Sharing Web Resources

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

The World Forum is having a world conference that focuses on early care and education.  It is scheduled for May 6-9 of 2014 in San Juan, Puerto Rico and I have very interested in attending it.  They held a global leadership conference last November in Miami.  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/upcoming-events/2014-world-forum/

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

I didn't know that the US has not ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Children.  I must say I’m too is shocked that they haven’t committed to the promoting, protecting, and preserving the rights of children world wide and especially within our country.  Learning of ways that we can help encourage our country to do so, through legislation and advocating it can be done.  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/initiatives/childrensrights/convention-on-the-rights-of-the-child/

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

From a politician perspective, the World Forum Foundation challenges leaders to advocate for improving the lives of young children around the world.  The WFF helps them become more effective in their leadership role and improve the quality of child care services and education that they oversee or provide.  It integrates with economists by looking at the short term and long term goals in relation to early childhood development and the economy.  By bettering these children/families lifestyles, we are bettering the world/economy.  From the neuroscientists perspective, if WFF meets their goals and complete their mission then they will be improving the mental health and well being of these children and families as well.

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

There are several initiatives available that can fit the needs, passion, or time constraints of any individual who wants to become a partner, sponsor, and or volunteer to help accomplish WFF’s mission for improving the lives of all children.  Some initiatives focuses on teaching tools and resources available for educators, parents, and/or public.  Other initiatives focus on children with special needs or health care issues.  Again, there are plenty of ways to get involved or to use your background, education, or experience to help meet the goals of WFF.  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/initiatives/

Getting to Know International Contacts

As you know, last week I took the initiative to contact international professional to give me insight on child poverty.  Unfortunately, none of the three contacts were successful in responding.  As of now, I will pursue the alternative to gathering information by using professional resources from the World Foundation Forum (http://worldforumfoundation.org) and the Child Poverty Research and Policy Centre or CHIP (http://www.childhoodpoverty.org).  

    "City is such a small word for a BIG place"....Susan Lyon, Director of Innovative Teacher Project of San Francisco is the podcast I listened to in regard to why she got involved and became inspired with working with young learners in the Northern California region.  Her specialty is working with children with learning disabilities and emotional problems.  She also was inspired to look at how children view the world.  The Hundred Languages of Children exhibit help her improved her techniques with working with young learners and adults and proving that this type of quality work can be used and is effective in a public school setting.  

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     I've learned how important it is to collaborate with international educators as well, in an effort to improve our early learning techniques and to diversify our teaching methods.  From listening to the podcast to exploring the two websites, I was also able to learn ways to start educational projects, attend national/international professional development conferences, and find ways to help decrease child poverty.

I know poverty exist and is aware of how other countries aren't as fortunate as the United States of America, but seeing or exploring it firsthand has given me a closer look at what the severity of and the challenges we face, not just as educators, but as mankind to curtail this epidemic.  It definitely forces you to become proactive and seek ways to contribute, donate, or invest time and physical ability in helping to decrease the impacts of poverty on children.  

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Sharing Web Resources

Foundation for Child Development

http://fcd-us.org/

FCD has been connecting research with policy for social change since 1900!  The work with families national but their main focus is helping disadvantaged families by promoting their well being and education in an effort to help them become productive citizens within our communities. 

This organization provides funding to help bridge the gaps in child development.  They also help influence policymakers understanding of what should be implicated for meeting the needs of children and their families. 

http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/FCD%20Description.pdf

FCD offers 4 programs: 

• Pre-K through 3^rd Education:  focuses on the learning environment and its requirements

http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/PreK-3rd%20Summary.pdf

• The Child Well-Being Index:  a comprehensive measure of the quality of life for families in America

http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/Child%20Well-Being%20Index%20Summary.pdf

• New American Children :  focuses on immigrant families and their development

http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/New%20American%20Children%20Summary.pdf

• Young Scholars Program:  provides support for career scholars to conduct research on immigrant families 

http://fcd-us.org/sites/default/files/Young%20Scholars%20Program%20Summary.pdf

Establishing Professional Contacts

I must admit when I first began it was a little tense trying to decide which country I wanted to learn about and to wonder if I would get a response from the emails I've sent.  As of now, I'm waiting for pending responses from Romania, Turkey, and Egypt.  I used the UNICEF, http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html,  as my primary source.  For the second part of this assignment, I decided to learn more about the National Black Child Development Institute.  I subscribed to their newsletter from the following link,  http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ and you can find their home page at, http://nbcdi.org/.
I took interest in NBCDI in a previous course, but never found the time to explore it so this assignment provided the perfect opportunity for me to do so and it will help me professionally since I work mostly with African American children.

