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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