Professional Hopes and Dreams

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds. That I can take all the information and ideas that I have learned throughout this course and apply it in everyday life especially in my work field. I will keep my book to continue to further my knowledge about diversity, equity, and social justice that will help me in order to deal with issues that come up in my classroom.

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice.  

I would like to see early childhood programs become more aware about issues related to the leaders in diversity and equity in education because in early childhood this should be a mandatory class in order to help programs deal with situations related to diversity, equity, and social justice. As early childhood educators sometimes we are families’ first experience with formal education and we have the ability to make a long lasting impression on children and families lives in early childhood.

To my colleagues:

I have enjoyed this course and hearing the life experiences of each and every one of you. I would like to especially thank you for listening to my stories about my childhood experiences. I have not talked about those things that I went through as a child for a very long time and I can honestly say this course have really helped me to be more open and willing to except the growing changes in this diverse world. I THANK YOU!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The name of “your” family’s country of origin . Kenya , South Africa

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family .

• One to familiarize myself with their country, their way of life, language, and family customs.
• Two I would extend a welcome to the student and family, including information about my family. For example telling them about my family, our culture, how many in my family, ages, and hobbies. 
• Three to make them feel welcomed and comfortable as possible without over doing it.
• Four research school and programs that are available to the families
• Five most important treat the families the way you would want to be treated without bias.

A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family . This preparation will help me and the family because by me familiarizing myself with the families culture will show that I am willing to learn and be open by creating an welcoming environment that can make a tremendous difference for families from other parts of the world.

The Personal Side of Bias, Predjudice, and Oppression

Growing up I knew that their where still prejudice and bias people in the world but I never really thought that people are still caring on like this. For example, when I first moved to the South I was so excited because I had never seen so many black people working in all the stores, fast food restaurants, businesses, or even owning their own business. Well I am a business owner now and I bought  a black BMW with rims and tinted windows.  One day me and my husband was driving up the cost and we where pulled over because my tail light was broken that' was fine but the officer who was white kept making remarks like, "this is a mighty fine vehicle you have, you must have a good job to be able to afford a car like this." He also kept asking us what do we do for living to be able to get a car like this. The next minute I saw another police car pull up and I was really scared because I didn't know what they were going to do because, I didn't have any tickets, my tags was current and my car was registered. Well they let us go but it was so scary because I could see the other police standing on the other side holding his gun. I felt like they where treating us like criminals and making statements as if black people could not afford a luxury car like a BMW.

I forgive those men I just feel sorry for them because black people have always been labeled and I understand that because when I was in that situation with the children I went to school with because the white children made me feel so uncomfortable and unwelcome to their school that I really disliked all white people into I actually got to know and be around more white people and I found out that not all white people are prejudice.  For me  I believe that you have to look at individual people and not judge  a whole culture because not all people rather they be black, white, Hispanic, or Asian are prejudice. I love being an American I just wish that the wold could be in harmony and just love not hate one another.

Awareness o Microaggression

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

•  When we first moved to Pensacola Florida my daughter had an incident with her teacher because she was made fun of because she talks so proper, or should I say, she didn't use broken English or slang words and the teacher told her she needed to stop playing and use her regular voice because she doesn't talk like that. I didn't understand what that mean, so I went to the school and talk to her teacher and she told me, "She thought my daughter was disguising her voice to try to make the other students laugh." Well my daughter was upset because she told the teacher this is the way she talk which is very proper. I told the school how was my daughter suppose to talk using broken English, ebonics, or even slang. The school really did not know what to say and I kind of made a statement that not all black people spoke improper English. I was upset because not only was my daughter going to get in trouble for speaking proper English but she was also told to speak the right way and my question was, "What was the proper way to speak?"

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people?

• This subject is really touching to me because I experienced racism as a child and when I moved to the South from California I did not think that racism like I have observed in the South still exist, but in fact it does. Children living in the South are still labeled or stereotyped because the way they talk, dress, social economic status, and gender. Because as a society African American males are labeled as dead beat dads, staying in  out  of prison, or jail, uneducated, and pretty much not achieving anything in life. I see this everyday young boys being pat down, thrown on the car, or pulled over because they look, or dress suspicious. People  should not be judged or classified as everyone else but, unfortunately this will continue in the world into we learn to except, and appreciate every one's differences.

Culture and Diversity

On Friday 18, 2011 I had the opportunity to talk to three of my friend’s one of my friends Donna who is from Trinidad, Ericka who is Caucasian, and my other friend LaShanda who is African American. I asked my three friends what culture mean to them and their definition of diversity. Their response was:

·         Donna said Culture means the habits of the people of a particular region, nationality, or religion and Diversity to her mean to either look, act, or possess qualities different from the majority of similar people or things.

·         LaShanda said Culture includes all of the knowledge, beliefs, habits, laws, etc. that are specific to one group of people or one society and Diversity to her mean is the differences and uniqueness separating one person or thing from another. Diversity means that people come from a different culture, or have different ideas.

·         Ericka said Culture means someone background or nationality and Diversity to her mean different genders, races, religions, and sexualities.

