whatever may be challenging us.

Web Resource

NAEYC

I have worked side by side with the NAEYC organization for numerous years.  They have only improved the quality of life for the program that I look over and the lives of our children.  As we wrote a letter to the leaders in Washington, NAEYC has a link where they have already prepared a letter to our congressional leaders separated into three different parts.  Looking below is how they are listed in order in the letter:

a.       Provide grants to states to accelerate their work, expanding access and improving quality for prekindergarten programs.

b.      Create Early Head Start-child care partnerships to raise the quality of child care and expand access for infants and toddlers in programs meeting Early Head Start standards.

c.       Voluntary support for families that promotes positive parent-child interaction, healthy child development and family self-sufficiency.

NAEYC has taken a stand and we should join in with this project.  Advocating for the improvement of early childhood education programs is the ultimate goal for any persons involved in this field.  I am so thankful for all the hard work that NAEYC and all of their supporters do to advocate for all of us.  I have attached the link that you can go to and attach your name to the letter to our congressional leaders.

http://strongstart.naeyc.org/

No Luck Getting to know International Contacts Yet

My luck has not been the best with the podcast or hearing from my contacts that I have attempted to email.  I chose to explore Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website to gain an insight about early childhood systems around the globe.

I am familiar with the many challenges in our families here in the U.S., but when  I read the article written by Millicent Lawton, “Studying the Effects of Global Adversity, Two Generations at a Time”;  I was frightened to see what others are struggling with.   Keeping children alive is what most countries are struggling to accomplish and I am not ok with that.  Child soldiers in Seirra Leone and children whose parents are dealing with HIV/AIDS in Rwanda are two hardships that are discussed in this article.  Theresa Betancourt is the person running the research on this and she is determined to having research more orientated towards key questions and understanding the problems that these two countries are dealing with and strategically come up with solutions to the problems (Lawton, 2013).  I have to agree with Betancourt; we have not investigated the mental anguish that these children and families are dealing with enough to make immediate decisions on how assist with them.

Belonging to a group of professionals believing that we can make a difference in society with our children makes me proud.  I admire women like Theresa Betancourt who think outside the box and want answers to questions that are not necessarily asked rather swept under the rug.  Supporting and working side by side with professionals is a joy I have and one day want to stand next to the people like the examples listed.

Lawton, M. (2013) “Studying the Effects of Global Adversity” Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/

 

 

Highs and Lows of Resources

As the weeks have flown by, I found it amazing that so many people of all areas of this planet share the same love and concerns about early childhood.  There are so many concerns that are interconnected with children and they all need advocated for throughout the planet.  As an administrator, professional development is always needed.  Looking more into the international organizations was refreshing.  We hear so much about local programs but never that involve overseas.  I think it is important to network with other professionals; what is working for them may work for my program.

My biggest frustration about networking with other professionals is not able to personally contact them.  I have tried numerous times with the email addresses and no luck!  But other than that the websites and newsletters are informative.  The two resources below have been my favorite.  I feel very comfortable using the two for resources and they are easy to use.  They are both very involved with the wellbeing of each child in our programs and continue to promote their program with the community. 

The Global Alliance of NAEYC has e-mail addresses for early childhood professionals worldwide:
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance

 

UNICEF has local organizations and representatives worldwide. Check out the country specific links and contact a local representative:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html

They also work hand in hand with economists, neuroscientists, and politicians to help with funding, getting the word out about early childhood education and pushing for new policies that will assist with the wellbeing of each child.

Poverty in India

I am waiting patiently for a response from the emails I sent out almost three weeks ago from educational professionals in far off lands that are working side by side with children.  But for the mean time I visited the Childhood Poverty research and Policy Center webpage and read some very interesting facts regarding childhood poverty.

As I was reading in to more of how poverty was affecting other countries; India caught my eye.  I did not realize that they were second to China in the lead with the largest population.  With this poverty is high as well.  The following are founding’s in India after initiating research (Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre, 2013)

·         Drought and environmental deterioration have significantly undermined livelihoods and exacerbated poverty in Rajasthan. Responses which may contribute to poverty cycles include pressures on children to work, undermining their education and health.

