Catching up

Since I have graduated with my MS in Early Childhood I have not written on my blog page.  School has kept me busy with the new children in my learning environment.  This year is the first year that I have had more typically developing children then children that have special needs.  Each child is different and I have had to change some of the ways that I teach to meet them at their level.  I do have my hands full with my children that have special needs as well.  Developmental levels have a huge range this year, and I have a child that is still working the kinks out with his medicine (it seems to change every month).  It is very hard on him and the rest of the class. 

We have missed the last four days in January because of the ice/snow that we got.  Being on the coast we do not see very much snow or ice.  We got a lot of ice.  Monday will be busy trying to get everyone back on schedule and ready to learn.

I am having a great time educating and facilitating the learning process with these young children.

Until next time,
Keep in mind that if you want change you have to be willing to change.

Time Well Spent: Completing one Journey to Start Another

            Throughout my Masters in Early Childhood Studies I have learned a lot about myself and others.  I have relearned the value of self-reflecting and how it benefits both you and your mission.  I have learned and redefined my passion in the early childhood field.  I found that I am very passionate about the inclusion of all children, especially the young children that demonstrate challenging behaviors.  I am a firm believer that all young children should have high quality, safe and equitable education and care no matter what their ethnicity, race, gender, ability level, or family type.  During this program I learned about research and how important it is for the early childhood field.  I also take with me the knowledge about diversity and now understand that it is a long hard journey that begins with me taking a little step and is a lifelong process.   

            In our Foundations class we had to list three professional goals that we want to accomplish.  As I review my three goals I see that I am well on my journey of making a safe high quality, equitable learning environment for all young children.  I still have a lot of room to grow and I am a true believer in lifelong learning.  We also had to write a mission statement for the early childhood field and I would like to share mine.  The following is the mission statement that I wrote in our Foundations class:

The mission for the early childhood field is to create a high quality accessible learning environment that is individualized and promotes children’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical development.  Provide families with support, education, and opportunities to be involved in their child’s development.  Provide programs that support interventions, preventions, and treatment for all young children.  Prepare professionals to extend their knowledge of the development of children and identify appropriate and effective skills needed when working with young children.  Provide educational opportunities on psychological flexibility to professionals and families.

If everyone in the early childhood field built and followed this mission I think that we would see high quality accessible education and care for all young children.

 

Saying good bye is a hard thing to do.  I want to thank all my colleagues that have supported, commented, and shared their ideas with me.  Without your support this program would not be meaningful.  You are what made this program successful for me.  I hope that we stay connected with each other.  Thank you for helping me grow and improve my abilities to make social change in the early childhood field.

 

 

If you need me for any reason my email address is lucibarnes@hotmail.com I hope that we can continue to support each other on our journey.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Organizations of Interest

Save the Children organization caught my eye because their values alien with what we have been learning about.  I also like that they are committed to helping children and families help themselves.  Their website is http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.BF0B/Home.htm

 Association for Childhood Education International’s mission is that every child in every nation will have access to a quality education.  They also offer their members access to network groups, student clubs, and special interest forums.  Their website is http://www.acei.org

 The Council for Professional Recognition - Child Development Association (CDA) offers opportunities to explore other organizations.  Their website is http://www.cdacouncil.org/resource-center/early-childhood-organizations

 National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE) is dedicating to improving the education of early childhood teachers.  They offer professional growth and advocacy opportunities. Their website is http://www.naecte.org

Job Opportunities

1. U.S. Headquarters Positions

Headquartered in Westport, Connecticut with a major office in Washington D.C., our staff is a diverse group of people working in a variety of specialties including:

·      Program and policy work in the areas of U.S. programs, Child Protection and HIV/AIDs, Education and Child Development, Health and Nutrition, Hunger and Livelihoods and Humanitarian Response.

·      Marketing & Communications

·      Resource Development

·      Finance

·      Human Resources

·      Information Services

2. U.S. Field-Based Positions

Save the Children runs and coordinates programs for children and families in 29 states across the country. Our field-based positions work with local and national partners to implement programs in Early Childhood and Education, Literacy, Nutrition and Exercise.

3. International Field-Based Positions
Our U.S. headquarters also recruits a limited number of qualified individuals to support field-based programs in a variety of International locations. In addition Save the Children International and 30 national Save the Children organizations around the world also recruit for positions overseas.

ACEI has two internships available for the summer of 2013. Interns are given the opportunity to gain work experience consisting primarily of online research and data gathering that will contribute to the development of briefing papers and other types of resources. In addition to their day-to-day assignments, interns will have the opportunity to attend various meetings related to childhood education.  Interns should be enrolled in a graduate degree program that focuses on global education issues with a particular interest in children's education. A focus on one specific aspect of childhood education, such as basic education or early childhood development, is also acceptable. Interns, who have had some international experience working or living outside the U.S., are preferred. 

I could not find my international dream job in my search; however, I would like the opportunity to travel and help internationally with early childhood.  My best guess would be that I would need similar skills as I would here.  It would also be beneficial if I spoke other languages.

A job opportunity that interests me is opening up and running an early childhood program that is all inclusive, equitable, and high quality.

·         A Master’s degree or higher in early childhood and experience

·         Knowledge of early childhood development, diversity, and be culturally enriched

·         Knowledge of rules and regulations of early childhood program

·         Strong communication and collaborative skills

 

Another job that is of interest is Education Coordinator for an early childhood program.