 

Listening to my friends and co-workers on Diversity and Culture which included  some different aspects on social identity, all three of my friends pretty much stated that same thing just in a different version that culture revolves around the importance of family within their culture. Their responses really made me realize the importance of culture and diversity in todays society because people must be prepared to teach, work, and live in a world that is culturally diverse meaning be able to tolerate and be respectful about the differences and similarities between one another.

My Family Culture

Sitting here thinking what three personal items I would take was pretty easy because I have always been told to take my personal items just in case of a catastrophe. My three personal items I would take are:

• Pictures of my family like husband, children, mother/father, aunties/uncles, grandmother/grandfathers etc.
• Important documents like  birth certificate, social security card, i.d.these items I chose because it will prove my birth, nationality and citizenship as U.S. American.
• Medical records/prescription also because my history if I was in need of medication, show my blood type, shots that I have had, and also may be able to trace my blood line to find my family.

Upon arrival to this new destination I am told that I can only keep one of these items. This would be the hardest thing I would ever have to do because it's like you are leaving a part of yourself and history behind but if I have to choose I would choose important documents because as much as I love my pictures which shows my family culture and our family over generations my documents are a way to prove who I am and who my family is.

Doing this assignment really made me start to think how important family, family life, and family culture is so important to reserve the memories and life history to pass down from generation to generation. I hope one day to sit down with my children and just remember our ancestors by looking at photos, videos, and listening to recordings of our family to remember not forget.

When I Think of Research....

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course? 

The insights that I have gained is that I thought I knew a little about research but in fact, I really didn't know that it takes a lot of  work,  preparation, and time to do a research paper. It is so many different factors to consider before starting research.

In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

I had an idea in my head that research in early childhood involved child development theories or teaching strategies. I hadn’t given much consideration to the smaller projects such as routine, and  parent involvement  to start a great research paper.

What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

That planning and designing is the most importmant thing to the whole process because in these stategies you’re research topic is in constant evolution. I changed or altered my topic with every assignment because as I learned more the more I realized my errors.

What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

I was challenged in the beginning with my topic. I was so passionate about my topic that I couldn’t narrow it down. Mr. Davis feedback and the course text helped me see that while a topic can have you’re interest it has to be workable for the time limit and resources available. I then took my original topic and thought about ways to still meet that need but on a smaller scale.

What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

I had never explored this aspect of the early childhood field and as with any change I felt some discomfort along the way. I have an increase in pride in my chosen profession because I can honestly say that I am a little better equiped as a early childhood professional to not only understand research that I read but also can conduct a research paper with the help that I have gained through this course.

I would like to thank my colleagues for their  support and sharing their thoughts, dreams, and comments on the discussion board.  I also want to thank our instructor for the feedback while doing our stimulation assignment. See you in the next course.

Research around the World

Early Childhood Australia:

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

 

1.      What are some of the current international research topics?

·         Insider Perspectives on Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework for Australia

·         Early childhood service delivery for families living with disability: Disabling families through problematic implicit ideology

·         The challenges of implementing primary arts education: What our teachers say

·         Early childhood teachers' misconceptions about mathematics education for young children in the United States

2.      What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

On this website I found pretty interesting. That they offer free online services for the early childhood field. The website also shares important information and articles on issues in Australia that are also free to access without being a member. On this website it gives you option on ways to keep up with the latest information in Australia Early Childhood through:

·         early childhood news

·         ECA WebWatch e-newsletter

·         Australasian Journal of Early Childhood article index

·         Every Child magazine article index

3.      What other noteworthy information did you find on this website? Other information that I found on this website is besides the research articles that are available for you to review the website offers books that also goes along with the research topics, and articles and on the web directory there are supporting best practices that have articles you can access and read about children’s emotional well-being, Children’s development, speaking out for children, and professional development articles that can be accessed and read for free.

Research Benefits of Bad Behavior in Early Childhood

I decided to go with option number #2 researching my own topic dealing with Bad Behavior in Early Childhood.  In young children, challenging behaviors are apparent in a number of ways. Some children may act defiantly and refuse to comply with the requests of teachers. In some cases, defiant episodes culminate in physical and emotional outbursts such as temper tantrums, antisocial, bullying, and including violent acts such as biting, kicking, pinching, punching or hair-pulling, and verbal aggression or taunting--may also occur among children. Other forms of challenging behavior include lying, whining, stealing, inattention and property destruction.
Behavior sometimes stems from issues related to family, home-life, neglect, poverty, drugs, physical abuse, and mental illness within the family. Whatever the case may be researchers have a deeper understanding what affects children behaviors by identifying the source of the behavioral issues and responding positively to the child’s needs. Some techniques can include:

• activity or group of peers--to avoid the stimuli that triggers misbehavior
• changing the child's setting environment.
• offering options and choices may lend feeling of empowerment and minimize the frequency of misconduct.

