Reflecting on Communication in Early Childhood Field

To my EDU 6165 family:

As I write this blog entry, I am taken back to my first day of this degree and the fears that were built up inside about meeting others online. I can remember the queasy stomach and the doubts that were racing through my mind but I'm glad that I went forward with this challenge because it has yielded so many personal growth opportunities. I have never in my life had so many wonderful experiences meeting and networking with so many individuals near and far from different areas of the early childhood field. Many have served as role models, inspirational mentors and extended family through discussion board post and blog entries.....making this degree all the more meaningful to me. Time does not permit me to thank each of you individually but know that each person that has shown kindness and challenged me to think outside my comfort zone will never be forgotten. I pray that each of you has success with completing your degree and all that life has to offer you, hopefully one day soon our paths will meet again.

Sincerely,

TaShunda Pollard-Chapman

Team Building and Collaboration, Part 1

Adjourning

1. Are high performing groups hardest to leave?

    Yes, high performing groups are definitely hard to leave because of the strong relationships formed and the success or the accomplishments of the group members.

2. Groups with the clearest established norms?

      Groups with the clearest established norms are definitely hard to leave because the expectations and the goals of the group were established early with each member making a commitment to work towards the groups goals.

3. Which of the group that you participated in was the hardest to leave? Why?

      I work for a local Head Start center and each classroom is divided into teams with a teacher and assistant. Last year, my assistant was the best and we were totally in sync with every project that we wanted to do for our classroom. This "group" was hard to leave because she could finish my sentences or thoughts without me opening my mouth. It was wonderful to work with her because we shared the same visions for the classroom and wanted to see each child succeed beyond the classroom.

4. What sorts of closing rituals have you experienced or wish you had experienced?
     
     We found out in May that were both up for transfers to other centers which caused a few tears but we decided that we would meet up monthly for dinners or lunches to keep in touch which I guess you can say was our "closing ritual".
    
5. 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?

    I'm not sure how I will adjourn from my group of colleagues in this program. I would love to keep in touch via email and hope to run into a few members at different conferences in the early childhood field.
     

6. Why is adjourning an essential stage of teamwork?

     Adjourning is essential in teamwork because it allows the team to reflect on their accomplishments and to celebrate with each other. It provide the opportunity for the members to say good and close out their projects successfully.

Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management

A few weeks back, my son had an issue with a History class at his high school and sought help from his teacher. The teacher informed him that she was not able to help him but suggested that he speak with his 10th grade counselor. My son immediately went to speak with his counselor in an effort to get the issue resolved quickly. The counselor was rude and instructed my son that she had other pressing matters that needed handling and slammed the door in his face. My son returned to his teacher frustrated and upset by what had just taken place with his 10th grade counselor.

The next day, the teacher made a special trip to speak with the counselor on behalf of my son. She wanted to see if she could resolve this issue without involving me or my husband. The counselor was extremely harsh with her and stated that the teacher needed to stay in her classroom not the counselor's office. After several attempts to speak with the counselor, my husband received a frantic phone call from the teacher stating that she need to see both of us immediately. We rushed from our jobs with fear of hearing something awful had happened to our child. We entered the room nervously and tried to prepare ourselves for the horrible news. The teacher was extremely upset so we had to calm her before we could learn more about the issue. The main issue was that he was struggling in his advance placed history course and sought help from tutoring but then decided to step down to accelerated history.

I decided to sit down with the counselor to see what needed to be done. I received the same treatment which caused me to become more verbal with her. I told the counselor exactly how I felt about her treatment of my child. The sitaution escalated to the point that I had to walk away without accomplishing anything. My husband later went back to meet with the assistant  principal and the head principal.

The agreement that they reached included:

• The principals needed one more student to complete an accelerated course
• My son wanted to transfer to an accelerated history course but nothing lower than this course
• We wanted to make sure that the transition is smooth and that the counselor would not give our son any trouble with making changes to style

The compromise that they reached benefited both parties because my son is excelling and comfortable in his new course. The principals were able to have the course by allowing my son to transfer into the classroom. The method that they used included the 3 R's where they were respectful, reciprocal and responsive to each other. I believe that if I would have used the 3 R's with the counselor that I might have been able to resolve the situation but I'm grateful to my supportive husband for stepping in at the right time.