·         Children from 10-15 per cent of households had migrated for work, usually with parents, but sometimes alone. Income from migrant children's work constituted between 18 and 45 per cent of the poorest households' income.

·         Indebtedness, related to drought-related pressures and social obligations (eg marriages, death feasts) affected over 80 per cent of households, and was a major factor leading to intergenerational poverty cycles.

·         At present national and state development programmes in health, education and livelihoods are not fulfilling their potential to help break poverty cycles. This reflects under-resourcing, the low status of the (mostly) women with responsibility for implementing these programmes, and limited accountability of staff to the people they are intended to serve. As a result core education, health and nutrition programmes are of variable quality and not all available on a reliable basis in the areas studied.

Ending poverty should play a part in everyone’s lives.  Not just an organization.  Poverty does not discriminate, it could be anyone of us living a life that has us thinking is today the day I eat.

http://www.childhoodpoverty.org

 

NAEYC, One of my favorite professional organizations

National Association for the Education of Young Children, (NAEYC), is an organization that supports not only professionals in the early childhood field but the families as well.  As a professional in this field my program and I refer to the NAEYC for best practices and resources that improve the quality of the program.  This organization has a great website that is informative on a variety of subjects that involve children beginning at infancy to eight years old.

 

As a member of this organization, I find it a bonus to participate in professional development workshops, attending conferences with fellow EC professionals, and the continuous improvements of the knowledge, skills, practices, dispositions (NAEYC, 2013).  Right now if you were to visit the website, you would see the excitement of the upcoming NAEYC’s annual conference.   The location of the event is in Washington, D.C. and the dates are November 20-23, 2013.  I am not attending but I encourage anyone that will be in the area to attend this amazing event.  It is a great way to network and to expand your knowledge of early childhood education.

 

http://www.naeyc.org/

 

Professional Contacts

Having professional contacts is very important for anyone, so to have professional contacts that share the same interests in another country is even better.  I have attempted to contact a few professionals from The Global Alliance of NAEYC and UNICEF.  Time will only tell if I will be able to move forward with my contacts, but I am hopeful. 

I chose two organizations that I have used for references before and are familiar with what their organization stands for.  I have attached a few more organizations that are well worth the reading to assist with networking. 

The Global Alliance of NAEYC has e-mail addresses for early childhood professionals worldwide:
http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance

UNICEF has local organizations and representatives worldwide. Check out the country specific links and contact a local representative:
http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html

National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies
http://www.naccrra.org/
(Newsletter: http://capwiz.com/naccrra/mlm/signup/ )

Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Familieshttp://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/ )

National Black Child Development Institute
http://nbcdi.org/
(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ ) 

Ghana
Rev Charles Arko-Nunoo
P.O. Box MK 157
Mankessim
C/R Ghana
Tel: + 233 42 34180
Email: 2kdotcom@ghana.com

 

My Supports

I have many “supporting” people in my life.  I could go down a list of people but I am going to just hit on the most important people in my life.  First there is my husband of eleven years; who puts a smile on my face even in the darkest of days.  He shares the same passion as I do for early childhood education and understands my joy and frustrations that come with my position as an administrator in a very large facility.  My children are who keep me sane and know exactly how to lighten the mood.  There unconditional love is what I live for. 

As for professionally I give my team the supporting award.  I can yell, cuss, shout to the moon and they sit back, laugh and say ok, not let’s get down to business.  I would not ask for a better team than what I have now.  To have a team that supports our program unconditionally and live for the wellbeing of our children that we educate every day for is just a wonderful feeling.  Advocating for our program is very challenging and at times we have to shut the door and let it all out so that when we get in front of the people that decide our fate we can be professional and the tension is out of our behavior.