 

My Research Journey

My simulation topic is. What resources are out their in high-quality programs to help students and teachers deal with behavioral issues in the classroom. I chose this topic because like I stated on the discussion board I see children with sauveur behavioral problems and most of the time it is so hard to teach the classroom because of certain children acting out, screaming, rude, and interrupting constantly in the classroom. For me I hate having to talk to a certain child everyday all day because I know it gets to the point that  the child is shutting you out to. I never want to raise my voice, be mean, or even keep isolating a child from the rest of the children because I know a child can not learn from isolation.

So far with my research I am checking the web for peer reviewed journals, talking to my supervisor at Head Start on what we provide for services to teachers and children. I think this will be a great start for my research and I will be open to any suggestions or resources for my topic. I look forward to reading your comments.

Final Blog Assignment

First, I would like to start off by saying, I have enjoyed this semester reading your comments, post, and feeling the love and passion my fellow classmates have for Early Childhood. I have learned a great deal from each and everyone of you that I use every day in my new profession. I have recently just offered a head teacher position at Head Start. I am looking so forward to taking what I have learned and using it to help all children.

In the early childhood field all around the world the main focus seems to be:

• Intervention during the early years can assist in the healthy development of children cognitively, socially, emotionally and physically.
•  Participation in preschool programs promotes cognitive development in the short term and prepares children to succeed in school.
• Early childhood programs can reduce educational inequalities.
• Interventions can raise the status of mothers in the home and community. Interventions reduce gender inequalities.
• Early interventions generate economic returns and reduce social costs by reducing grade retention, special education placement, juvenile delinquency, and substance abuse.
• Early childhood development and care in the early years can do much to prevent malnutrition and increase children's chances of survival.

My goal as a Early Childhood profession is to become more involved in the community and help low income families and children  receive the best education possible by providing families with resources that will allow families access to high-quality early childhood programs.

Thank you and enjoy the rest of the summer.

Continue- Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

Sorry you guys I had some technical difficulties with my computer here is the rest of my information.

teacher training courses for integration of ICT to teaching and learning processes with the aim of improving quality of learning process.

strengthening capacities of policy makers by introducing them Education Management Information Systems, by means of which policy makers would be able to retrieve accurate data from all levels of basic education.

intervention for the development and improvement of technical and vocational education and training in Uzbekistan, UNESCO Tashkent office is conducting country analysis study of Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system.

training of trainers courses (ToT) on Education for Sustainable Development – UNESCO in cooperation with National University of Uzbekistan, has designed and conducting ToT courses to integrate Education for Sustainable Development concepts into the existing curricula, and increase awareness among educators and policy makers in Sustainable Development issues.

UNESCO supports comprehensive education sector responses to HIV and AIDS in five essential areas: quality education; content, curriculum and learning materials; educator training and support; policy, management and systems and the use of multiple approaches and entry points. UNESCO leads EDUCAIDS, the UNAIDS Global Initiative on Education and HIV & AIDS, the Organization supports Member States in achieving universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support of HIV/AIDS

UNESCO continues to assist countries in expanding access to early childhood education by, improving its quality, ensuring equity at this vital stage in early childhood care and building a solid foundation for a child’s lifelong learning all around the world. As an educator it is our job to keep up with growing changes in early childhood education and even in other countries we are all fighting for the same cause is to improve the quality of education in early childhood.

Resources:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

The three new inghts I learned fom (UNESCO) United Nations Educational Scientific Cultual Organization is a specialized oganization of the United States. Its pupose is to build peace in the minds of people though education, culture, science, and communication. UNESCO have 193 membes states and seven associate members in five geographical locations:

• Africa
• Arab States
• Asia
• Pacific
• Europe
• North America
• Latin America
• Europe
• Carribean

UNESCO since 1945 has woked worldwide to improve education on the pronciple that education is a universal human rights and that education is the key to social and economic development. In order to improve quality and access to education in Uzbekistan through technical advice, standard setting, innovative projects and networking. Their main focus is to enhance the national education sector by means of strengthening the capacity of teachers’ education institutions, improvement of teaching quality, training opportunities and learning materials. The following  UNESCO education sector is actively conducting following activities:

Sharing Web Resources

My website (NCEBC) National Council on Educating Black Children website I explored was their Helping Parents Help Children Make Good Choices newsletter. The newsletter is put out around the 10th of each month on upcoming events. For example, the last issue that was put out was May 10th newsletter that gave parents tips and survival guide on things to do for the summer with your children, expectations for the upcoming school year, and websites that can help children throughout the summer with their literacy. Other upcoming news NCEBC Continues Partnership with State Department of Education and Local School Districts will be opening free after school literacy programs in several schools in Indiana. The programs is 2 hours a day Monday-Thursday, free transportation and afternoon snack will be provided to students. Augustus F. Hawkins Literacy Center program goals are:

• Improve Academic Achievement
• Improve Social Skills & Behavior
• Improve School Attendance
• Increase Family Involvement

Getting To Know Your International Contact. Part 2

For this assignment I am exploring  "Global Children's Initiative"  website:(http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/).