I would like to ask my fellow classmates of EDU 165, how would you have handled the situation with the counselor? What approach do you believe would have been more effective and why?

Who Am I As A Communicator?

The tests were my favorite part of the overall assignment because it provided me with the opportunity to see how people would rate me as a communicator and listener that might not have otherwise been shared with me. In this blog, I will share my answers to the questions and what I learned about myself as a communicator with my family and friends.

1. What is the one thing that surprised you the most? Why?

 The results were interesting to me because I never considered myself and effective communicator but just a "people person" that likes to interact with others daily. The only surprising factor is that I learned the areas that I need to work on from the tests and how others felt I communicate with them. The feedback was helpful because I know how to communicate with my co-workers, family and friends.

2. What other insights about communication did you gain this week?

• The main insight that I should get to know a person prior to making a judgement on their character which is helpful personally and professionally. This is helpful because personally and professionally, I will work with people from various backgrounds that deserve fair treatment at all times and should not be treated differently because of any biases.
• Another insight that I gained this week is that communication requires practice just like everything else in life, in order to become better communicators: practice is a major requirement. I loved the activity because I was provided feedback from my friends and family which tells me my weak areas in an effort to strengthen me for my professional communication.

Communication With Others

1. Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?

I do find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures in an effort not to offend others because I don't want to push my view points on others. I also communicate differently with others based on my relationship with that person, depending on if it is a family member, co-worker or family that I am serving.

2. If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?

I am very friendly with everyone that I communicate with but my comfort level is better with my family than with the families that I serve. It is easier to talk with my family members because I can let my guard down but this is not the case with my co-workers or the families that I serve. I have a role to play in each of these areas and it is my responsibility to make sure that I do not slack in any of these areas. I like to present myself as approachable and helpful to my co-workers and the families I serve but I dont want to come across as being offensive or make anyone feel uncomfortable based on their race. I find myself avoiding subjects such as religion and child-rearing in an effort not to start a debate or step on the beliefs of others.

3. Based on what you have learned this week, share at least 3 strategies you could use to help you communicate more effectively with the people or groups you have identified.

• Eliminate all biases about the subject or the culture that you are communicating with to help you communicate more effectively.
• Being willing and open to accept the opinions of others even if it comes in the form of criticism
• Ask questions and continue to seek answers for topics that you have limited experience in dealing with because it can help in your development of effective communication.

What is communication?

In EDU 6165, the topic this week was dealing with communication and the assignment called for a reflection on effective communicators that we would like to model. I believe that politicians are by far very interesting communicators and teach many techniques on effective communication skills needed by others. I decided on President Barrack Obama (during his quest for presidency) during his debate with McCain during the 3rd in an effort to display the effective communication of President Obama.
Below is a demonstration of President Obama's effective communication skills because despite Senator McCain interruption, he remained calm and still was able to get his point across on the issue.

• What behaviors does this person exhibit that make him or her effective?

             In my opinion, the behaviors that he exhibits that make him an effective communicator is his
             eye contact, clear speaking voice, calm demeanor (no matter the issue) and his willingness to
             negotiate and allow other to make their point before addressing the issue.

• Would you want to model some of your own communication behaviors after this person? Why or why not?

           I would love to be as effective as President Obama because working in the early childhood field,
          communication is the key ingredient to goal accomplishment. We need the necessary skills to
          effectively reach parents and others in order to get many unheard points across. I believe if we
          have effective communication skills then we can truly touch others and make them advocate for
         children and families as well.


References

Youtube Video (2008). Barrack leaves McCain dumbstruck. Retrieved September 7, 2011 from
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao5V66m5FaA.

Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse background.

My hope that I have for working with children and families is that they feel comfortable in my classroom setting and in our center. My hope is that more teachers enter the field with a genuine love for children and strive to find effective ways to teach children regardless of their background. 

One goal you like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice.

The goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field is that all childhood professionals should undergo mandatory training in diversity and culture. I think that this training will provide a better understanding to diversity and culture that many people rarely think of in the field of early childhood especially since more people are migrating to the United States. I also believe that it will equip teachers with effective techniques to interact and develop healthy relationships with children and families.

Brief note of thanks to your colleagues.

