PROFESSIONAL HOPES AND GOALS

• One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who comes from diverse backgrounds.

I hope to work with the family with a kind heart, with a enough understanding about their cultural with respect in effort to better help the growth of their child. We can build a relationship that is positive and strong without any bias to prove to the children that people do respect all human being even when they comes from different time and places.

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

That I make a difference in a child and their family life about diversity. That I may teach a group of children to embrace their cultural and be the person they are not a person someone tell them they should be. To make a child proud about their identity and not be a shame of who they are. To help prepare them to stand up for what is right and to teach them that they are to be treated with respect from all. To help change how they look at people and not to be judgmental towards things that may appear different or people that is different from them.

• A brief note of thanks to your colleagues.

I would like to thank all my colleagues, because of you I have gain much respect and knowledge  from each of you by your comments, questions, and weekly posting of discussion questions and blog entries. I would like to wish you the best in life and I know you will make a different in some child's life.
I WISH YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.

THE PERSONAL SIDE OF BIAS, PREJUDICE, AND OPPRESSION

Last week the Mayor from Troy, Michigan posted a hateful remark about gays on her face book page. She used slur to voice her opinion about the state of New York legalized gay marriage. The media was yelling at her asking her to stand down from her current position as mayor.

Being a politician figure you have to respect everyone. You have to uphold an ethic code about people that may have voted for you. You no longer have the right to voice your personal opinions about anyone especially in a derogatory way.

At first when I heard part of the story I thought she just posted on her face book page that she did not agree to gay marriages, at that time I felt that people were hard on her because she voiced her personal feelings about gay marriages, but later when I found out she said things in a hateful way I could not believe she could have done something so foul and had the nerve to voice it to millions by face book like she did not know that being a mayor she is representing many gays that live in Michigan and if you can accept their votes then as a mayor you are saying you can accept how they choose to live their life.

PRACTICING AWARENESS OF MICROAGGRESSIONS

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

It is funny that this assignment came this week when I did something that is consider as being microaggression toward someone. This week I had said something out the way to my male co-worker. Every day he comes to work and say something about what a woman suppose to do. Mind you he live with a women that he has no intentions of marrying, but always saying what she has to do to keep him happy.  In the same breathe he speaks about many other women that he is seeing or messing around with. So I said without thinking you are what us real women consider as a dog in a joking matter but really in the back of my head i was thinking this. This is wrong because I displayed that I was biases also.

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

I see that even being unintentional microaggression toward someone it can be done without thought. Many people do not think before speaking, what comes in comes right out without going through a thinking process. So I see many people not thinking  how they effect people with what they say or do.

PERSPECTIVES ON DIVERSITY AND CULTURE

I asked three co-worker about their definition of culture and diversity. The response were basically on the same page each  felt that the meaning of culture  is all about  traditional. traditionals music, social norms of family, family traditions, values and morals that goes with different cultures. One co-worker that has a dual citizenship with United States and Canada and in her opinion diversity is now to her described as being a positive thing. Diversity is a way of describing working together for one common goal. In Montreal, Canada which is the largest city province of Quebec is all multiculture.

• The aspects of culture and diversity  that I have learn from this course is that I never knew how impotant learning about others culture would have an impact on my teacher career.

MY FAMILY CULTURE

      A description of the three items you would choose

1.      Three family pictures one from the day I got married which included my mom, dad, sibling and their spouses and their children. The second on with me, my husband and my new born son. A large picture of my son.

2.      My wedding ring

3.      My son favorite toy

      How would you explain to others what each of these items means to you

My pictures hold the vision memories for me and my heart holds the true meanings to me. My wedding ring to represent the responsibilities I have as a wife and mother.  The reason I would take my son favorite toy to give him comfort with something that is familiar to me.

      Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other  two items you brought with you

I would probably be angry, upset, and mad. But after a while I would look at it as material things and thank the Lord that we are alive and hold the pictures, and wedding ring as a memory that I keep in heart, but I would keep my son favorite toy because he do not know about holding memories.

      Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general as a result of this exercise.

This exercise just made me thinks that we have no idea why people have to relocate, or want to live in different countries. I know I would be scared to be in the mist of people that might not accept me or do not understand me. 

WHEN I THINK OF RESEARCH...

From this class EDUC 6163 Building Research Competencies I have learned so much information I hope I can remember everything because everything I learned will help me with my research. I knew there is a format each researcher would have to follow but it never occurred to me just how many designs and components you would have to incorporate in your paper in order for you to have a great paper.

My way of doing a research has changed dramatic after this course. If I never had token this class my research paper would have been a failure. My preparation and the different angles would have been done incorrectly.

