Research Designs....I am Ready

I am so pleased to be at the end of this course, it has consumed quite a bit of my energy and been honestly stressful.

I learned that research can be be honest and forthcoming despite the far too many instances displaying where it is not.   I think that it is important to understand that a great study must be planned and planned well.

Participants can feel intimidated, and we went through several ways to make sure that this does not happen.  I really do not feel that anything has changed in regards to how I feel about this field or the research .

The challenges that I endured this semester was that it seemed that everything that I did was wrong.  I am so excited that I have made it to the end of this journey;  it was not easy, as a matter of fact, it was not even really fun but I feel I have grown and I am prepared to do research of my own now.

• Things addressed on websites included:
• Children's Health and Nutrition

• Separation anxiety

• Transitions to school

• Gaining resources as a country to aid in the countries development.

Things I did not know....I was aware that adults get empty nest syndrome when their children go off to college but, I was not aware that this type of  syndrome could happen even earlier.  Early childhood Australia did a great job exploring separation for parents and young ones.   Its crazy how we do not necessarily prepare our children for the kind of anxiety or even, trauma that they can endure through being separated.

                         Everyone involved in transition to school experiences changes at the relationship level. As                     children leave prior-to-school settings they, and their families, may lose contact with staff,                       children and other families from those settings. Some children start school with friends, but                     their friendship groups may change considerably as they adjust to school. For children                           with special education needs, and their families, the changes in relationships are often                           major, as prior-to-school support ceases and new relationships with new resource staff                           need to be built.

Perhaps we as educators can find a way to help children and parents better segway into this transition.  

The other thing I noticed was that the African sites were very barebone and lacked the design, color and detail as the other sites.  I do not know if this was intentional or not but,I it does help to drive the message home.

Classroom Research

I was doing some research on teaching strategies that could appeal in my classroom.  This method I found was amazing.  I have spent the greater part of the afternoon watching videos and seeing these strategies played out in  not only small children's classrooms but in high school classrooms.  Here is an example:

This is interactive, fun, and it helps kids understand despite language barriers, income, and culture.  This kind of activity is exactly what I want to see in classrooms that are sensitive to cultures and diversity.  you all should try it!

Let the Research Begin!

 I chose to research cultural differences in the classroom.  I see this as such an interesting subject.  I have dealt with this for years as an Early childhood educator.  I have seen food be an issue, i have seen language be an issue in the classroom and we are now even understanding when children are coming from same sex households.  There are lots of articles but none that quite tell you how to deal with the issues.

I hope to walk away with cutting edge ideas about how to set up a phenomenal all-inclusive new age classroom.  I did respect the simulation exercise though not much was gained from it.

Do you all have quetions in regards to my topic?  Any suggestions?  I am open and excited!

.consequences

3 Consequences

1. INCREASED AWARENESS!!!!
     I now know where to go!
2.  More information
     I now know what to do
3.  An Agenda
      I know have a network to do it in, and with, and even through

I will join one of thee groups and donate monetarily to this cause.  Im thinking of suppoting Haiti.  I thought it was interesting.

My Professional Reflections

It has been quite the journey so far in this class.  I plan to write a lot more after I finish this program.  I am a bit ambitious and attmept to write my own text books and children's books.  I have seen so much room for many new perspectives and innovations that I would like to be a part of the new age.  I think that I bring a unique and fantastic approach because of the years of experience that I have and my willingness to see outside my experience into the vast future that awaits.
In the meantime, I think that I will take some creative writing classes and up my reading of this kind of literature to make sure that i have my forms an what not correct and then I will have the confidence to just dive in.  All this writing throughout the course has allowed me the saavy and the confidence to really put myself out there.  Wish me luck, this should be interesting!

Web Resources Pt. II

The blog that I choose to explore was:  http://www.naeyc.org/

I think that it adequately addresses most things that involve Early Childhood Education and new trends and issues that need to be discussed also.