Thank you to my fellow classmates for allowing me the opportunity to learn about each of you. I feel a closer bond with each of you for allowing me a glimpse into your world. Thank you for allowing me to share my opinions and introduce you to my family through discussion topics and blog assignments. I hope to read more from you in the next course and wish you well as you work toward completing your degree.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

I began an internship for my bachelors in Child and Family Studies in the summer of 2001 that were required me to attend a conference/convention in Alabama. I was extremely excited about the opportunity to network with others in this field and work towards building contacts for future employment. I shared the good news with my parents about the conference in Alabama but it was not met with the same excitement. My grandmother and mother began to worry, frantically trying to rearrange their schedules so that I would have a chaperon. I was 23 years old and did not need a chaperon but I still struggled to understand why my family was not as supportive about me attending this conference. One night while out to dinner, my grandmother discussed the subject of me traveling alone to Alabama and her discomforts with the journey. She provided horrific details of the racism that she encountered during her visits to the state on numerous occasions. I decided to attend this event anyway despite the warning.

I arrive in Alabama still excited but was suddenly overcome by a heavily feeling that I couldn't quit decide. I eventually settled on the fact that it was a little "homesickness" coupled with the fact of missing my sons. I stopped by a local gas station to purchase some snacks trying to shake off this sudden feeling of "blues." I entered the crowded store in the small town and was suddenly welcomed with stares and tension in the air. The clerks and the people were chattering loudly when I entered but the conversations ended quickly as I stepped inside the store. Usually I am comfortable in almost any environment that I enter but there was something strange about this place, making me want to run away and hide quickly. One of the clerks came from behind the counter and began to follow me as I searched for snacks on each isle and was not trying to be discreet with her efforts. The other patrons stood around and whispered among themselves. I remember leaving the store quickly without the snacks or even putting gas in my car. I called my mother and grandmother at the next stop and informed me that I was on my way home, never making it to the conference.

This incident caused me to feel unequal and powerless in this small community because I didn't know what to expect from the community. The inequity that I felt was stereotyping and unworthy to be in the presence of the others in the story. The clerk coming from behind the counter made me feel stereotyped like she was expecting me to steal or waiting for me to take something at anytime.

The feelings the incident brought up for me was a strange fear, sadness and bitterness. I was scared (feared for my life) because I was not sure of what to expect and this was not something that I would have expected in 2001. I was bitter because I didn't expect this behavior or even this type of mindset to be present during this time. I know that Alabama has a long history of racial struggles but I was thinking that in modern day that the mindset would have improved just a little.

In order for this incident to turn into an opportunity for greater equity, there would have to be two major changes: people and mentalities. First, the people would have to want to change and accept that what was once deemed acceptable or the way of the community will not work in the present. Second, the mentality would have to change through exposure and constant interactions with people from different backgrounds. I returned to Alabama on several occasions since this incident and in some parts of the state (small little communities) that racism or prejudice in some still occurs but for the most part the state is definitely striving to catch up with the times.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Merriam-Webster (2011) defines culture as "the customary beliefs, social forms and materials traits of a racial, religion or social groups; also the characteristic features of everyday existence (as a diversion or a way of life shared by people." Merriam-Webster (2011) defines diversity as "the condition of having or being composed of differing elements. The inclusion of different types of people in a group or organization." In this assignment, I discussed culture and diversity with member of my family and my husband's family to gain a better understanding of how others define culture and diversity. The people that I chose were from various racial backgrounds, cultural backgrounds and age groups for a better understanding of how others view culture and diversity.

Their definition of culture.

1. People that come from a background that is not American. ~84 year old African-American Grandmother
2. People that have different values and different beliefs. ~49 year old Italian sister-in-law
3. People that belong in a certain group because of their appearance and language. ~24 year old Caucasian brother-in-law

Their definition of diversity.

1.  People that look different and talk different from you. ~84 year old African-American Grandmother
2.  People that believe different ideas and beliefs. ~49 year old Italian sister-in-law
3.  People from different backgrounds that come together and accept the differences. ~24 year old Caucasian brother-in-law

Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course and included in the answers I received-what are some examples?

      This course has described culture as more than surface features like looks or traits mentioned by many of my family members above. Culture also includes religion, beliefs, values, language and how we function in society daily.

What aspects have been omitted-and by what are some examples of such omission?
     The aspects that were omitted from above were religion and daily existence in society. They touched on the surface objects like differences in appearances and languages.