There are so many more benefits of the support that I receive personally and professionally.  I am a better person because of the support each person gives me.  It would be very difficult for me to be where I am in my life.  I would not love like I love and strive for more without the support I get from the people I have listed. 

I cannot imagine a challenge that I would not be able to overcome.  I have such a great group of supportive people and programs in my life that I would find a way to get through this challenge.  There are always benefits after overcoming a challenge.  Team is stronger and up for a new challenge.  I love the challenges that come with early childhood education.  I love making a positive outcome with the many challenges that come with this field. 

My Connections to Play

 

My Connections to Play

“It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”-Frederick Douglass

“Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Involve me and I understand.”-Chinese proverb

Both of these quotes are very important to me.  I grew up in a family that toys were bought out of guilt.  My father was in the military and showered my siblings and I with gifts as much as he could because he was absent from time to time because of his military obligations.  My mother was a great mother who let my sister and I play with great imagination.  My greatest memory was one that my mother made us a play house using a sheet outside over the clothes line.  We brought out our two rocking chairs and babies pretending to be mommies.  At the time we did not know we were imitating our mother we just wanted to play house. 

Attached below are just a few of the items that I played with daily when I was younger.  I did not go anywhere without my cabbage patch doll.  I find that most of our children are now into electronics.  Just as I was grocery shopping today; a mother was allowing her child to watch a show on her phone.   Do not get me wrong I have done this before as well to keep my child occupied while I shop.  But let’s face it our children are more interested in technology than to actual play.

As a parent I have always had my children involved in a sport or something active in play.  We love to play outside and my kids are into board games at this moment.  These activities are familiar to me as I was a child that was into board games and outside play; for example I loved jumping on the trampoline.  As my dad used to say,”Work hard, play hard!”.

 

 

Relationship Reflection

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are very important to survive in our society.   Keeping your circle small or large is completely up to the person.  I personally keep my circle small.  I have a wonderful family that is supportive and forgiving as any family member should be.  I grew up in a military family.  My father was a hard core Marine that worked long hours and was deployed most of my years as a young child.  He taught my siblings and me obedience and how important it was to work hard and play hard.  My mother was a wonderful homemaker.  She provided so much love and compassion for me and my siblings.  My mother worked very hard with over compensating for filing in while my father was deployed.  Of all the lessons she taught me; being strong and loving life no matter what it throws at you; you can handle it. 

I have this man in my life that I am praying to God every day for bringing to me.  My husband is a great partner that shares the same type of compassion as I do for education.  My daughter who is blossoming into this beautiful young woman is great at making others feel at ease and loved once you meet her for the first time.  My son will make any one feel as if they are on a pedestal at all times.  At times I cannot see where they get their mannerisms from.  I am very blessed to have a very open relationship with my two children.  I only have a few friends that I share personal experiences with just because I am an extremely busy person with work and my family. 

I find it challenging to maintain relationships with others at times.  I forget to call a person back or just follow up with them about their life.  Developing relationships are very easy for me.  Working in this field I find it easy to build upon their experiences.  Working in a military community and having some of the experiences similar to the families I work with daily I find as a blessing. 

 

This is not an updated pic of my family.  My daughter is now ten years old and my little man is eight.  They all share the same beautiful smile and humor. 

Advice that needs to be used for all adults

When I Think of Child Development

Children make you want to start life over.--Muhammad Ali 1942

 

This quote is little but amazing.  Looking at life through the eyes of a child.  Wants you to go back and change some things in the past.

