Thank You!!

I would like to take the time to thank each of my Walden colleagues for all of their wonderful support throughout this class, as well as with my first ever blog site!!  I wish you all much success as you continue on your journey of education in this awesome field!!  Good Luck!! :)

NAEYC and DEC Codes that are of Importance to Me:


1.)  We shall maintain confidentiality and shall
respect the family’s right to privacy, refraining from
disclosure of confidential information and intrusion
into family life. However, when we have reason to
believe that a child’s welfare is at risk, it is permissible
to share confidential information with agencies, as
well as with individuals who have legal responsibility
for intervening in the child’s interest ----I feel that this ideal is of significance to me because it's always important to remember that a families business is nobodies else's!  With that being said, all things concerning the family and well-being of the child should be kept in confidence between the center and family involved. But there are also instances that information should be provided to other outside agencies such as DFACS, court systems, etc.  These are times when personal information needs to be shared for the best outcome for the child. (NAEYC Code)

2.)   To establish and maintain relationships of
respect, trust, confidentiality, collaboration, and
cooperation with co-workers---I feel that classrooms and centers flow so much better when the players work cohesively.  When team members don't get along, the friction starts to show throughout the center.  This is why I feel it's very important to respect those who are around you and whom you work with, especially within the classroom.  Even young children can sense tension and feel when something is not right, so it's best for all members of the team to be respectful players, and when problems arise, get them solved immediately. (NAEYC Code)

3.)  We shall continually be aware of issues challenging the field of early childhood special education and advocate for changes in laws, regulations, and policies leading to improved outcomes and services for young children with disabilities and their families---Education is an ever evolving thing.  I think it's important for those who are in the field of education to stay current and educated with new ideas and techniques that are developed within the field.  Every year Head Start offers Preservice classes for employers to learn more about ECE.  I feel this is wonderful as the organization is keeping it's employers educated. (DEC Code)

Course Resources

Early Childhood Resources:


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.

Global Support for Children's Right's and Well-Beings:

• 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.

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/

Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library:

• 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

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty"

  Lyndon B. Johnson:

Former President of the United States Of America who played a major 

role in the organization of the Headstart Program

Eunice Kennedy Shriver:

Founder of Special Olympics

"I had a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution in the world and to fix all the injustices that existed in the world and I wanted to do that through teaching"

          Louise Derman-Sparks:

   Professor Emeritus

           Pacific Oak College, CA

Personal Childhood Web

While growing up, I'm thankful to have had such a wonderful support that lies in family!  Their were so many influential people in my life that limiting it to five was quite hard.  The narrowing down process includes my parents, my brother, two grandmothers, and an aunt.  Their pictures and stories are listed below:

My parents are my all in all when I was growing up and even til this day and age!  They always instilled in me values of hard work, dedication, and never giving up.  Even during times of trying to give up on myself, they always pushed me even harder and made me see the potential that lies within my soul.  They are a portion of the reason that I received my Bachelors Degree and am going forward with a Masters Degree.  Today, I am so very thankful for the drive that I now possess, because of them.  I am currently married with four kids (2 boys of my own and two step-children) and I am employed full-time.  Life gets very hard with being in school, but my new found drive and motivation keeps me going!  Thanks mom and dad!

My brother is my life!!  I love this boy oh so much!!  We are eight years apart, with me being the oldest and he the youngest.  He received his Bachelors and Masters BEFORE me, in Engineering!!  So he is my driving force because I can't let him out do me!! :)  Growing up I always wanted to protect him and set a good example for him.  I think I did pretty good in other areas minus education!  So whereas I was trying to live perfectly for him and become a role model; in his adulthood life, he became one (role model) for me!!  His drive has taught me determination, will-power, and the belief in myself to never take no for an answer!  Since he was so much younger than me I ended up helping my parents care for him out of pure enjoyment!!  I really believe that has helped me cater to and take care of my two boys ages 3 and 7.

My grandmother on my fathers side is a rock!  She raised nine children by herself after her husband died from a stroke.  Once her own children were grown, she even raised us grand-kids while our parents worked!  She taught myself and cousins discipline.  She is was always a loving and affectionate woman growing up and those qualities still exist in her today!  While in her care, she taught me homemaking skills.  These skills are used on an everyday basis as I take care of my family, along with my husbands help!

  My oldest grandmother on my moms side is so strong!!  She's the image of strength!!  Whereas my other grandmother taught me homemaking skills, this grandmother in particular taught me more about the workforce!  She also taught me about the strength that lies in women!  She was a mother to three boys and one girl and she did all of the raising of them on her own.  My grandmother worked up until the age of 76.  Then she retired to look after my two kids while my husband and I worked during the day!!  So it's clear to see her strength and never giving up style!!  This is who I feel that I owe my drive and dedication to while at my place of employment!

My aunt, my twin, on my fathers side, has been an active part of my life ever since I was a little girl!  Her families home was my second home!!  At least every other weekend I would spend time with her and her family which consisted of her, her husband, and her two step-kids from her husband's previous marriage.  She just loved kids and my cousins and I became a regular part of her life on the weekends.  I feel that my aunt taught me many of the qualities that I now possess.  I have a love for kids just as she did.  I find that today in my family and even with my husband's family, that I'm the babysitter.  I have the house that all of the children love to come to and visit.  This love for children has also driven me to be in the field that I am currently in , early childhood education.  My aunt has two step children that she loves as her very own.  She had two children of her own after I had grown up and was entering my teenage years.  As of today, she still treats her step-kids as she does her very own.  I feel that I watched this growing up and the way she cared for her step-children, made me have the same love for my two step-children.  Even though I have my own two children, I still love my step-kids just as much as I love my own children!

Each person listed above are all great inspirations in my life!  I thank God for putting such positive role models in my life while growing up, and even now they are all such motivators!!  I dearly love them all!!

 

The Things I love About Preschool..........

Hello Guys!!!  Listed below are a combination of things that I truly admire that involves the Early Childhood field.  I have found the items listed below either very beneficial in the preschool classroom, or just awesome for the mindset of a brand new preschool teacher.  My hope is that the information shared helps someone, in someway, as they go through the journey of helping a young child learn, grow, and be the best version of 'them' that they can be!!!


Favorite Book: This book is so awesome because it's short, sweet, and straight to the point.                                          The illustrations are great and really catches the eye of young viewers. It even
                          teaches character education, which is an important component to growing up.  

Favorite Quote: This quote is very important to me because as we are learning new things about
                           ECE, it seems the most important thing, PLAY, is being shifted OUT of the
                           preschool field.  I feel that play is one of the major ways that preschoolers
                           learn.  I also feel that it should be labeled as a necessity in all preschool
                           programs.

Favorite Child-Made Picture: The following picture was one that was found online.  It may be a
                                                 simple picture to some viewers, but to me it represents a child's
                                                 TRUE WORK!!  So many times in the preschool classroom there
                                                 is art work posted that's shows evidence that it was teacher-directed
                                                 instead of child-directed.  This picture shows that even though there
                                                 may have been needed adult-direction, the child's creativity was still
                                                 able to shine through.

                                                         

Well of course this is not really the start of my blog because of course HEADSTART WORKS!!!!! Lol!! :)  Just wasn't sure about what to give as a title!  This is my first blog submission, and I assume that I'm doing it correctly!  Well, good luck to us all as we begin our "blogging" lifestyle!!