The topic that I explored this week I found very interesting.  Two principals were interviewed about how to keep the parents of a very diverse community engaged in the school.  This has been a hot topic for  the last two classes that I have taken in this program.  The methods they discussed were not so cutting edge but they did mention many of the things that we have been discussing such as making sure that families are included and feel welcomed.  They mentioned having dinner nights to open PTA meetings.  This sends a message to the children that the educators that work with them and they and their parents are all one big family.

I did explore additional links on the website and they lead me to the local chapter of the NAEYC.  They have local meetings, opportunities for employment.  The additional web resources are excellent and I am glad to know that there is a local branch and ways for me to follow up.

Week Five

Its  hard to believe that their must be innovation in adversity with children.  They are cute and adorable and loveable, but things do happen in their little lives that cause them stress. I think that as adults, the resources this week were useful because we were  able to get a snap of some of the things that we can do to alleviate obstacles and challenges.

The website that we visited showed great initiatives for helping those that are less fortunate and are facing adversity.  What I found interesting was that it was called a science.  Really?  Adversity is for study?

Call me old fashioned, lets just work from our hearts.  Is that not enough to alleviate the issues in life without yanking out a telescope and calling it a science?  Will we become too attached to methods to work from our sensitivity and our hearts?  Its interesting.

Sharing Web Resources

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

While I am in the practice of being the best teacher I can be the section that really stood out to me the most that would help me in my professional career has to be the section on  " Research that Benefits Children and Families --Uplifting Stories". Not only was the stories humbling, but it allow you to see the different mind state and living conditions of families. Everyone is different and actually reading different examples about different lives allows you one to understand everyone learns different and how it can be helpful to have different strategics when dealing with numerous of children. 

Question 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 new ways?

We did a blog about "Pen Down Poverty"   in the assignment we had to list different social economies from different areas. I personally think that poverty has nothing to do with someones brilliance. People with meager means can have the most common sense as well book sense because they have nothing else to relay on. A person of means does not have to think of different, clever, yet legal ways of survival because money is no issue. Yes there are several people that choose to not listen or apply themselves but one would say there are several "rich kids" that are the same way but maybe brought themselves out of the situations -----money can go alone way.



 Question 3 What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neurosciences, or politicians support the early childhood field?

In a discussion that was due I included a link discussing how President Obama wanted to start a program that started children learning the fundamentals toward studies at a young age. The whole theory that if a kids starts to learn at a young age that would start a kid on the right path. A child's mind is very sensitive so whats child learns in his youth will effect them for the rest of there life.


 



 Question 4 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 a lot of programs that are starting to help children in there youth to develop a mind state of brilliance. Children from different culture already start to coach there children on numerous things pertaining to studies like the basic like math and English. There really is no blue print to raising a kid no more than one thing applying a great amount of attention. 

Pen Down Poverty

I did my own research on poverty in my area. Personally I am not in the area of poverty but not to far from me are locations where families are less fortunate. I have learned that a lot of families are really lacking a lot of things that can make a house a home. For example a family might live in a house but don't have hot water. A family could have children that have a few outfits but don't have any food to eat. Now like every area there are locations and programs where homeless people and individuals that lack means can go and obtain help, but do they really help? My point of view is that poverty is a mind state. One can know that they are in a situation in which they don't want to be in any more but its also so up to them to deliver themselves out of there situation.

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/preparing-cultural-diversity-resources-teachers

















                                                           
Although I have not subscribed, The newsletter that I chose to focus on and look at was Edutopia.  I thought it was great in the sense that it looks like it is in class with us right now. They seem to be focusing on the things that we are focusing on in class with issues on diversity in the classroom. One of the things that I learned from reviewing this site is teaching tolerance. Tolerance is something that has to be developed at a young age and sharing best practice on how a kid can grasp the process was very helpful. The issues that caught my eye on the site was dealing with the students parents. To help the process of growth with the children the administration would like the whole family to be apart of the process. Great idea to include as many family members as possible but the issue would occur if parents rejected the help for whatever reason. It could just be something as simple as continuous schedule conflictions . A good way to assure family involvement is to schedule a monthly time where the administration and the family met together so each party had convince with time. The newsletter does offer a different perspectives on how to learn and reach children. Children are the future so its great that new ways are developed to inspire the growth of young minds.

