My Supports

Factors within my daily environment that are supportive to me are my husband and my children. My husband is supportive to me in everything I do.  he is supportive with my job, school and my future goals. I decided to go back to school and get a se4cond maters to help me promote within my job. It hasn't been easy coming back to school. I have had many challenges before and since I have started and many times I have said to myself and to my husband that maybe going back to school was a bad idea. I'm still here because when I'm down and struggling my family is there to support me and cheer me and to do whatever they can to make things easier for me. My husband and I are also supportive for each other when it comes to exercise. We work out together, set fitness goals and then support each other and push each other to achieve them. 

My co-workers are supportive in every way in our classroom. We are a good team, we know each other well and help each other out. When one of us is sick, tired or stressed we step in to help with the children and help take a load off. We support each other with goals and ideas for our classroom which has been a positive impact for our children. My military/church family is one of a kind. They are supportive to me and my family in every way possible. I can't explain how this family shows love and support for me and my family spiritually, mentally, physically and emotionally. The benefits to these supports is that no matter what I'm going through, good or bad I have a great support system and I know I nor my family will never have to go through anything alone and will never be alone. With out these supports it would be difficult because in my family if we don't support each other then our marriage would struggle and so would our family. At work if we don't support each other and help each other then there will be friction and it would uncomfortable to work with each other and the ones who will suffer are the children.  If we would not have me the people we have the past two years which are my military/church family, I'm not sure I would be where I am today. My family went through a difficult time a year ago and we didn't know where to turn or what to do. With out the support we have we would have been lost and may have handled the situation differently and could have mad it it worse with long term effects on all of us. If these supports were gone my life would be turned upside down and i would feel alone and lost.

The challenge I chose is being a single mom. I chose this because I have friends and family who are single moms and I see so many single parents at my job. It is hard to raise kids, work and go to school when you are married and have help and so I know it is so much harder doing it alone. If I was a single mom I would need all the support I could get. Emotionally I would need friends and family to remind me that everything is going to be okay and that no matter how hard things get I will get through it. Practically I would need financial support from former husband and I would need help with everyday things from chores, kids, school and work. Physically I would need the emotional support so that I could keep going physically. The single moms I know are such strong women and they do an awesome job each and everyday. Times get tough and those gloomy days sometimes seem to never go away but having a strong support team always makes everything so much easier and reminds them that they are not alone they are special and deserve to have the best.

My Connections to Play

Childhood quotes:

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."

                                                                                                           - George Bernard Shaw

"Children learn as they play. Most importantly in play children learn how to learn." 

                                                                                               - O. Fred Donaldson

      When I was a child play was a must. We didn't think about if wanted to do it or not it was just done on a daily basis. It was all we knew to do. Parents and teachers made i mandatory for us to play. I remember as a child if I was indoors for too long my parents would question me why I wasn't outside playing. If there wasn't a good reason for me being inside I was told to go out and play. In school we were outside for Physical Education and for play time. Outside play was given to us several times through out the day too. Now as an adult I see and understand how important it was for us to go out and play, especially during school hours. 

      Through play I remember learning how to play sports, climb on money bars, run, skip and so many other skills. I was a very shy girl when I first started school, but when we played outside I slowly began to socialize and make friends some of which I still have today 33 years later. I think play today is very different compared to when I was a child. Today's world is different and not as safe as it use to be when I was growing up. We could run around the neighborhood and play outside until it got dark and our parents had no issues with that or didn't have to worry about us. Today we are afraid to let our children outdoors alone or for too long.

     I think play in my life was a positive influence and helped me learn developmental skills especially social skills. What I didn't know then is that I was that not only was I learning developmental skills, I was also staying healthy by being physically active. We have taken away play from our children at home and in our schools. In school we expect our children to learn all these academic skills and pressure them to be at certain academic levels by a certain age but have taken away their play which helps them be successful in the classroom. Taking aways play is causing health issues too. We have too many young children who are obese and have medical problems from being overweight. As an adult I realize the importance of play and when I had my own children I wanted to make sure they were active so I enrolled them into sports as soon as the were old enough to play. Today as teenagers 17 and 16 years old we work out as a family. I want to show the importance of exercise in their lives. For them play is still used in our family. For us play is taking a walk together being active with us or their friends by going swimming or bike riding. Play is not just for children. As adults we need play time as well to keep us going and give us energy and focus in our lives.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are something we all get to experience through out our lives. They start as early as birth. We form a bond and relationship with our parents and that relationship is one we will always remember. They are like anything else and can have its ups and downs but they our parent relationships teach us how to form relationships with others. I have been lucky to have had many wonderful relationships through out my life. Even today in adult hood I am making new friends and forming great relationships on my own and as a family. I think relationships keep us strong and keep us going. Not just the good ones but the bad ones too. With out the bad ones we wouldn't learn how to get up and be stronger and wiser. 