 

Measurements of education

My two little ones have grown so fast in the last few years that I have a hard time saying that I have an eight year old and a ten year old.  Both so ahead of most of their peers for example their size and their ability to socialize with their peers.  This week’s agenda has made me think more about my children and wondering if they are being measured/assessed in the right areas.  As a parent of school age children I have always imagined that my children would be measured in the following areas:

·         Socialization

·         Academically (Mathematics & Reading)

·         Cognitive Thinking

As an educator for the last fifteen years I have seen children not developed in areas of academics because of the environment, events that have taken place in the child’s life or just simply not interested in learning.  My children attend a magnet school where the curriculum is built on IB units.  These IB units are very important for this school and as well as their IB attitudes.  “Who we are, Where we are in place and time” are both examples of IB units that they taught within the curriculum.  Collaboration is encouraged as students make real-world connections using real-world skills and strategies.  We can give children all the education in the world, but to not have positive socialization among their peers will only damage their ability to communicate positively with others.  Academically, children should be assessed on their level of math and reading.  Both are needed to become a successful person in society.   Cognitive thinking plays in with the IB units.  Being able to deal with real life situations and have a successful ending with each situation. 

A country that does not necessarily follow the educational assessments that most countries follows is Japan. Japan is a country that has been in the top five rankings when it comes to mathematical achievements.   For example, most children attend special preparation schools (juku) besides regular classes.  Most schools insist of children writing entrance exams and this leads to competitiveness among their peers.  Japan is a highly education-minded society.

http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2150.html

 

Racism in my child's life

I have really never experienced any of the stressors that the class has listed.  One that I would like to mention though is racism.  I am a Caucasian woman married to an African American male.  I know that nothing I have experienced from racism is even close to what any person of another culture or race has, but I have experienced the ignorance that has come with being married to another race.  The side comments or that my children are half breed.  Those words hurt and at first I would fight back with words, but now I just smile and walk away.  My children are now asking questions why they are not my color or my husband’s color.  They have the prettiest shade of caramel skin.  They have experienced racism; ignorance at their young age.  That scares me, because my children do not deserve that.  They are wonderful and are so innocent.  They deserve to live a fearless life and able to experience life without feeling unworthy because of their race.  It angers me that my children have experienced it with family members that are supposed to not judge.  I shelter my children from everything and I think I overcompensate at times by assuring that they experience a healthy and happy life at every experience. 

I have always wondered what our children of today feel about racism or prejudice.  My children are now learning the correct words to call it and are able to say that someone was prejudice against them because of their belief or race.  We live in the 21^st century and we are still experiencing this.  Why?  I believe that racism is taught at home or by a group of people and it has to stop.  Stopping the hatred so that our children can live their lives happier.

Right in our country we still have some southern states segregating children in schools.  This is a true eye opener for me and it saddens me to see this going on in our country.  I just read about a school district in Mississippi that were stacking classrooms so that the white children were not with the black children. What?  This is crazy to me.  Can you imagine how those children feel?  That because of your race you could possibly get a better education.  How do we stop this? We need to speak up and get involved more with our children.  What are they experiencing in life and how is it making them feel.  I know that what I am experiencing is nothing compared to what others have experienced about racism, but I want be more involved with the ending of racism. 

My Choice...Breastfeeding

I was a breast feeder.  I loved each and every moment of it until I started back to my 40 hour career.  This was hard for the simple fact I was an educator in a classroom and finding time to do this was very difficult.  I had great supervisors and they were willing to assist in my classroom as much as it was needed but let’s face it ladies our classroom was chaotic when we returned.   Feeling guilty because I was getting special recognition for breastfeeding my child and my co-workers did not get that extra fifteen minutes to step out and get a breather.  I breast fed both my children for only six months and felt extremely guilty for the short amount of time.  But with the work load building up and my home life as demanding as they were my milk deplenished.   I remember crying with my husband and him just sitting on the couch thinking I was overly emotional.  Please do not disregard my husband’s crazy thoughts.  I thought I was going crazy myself.   But as an educator for my families I know that both my children got the best of me.  Having to breast fed both of them for six months is really a victory for all of us.

As the medical professionals from all around the world install in all mothers and mothers to be; breast fed babies are healthier, mothers are healthier, the cost is zero, and the wonderful bonding time spent between the mother and the baby is indescribable.  Looking back into my Irish background, it is evident that the mothers in Ireland do not bother to breast feed their infants.  In Ireland it is not discussed at the monthly checkups or expressed through conversations with other mothers.  Hazel Larkin, a doula in Ireland stated that the mothers either give up too early or think it is disruptive.  This is amazing to me.  But I am sure that with the advocacy that Larkin is pushing through her country she will see a difference soon.  I have attached the complete article below and other documentation of the importance of breastfeeding.