Ethical Codes to Follow

I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities,
abilities, and potential of each child.

We are all uniquely different and that should be celebrated.  No child comes complete with an instruction manual, nor should they be treated as such. 

I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings
that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and
physical development and that respect their dignity
and their contributions.

Children are not numbers, statistics, cases,  or even personal goals, they are people, individuals at the earliest stage.  Sometimes you are the most stable source of care they know, keep this in mind and continue on keeping their keeping up with all of the aspects of development and growth. 

I-1.10—To ensure that each child’s culture, language,
ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and
valued in the program.

This is the core of every person.  Sometimes society will disenfranchise these features enough, it is a disservice to the profession if you participate in this practice also.  Everything about the child should be encouraged and pushed to evolution not torn apart and disengaged. 


http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Quotes and Goodies!

I love this quote from Barack Obama regarding Preschool and investing in Early Childhood Education.  I mean, at times sometimes we have to talk investement and he does with great facts to back it up!

"Every dollar we invest in high-quality early childhood education can save more than seven dollars later on, by boosting graduation rates, reducing teen pregnancy, even reducing violent crime. In states that make it a priority to educate our youngest children — like Georgia or Oklahoma — studies show students grow up more likely to read and do math at grade level, graduate high school, hold a job, form more stable families of their own. We know this works. So let’s do what works and make sure none of our children start the race of life already behind. Let’s give our kids that chance.”-Barack
 Obama

Professor Louis Derman Sparks speaks of her passion to work with preschoolers, one, like my own, that developed at a very young age from her mother.  I love her quote which could very well be a mission statement for those of us on this journey at Walden....
"[Working with 3 and 4 year olds] made me feel whole, it made me feel creative...The passion to make sure that all children were taught and nurtured in an environment and in a way that developed and nurtured their fullest potential."

Isn't that great, I would love to see one of my students as president one day and know, KNOW, I had something to do with that.

Inspirations and Childhood Rocks

Of course, it would be my hope that everyone's inspiration would be thier mother.  She was one of my main influences growing up, she was soo cool.  She was so pretty and she dressed the best, and wore the coolest jewelry and make up.  She traveled and took life for what it was worth.  She was tough, fun loving, forgiving, and wise.  My mother is interwoven in to the fabric of my being and still is.  She lived, and lived well and was a huge part of why I am confident and strong today.

My grandmother was my rock.  She was my best friend, my mentor, a woman that made me my favorite foods, because of course she was the best cook in the world, she was a hard worker, a clean freak, and the most fun.  I learned how to experiment with my hair by watching her color, cut, and curl hers.  I learned how to pay intricate details to my home by watching her do the same with hers.  She was a big comfort to me as a kid.  I can think about my grandmother right now and get all happy and warm on the inside. 

My Aunt Joan is another huge influence on me growing up.  She would always throw the biggest birthday parties for me.   She honored me and helped me to understand that it was always okay to celebrate ones self.  She lived in the big cities in California and always brought me the most interesting things back.  We would talk for hours on the phone and even in my adult hood, we can talk for hours and hours. She was one of my safe places as a child. 

My aunt Patricia was like a beauty queen.  Because there was a big gap between the sisters, my aunt was not too much older than me, maybe about 15 years.  I thought she was cool.  She let me hang out with her sometimes and she even brought mine things, like:  Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five, it was a joy of music that I remember from her and also getting to go to my first concert.  I remember learning that someone can do something nice for you just because from my Aunt Patricia, she, like my other aunt, is one whom I talk to regularly and for long lengths of time, especially in the wake of me losing my own dear mother.

My uncle Louis was my favorite uncle.  He was wise beyond his years.  He introduced me to funk bands, and broad ideas that the world had.  He would have these debates with his friends and the other members in my family wisely countering any argument with a cigarette hanging out of the corner of his mouth.  He was the kind of wise, that even early on, could start a lively debate, and by the end of the conversation, have the whole room hanging off of his every world.  In adulthood, before his passing, I would still enjoy hanging around him to watch the effect that he had on everyone and listening to his wisdom.  I would also admire his fantastic art work.  My uncle was a truly gifted artist.