The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (NSCDC) is a science based framework of  multidisciplinary collaborations of leading scientists like neurocientists, developmental psychologists, pediatricians, and economics that share critical reviews about "What we know about development in the early childhood years. There mission statement is to bring sound and accurate science bear on  public-making affecting the lives of young children. Established in 2003, the Council is committed to an evidence-based approach to building broad-based public will that transcends political partisanship and recognizes the complementary responsibilities of family, community, workplace, and government to promote the well-being of all young children. NSCDC has created a series of publications to marry the science of early childhood and brain development with state-of-the-art communications research designed to effectively translate that knowledge for non-scientific audiences. There publications consists of reports, working papers, briefs, multimedia interactive features, and videos that you can log into and read about. Some of there major support have been provided by: the Birth to Five Policy Alliance, the Buffet Early Childhood Fund, Casey Family Programs, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the Norlien Foundation, and the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar Fund, an advised fund of the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. Some goals and strategies of the council are:

1. Bringing credible and accurate knowledge to bear on public decision-making that affects children’s learning, behavior, and health.
2. Rethinking the challenge of knowledge translation in order to strengthen its impact on the lives of children.
3. Building broad-based and informed leadership to represent the interests of young children in the public and private sectors.
4. Promoting a new national dialogue focused on rethinking the meaning of both shared responsibility for children and strategic investment in their future.

Another interesting fact about the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child is the Center's  Global Children's Initives, which has begun to build a portfolio of activities in the three Domain's early childhood development; mental health; and children in crisis and conflict situations. Each of these domains is being guided by a faculty working group that will facilitate continuing cross-disciplinary collaboration; design and implement new projects; and engage additional faculty, students, and collaborators beyond the Harvard community. The initial set of activities currently being developed is outlined below.

1. Refraining the discourse around child health and development
2. Supporting innovative, multi-disciplinary research and demonstration projects
3. Building leadership capacity in child development research and policy—

Each of these domains is being guided by a designated faculty working group that will facilitate continuing cross-disciplinary collaboration; design and implement new projects; and engage additional faculty, students, and collaborators beyond the Harvard community. Last of all the center provides  a variety of formal and informal learning opportunities for students, including courses, graduate research fellowships, lectures, events, and research assistant opportunities. You can also receive the centers latest  email newsletters and other up coming announcements and follow the center Developing Child on Twitter for the ones who love to network.

Sharing Web Resources 2.

In The National Council of Educating Black Children (NCEBC) have several great components to its website. One of the resources that really caught my eye was "Touching The Spirit" teaching workshops. You remember the old African American proverb saying? "It takes a village to raise a child" it also takes a village of professionals to take responsibility in attaining the necessary tools to help effective teachers achieve goals by designing  a curriculum that will educate, and encourage excellence through culturally relevant teaching strategies. In these workshops teachers will successfully learn about their student's history, culture, language, background knowledge, and experience which will help professionals develop learning activities that will engage their students interest and involvement.  Touching the Spirit framework includes 14 components the components are:

• Ritual (Affirmation/performances)
• Rhythm (Music, speech and movement)
• Recitation (Memorization)
• Repetition
• Relationships
• Expectations of Excellence
• Continual Search for Patterns
• Insistence on Working Toward Mastery
• Teacher Modeling of Skills and Processes
• Intensive Direct Instruction and Practice
• Study of African Deep Thought
• Focus on Discourse, Inquiry, and Creative and Symbolic Thinking
• Using Knowledge for Social Criticism and Community Action
• In-Depth Study and Performance of African and African American Culture

The National Council on Educating Black Children from Garry Holland on Vimeo. on The Call for action talks about how all children can learn and as a society it is up to us to speak out on the quality of education and how African American children living low economic ereas are struggling because of their circumstances that they growing up in. One issue that really caught my attention in this video they interviewed a black girl and boy and they were asked, "which doll was nice and which doll was  mean?" Both children picked the white doll to be nicer and the black doll mean. I thought that was so said that these children living in low economic areas are subject to violence, drugs, crime, single parent homes, bad living conditions, sickness, a school system that have given up on them. African American children experience the highest drop out rate, kicked out of school, jail and one of the biggest issues African American male not finishing school or even going on to higher education.

The information on this website that gives me a better understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field. In their research is the “Blueprint for Action” which  provides a framework for collaborative community partnerships with public school, community, parents, and other African American organizations  to solve problems and accelerate achievement for all children, especially African American  children in particular to making sure that the villiage takes responsibility for developing a plan to improve the educational achievement of  all  children.

One resource on the website in particular The Literacy Center which are being established in various cities to enhance the instruction provided by public and charter schools to those students who are classified as a high risk for academic failure.  So far the NCEBC's National Literacy Center program operates seven literacy centers in Indiana, including four in Indianapolis' disadvantaged neighborhoods. It plans to open 20 in designated areas across the state in an aggressive effort to support school initiatives that increase literacy skills. The  NCEBC will provide the curriculum, staff development, books and materials. and each child enrolled receives three books a year. This program will be a big addition to our society if incorporated in all states not just for African American but available for any child that is in need to increase their literacy skills.

Resources:
National Council of Educating Black Children (NCEBC)
ncebc.org

Sharing Web Resources 2.