As an administrator of a child development center with a capacity of fifty six infants; I take that role very important. That is fifty six mothers that will need the encouragement from teachers in the classroom and as well as myself.  We have an area in each classroom that welcomes each mother in and if she chooses to breastfeed then that area is available to her.  I am an advocate for breastfeeding and I hope everyone joins me with this very important topic. 

http://www.breastfeed.com/nursing-mothers-life/nursing-facts

http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/

http://www.babycenter.com/breastfeeding

 

The birth of my two children

I was what one would say in my community older when I had my two little ones.  I was twenty five when I delivered my baby girl and twenty seven when I delivered my son.  Both births very different from the beginning.  They both were surprises to my husband and I.  But we would not have changed the way they were conceived.  My daughter was one of the easiest pregnancies for me.  She has been a delight since we found out we were pregnant.  She came into this world Aug. 28 at 4:47 pm.  I had an epidural and very proud to of had one.  See she was 10 lbs. 3 oz. 

My son came almost two years later.  Different pregnancy with him; I was rushed into emergency cesarean because of some complications that we were having.  On July 15 at 11:57 pm I had a wonderful baby boy at 9 lbs and 23 1/2 inches long.  What a joy!  I say that with enthusiasm.  See I had three miscarriages before my daughter.  I share with you all not for sympathy but because I knew I was meant to have biological children.  We were comfortable adopting but I just had a feeling.  The joy that both of these two little ones have given me thus far is amazing.  They are who I think of before I go to sleep and who I think about when I wake up.  I have attached pictures of my two at a younger age and a picture that was taken a few weeks ago.

I have read up on some countries that take care of the mother after the birth.  I have found that the Netherlands have a different approach than the United States.  Then the unique Dutch system of kraamhulp (maternity home care) is set into motion. For seven days we had a nurse come to our home, a benefit covered by insurance. Not only did she provide medical care, but she also cleaned our apartment, cooked, and instructed us in basic parenting skills.  This would be amazing especially with the amount of young families that are having children.  I have attached the website if anyone would like to read more.

http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?page=2

My children young and older

I love this quote!

Ideals that support my leadership

Three Ideals from NAEYC that are very important to me:

I-3A.1—To establish and maintain relationships of
respect, trust, confidentiality, collaboration, and
cooperation with co-workers.

I-3A.2—To share resources with co-workers, collaborating
to ensure that the best possible early childhood
care and education program is provided.

I-3A.3—To support co-workers in meeting their professional
needs and in their professional development.

Additional Course Resources that are valuable:

Hagel, J. (2009, November). Pursuing passion. Message posted to http://edgeperspectives.typepad.com/edge_perspectives/2009/11/pursuing-passion.html
 Rosengren, C. (2010, February 4). Does having passion for your work even matter? U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 27, 2010, from http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2010/02/04/does-passion-for-work-even-matter

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Sectors of the early childhood field [Multimedia Program]. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6005/04/mm/Sectors/Main.html

EDUC 6005-2 Course Resource List

Part 1: 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
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
• Websites:
• • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

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

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

It was stated in the media program from Louise Derman-Sparks (Laureate, 2010), “All children and the teachers are impacted with early childhood and need to reclaim and heal”.  I had to think about this comment, but it makes sense.  With the many identity proclamations that the children make; the teachers have to do the same thing.  Thinking back to some of my educators in my program, they are not realizing that they need to change as well with the attitudes and the child’s identity that they have discovered within themselves.  I don’t know if that makes since but I want to get with my director and discuss this with her. 