There were more influences on me of course, but for the purposes of this assignment, I picked out four that had some major memories attached to them.  This was a great trip down memory lane, LOL~

OasOfof OfIt is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.fsfhttp://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6005/03/mm/Mahaleys_Web/index.htmlsm;sdlks;lkfdf
Frederick Douglass
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/children.html#oSL7Btdu9THlCUem.99

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
Frederick Douglass
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/children.html#oSL7Btdu9THlCUem.99

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
Frederick Douglass
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/children.html#oSL7Btdu9THlCUem.99

May 18, 2014 Inspirations in Early Childhood Education

It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.-Frederick Douglass

How true is this, right?  Isn't this why there is such a rush to get all of these new preschools open, isn't this why now, we are trying to "catch" our kids earlier and earlier?  If we start out strong with our kids, strong Pre-K will translate through prepubescent, through adolescent, and through adult hood.  Priceless quote.

Story:  http://www.npr.org/2011/01/10/132740565/closing-the-achievement-gap-with-baby-talk

Love this, ask any teacher what they push and its vocabulary building, this needs to start young.  Again, a strong foundation can not be broken.  I  think that this way of looking at vocabulary building is head on, its fantastic...made me  get up and dance around the room!

My Favorite children's book:  Where the Wild Things Are- Maurice Sendak

 Sendak's book captures the imagination of children perfectly!  It is simplistic, multidimensional, intriguing, mature, funny, relatable, and part of the canon of must-read children's story.

and

















 Alexanders, Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day-Judith Viorst
I love this book because kids know that they can have a bad day and how to handle it.  As an adult, I love this book because I have days like this that I need to read this book.

The Last Hurrah!

 Much of what we learn as caregivers, teachers, and those that work with children is how to make them better for, prepare them for, and understand them in the future.  Most of becoming educated about children, and perhaps its because of their youth and newness to the world however, we cannot become side tracked and to overwhelmed to enjoy them in the present.   This class was an opportunity o enjoy them in the future.  Thai is what I accepted and enjoyed best about this process. 

I would also like to acknowledge and give so much tanks to all of my colleagues particularly, Ms. Cara-Wicks Ortega.  I would also like to acknowledge:  Puddin, Stephanie Hebdon, and
Randee Holmes, for their fantastic blogs and responses! 

I salute you all and wish you the best in your future endeavors <3

To Test or not to Test

                                                                          To Test or not to Test


I strongly feel that testing children at a young age will have a great effect on the overall child's performance in life. Emotional testing would be the most effective because it will help indefinite where the child's strengths lies in handling many aspects of life such as stress.
Kids from all over the world are tested in many different ways, in a article from express.co.uk children in Britain are for fact the most tested kids in the world testing for subjects that the child ha sent even started yet. The companies behind the tests claim to be able to predict or gage a child’s eventual brilliance based on the results. Imagine your kid taking french at the age of seven when there ideal language is English.
In my personal opinion french at age 7 is a little extremely, but back to my original  point emotional testing would be perfect.
For example promise a kid a ice cream cone at the end of the day then when the end of the day approaches tell the child that for what ever reason the ice cream cone would have to wait for tomorrow night. At that instance see how the child would respond, would it be something as simple as a quick look of disappointment then saying OK and move forward or would the kid spaze out and have motions as their life just ended. To conclude the test then come back with the same ice cream cone that was promise earlier and give it to the child. Watch the child's level of discipline with receiving the cone watch how the handling going from disappointment to now joy.Testing how one can be let down, then the mood of being surprised- Emotional testing.
Life is nothing more than emotions. How one feels about there job, there money, there love ones, is all emotional. Everyday is a roller-coaster ride of mixed opportunities that arrive daily, and its up to the individual to handle each situation according. If we can develop this mind state to children at a young perhaps crime would go down. A weak mind would not result to stealing or killing to get what they wanted. The mind-state of "I give up" would not quickly exist at all because the mind has been trained at a younger age how to handle institutions.
Maybe a lot of millionaires wouldn't  go broke because yet again at a young age your emotions where trained to handle situations with discipline -the mind state of trying hard for everything, take nothing as guaranteed, but yet be humble threw out the whole journey. I feel I overall the world would be different cause now as adults (adults that runs the worlds) emotional disciple in look forward to the ice cream cone reacting according when we don't get it but be forever grateful when at the end of the day you where able to wrap your lips around your favor ice cream favored cone.

