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.