In what ways has thinking about other people's definition of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?
    I can relate to their definitions because prior to taking this course, I only considered culture as things that I could identify on the surface such as appearances and birth countries. This course has expanded my knowledge base that culture encompasses so much more including beliefs,  religion, values and life in general. It also is important to respect a person and accept differences in order to create a world that is comfortable and diverse for everyone.

References

Merriam-Webster Dictionary Online (2011). Retrieved on July 16, 2011 from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

My Family Culture Exercise

The overall purpose of this assignment/exercise was to imagine that my country was devastated by a major catastrophe and the emergency management instructed everyone to evacuate to another area. My family and I are only allowed to carry three 3 small items in addition to one pair of clothes. The new country is completely different from the life that we are accustomed  and might serve as our permanent location. Follow me on this journey as I share my family culture, significance of the items and the feelings about this new transition.

The objects that I would carry with me on this new journey include: the heavy white family bible, the black  family album with pictures from the past and an extra notebook with paper. The family bible was chosen because it has birth dates and detailed family history that I can share with others about my family. The family album supports the information in the family bible and it can be used to store the new memories from the new area. The extra notebook would serve as a journal to document the new life and the new experiences in the new countries.

Life in the new country is a transition and learning the new ways is interesting until we received devastating news that we would have to let go of two personal items. We were slowing adapting but keeping close to our family traditions of meeting and spending time with each other. We tried to make the transition easier by reflecting on the past days and share our new daily experiences with each other. After much deliberation, we decided to part with the pictures and the empty notebook rather than the family bible. The reason that we decided not to part with the bible is because of the family history written in the book and the comfort that the Bible provides in times of distress.

This exercise solidified what I have already come to learn about myself, which is that my family history is very important to me. I would rather let go of all my materialistic belongings than to let go of the information about my family. My mother and grandmother raised me to be proud of the family history whether they were slaves or millionaires that each individual contributed to my family in some form or another. I tried to provide my children with the same experiences and share information about the family through pictures or stories so that they will learn have the same pride that I have about my family. The insights gained about my family culture is that we are unified and very accepting of any or all changes/ challenges that we encounter. The insights gained diversity and cultural differences is that "variety is truly the spice of life". We can learn from each other and enhance each others lives in so many ways because of our background and cultural experiences.

When I Think Of Research......

I would like to take this time to send a special "Thank You" to all of  the followers of this blog. Thank you for your words of encouragement and feedback on the ideas posted throughout this journey so far. I look forward to continuing to post and share my new found knowledge with all of you.

When I think of research, I cringe! This is definitely not a topic that is one of my favorites but being in the field of early childhood education, this fear must be conquered. Research always seemed foreign and very uncomfortable for me. I have more confidence in my ideas in research projects and gaining the experience to produce a simulation research project to become more acquainted with the entire process. My ideas about doing research having not changed too much but I am more aware of the process that it takes in order to conduct an research project.

Before taking this course, I never considered the planning and design that it takes to put together a research project. The planning component of a research project requires extensive study and being familiar with the subject that you want to study. The designing portion of the simulation project was not a favorite because of the massive amount of detail and other consideration of outside factors that must be in place prior to completing the project. Conducting the experiment is the most interactive component and the part of the project that you must make sure the participants are actively involved in the process.

The challenges encountered in the research simulation was the failure to add more detail and consider all possible outcomes of the situation. The manner that I overcame this challenge was to try to think of how I would handle the situation if placed in it. I had to think as the parent, teacher, director and other professionals in the early childhood field.

After completing this research simulation, my perceptions of early childhood professionals has been modified especially for those that conduct research within the field. It is amazing the amount of time that these professionals take from their lives and the dedication to the field that they provide in order to make sure that other early childhood professionals can strive to do better.

Research Around the World

1. What are some current international research topics?

The website that I studies was Early Childhood Australia (http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au) advocates "to ensure quality social justice and equity in all issues relating to education and care of children from birth to 8 years old" (Early Childhood Australia, 2011). Many of the current topics focused on emotions, emotional development and child development in preschool children. One of the current research topic is a series entitled "The Early Years Learning Framework" which has many parts but it focuses on a new framework for early childhood that focuses on many topics like beginning the framework and assess student learning using the framework.