What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?
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?
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?
What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

Getting to Know Your International Contacts Part 1

The three insights I gained from studying the website http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/ on India
.
1. India is the home of majority of poor people in South Asia. India ha made many efforts to alleviate poverty by increasing economic growth, including liberalization of the economy, and targeted programmes.

2. India have the highest rates of communicable diseases, malnutrition, and maternal and perinatal illness, predominatly amongst poor people. Childhood poverty in India about 62 million under age five are malnurished about 34% of new borns are really underweight and atleast 20% of children out of school.

3. India have the largest amount of children working in the world and atleast a third of children below 16 working. Gender bias continues in India with girls which limits girls life chances. the high maternal mortality rate, the neglect of the girl child, the declining sex ratio, and girl's lower rates of school enrolment and subsequent higher participation in the child labour force. Between 1995 - 1999 the gross enrolment ratio for females as a percentage of male was 83% for primary school and 66% for secondary school.

Sharing Web Resources

 Professional website I chose, the National Council on Educating Black (www.ncebc.org)Children (NCEBC).  Is a non-profit and civil rights organization that focus on improving educational opportunities and their way of life for African American children. One issue that I really  caught my attention was the suggested "Blueprint for Action" for African American male children. This is issue really caught my attention because I have A older son and my younger son and every day I try to talk to them the importance of education and the importance of not following into society stereotype black men. That they don't take care of their children, uneducated,and in and out of jail. This troubling situation calls for aggressive action by educators to come up with effective strategies and solutions  for helping to empower young African American males for optimal educational achievement and social success. This website also provide information on the history of NCEBC, future events, resources, and programs that are offered to African American children and families.

Exapanding Resources

Expanding Resources

I am looking forward to expanding my resources and sharing information with other professionals in other countries. To begin my search for new contacts, I researched the UNICEF website. I chose to research Africa, Nigeria and Europe Bulgarian.  As a result, I sent email messages to the UNICEF representatives for both countries. I hope I receive a reply but so far I haven't.

Regarding the professional website I chose, I researched the National Council on Educating Black (www.ncebc.org)Children (NCEBC).  This affiliated chapter is made up of people who actively care bout the well-being of Black Children. Their mission statement is improving and protecting the quality of life for African Amercan children and families. NCEBC was founded by a Harvard professor (Dr. Ron Edmonds) because many people assume poor African children cannot learn. "He knew, as we all know, that is simply not true. " I chose this website because for me I want to be able to help all children but first I must learn the ends and out and what best way to learn is through my own culture.

"My Support"

In my life I have been surrounded by wonderful people. A strong mother who told me, "never give up on what you want out of life." My two sisters when our mother died told me, "don't quit, mom will be proud of you." My husband and children who saw their mom, and wife go back to school and become the first generation in her family to receive a degree. I say this because it may not mean much to anyone else in this world but the people around me was my strength and my biggest supporter was God. Having these wonderful gifts in my life maid me the women that I'm today. I know some people are not as fortunate as others but everyone needs someone. I know for myself one of my biggest challenges that I struggle with is loosing my mother who was my own personal cheerleader. See my mother only completed 8th grade and at that time of her life by age 18 she had three girls and the only work should could get was sitting with the elderly. My mother never complained but in fact she did what she had to do but in the mist of all that she was able to get on the job training and worked for a lot of wealthy people who trusted, and believed in my mother. She never wanted for anything because she took care of her patients and they took care of her. I say this because when you have special people placed in your path there their for a reason that's how you became the person that you are today.

Some challenges I would have to say for me being disabled and not having the support from family and friends because you are going to need them. I treat people the way I want to be treated. Right today when I am around my elders I give them the up most respect and whenever I see anyone in need I try my best to help or find resources to help them and that's the same way I feel about children I will exhaust every resource to help educate all children form all walks of life.

"My Connections to Play"

 Childhood Quote:

• "Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child's soul" By Fredrich Froebel "Father of Modern Kindergarten"
• "You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation" By Plato

Play Items for myself:                      
           Playground Rubber Balls


                                 




 Jump ropes                   

Swing Sets       

 

When I was growing up my mother always told me kids should be kids not in the house watching t.v. or up under grown-ups. We had no choice but to go outside. Play was important to us because we actually would play all day. I would pretend I was a princess with long hair and my sisters and I would use sheets for our hair. We would use items like boards, wood, bricks, sheets, and tools to make a clubhouse and pretend it was our house. Whatever we could use to build or make we just about maid it. As a child you explored everything around you and the world to me was our playground to learn.      

Play today is different because children now rather stay in the house and play video games, watch t.v, talk on the phone, or get on the computer. No physical activity at all except working their fingers and talking to their friends. I know back then we didn't have all the technology we have now. Parents actually made their children play outside and in school physical activity was a must. I remember playing before school started, after lunch, and another recess during the day. Now children get to school just in time for breakfast then straight to class, then lunch, and a slight 15 minute recess that's if weather permitted and I know in some states when it would rain or snow you still had to do some type of exercise or activity rather it be basketball, volleyball, jump rope or walk around the indoor basketball court.   