I learn in just week one that my first topic would have took me over year just to get in touch with all the people involved. I would not have known where to start in doing a research paper on “Can Michigan provide public Child Care for the people who lives in Michigan” I would’ve have to talk to people in the Governs office. I also learned about Ethical consideration for my topic, learning what a hypothesis statement is, and I also learned about different design such as qualitative and quantitative you can follow for your research.

The challenges I encountered are understand in depth about each step it takes to do a great research. I had to look on the website at different site to get a better understanding, and meaning of each designs.

I am learning that early childhood professional entails a lot of learning, rules, goals and information that is needed in order to be a great teacher.

I also want to take the time to thank all my colleagues for your input on my discussion question, giving me helpful feedback and giving me the opportunities to view your blogs and your discussion questions answer, ideas and point views. Thank You so Much and I wishes the best to ALL.

Research Around the World

The international early childhood research I chose  was Early Childhood Australia.

Some of their research topics are:

• Respecting Diversity: Articulating  early childhood practice
•  Learning and teaching through play
•  The Early Years Learning Framework: Building confident learners
•  Managing change with infants and young children
•  Young children as active learners
• Treasures and Collections: A touch of magic in early years

Some facts/insights I received from exploring this international early childhood website is the majority of there research is done on early childhood. For futher research they are going to explore how to foster generative working relationships more systematically among bureaucrats, academics and the early childhood sector to improve policies. (EYLF 2009)
I found this website to have an lot of information that is needed. I can use the researches that they have listed to help me with my research. This is a positive organization that gear to helping children in Australia. They also have program to help the parents.

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

RESEARCH THAT BENEFITS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

The research for ADHD. My stepson was diagnose with ADHD. For the longest children with ADHD was label for special education. It took some time before they knew information about ADHD.
I find some information that was useful to me about ADHD.


Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the most commonly diagnosed behavioral disorders during childhood (Tannock & Schachar, 1996; Shaywitz, Fletcher & Shaywitz, 1994; Shelton & Barkley, 1994; Kavanagh & Lyon, 1994; Barkley, 1990b).  ADHD includes a heterogeneous array of symptoms which overlaps markedly with oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, affective disorders such as depression, anxiety, learning disabilities, and communication disorders.  ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of behavioral symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsively (APA, 2000; Barkley, 1990a, 1990b).  Children showing behaviors that are characteristics of ADHD have been found to be highly “at-risk” for maladaptive educational and social outcomes. (Jimerson, 2002)


http://www.education.ucsb.edu/jimerson/adhd.html
Tannock, R. (1998). Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Advances in Cognitive, Neurologically, and Genetic Research.  Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 39(1), 65-99.
    

PERSONAL RESEARCH JOURNEY

This week I changed my topic because my first one would be too big to research. So this week I picked "Parental Involvement with their Preschool Age Children" The reason I chose this is for information for myself. I just enrolled my 20 month old son in a child care program and I want to know just how much involvement I should do beside just paying his tuition, or just helping him with his homework daily. I talk to his teachers daily and see the progress he is making but I feel like I should be doing more. I want to do more. I want to have an impact on all the education he will receive. I will like if any of my colleagues could give me any point about the matter. Thank You in Advance.

FINAL BLOG ASSIGNMENT

One thing I learn from the international early childhood field was how poverty really interfere with the children learning. How some of the younger children have to work instead of going to school. It also shed light on how families that are migrating to the United States have a tough time being accepted from us. How they fear for their children and their education. How they fear about their  children learning our language and forgetting about their own language.
I have gained a lot of knowlegde from this classs such as how many states fail to provide all young children with afforable quality early learning.  Also are all teachers qualify to teach young children. Why is teacher wages so low for early childhood educators compare to kindergarten teachers. I have learned a lot of these about issues and trends.

Blog Assignment: Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific Cultural Organization) is an organization that works with the State in efforts to improve early childhood care and education. They encourage their educators and directors to go to programmes to learn more about children well being.

UNESCO focus on upgrading the policy for all states for children between the ages 0-10 years old.