2. What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

I like the "Everyday Learning Series" because it provides chapter resources for parents and teachers that can be used daily on topics like emotions, bullying, friendships and coping with changes to name a few. The Early Childhood Australia Web Watch is a an e-newsletter that discusses child development and researchers in the field keeping current information on new trends and latest development in the field of early childhood education. In the current issue of ECA Web Watch, there is an article on "National Reconciliation Week" which promotes a book called "Building Bridges" documenting what parents view as important and their beliefs of what their child should learn in a preschool setting.

3. What other noteworthy information did you find on the website?

The website has an abundance of information about early childhood education throughout Australia. There is also information on code of ethics for the organization, branches for the ECA, ECA conferences, Australia state reports and ECA forums that provide early childhood educators to expand their knowledge and network with others in the field.

Reference

Early Childhood Australia (2011). Early Childhood Australia. Retrieved June 4, 2011 from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org/au

My Research Project

The research topic that sparks my interest is Preschool Classroom Learning. The reason that I decided on this topic is because I currently teach 4-year-old class at a local Head Start Center. It is amazing to find new and creative ways to bring new information or teach new skills to eager young minds. Preschool teachers are often labeled as "babysitters" by many people outside the field that don't understand the training required to make or build on the skills of children. I enjoy bringing new experiences to all children and watching them grow into healthy individuals with a love for learning.

The subtopic for this research project will focus on Special Education in a Preschool Setting. I decided to focus on this because children develop at different levels and different times but there are some children that encounter delays requiring special education. I also have experience working with children with cognitive delays/physical impairments and would love to learn more about special education in a preschool setting.

The information that gained from constructing this research chart is that it allowed me the opportunity to organize my ideas and narrow down the subtopics to streamline the projects. I plan to gather more information from Walden University Library, National Association for the Education of Young Children website, National Head Start Association website and Zero-to-Three website for more information. I would also like to recommend the above websites to share with colleagues because they provide useful information on all topics related to child development and early childhood education.

International Contacts Week 8

I have really enjoyed learning and expanding my resources for working with children and families in the Early Childhood field through this courses. I have been able to use many resources from this course and share them with my families and co-workers. The consequences of working with my international contacts:

• Consequence 1: I learned that the push for successful early childhood education is important in other countries or regions of the world just like the United States. For example, my contact in Beijing, China informed me that enrollment was steadily rising and is currently at 51% for children attending or receiving preschool services.
• Consequence 2: I learned that throughout the world, poverty is steadily rising and that many countries are finding ways to combat this issue using education and community resources. The community is teaching families how to become self-sufficient using some farming techniques to assist the family in learning more about proper nutrition/healthy lifestyles.
• Consequence 3: I learned that teacher preparation is a key issue in all regions of the world in early childhood education and that every region is pushing for excellence in early childhood education. For example, UNICEF China is developing a classroom protocol for preschools to determine the training needs using assessments and teacher resource packages. They are also working on a parent education and finalization of a national framework for early preschool quality.

I believe that a global goal for early childhood education would be a national framework that is used by every region of the world and work education into the government budgets so that every child will have a solid foundation when they enter school.

Getting to Know International Contacts Part 3- Week 7

I did not receive a response from my international contact this week despite the fact that I sent the email for this assignment about a week and half ago, so I had no choice but to study the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organizational website.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization website provided tons of information under various tabs but the tab for this assignment was " Strengthening Educational Systems in the Early Childhood Care and Education" (2011) where I learned:

• "When government resources are limited the last year of pre-primary is placed in school setting or there may be efforts to lower the entry age."  Government drop the entry age for preschoolers to 3 years old and place the programs in public elementary schools in effort to secure funding for when funding is low. Mississippi currently participate in this program with a Pre-K3 and Pre-K4 in selected schools throughout the state which allows a smoother transition and adjustment to public school.

• "There are no universally agreed for quantifying: pedagogy material, personnel training, service setting, and parental education and involvement." Preparation for early childhood field does not vary depending on the country or area because to properly prepare our children we need to provide the right materials, a qualified staff, a safe place for the program and active ways to involve the families.

• "Governments were particular urged t expand equitable access to quality early childhood services underscoring the imperative of constitutional policy in favor of the poor." In many countries, where children can not afford to attend certain schools for various reasons, the government or agencies finds methods or ways to bring learning experiences to children affect by this but these programs are often not stable or dependable (which means they can stop or cancel with little or no warning).