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). The passion for early childhood [DVD].     Foundations of early childhood studies. Baltimore, MD: Author

Dr. Whitebrook has sparked an interest with me with the wages of early child care providers.  She speaks of how early child care providers make an average $9.32 based on 2008 data.  This is very disheartening.  Our early child care providers provide the same preparation for our little ones preparing them for school and for society.  I have attached the link to listen to Dr. Whitebrook discuss the problems we are dealing with in this field.

http://www.jackstreet.com/jackStreet/WMBKnaeyc.Whitebook.cfm

Personal Childhood Web

The first five people I think of from my childhood are my mother Marsha, father Tim, sister Ammy, brother William and my best pal Ashley.  All five of them were people that influenced me in a variety of ways. 

I am a military brat that grew up in a military town all my life.  As an adult I am still here supporting the military and their families.  My mother is one of the strongest human beings I know.  She was a lone most of the time while my siblings and I grew up.  We grew up together my mother and I.  She was eighteen when she had me.  I can remember her playing outside with us when we were little.  She would make a tent out of sheets on the clothes line for us.  She is a great person and loves me unconditional.  My father was deployed most of my younger years until I was about sixteen and by then I was so independent that my father and I did not see eye to eye most of my teenage years.  He was the typical military man; had to be in control of everyone around him.  Thank goodness I was able to come out of the shadows and see that my father was only trying his best to guide me into adolescent smoothly without making mistakes.  My parents are great people and I don't tell them enough how much I appreciate them.

My sister and I are only two years apart so we disliked each other for a period of our teenage years until we became the best of friends during our early twenties.  We have grown up knowing that family is everything and we should not let each other down no matter what.  My baby brother, well let's just say he graduates high school in a few weeks.  Yes I know what you are thinking; you have a brother graduating.  I was fifteen when we adopted this little guy and man has our lives not been the same since we brought him home.  He taught me to love unconditionally and I want to thank him daily for that.  William is autistic.  We found out when he was about two.  Life has never been the same since then but I am thankful that we brought this child; man now into our lives.

I learned the feeling of betrayal from the person I trusted the most as a teenager.  Her name was Ashley and I loved her like she was my sister.  But she was not family and this was one of my life lessons that my dad tried to teach me.  We were the best of friends since sixth grade and by the time we made it to 11th grade she was going down a different path than I was.  Breaking up with a friend back in high school is just about the worst feeling ever at that age.  So many secrets shared between her and I; and that was all gone with a blink of an eye.  Now as adults in our mid 30's we are friends but I still don't have that friendship that we had.  I do wonder if she ever feels the same way.

I can remember my 1st grade teacher reading this book to us with so much animation in her voice.  It was one of the first books that I bought my child when she was born.

As you can see my son is a jokester! When questioning my son why he drew this picture on his spelling test; he stated that if you look at the picture clearly you will see the grade he gave himself (100 ;))  The one is on the left side in her hair and the eyes are the zeros.  Silly kid!

This is a quote that I love!  My husband says it all the time to our son when they playing what ever sport is going on during that season. 

Quick thinking

My day on the playground....

Today my colleague was out; so I was watching over her nine classrooms along with my fifteen.  I was called out to the preschool classroom where I found a little one that was suffering from sand in his eye. I took a look at his eye and of course it was fine, but the teacher was sort of fueling the incident.  With my quick thinking I thought of what he may relate his "injury" to.  With a wet paper towel in his hand;  I thought of a pirate patch.  What a wonderful idea right?  He thought that was the coolest idea ever.  About 20 minutes later I went back by to check on him and he was so excited to show me how is eye was now.  All better!  Thanks Ms. Crissy for playing pirate with me.  As an administrator/mentor for my teachers, please take a lesson from this.  Think of something fun or interesting that is going to stray away from the dramatic episodes that we experience with our children.   Make every interaction a learning experience but still fun. 

Ok. So this is so new to me.  I am computer savvy but this is a strange feeling to share thoughts, personal feelings, and experiences with total strangers. Pretty sure that just after a few post I will get the hang of all this.  Wish all my colleagues the best of luck and cannot wait to get this journey started.  :) Much love, Crissy