 

For me I would like to see physical activity taken more serious and enforced more in school. Children need an out lit and running, playing, jumping, and socializing is part of a healthy development. Today as an adult I still like to play, I jump rope with my children, and I showed my children how to play and make Chinese jump ropes out of rubber bands.

 

Play is a way for children to explore the world. It is their first discovery of sensation movement, language,and their surroundings. Play is an essential part of a child's development and being able to play freely enables them to learn invaluable life skills such as:

• Socializing
• Learning about themselves and others
• Problem solving
• Using their imagination
• Work cooperatively
• Follow instructions
 

 
 

 

 

 

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important within family, friends, children, and working in early childhood. Relationships have been the core foundation for family and security throughout generations. In order to maintain relationships you have to be able to communicate with one another. There are two types of communication nonverbal and verbal. The two should work together to relay information. In my experience when people don't use their voice to tell a love one, friend, or even in the work field what they are thinking or feeling, their actions can do it instead with the body language, making faces, and so on. Sometimes both communications work together to emphasize an important message. For example with my husband we communicate all the time to make sure one we are on one accord when it comes to raising our children. Two with my sorority sisters we talk everything out no matter what it is. We cry together, pray together, and fellow ship together. That's what family do even though my friends, or sorority sisters are not my biological family, I love them and I want us to maintain a positive relationship. I am not saying its always positive but the key to everything is communication and being in early childhood you have to maintain the same open communication with the families and children. Believe it or not whenever their is tension amongst co-workers or mother and father. Children can sense if adults are not getting along and the same goes for parents keeping that line of communication open lets parents know they can trust you and this will allow them to open up to you and share information because they are comfortable with you just like family.

Some challenges developing and maintaining relationships in my life that I have learned if the other party isn't willing to open up or communicate with you  especially if you have maid yourself available when ever possible. Another challenge I have faced certain people who grow up not trusting or communicating have a hard time returning the same skill. As I have learned  in previous classes its starts as an infant caregivers showing you affection, love, communicating, and bonding with your baby will have a positive outcome as the child grows up.

Johnson Family Daycare on a field trip.

XI Gamma Zeta Sorority sisters

Denice daughter and son in the background.

Daughter Shaunte and grand baby Alysia

Even though I couldn't put up all my pictures everyone who is in my life we all stay very close because we communicate with one another to keep the bond that we have.

When I Think of Child Development

David Vitter, U.S. Senator Quotes!

"I continue to believe that if children are given the necessary tools to succeed, they will succeed beyond their wildest dream!"

Hi! everyone, I would like to thank each and everyone of you for reading some of my most personal thoughts and views. I have enjoyed everyone comments and words of wisdom. I look forward to hearing from you in the future. Be Blessed.

Denice.

Testing for Intelligence

To me, are we using standardized tests to measure learning, or to make educators accountable for their productivity? Do the tests succeed at either of these tasks?
In my opinion, standardized tests are inaccurate measures of learning, and useless to make teachers accountable for anything other than teaching to the test. Instead, testing, if we must use it, should be used to uncover weaknesses in instruction. A teacher could then be made accountable for how well those weaknesses are addressed.
In every case, the measurement should not assume that all students at a particular age or grade level are at the same place cognitively, ready to learn the same skills, using the same schema. The skills measured should be those applicable to the student's abilities and educational goals.

In South Africa many parts of Africa give standardiseed test. The test is called Create achievement test that was given to 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. Students  overall score was about 26% testing way below average indicating that  many children are failing to learn due to health, economic status, nutrition, and because of this many children are not able to get the education possible.

I  know  as a nation and educators we need to improve student achievement and ensure that all students have at the very least the basics under their belt. When students leave public schools, they should be equipped to make choices about their future without limits. They should know how to gather information, analyze it and come up with their solution through their own perspective.

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

As a child growing up I can say everything I learned, I learned from my mother. She use to always tell me, "society doesn't owe you anything and whatever you want to be it's up to you to strive for it and be the best that you could possible be." I do believe that children learn from parents, family, environment, t.v. and literature. But as a parent it's up to you to educate them on life. When I was between the ages of 10-12 we lived in Long Beach Califronia and at that time they started bussing minotities to all white schools. I didn't know what to expect  but I did feel said because,I was leaving my friends and neighborhood to go too a school that I knew nothing about. At that time my best friend was mixed black and white and as children we don't discriminate, to us we were children just playing together and having fun.
Well I went to this school and it was about eight minority students. Four African American students, two Spanish children and maybe one or two Asian children and at that time I wanted to be friend everyone but majority of the white students didn't want to be our friends. White children would come up to me and ask me the dumbest questions like, why is your skin so dark? Do you guys take baths? Or  why is your hair so nappy? White children at that school would go as far invite the whole class to their birthday party and not ask me. Keep in mind I am the only black student in the classroom. I felt so long and miserable most of the time and I felt as if they where ganging up on me, but I tried not to let that get to me because my best friend would be their by my side into she was told to chose to pick what side she wanted to be on because she also was tired of being single out because she was my friend.
Well my best friend chose to hang with the white students and she started calling me names, and she wouldn't sit by me. I was so hurt and angry that I did the only thing I could think of was to lash out at everyone who tried to hurt me. I actually bacame a bully and I would beat up anyone who would say nasty remark to me, or if they wouldn't let me play at recess with them, I would take the ball and hold it into the bell rung and I dared anyone of them to come and take the ball. Well one of my teachers caught on what was going on and she recommended for me to go too counciling at school to be able to control my anger and she would talk to me atleast three times a week and inorder for me to control my anger she came up with an incentive. If I wouldn't fight, or lash out at the other students by the end of the week I would recieve stickers that would go towards my party at the end of the month. Well that worked because she gave me the option of inviting who I wanted to attend my party, of course I invited the student's who where having a hard time adjusting to the school and If it wasn't for that council and my mother preaching to me that those children don't know any better, they are being taught that from the people who are closest to them and the whole world isn't like that. Those two people in my life at that time showed me the right way to be and without them, I don't know where I would be right today because of the anger and hatred I had in my heart towards white people.
Today, I must say I am a stronger women because of my mother and the values that she bestowed in me. to love and respect all people beliefs, heritage, race, and culture.