UNESCO (2011). "Early Childhood Care and Education." Retrieved April 15, 2011 from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood

Week 6- Sharing Resources

The site that I have decided to study is the National Black Child Development Institute (http://www.nbcdi.org/) which is a website that provides helpful information and resources for African-American families on subjects ranging from Literacy to Health and Nutrition.

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

I followed the Health and Nutrition link from the website which lead me to another e-newsletter named "Child Health Talk" that only comes out four times a year.  The e-newsletter contains healthy recipes, book recommendations for different ages and helpful information and links for Autism.

2). Thoroughly search one area of the site. What did you find?

The website provides curriculum for parents to use with their chidlren or for parent educators to use for parent support groups. I also found information on upcoming conferences and how to submit papers for conferences. There are also calendars and information on how to become a member of the organization.

3). If you receive an e-newletter, follow a link related to one of the issues you been studying. What new information is available?

I followed the link from the "Child Health Talks" magazine in the article on Autism (http://www.autismsciencefoundation.org/) where I learned more information on Autism. During the summer months, I work at a camp for children with disabilities (working primarily with kids that have Autism) so it was interesting to read about myths or the fad diets associated with Autism.

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

The National Black Child Development Institute provides a new curriculum for parents or parent educators named "Parent Empowerment Project." According to National Black Child Development Institute (2011), "Parent Empowerment Project is a unique program that seeks to educate, motivate and inspire parents to excellence as their child's first teacher." The website adds to my understanding and belief because it promotes excellence and equity for all in the mission statement and everything that it promotes on the website.

5). What other new insights about the issue and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or newsletter?

The only new information that I gained was learning or expanding my knowledge about Autism but the other information was not really new to me because very little has changed on the site since I began studying it. I hope that the NBCDI updates the website really soon so that I can share more information in my next blog.

Gettiing To Know Your International Contacts-Part 2

I finally heard back from one of my contacts, UNICEF Beijing and the information in the email is listed below:

Dear Chapman,
As for your questions, please see the answers below:

1. What is the current belief or viewpoint on early childhood education in Beijing?

A: The gross enrollment ratio in pre-primary education has been steadily growing, and reached 51% nationwide in 2009. Beijing ranks among the top of provinces and reached nearly 90% in terms of three year pre-primary education in 2008. The percentage of children receiving pre-primary education, including both three year and one year, has reached 96.72 in 2008. It's optimistic that by 2010, one-year preschool education will become norm, two-year preschool education basically universalized, and three-year preschool education popularized in Beijing. But there are also many problems, including the need of training a large contingent of high-quality kindergarten teachers and the need of building up more quality kindergartens with both governmental and nongovernment resources to ally the difficulty of finding proper kindergartens for children.

2. What sparked your interests in the field of early childhood?

A: Early childhood is one of, if not the most crucial development stage in one's life. Research shows that many social and economic problems can be traced to early years, and early interventions can bring positive influence to children's ability both cognitively and noncognitively and can increase the chance for children to have a more successful life in the future.

3. What is your current work in this field?
A: We are working on teacher's capacity building what includes the development of a classroom protocol for preschools and training needs assessment as well as a teacher resource package. We are also working on parenting education and the finalization of a national framework for evaluating preschool quality.
If you are interested in knowing more information on projects conducted by UNICEF China, policy papers and data on early children development, you are welcomed to log on to our knowledge website http://www.cdp.org.cn/ which will be launched soon (most probably in April).


I have yet to receive any response on questions regarding equity or excellence.

Week 4- Sharing Web Resources

The website that I have chosen to study is the National Black Child Development Institute (http://nbcdi.org/) which fascinates me because it provides information for African Americans on a variety of topics from Child Welfare to Health and Nutrition.

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

The feature that I want to address this week is the Pre-K to 3rd Campaign, which works to improve the academic success of children in grades Pre-K to 3rd grade. It works to assist the child and family with a smooth transition in every phase of the child's educational career from childcare to graduation from high school. I believe that this is relevant because many times transition can be difficult for the child and the family so this program provides teachers or others in the early childhood field with suggestions on making this transition easier for all parties.

2. 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 the news?