I have different relationships in my life now. I have relationships with my co-workers. These relationships are good but not as intimate and close as other in my life. Co-worker relationships serve their own purpose. We relate and help each other at work and sometimes outside of work. We keep each other motivated and help each other get through good and bad work days. Then I have my biological family relationships. These are bonds that were formed immediately which were parents, brothers and sisters. I also have my own family which is my husband and my two children all of whom mean the world to me. My husband and I have a bond that will always be no matter what happens. We know each other so well and connect in so many ways. We love and support each other always. We have had a difficult times in our marriage but always work and fight for our marriage and have made it work. As a military family we move every few years which makes it very difficult. Making new friends and then having to leave them is not easy. We are away from our families back home and  a lot of times feel alone. We got stationed in Mississippi two years ago and we thought it was going to be the worse move ever. At first it was hard. Our kids had a hard time making friends and so did we. After about six months I got a job at a child development center and to make a long story short I met some wonderful people who we now consider family. They are family to us more than our own families. It is a relationship and bond that happened quick and easy. We have all been there to help each other through so much is such a short amount of time. 

We are all of different race, religion and culture but you would think we are all one with the way we love and support each other. We help each other spiritually, emotionally, financially and everything in between. We have all laughed and cried together. This relationship has helped me and my family grow in so many ways. I am a better wife, mother, daughter and friend because of them. We support from each other in anything and everything we do in our lives. 

Several of these family members work with me so we support each other at work too. I have become a better teacher because I have learned new things from them. I am happier and at peace which in the long run helps me with everything else in my life. 

THANK YOU

I wanted to say thank you to all of my classmates this semester. I know online courses can be difficult and it is hard to connect with each other and get to know each other when we do see or hear each other. It takes discipline to do online classes and I think we all did great and suppported each other. I wish you all well in the future. 

CHILDRENS QUOTES

Intelligence Testing

Testing our children's intelligence has been performed for many years in our school systems. I remember as a child testing at school too. I don't remember teachers being obsessed with it or being stressed out or worried about the tests. I think the testing is beginning to get out of hand. The schools are being looked over to see how well their children are doing and sometimes it results in the funding the schools get. These days we want to test our children for everything. How good are they in math? science, reading, thinking, problem solving, can they run, jump, and so on and so on. Then parents, teachers and sometimes the children have to hear that their child is behind or should be walking or talking or jumping or should no 10000 words by now. This puts a lot of stress on the parents and child. My own son came home when he was in 4th grade and said that his test scores in reading weren't good and his teachers told him he doesn't read fast enough. He was upset for a long time and thought he wasn't as good as everyone else. He is now going to be a junior and has never failed or had any issues in school.  I believe when we put too much stress on our children they will not do well. I am not against testing our children but the stress should not be on them to perform better or else..

Children can be tested or observed to see where they are academically and then teachers and counselors can discuss the results with parents and together come up with a plan to help the child if needed. The child should not be pressured to test well or perform well. Every child learns and develops at different levels, Even as adults we learn different. We don't want to be labeled or left out because we may learn different or faster or slower than someone else. For example as an adult we wouldn' want to be passed up for a dream job just because we learn or perform the duty different from someone else. We are willing to learn and train to perform. We should not treat our children this way either. 

In Japan children are not tested or even given homework in early elementary years. These years are for them to learn social skills, manners, respect. Pressure of testing and homework does not help them and it is not a priority in the early years of school. Play and exercise is important and in Japan the children get plenty of it. They have several times during the day that the children play outdoors or exercise. They believe it helps them relieve stress, the children are happy and it is healthy for them.  Testing is not exempt in Japan. The children do start testing hard in Junior high and high school years and it is difficult and stressful because it is something the school teachers and parents are involved with but the support of the family and school is helpful and the children are older and understand what the testing is for.