This subject is very touching to me especially as a child growing up in an area were racism was still going on and during my research, I looked at Eastern Europe area Dublin Ireland where right to day racism is still going on. over their the school system is ran by Roman Catholics and if you are not of Irish descendant minorities have a hard time getting into schools being that majority of blacks over their are Muslim, members Evangelical, Protestant Denominations, or no religion. The government let the school discriminate on the basis of religion and according to the Catholics and their solution is to open up all black schools for black children to attend. I see from my readings that racism is still strong and going strong in certain parts of the world. If only they knew of the harm they are creating, instead of making this world a place for everyone to live in harmony and being to have the same opportunities as anyone else.

P.S. As you read my blogger, I hope I have not affend anyone and if I have please except my appology. I am just speaking from my heart, retelling stories that happend in my life.

















































































Source:
 Rachael, September 3, (2010).  Xenophobia and Racism Affect Black School Children in Ireland

www.rachelstavern.com/.../xenophobia...racism-in-ireland-affect-black-school-children.html

Child Development and Public Health

I chose immunization because in 1988 I had my first child at the age 17, by 2006 I had my second child and i was told by the doctors, "Did I know I had Hepatits B?" Well at 26 I didn't know what that was considering I have never done drugs, smoke, or drink. Then I started to panic because I thought I gave something to my unborn child even though I never knew. Well I called my mother and told her and she said, " I know I have it." My mother contracted it when she had a blood transfusion with me and she passed it on to me and my two sisters. Back then they didn't know about Hipatitis and when they did and developed a vaccine for it they saw more and more cases of Hipatitis. Now infants are automatically given Hipatitis shots in two doses. First dose is adminstered shortly after birth and the second dose administered between 1-2 months. Unfortunately, me and my sisters are carries not a bad thing for us, our kids and husbands do not have it which is a Blessing.

Further across the world South Africa Vaccination and Immunization Centre mission statement is  to prevent the spread of disease, and improve the quality and sustainability of immunization services in Africa through research, education training, and provision of technical support. In reading this article their main goal is to prevent the spread of disease considering that HIV  is still the major cause of deaths in South Africa but Pneumococcal disease caused nearly 1.6 million deaths in children under five. South Africa Vaccination and Immunization Centre has launched a program to prevent the spread of this disease that is caused by Steptococcus.

The information I have recently learned about that immunization is a top priority in South Africa in fighting off disease for women, and children even though the rich and educated are give  medication and the poor still suffers. When i think about this topic it makes me thank the lord that I don't live in another country and just because of my economic status I wouldn't be able to receive the proper medication for me or my children.
Without immunization in the world, this place would be survival of the fitus.

Being a day care owner vaccination of young children will protect individual children from developing serious disease as well as help protect the entire community by preventing and decreasing the spread of infection.

Childbirth-In Your Life and Around the World

When I was 17 years old I had my first child Shaunte. Shaunte was a very easy pregnacy but I was a teen mom, so I didn't tell anyone I was pregnant into I was almost 6 months. Because of that Shaunte was only 5lbs and threw my whole prgnancy my doctors where very worried because I never gained weight and I had difficulty eating. My weight at that time was 117 but when I had Shaunte I went back down to 110. At that time I only gained 5lbs. So the prenantal vitamins and iron pills you take I didn't start tacking them into 61/2 months. Without proper diet and vitamins Shaunte would have been smaller than that. I chose this because reading the chapters I didn't know that that was the reason why my daughter was so small  because I wasn't eating properly or tacking vitamins, so because of that Shaunte birth weight was affected. Reading the chapters have really made me more mindful about the different things babies can go through before they enter into this world and as a mom this was very good information for everyone to know even expected fathers about their pregnant wife, girlfriend, or mate. However, I find that in asian cultures children are thought highly of. They, too, have children starting in their teen years.  Prenatal care is not thought of until the end of the pregnacy or not at all.  This led me to conclude that with or without  vitamins my pregnancy could have been just a characteristic of my own.