My Supports

In all aspects of my life, I seek God to help me endure and overcome daily encounters.  In my personal life, I depend on my significant other, Brad, to help me as I encounter daily family challenges.  He helps motivate and encourage me in most of those type of endeavors.  My mom is another key supporter in my life.  I turn to her for parenting and spiritual support.  I have a select few of close girlfriends that I lean on for additional support.

In my professional life, I have select mentors I turn to for support.  My former military supervisor, Lenka, is always a phone call or email away.  I met her in 2001, and she continues to give me leadership advice and insight.  My former ECE supervisor, is another professional support I have.  I connect with her regularly to help me improve my teaching methods.  Normally when things are too crazy at work, she is my first contact of finding a quick solution or making sense of it all.  My paraprofessional, Lisa, is a major help and support in my life.  Our relationship is very important and I love the bond we have formed.  The support she provides in the classroom, helps me get a lot of administrative things done.

One challenge I can imagine is when I start my own early learning center.  I think of the different support systems I will need; financially, spiritually, and physically.  I will need support launching the business and maintaining it.  I've already completed the business blueprint.  Now, I have to find solutions to possible problems.  For example, finding substitute child care providers and teachers to assist when permanent staff is unavailable.  Another concern is making sure professional development is current and being implemented within the program.  Having support and partnerships with families and other community businesses will also be beneficial to the success of every child that enters the program.   Having enough well trained and educated staff is the key in the school functioning appropriately and at a high quality capacity.  Without administrative support, front office support, or generic support, the early learning system would be ineffective.

My Connections to Play

“You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” ~Plato

 “We don’t stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.” ~George Bernard Shaw

 I define play as a way for children to share or express their interpretation of the world.  My parents supported the idea or concept of play.  My room was well furnished with toys and games.  I had a bike, skates, a pet bunny to play with (before my baby sister came along), sports equipment, etc. I played with the other kids on my street as well.  I engaged in all forms of play from solitary, to competitive, to imaginative. 

 

Childhood Play

The pictures I chose represent what I liked to play with the most as a child.  I love Lego's, still to this day!  I have bought them for my daughter and we take time to build beauty salons and cafes.  And no female child can get through childhood without playing hand games!  When I hear the children in my class say the same chants, I can't help but to go back in time and reminisce on when I jumped rope to the same tune.  I think every child in America has played house but my most favorite was playing school.  Line up all the dolls and teddies and reenact what happened during the day but give it a different ending (lol).

 

Then vs. Now

I'm not sure if children are enjoying play like we did 15 plus years ago.  Most toys are electronic now so children don't have to be as creative during imaginary play.  I think there is an increase in solitary or parallel play for the older children.  I have seen children sit side by side and not speak to each other because their attention was glued to the iPhone, iPad, or iPod.  Children are less active now.  They don't go outside and play with their neighbors in the back yard like we use to. 

As we get older, we play less because of maturity and we have more responsibilities.  So, engaging in play will not help us.  Adults still play, just not as much and just in a different manner.  I don't play with dolls or other children toys unless I'm playing with my daughter or interacting with my prekindergartens.  To keep things fun for me and my spouse, we enjoy places like Dave and Busters and Main Events; we have family game nights where we play board games or let the children laugh at us when we try to save the princess on the Wii game system.  

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because I personally rely on them to help me function in life.  The relationships I created as a child, with my parents, continue to carry on in my adult life.  That life long bond helps me be a better parent and helps me face and deal with difficult decisions that I have and will encounter in life.  The relationship I have with spiritual mentors, help me to learn, understand, and practice my faith and beliefs.  The relationship I have with my mate and children help me to strive to be a better person and educator.  They inspire me to achiever more.  The relationships I have with my colleagues, coworkers, and student parents, help me to be a better professional and advocate for children.  The relationships I have with my girlfriends help me unwind and let lose and express myself without concern of judgment.