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.