I believe our children should not be tested until they are older so they understand what is going on, what is expected and how to prepare for it. Just last week in our center we had people coming in to test the children. The children as young as 1 were being observed and tested and when they were done they mentioned to us as teachers who they thought was behind. Comments were made that certain should be walking or talking by now and I had to disagree and comment how these children all learn differently. 

Natural Disaster Experience

The stressor I chose is Natural Disaster. The natural disaster that affected many family and friends is Katrina. 

Katrina Hit Mississippi and tore the state apart. There were so many casualties and those that did survive were affected emotionally, spiritually, mentally and financially. To this day Katrina has affects on so many people. Living here in Mississippi I have heard many stories of survival and death and hearing these stories even from my own family makes it so hard to believe how anyone survived that storm and even the aftermath. 

My nieces were 5 years old when Katrina hit Biloxi Ms. My sister and her family chose to evacuate before the storm hit so they were in a safe place. What they were not prepared for was coming back home or to what use to be their home. There wasn't much of a home left for them. Their car was under water and their house was almost under water too. When my nieces saw their home the cried because they were scared, didn't understand what was going on and all of their toys beds pictures ect. were gone, destroyed. It was an emotional roller coaster for the whole family. Within a matter of a couple of weeks they had to prepare to take the little that was left to salvage and get ready to move to another state because they were told by the military they could no longer live here. My nieces took a little while to adjust. They went through a mix of emotions still trying to understand what happened. They cried a lot and they began to act out. My sister and her husband had to talk to my nieces everyday helping them understand what happened and why they moved and to remind them that they were safe and were going to be okay. 

     Another story is from  a good friend who I consider an Aunt. Her sister lived in New Orleans and their house was getting flooded. They had no choice but to get up on the roof outside the house. It was the mother and her 4 young children. One child fell into the water everyone else panicked and got scared seeing the water rise. They all jumped in except for one daughter who was 11 years old. No one survived. The mother and children drowned and the 11 yr old was the only one who made it. The death or her family and the traumatic experience affected the young girl so much that even today she struggles. She could not cope with the pain and chose drugs to help her pain. She is still struggling today with drugs and does not allow anyone close to her. 

     The country I choose is Mexico. I chose this country because where I grew up in Texas the border was only about 20 min away. Today it is being overtaken by drug cartels. I'm sure everyone has heard on the news about families and children alone fleeing into the United States trying to get away from the violence there. My brother who works in customs has seen children as young as 5 coming across the border alone. Their parents and sending them with strangers hoping they make it across to the United States for a better, safer life. The type of stress these children in Mexico face is fear, anxiety, hunger. Drug Cartels are taken over and killing people for no reason. The children and families were being allowed to come into the United States for safe haven at one time. I would like to do some extensive research to find out what else is being done and what happen to those families and children who were allowed into the US. 

• 
  

Child Development and Public Health

The topic I chose is Nutrition/Malnutrition. I chose this topic because I believe nutrition is essential in a child growth and development. I think nutrition should be taken more serious than what it is. I believe every child should have access to food and should never go hungry. I think our government should have more programs available to parents to ensure that children do not go hungry. In working with children for so long I have seen too many cases where children and not given the proper nutrition or have gone days with eating little to nothing. It is heartbreaking to see a child hungry at no fault of theirs. Especially the younger ones who can't speak or defend themselves. 

Malnutrition at an early age leads to reduced physical and mental development during childhood. Stunting, for example, affects more than 147 million pre-schoolers in developing countries, according to SCN's World Nutrition Situation 5th report. Iodine deficiency, the same report shows, is the world's greatest single cause of mental retardation and brain damage.

I researched Japan because I lived there for four years. Japan is one of the healthies countries. It is not common to see someone overweight. So there is not a malnutrition problem but I chose this country because I think the United States and other countries could follow in thier footsteps to help reduce hunger and the obesity problem our country has with our children. Good nutritions begins at an early age and when children go to school it continues. Fresh meals are cooked and served. Nothing is frozed or premade. Children get a variety of fruits and veggies and exercise is part of their curriculum.  Japan has fields almost anywhere you go where the locals grow vegtable and fruits and these are used in the schools for meals as well. 

In the United States meals that are served at school are sometimes the only meals a child get during the day and I think it should be a priority for our schools to make and serve fresh healthy meals. As for the future, I have become are part of a group that is supports and is fighting to bring back into our schools healthy meals. 