. Teachers have a foremost influence on learning. Yet their status and working conditions in many countries make it difficult to promote inclusion. What can be done to improve their lot?
The way teachers teach is of critical importance in any reform designed to improve quality. A child-centred curriculum is characterized by a move away from rote learning and towards greater emphasis on hands-on, experience-based, active and cooperative learning. Introducing inclusion as a guiding principle has implications for teachers’ practices and attitudes – be it towards girls, slow learners, children with special needs or those from different backgrounds.
Adequate pre-service and in-service teacher training is essential to improve learning. Moreover, policies must address their status, welfare and professional development. But there exists not only a severe teacher shortage, especially in sub-Saharan Africa and South and West Asia, but a lack of adequately trained teachers. This shortage has unfortunate consequences for the quality of learning. A new curriculum cannot be introduced without familiarizing teachers with its aims and contents. Assessment can help teachers to measure student performance and to diagnose difficulties. But teachers need to understand the value of good assessment practices and learn skills to develop their own tests.   (UNESCO)

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

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

This is a website I decided to look through. I am already impress about their mission statement.

Our mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers. We achieve this by translating research and knowledge—specifically information about the kinds of early experiences that help children thrive—into a range of practical tools and resources for use by the adults who influence the lives of young children.

I hate I did not look at this website before. I love their Child's Development chart. Healthy Minds: Nurturing your child's healthy development. This site gave me the much needed  information a first time mom needed. It showed me what  to expect from my toddler and ways in how to deal with his tantrums and why he will have tramtrums. The information is broken down according to the age of the child. It also give you pointer on how to build upon your child development. I am just so impress with this organization I plan to learn all can from their newsletters. Which I just signed up for.

The issues I have read about so far from this website is maltreatment and the impact of trauma.

Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Familieshttp://www.zerotothree.org/ (May have to use http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ )
(Newsletters:
http://zttcfn.pub30.convio.net/child-development/from-baby-to-big-kid/ and
http://capwiz.com/zerotothree/mlm/signup/ )

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS PART 2

I have not received any response back from my emails. But I am waiting patiently but for this assignment I did have a chance to tour Harvard University's Global Children's Initiative website.



The National Scientific Council on the Developing Child is a multi-disciplinary, multi-university collaboration designed to bring the science of early childhood and early brain development to bear on public decision-making. 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. (Harvard University)

This website was very informative . This center is commitmented to all children from all over the world. They take pride on providing decision makers about the science of a child and their well being.
Their goals are:

• Building a multidisciplinary science of health, learning and behavior
• Advancing our undestanding of how to reduce disparities in well being
• Catalyzing the formulation and implementation of effective science-base policies
• Preparing future and current leaders to make science-based polocy desision (Harvard University)

They constanly have working group of Havard faculy working and implenting ways to communicate to decision makers about their program. They also have a forum to address the issues with investors and they tell them why investing in early childhood is important.

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/)

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

htpp://www.icrichild.org

• What specific section(s) or information seemed particulary relevant to your current professional development

This company help children in U.S. and  International. I really liked that this organization look to really help the women and girls in order to get control of poverty.


                                            

•  Which ideas/statment/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issues in new ways?

The things I read from this organization in how the things they do to help children and their families that live in poverty. This make me want to look into a company myself. I did not realize how many organizations are out ther to help the children and ther families.

ICRI works to improve the lives of children and families around the world. We focus on early childhood care and education, children’s rights, empowerment of women and girls, maternal/child health, and grassroots community development. ICRI’s credo is “we only go where we are invited,” and all of our programs advance local leadership and promote community collaboration. Since ICRI was founded in 1981, we have developed or operated over 300 programs in over 50 countries, all with the goal of empowering the village to raise the child. (ICRI)

ICRI provides expert consultation and technical assistance on the establishment or improvement of child and family programs. Our clients include local, national, and international businesses, governments, foundations, and non-profit organizations interested in developing model programs to serve children and families.
ICRI’s team includes a diverse roster of consultants with expertise in early childhood, child protection, maternal/child health, community development, program design/implementation, and monitoring/evaluation. Our services include:

• child care facility design and development
• needs assessment evaluations
• program design and implementation
• program monitoring and evaluation
• strategic planning
• program administration and oversight
• fund development and fiscal management
• resource procurement
• legislative and policy planning support
• training and capacity building(ICRI)

• What other newsights about issues and trens in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

I find that this organization encourage children to play. When I was reading about other organization many of them did not mention too much about how the children will be learning.  But this organization include play for the children.

 

We have developed a unique curriculum that incorporates tumbling, music,

dance, creative play, and martial arts as a means of fostering healthy
development, self-awareness, and self-expression. We begin with an intake and assessment of each child, and then schedule him or her in weekly private or small group lessons as determined by the child’s needs and individual stage of development. Parents receive regular progress reports and communication from the instructors, and are encouraged to attend our adult education workshops in order to enhance their ability to respond to the unique strengths and needs of their child.(ICRI)
http//:www.icrichild.org

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL CONTRACTS.

I did not get a response back from anyone. I am a little disappoint because I really wanted to communicate with someone to gain more knowledge about their country and the problems with their children that has to live in poverty.