Code of Ethics

The three Code of Ethics I chose, will help me day by day in providing a healthy, exciting, and educational atmospher for children.

1.Ethical Responsibilities to Children is to provide safety, and well-being of children in an educational atmospher while promoting children's self-awareness, competence, self-with, and resilincency.

2. The Core Values because as an educator you have to be able to connect and have a relationship with the families as well as a relationship with the community in order to gain trust and respect in order to be able to help each individual student with their needs whatever it is.

3.Ethical Responsibilities to Community and Society is to provide children in the community and society with the best Early Childhood Education possible by staying current and knowledgable in education as it grows and change. Also keeping families and parents involve in the decision making about their children's education.

To my fellow classmates. I just wanted to say, "That' has been a pleasure reading your post and working with you all." Stay focused and always remember why you started this journey in Early Childhood Education. Take care.

Course Resources

• Where We Stand on Responding to Linguistic and Cultural Diversity

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

• World Organization for Early Childhood Education

            http://web.whittler.edu/omep/omepprojects.html

• The Journal of Multiculturalism in Education

          http://www.multiculturaljournal.com/

• The Montessori Foundation

          http://www.montessori.org/

• Where We Stand on School Readiness

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

Excerpt: NAEYC. (2004). NAEYC advocacy toolkit. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/policy/toolkit.pdf

Article: NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Article: The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.dec-sped.org/

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Lyndon B. Johnson an educator, 36th President quote: "Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity."

Janet Gonzalez-Mena, M.A. Writer, consultant in Early Childhood Education, and an educator practioner. "Pictures of children from different races and cultures illustrate the point that the salad pictures weren't really about tossed salad, but about the benefit of diversity."

Louise Derman-Sparks passion that all children were taught in a environment in ways that were really truly nurturing theri ability to grow and develop to their fullest ability.

Raymond Hernandez Ms Ed. His passion is when he goes to work he knows that what they are learning is for their benefit. What motivates Mr. Hernandez is when he was young, he was offered opportunities to help him succeed in life and he wants to be able to give back the same resources he had to the families and children to make a difference. He knows he won't be able to touch them all but the one's he do will keep him motivated to keep on doing what he does for the families.

Personal Childhood Web

Frances Urdy Stewart my mother, my friend, and biggest supporter. My mother was the strongest peron I knew because she had me the oldest at 13 and my sisters before she was 18. Very young but she have always provided for us and supported whatever we chose in life. My mom and I was very close because I grew up with my mother and she was my rock. Before my mother died she told me, "how proud she was of me and never give up because I was always the one who was determined to succeed in life." No matter what obstacles I occured she was my biggest fan and I miss and lover her. I wish she could see me now, eventhough I know she is smiling down on me saying, "you go girl." What else could I say, "that's my mom." I thank her for giving me life, and being their for me.

Angela Lewis Durley my middle sister. Me and Angela have always been close and she always even as a child would come to all my basketball, track, and volleyball games, She was truly inspirational in my life because when I didn't understand my homework she would help me, even now technology is a weakness of mine and she helps me out with the computer and I thank her. Sometimes I like to quit but she is always in my corner no! You almost done. I love her and thank her.

Sherri Brown Stewart my youngest sister. Sherri is the entertainer in the family, she have a beautiful voice and I am trying to let her know that her voice is for the Lord but she keep running but he will get her when she is ready. Sherri and I are really opposite but she calls me all the time and tells me how proud she is of me and she loves me. When it comes to my education even as kid she have always looked up to me because I do not let nothing stand in my way. Keep going like the enigizer bunny. Sherri braigs on her big sister a lot and I love her for that. She have always been in my corner ,I use take her every where with me. My sisters are my biggest supporters.

Norma Tyson my aunte. I didn't see my aunte much but she would call me all the time as a little girl and ask me, "what I wanted to be," and she would tell me,"you can be anything you want to be never let anyone or anything stop you." As I got older me and my aunte are really close now and she always call and check up on me and my sisters and she tell us how proud she is of us for sticking together even when my mother passed. I love my aunte because she to is the oldest and stride and achieved great things in her life.

My last and favorite uncle Aaron Durley. My uncle was my favorite because I was the first grandchild and he took me every where he went. Even though my uncle did live long he was the one who told me," that I was destined for something big in life and I watched you grow and mature into a beautiful young women. I thank him for that because he was a strong male figure in my life when my dad was not around. I miss him so much. Unfortunately he didn't take pictures that much but I am still looking searching for some.

These people reall impacted my life and pushed me to be the best that I could be. They may not had much in life but their encouraging words is what drive and motivates me today.

Meaningful quote to me. Education is not a product: mark, diploma, job, money-in that order, it is a process, a never ending one. By Bel Kaufman.

A title of a children's book I love and what you love about it. I really don't have a favorite children book because I love a few books but I do love books by Bill Cosby "Little Bill" and Ezra Keats.
I love these books because they talk about different situations in urban African American communities.