I have not found anything controversial on the website or the e-newsletter but I have found a topic that provided more light on my current job. Head Start is currently advocating in Washington to continue the program that is currently on the list of items to cut in education. The newsletter encouraged parents of Head Start children to write or call their state representative and voice their opinion about the need for the continuation of the program.

3. What information does the website or the e-newsletter and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website?

The trends that I gained from the website include the need for healthy nutrition as well as providing a safe environment for children (child welfare). The website provides information on how to eat healthy and other information that families to can use to discuss health and nutrition.

4. What information does the website or e-newsletter add to your understanding of how economist, neuroscientist or politicians support the Early Childhood field?

It provides information on healthy living and nutrition, education field and literacy which can help Economist because it provides more information on how families live. The Neuroscientists can learn about how children function and more information about cognitive development. Politicians can find information about the needs in different communities.

Getting To Know My International Contacts

I am continuing to have difficulty contacting international contacts in the Early Childhood field. I have emailed several contacts using the email addresses from the various websites and have yet to find true success. I continued until earlier this week when I made contact with a formal director of  Pastoral del Nino project, Shannon Peairson. Shannon Peairson recommended that I contact Ann Austin for more information. Ann Austin recommended that I contact Elizabeth U de Burro for more information. Elizabeth U de Burro was unable to participate in the weekly contact and finally linked me to the new director of Pastoral del Nino, Hermanna Mercedes Duarte. I have sent numerous emails to both email accounts but have not received a response for any questions. After receiving the run-around from all these individuals I decided to complete the alternative assignment focusing on poverty in China.

The company that I found the most interesting facing similar problems to the United States was China. For example, unemployment and poverty is higher in parts of China just like it is in the United States. The insights that I gained from studying this website include:

• China is the most populous country in the world (World Bank, n.d)
• By 2001, 5%  of country lived below the poverty line (World Bank, n.d)
• Rural poverty fell from 250 million in 1978 to 35 million in 2000 (World Bank, n.d.)
• Economic growth and poverty was higher in Western China (World Bank, n.d.)

The interesting fact that I found was that the poverty level fell sharply because of the cultural and technological advances in different areas of  China that were not readily available in the Western Part of the country. Many of the families were facing the same problems that we are currently facing in this country such as high unemployment and difficulty meeting the needs of their families.

Resources

National Center for Children In Poverty (n.d.) Retrieved on March 19, 2011 from http://www.nccp.org

World Bank (n.d). Retrieved on March 19, 2011 from http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/aag/chn

Sharing Web Resources

The web resource that I chose to study is National Black Child Development Institute and the web address is http://nbcdi.org/. The main reason that I decided to study this organization was because it was the only one list that I had not heard of and the news dealt with issues that are currently happening in the African American community. The primary focus of the organization is to "improve and advance the lives of Black children ad their families  through advocacy and education, " (National Black Child Development Institute, 2011). The organization focuses on using the community to build up families and children through education because all the children deserve a chance to do better.

The one issue/trend from the newsletter that caught my attention was the report on cuts Head Start funding. I am a Head Start employee that works in a facility that is facing cuts and sending representatives to Washington to lobby for the funds to remain. The National Black Child Development Institute encouraged parents and teachers to advocate for the federal Pre-K program that is facing the cuts because it provides free services to many minorities and provides opportunities for education of young children that many families can't afford to pay other places.

The web page provides resources and other archives that focus on bridging the gaps between ESL students and American born students to better help teachers meet the needs of the students. There are also other articles that focus on diversity, demographics, family health care needs and literacy. The website is packed with tons of resources that will benefit families and other early childhood education professionals.

Reference

National Black Child Development Institute (2011). Retrieved on March 11, 2011 from http://nbcdi.org/
(Newsletter: http//nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/)

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I must be honest, the first time I looked at this assignment it overwhelmed me because there were so many choices! Who would I choose? I wrestled with this questions for at least a day before narrowing down my choices to UNICEF Beijing and Global Alliance of NAEYC for South Africa. I began making contact by sending out several emails introducing myself and explaining my reason for contacting them. I have yet to receive any response from either one of these agencies. I have sent out another round of emails and hope to hear something in the coming week but I am prepared to contact another agency if I am not successful with these. I decided on UNICEF Beijing and Global Alliance of NAEYC for South Africa because I love reading and learning how education is viewed in different parts of the world. I believe that this information ca be helpful and can be used in the classroom or with future preschool teachers.