SUB- SAHARAN AFRICA

 

POVERTY NEVER TAKES A HOLIDAY: FIGHT POVERTY AND HUNGER

“ I know poverty because poverty was there before I was born and it has become part of life like the blood through my veins. Poverty is not going empty for a single day and getting something to eat the next day. Poverty is going empty with no hope for the future. Poverty is getting nobody to feel your pain and poverty is when your dreams go in vain because nobody is there to help you. Poverty is watching your mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters die in pain and in sorrow just because they couldn't get something to eat. Poverty is hearing your grandmothers and grandfathers cry out to death to come take them because they are tired of this world. Poverty is watching your own children and grandchildren die in your arms but there is nothing you can do. Poverty is watching your children and grandchildren share tears in their deepest sleep. Poverty is suffering from HIV/AIDS and dying a shameful death but nobody seems to care". " Poverty is when you hide your face and wish nobody could see you just because you feel less than a human being. Poverty is when you dream of bread and fish you never see in the day light. Poverty is when people accuse you and prosecute you for no fault of yours but who is there to say some for you? Poverty is when the hopes of your fathers and grandfathers just vanish within a blink of an eye. I know poverty and I know poverty just like I know my father's name. Poverty never sleeps. Poverty works all day and night. Poverty never takes a holiday" (One Poor African)

When I read this I cried I never took time to realize just how much pain is going on  in the world. All I knew is what is happening in my little world. from the CHIP web site I read something that really touch me "Today's poor children are all too often tomorrow's poor parents". In Sub Saharan Africa the children number of death of children under five continue to rise. The main reasons for poverty in Africa is war, HIV, hunger and lack of education for their people.

Shaing Web Resources

                               HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE

 
 

The HCZ pipeline begins with The Baby College, a series of workshops for parents of children ages 0-3. The pipeline goes on to include best-practice programs for children of every age through college. The network includes in-school, after-school, social-service, health and community-building programs. The pipeline has, in fact, dual pathways: on one track, the children go through our Promise Academy charter schools; while on the other track, we work to support the public schools in the Zone, both during the school day with in-class assistants and with afterschool programs.

For children to do well, their families have to do well. And for families to do well, their community must do well. That is why HCZ works to strengthen families as well as empowering them to have a positive impact on their children's development.

http://www.hcz.org/index.php

International Child Resource Institute

All children deserve access to high quality, stimulating, developmentally appropriate early childhood care and education. We believe that early intervention promotes the healthy growth and development not just of individual children, but of entire communities.

ICRI envisions a world in which all children and families are able to fulfill their greatest potential. We work towards this goal by focusing on:

Early Childhood Care and Education

All children deserve access to high quality, stimulating, developmentally appropriate early childhood care and education. We believe that early intervention promotes the healthy growth and development not just of individual children, but of entire communities.

Children’s Rights

Children must be allowed to live safe and stable lives, free from abuse and violence. We believe that recognizing and protecting children’s rights is an essential step towards ensuring human rights for all.

Maternal and Child Health

Women and children must have access to health interventions that allow them to physically and mentally thrive. We believe that HIV/AIDS and other public health challenges must be addressed at every opportunity, in order to ensure the wellbeing of individual women and children as well as the larger communities in which they live.
http://www.icrichild.org/

Establishing Professional Contacts

This week I went to only UNICEF and emailed to eight different countries stating that I am currently a student at Walden University and my assignment calls for me to communicate with two different early childhood professional. I am sad to say that I have not received any email backs so I must do more this week.

Child Development

When I Think Of Child Development

Child Development

Our Future starts here while the baby is still in the womb waiting to enter the world.

The newborn is instantly zestfully ready for life. (Berger 2009)

Toddler Years (1-3) are a time of great growth and change. This is the time when the toddlers learn how to walk and start putting sounds together. Their cognitive, social and behavior skills are happening fast.

Preschool years (2-6) at this age children motor skills are more advance. Children are exploring new ideas and habits. They are becoming more independent and they have a larger vocabulary. At this age the children are more socially involve with other children.

This is our School-age children (7-11) who are ready to learn whatever adults teacher them. Berger 2009) Peer acceptance is very important to them at this age. They want to be accepted and approved from their peers. School –age children are highly active in physical activities such as sports or outdoor playing. They become more flexible, logical and knowledgeable. (Berger 2009)

I would like to thank all my colleagues for your support whether it was on the Discussion Board or on the Blog your comments help me to learn and it also expanded my way of thinking. I wish everyone the best and hope being in another course with you in the future.