• 
  

BIRTHING EXPERIENCES

The birthing experiences I have are the ones of my own two children and one of a close friend.

I remember when I found out I was pregnant with my first child. It was an exciting and nervous time for me. I knew at a young age I wanted children so I was ecstatic to be pregnant. I loved every moment of being pregnant except for the morning sickness. The ultrasounds, doctors visits, hearing the heart beat and especially when I began to feel her move and kick. She kept me up at night sometimes but what a miracle and such an amazing feeling. My husband and I heard all the stories of labor and delivery pains but I wanted to be brave and wanted to feel and experience EVERYTHING so I chose to have a natural birth with no pain killers! Yikes. It wasn't very long into my labor that I was screaming for the epidural but by this time it was too late. I had to go on with no meds. Labor was 7 hours and about 45 min to push her out. It was  a painful experience but I wouldn't change it for the world. I learn my lesson and was no longer brave and curious with my second child. I made sure to ask over and over again for the epidural as soon as I could have it. 

Two very close friends of mine had children at a young age. One was 16 years old and the other was 20. Although I was not there for the birth I was there just a few days later. I was able to help them figure out diaper changes, feedings, helped comfort the baby and gave one of the babies her first bath because her mom was terrified she would drop her. That first bath was an experience I will always remember. The child I bathed is now in her twenties and just got married. I chose this experience to share because it was meaningful to me and I still share the story with my her, her mother and my kids.

The country I chose is Okinawa Japan. This country is rich in culture and they follow old customes. Women in Japan typically do not take any sort of pain killers during labor. Their belief is that labor and delivery is a time for mother and child to bond. They also believe the medications could harm the child or bring on complications. I related to this custom with my first child. I felt I wanted to experience the birth and labor so that I could bond with my child. Women in Japan typically stay in the hospital longer after birth. Four to ten days and this time is for mother to rest, heal and to be pampered. 

Week 7 Three code of Ethics Ideals that are meaningful to me

NAYEC:

- Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family.

- Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect.

- Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable state of the human Life style.

These three statements are meaningful to me because I think they are essential in a child's early childhood life. It is important for educators and caregivers to support the bond between a child and their family. We must take the time to learn and get to know the families to ensure we both as a team support the child as best as we can. It is important for children to trust their family, teachers and caregivers. Children will bond with those who care and respect them. Just because they are children does not mean they don't understand trust or respect. It is something we overlook because they are children. Childhood is a special part of our lives and many times our childhood experiences will determine how we grow up into adults. Children need to be able to be just that. Children. They need to be able to play, explore and learn as children.

D E C

I. Professional Practice

I. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE encompasses the practice principles to promote and maintain high standards of conduct for the early childhood special education professional. The early childhood special education professional should base his or her behaviors on ethical reasoning surrounding practice and professional issues as well as an empathic reflection regarding interactions with others. We are committed to beneficence acts for improving the quality of lives of young children with disabilities and their families. The guidelines for practice outlined below provide a framework for everyday practice when working with children and families and with other professionals in the field of early childhood special education. Professional and Interpersonal Behavior 1. We shall demonstrate in our behavior and language respect and appreciation for the unique value and human potential of each child. 2. We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all our professional activities in order to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families and of those with whom we work. 3. We shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by seeking and using new evidence based information to improve our practices while also responding openly to the suggestions of others. 4. We shall serve as advocates for children with disabilities and their families and for the professionals who serve them by supporting both policy and programmatic decisions that enhance the quality of their lives. CODE OF ETHICS 5. We shall use individually appropriate assessment strategies including multiple sources of information such as observations, interviews with significant caregivers, formal and informal assessments to determine children’s learning styles, strengths, and challenges. 6. We shall build relationships with individual children and families while individualizing the curricula and learning environments to facilitate young children’s development and learning.

Professional Practice is significant in my professional and personal life. I believe it is important to be professional and respectful to all people at all times in your professional life. When there is professionalism and respect there will be success. Respect is important in my personal life and it is something my husband started to teach our kids at a very young age. I think if you have respect it will take you a long way in life personally and professionally.