The second part of the assignment was far easier than the second because I love study websites. I wanted to pick a website that I have never visited from previous courses or other professional development opportunities. I decided on the National Black Child Development Institute which is located in Washington, DC. This website contains a newsletter which I completed my subscription and look forward to reading very soon. It also is reporting a current topic that is very personal to me, Head Start Funding Cuts. I am a Head Start employee and our program is facing budget cuts to various areas at this time. I look forward to sharing my thoughts and information learned from the website in this blog.

Childhood Connections to Play

Quotes About Play:
1).  It is a happy talent to know how to play.
                                ~Ralph Waldo Emerson (poet/philosopher)

2).  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)

Play have evolved  so much from when I was younger but below you will find some of my favorite toys that would hold my attention for hours.

I was the only child (and the first born grandchild) for 12 years so I was able to score any new, hot item that was currently on the market. I loved to play with dolls, especially Strawberry Short Cake and her friends and the My Little Pony series. I loved to spend time outdoors but preferred the pogo ball to my bike because it allowed me to jump around throughout the yard. My parents and extended members were very supportive to choice of toys and loved to watch the performances that I put on with my dolls. My dad would sit for hours listening to my stories about Strawberry Short Cake or My Little Ponies and the different adventures that they would encounter weekly.

The play today is more technology based than when I was younger. My oldest and youngest (boy and girl respectively) children would rather spend time indoors playing hand held games or computer games instead of going outside riding their bikes. I was the complete opposite because I can remember loving the outdoors and transporting my dolls (and their equipment) outside for our performances because technology was not as advance as today's. My middle child is my outdoor fanatic and spends more time outside shooting basketball or riding his bike with friends.

The role of my play during childhood contributed to my creative sense and ability to adapt to ever changing situations. I believe that play in childhood can have a positive effect on adulthood because it allows for exploration of the world and learning the skills needed to survive latter in life.

References

Play Quotes (2011). What they say about play. Retrieved on January 28, 2011 from http://www.scribd.com/doc/22929/play-quotes

Child Development and Public Health (Repost)



Berger (2009) defines immunization as "a process that stimulates the body's immune system to defend against attack by a particular contagious disease. Immunization maybe accomplished either naturally (by having the disease) or through vaccination (often by having an injection). Immunization was discovered many years ago but the concept was made popular by Louis Pasteur during the 1800s. The concept has been expanded for many years, each year with scientist finding new ways to fight against various diseases.

This topic is meaningful to me because the idea of a child suffering from a disease or illness is unbearable, especially with all the technology currently available. Technology has lead to the development of cures for childhood diseases like measles, chicken pox and polio (to name a few) that killed many children. Immunization is a touchy subject for parents, especially new parents because of the horror stories that were broad casted via world wide news and numerous articles. I can remember wrestling with the decision to vaccinate my child was extremely difficult because the side effects were presented before the benefits. Regardless to all the negative information that is presented to parents, the major benefit of immunization is prolonged life of children for childhood diseases.

I have heard and studied the beliefs of immunization in the United States and wondered how other regions of the world viewed immunizations. India is a county that fascinates me because you often see the beautiful tourist sites but you never see the true struggles of the people. Health care is an ongoing subject in the United States with the current arguments over health care bills but very little is hear about this region's health care options. I decided to study India to learn about the benefits of immunization and ways that immunization was viewed this region. According to World Health Organization (2010), health education was a low priority in India due to the lack of information. The World Health Organization created a program in 1985 to fight against pertussis, diphtheria, tetanus and other diseases. By 1990, the program was approximately 90% successful but information is currently being gathered for current statistics. The World Health Organization is continuing to work on educating parents on immunization and overall healthy living patterns.

I would eventually like to work as an advocate for children so this is a topic that I am sure will cross my path eventually. As an advocate your major focus is to provide parents with adequate information to make a decision that benefits the child. Immunization will forever be a subject that will ruffle some feathers but we must come together and look at what is best for all children. I believe that every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy a long life and if this is the method to that long life....every child should be vaccinated.


Berger, K. (2009). The developing person through childhood. New York, New York: Worth Publishers.

World Health Organization (2010). Retrieved on November 10, 2010 from http://www.who.int/en