Stressors for Kids

     As a child, my childhood was very full and happy.  My family was full of smiles, laughs, hugs, good food and generally all the happiness that is included in every TV show, cartoon and book was there.  However, in the world outside of my window, there was PLENTY of racism and the chaos that went along with it.  In my lifetime there was racism, marches, a Vietnam war, and riots and crazy speeches and the whole nine.  I was a little girl when Martin Luther King Jr. was killed, when Malcolm X was killed, when JFK was killed, and when the country was just in a fervor over race and war.  I lived in the South on top of all of that.

     For many children this country, this kind of fervor had a negative impact, or at least a life-changing impact such as the Little Rock Nine.  Books have been written, movies have been made and I am sure that it does not escape anyone how grave growing up in those times were.  This does not even mean that persons of White decent did not have some of these experiences.  Can you imagine who cant be friends with whom, who cannot love whom and so on.  This was a crazy time.

     The outcome...I am unscathed.  I do not have any abject feelings about White people, our government, Black people,  or anyone else.  My family was encouraging, let me know that I was loved and special and really did not discuss much what was going on in the outside world.  I am not necessarily someone who will pick up a cause and beat down the pavement to make it keep happening but, I am passionate things.  I know that things matter and that I must speak on them but this also speaks to why childhood and family building is sooooo very important to me.  I was so comfortable and secure in my home that none of the rest of the world mattered.  My home was my world.

     I see that this is not necessarily so in other parts of the world. Children are bent on violence, hatred, and so many negative things because of their surroundings.  I think that it would help to separate things for kids again.  we need shows, music, and things for kids again. This will help them to be safe, and feel safe in their world.   I think that this will help kids separate the bad from the good and know that bad is not everywhere....this is our job as creators of a better world for our children.

Post Pardum Depression

The issue that I chose is Mental Health amongst families

Stress is bad enough when a child is succumbed to it but mental health takes this to a whole different level.  I am interested in post Pardum depression.  This is not touched upon much in our text however, I just think that it is fascinating.  I don't fully understand how a mother can be depressed following the birth of her child.  I would like to learn more about this to help the mothers if I should ever run into them and ultimately help the child also.

The following article is one that I found extremely interesting:

http://www.uppitysciencechick.com/how_other_cultures.pdf

This helps me in understand the full development of the family and fully understand how this course affects the family as a whole.

My Birthing Experience

     I have two favorite birth stories, those are when my two children were born.  I had two beautiful children.  I remember the time up to their birth more so than anything in life.  They were born through Cesarean however, I remember the sound that they made when they popped out  I remember what it sounds like when they made their first cry and their little teeth and their little toes. They are grown now but they are my greatest accomplishment.  I remember reading to them in my womb, one of them is a fantastic writer, I listened to Michael Jackson, "Man in the Mirror", that child is a HUGE Michael Jackson fan as well as a very talented performer.  The fetus when it is developing is crucial for both the mom and the child.  I can speak from personal experience how those times formulate the life of the child and bring about positive bonding which makes for healthy development later.

Two Major Influences

Passion is also about pursuit. It is not passive. People with passion are driven to pursue and create. They may read books and observe others, but they are not content being bystanders. -John Hagel

 When you’re on fire about what you do, it energizes you, and you can 
put that energy back into your work.-Curt Rosengren

Betty Hart

Listen to the feature featuring Hart on NPR HERE

The Highscore Perry Project: 

http://vimeo.com/7171357