References:

NAEYC. (2005). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved Feb 12, 2016 from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

DEC (2000) The Division for Early C hildhood. Code of ethics. Retrieved Feb 12, 2016, fromhttp://www.dec-sped.org/

Course Resource Section

Required Resources

• Video: Laureate Education, Inc. (2010). The resources for early childhood. Baltimore: Author.
  
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 18 minutes.
  
  Five early childhood professionals discuss their preferred and trusted resources.

Note: Read the documents listed in Parts 1 and 2 in preparation for this week's Discussion.

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, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

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, fromhttp://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/
• 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 Journal option under Search & Find on the library website to find journals by title.

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

Additional Resources:

Resources for Early Childhood Educators as Learners This list includes general resources for early childhood professional development and further information organized by topic. For resources on eLearning, inclusion, and more, refer to the references and resources in each cluster article. General Young Children articles and books from NAEYC Hadden, D.S., & R.C. Pianta. 2006. MyTeachingPartner: An innovative model of professional development. Young Children 61 (2): 42–43. Hyson, M., ed. 2003. Preparing early childhood professionals: NAEYC’s standards for programs. Washington, DC: NAEYC. Hyson, M. 2005. Professional Development. New directions for emerging leaders: National fellowships. Beyond the Journal, Young Children on the Web, Jan. Online: journal.naeyc.org/btj/200501/hyson.pdf. McMullen, M.B., & S. Dixon. 2006. Research in Review. Building on common ground: Unifying practice with infant/toddler specialists through a mindful, relationshipbased approach. Young Children 61 (4): 46–52. NAEYC. 1993. Position statement. A conceptual framework for early childhood professional development. Online: www.naeyc.org/about/positions/pdfpsconf98.pdf. NAEYC. 2001. NAEYC Standards for Early Childhood Professional Preparation: Initial licensure programs. Online: www.naeyc.org/faculty/pdf/2001.pdf. NAEYC. 2005. NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and Accreditation Criteria: The mark of quality in early childhood education. Washington, DC: Author. National Institute on Early Childhood Development and Education. 2001. New teachers for a new century: The future of early childhood professional preparation. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education. Noe, L.R. 2005. The literacy caravan: Professional development in a unique environment. Beyond the Journal, Young Children on the Web, May. Online: www.journal. naeyc.org/btj/200505/02Noe.pdf. Olson, M., & M. Hyson. 2005. Professional Development. NAEYC explores parental perspectives on early childhood education. Young Children 60 (3): 66–68.

Web sites, organizations, and Listservs The Center for Teaching Quality (CTQ) develops and promotes teacher leadership as a means to improve student learning. The CTQ Web site offers a variety of resources, including information on teacher working conditions and a link to the recent report, Performance-Pay for Teachers: Designing a System that Students Deserve. http://teachingquality.org/index.php Early Childhood Education On Line Listserv offers support and information to educators of young children birth through eight years, including resources on professional development topics. www.umaine.edu/eceol ECE-SOS is an online resource for early childhood program directors. Its provides information and a community of support, including monthly articles and discussion forums. http://ece-sos.com ECPROFDEV-L, a Listserv hosted by the Early Childhood and Parenting (ECAP) Collaborative at the University of Illinois, fosters communication among early childhood teacher educators and trainers. Discussions touch on philosophies of education and training, as well as designing learning activities, assessment, and other issues. http://ecap.crc.uiuc.edu/listserv/ecprof-l.html ExchangeEveryDay is the electronic newsletter for ChildCareExchange.com. It features success stories, trend reports, and more. www.childcareexchange.com/eed The Innovative Teacher Project is designed for early childhood educators interested in developing a deeper understanding of the Reggio Emilia approach and related issues. www.innovativeteacherproject.org The McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership focuses on developing leadership and management skills in early childhood administrators. Learn more about training, technical assistance, research, and public awareness on the center’s Web site. http://cecl.nl.edu National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) provides nonpartisan research-based information related to the education of three- and four-year-olds. The institute commissions new research, advises policy makers, journalists, researchers, educators, and more. http://nieer.org National Network for Child Care offers articles, other resources, a Listserv, and newsletters on a wide range of topics related to young children and child care. The network shares knowledge about children from the resources of the land-grant universities with practitioners, parents, and the general public. www.nncc.org/about.html PBS Teachers provides early chilhood educators with professional development resources as well as curriculum tools and ideas. www.pbs.org/teachers/earlychildhood Pre-K Now is an advocacy organization promoting high-quality prekindergarten programs. Educators will find a range of professional development resources related to pre-K. www.Preknow.org Reggio-L is a listserv discussion group cosponsored by Early Childhood and Parenting Collaborative at the University of Illinois and the Merrill Palmer Institute at Wayne State University. It provides a forum for sharing ideas on the Reggio Emilia approach. http://ecap.crc.uiuc.edu/listserv/reggio-l.html The State Teacher Quality Network is a free electronic newsletter published biweekly by the Teacher Quality Network of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). The newsletter highlights information related to teacher quality and improvement efforts at state and district levels. www.ccsso.org/whats_new/newsletters/teacher_quality_and_improvement/index.cfm Videatives are electronic text documents about education and children’s learning that link directly to video clips that show a variety of scenarios demonstrating child development and early childhood education. www.videatives.com

 

Through others we become ourselves.
                                         - Lev S. Vygotsky

In play a child always behaves beyound (their) average age, above (their) daily behavior. In play it as though (they) were a head taller than (themselves).
                                                                      - Lev Vygotsky

Inspirational Quotes

Play is the answer to how anything new comes about.

                                                                     - Jean Piaget

"What we see changes what we know. What we know changes what we see."

                                                                                          -Jean Piaget

Personal Childhood Web
Week 3

This is my older sister. We are several years apart from each other but are very close. Growing up she was always bossy to me and did all the things older sisters do but when times got hard she was always there to take care of me and protect me. Our parents divorced when I was a teenager and by that time she was married living in another state but I always new she was there for me. She taught me how to be strong and stand up for myself. She always reassured me that everything would be okay and no matter what happen in life I always had her. My sister talked to me about life and boys. She taught me to always respect my self and to always demand respect from a man. No matter how far apart we are from each other or how  busy we get I know I can always count on my sister.

My mom. So much I can say about this wonderful woman. She has always been my number one supporter. I am who I am today because of her. My mom has taught me so much and has been a great example. My mom has faced so many struggles in her life from divorce, to cancer and never has she even showed a sign of giving up. She has taught me to be strong, fight for what I want and never to give up. My mom has taught me how to be forgiving, loving and supportive.

This is a family friend/aunt. Her brother is married to my sister but I have known her since I was five. Her name is Avelia and she lived across the street from us growing up. I played with her older daughter growing up and babysat her younger daughter. Avelia has been caring and helpful to me in so many ways. Many times I had to stay at her home because of my parents fighting. She never judged us just always open her home to me like I was her own. She always taught me many life lessons. One important one was about God. She always took me to church with her and taught me about God. This lady is my moms best friend as well and she is another person I know in my heart will always be there for me no matter what happens or where I am.

Favorite Book

I don't remember having a favorite book as a child but I do remember teachers reading the Dr. Seuss books often and I always enjoyed those. The books I enjoy reading to my children at work are; The Napping House and Hippo Says Please. I enjoy these because the children love them and enjoy reading along. Even though they are 1 years old they read along and memorize their favorite parts of the story. It is great to hear them repeating and reading along with me.

Image of a childs drawing

This is a photo of one of the children in my class painting for the first time. I chose this picture because it shows the curiosity of the child in the paint and the different colors she chose to put on this paper. She started with the brush and then was curious as to how the paint felt and began to use her hands.

A story about a Child

One Saturday morning I went out for a run and about 20 minutes into my run I get a text message from a parent telling me that her child who is in my class had been crying and saying my name for the past hour. The parents kindly asked me if I wasn't busy if I could meet her at a craft show they were at so I could see her child. (the child is 14months old) I came home showered and invited my husband to come along with me so he could meet my little angel whom I have talked about many times. When I walked into the craft show she was asleep but her mom woke her up. She put her arms out for me to carry her and as soon as I picked her up she held onto me said my name and laid her head on my shoulder and stayed that way for almost an hour. It was a bond her and I shared. It touched my heart to feel loved and appreciated from the child and the family. My husband was touched and said it was beautiful to see the child so happier but to see me even happier. Moments like this I will cherish forever and makes my job worth every minute.

Favorite Quote

"The soul is healed by being with children." 
  — Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Russian novelist and philosopher 

EarlyChildCare: Hello

EarlyChildCare: Hello: Hello Team, I'm excited to get this blog started and to share information with each other. I have never created a blog so be patient w...