·         A Master’s degree or higher in early childhood and experience

·         Knowledge of early childhood development, diversity, and be culturally enriched

·         Knowledge of rules and regulations of early childhood program

·         Strong communication and collaborative skills

·         Four years of experience

 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Organizations of Interest

The following is the website for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  I am a member of this organization and I feel that it has helped to keep me informed of new information concerning early childhood.  NAEYC has also provided me with needed resources and gives opportunities to build networks among colleagues.  It also offers learning and research opportunities.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) at http://www.naeyc.org/

 The Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) is an organization that is working towards quality education for all children around the world.  This organization offers global news, resources, and professional development.

Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) at http://www.acei.org

 Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) offers training modules for social and emotional skills in the early childhood field.  This site appeals to me because the social and emotional skill is one of the main areas of disabilities that I work with.

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) at http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu

Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge (CONNECT) offers professional development modules for trainers and resources for learners.

Center to Mobilize Early Childhood Knowledge (CONNECT) at http://community.fpg.unc.edu

Division for Early Childhood (DEC) is an international organization that specializes in early childhood with a focus on children that have special needs.  Within this organization you have research opportunities, professional development, leaders, students, and policies.  There is also a discussion forum to participate in.

Division for Early Childhood (DEC) at http://www.dec-sped.org

Job Opportunities

A job opportunity that interests me is opening up and running an early childhood program that is all inclusive, equitable, and high quality.

·         A Master’s degree or higher in early childhood and experience

·         Knowledge of early childhood development, diversity, and be culturally enriched

·         Knowledge of rules and regulations of early childhood program

·         Strong communication and collaborative skills

Another job that is of interest is Education Coordinator for an early childhood program.

·         A Master’s degree or higher in early childhood and experience

·         Knowledge of early childhood development, diversity, and be culturally enriched

·         Knowledge of rules and regulations of early childhood program

·         Strong communication and collaborative skills

·         Four years of experience

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Organizations of Interest

The following is the national, state and local websites for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).  I am a member of this organization and I feel that it has helped to keep me informed of new information concerning early childhood.  NAEYC has also provided me with needed resources and gives opportunities to build networks among colleagues.  It also offers learning and research opportunities.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) at http://www.naeyc.org/

NCaeyc at http://www.ncaeyc.org/

CFaeyc at http://www.ncaeyc.org/affiliates/CFaeyc/capefear.html

 

The North Carolina Early Childhood Association carries a strong voice for high quality programming for young children.  It advocates in the development of regulations and statewide policies that affect young children, families, teachers, and childcare programs.  This organization offers opportunities to advocate, new resources, training opportunities, and information on the NC Child Care Commission and the important decisions that they make that impacts the children that we serve.

NC Early Childhood Association at http://www.ncearlychildhoodassoc.com/

 

Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health Early Childhood Community of Practice Provides an opportunity for discussion, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas and resources

Community of Practice at http://www.tapartnership.org/COP/earlyChildhood/default.php

 

Job Opportunities

A job opportunity that interests me is opening up and running an early childhood program that is all inclusive, equitable, and high quality.

·         A Master’s degree or higher in early childhood and experience

·         Knowledge of early childhood development, diversity, and be culturally enriched

·         Knowledge of rules and regulations of early childhood program

·         Strong communication and collaborative skills

Week 8---Reflecting and Moving Forward

            The one hope that I have is that all people will respect that “we are all the same; we are all different” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012, p. 67).  With looking beyond this country I can see that there is a lot of children that need support in order to live, thrive, survive and become the best that they can be.  My hope is that all early childhood professionals will remember what Julia Olsen Edwards said that we take two steps forward and one step backwards (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  This is a big challenge for me as I tend to give up if I do not see progress.  If I keep in mind that the one step headway that I gained is just a small start; however, if we are all making that one step headway then we have made progress towards a better future a better tomorrow.  All children deserve a better tomorrow.  So the ultimate hope for the future of our children is that we do not give up on the tiny progress that we have made.  Dr. Olsen Edwards said that it is a long hard journey (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011) and during this journey we will have to be brave and help each other.

            With this being said I would like to thank each and every one of my colleagues.  You have helped be begin this long hard journey.  I am here for you as you travel on this challenging journey.  I hope that we can celebrate each step forward and help each other when challenging issues arise.  Thank you again for your support throughout this educational experience and the beginning of the anti-bias journey.  Looking forward to hearing about your accomplishments and I am here if I can help you through the issues that arise in your journey.

 

Thank you,

Luci

 

References

Derman-Sparks, L. & Edwards, J. (2012). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). EDUC 6358-1 Strategies for Working with the Diverse Child [Webcast]. Your commitment to anti-bias work. Baltimore, MD: Author. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2819834_1%26url%3D

Week 7: Impacts on Early Emotional Development

            There are many things that affect emotional development.  The way that we are raised, how people relate to us, what is happening in the world around us, etc.  The list could go on and on.  During my visit to the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) website (http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html) I chose to explore Latin America and Caribbean region.  I am not really sure why I chose to explore this region over the others, I just did.

            Some of the challenges that this region faces are similar to some that are faced in the United States.  Poverty is a big challenge.  The UNICEF website states that 60% of children under the age of 12 live in poverty.  That is a lot of children that have to wonder about where their next meal might come from or when it might arrive.  According to UNICEF website children face social exclusions.  Children may be socially excluded because of the HIV/AIDS; the Caribbean is the second highest prevalence of AIDS in the world, and disabilities.  This “dramatically affects the indigenous and Afro-descendent communities” (http://www.unicef.org/lac/english_9818.htm).  UNICEF website states that this is one of the most culturally diverse regions in the world.  There are 40-50 million indigenous and 150 million Afro-descendants living here and close to half of these are children under the age of 18.  These children have poor nutrition and non-existent access to basic services.

            This all leads to another threat that children face in this region, chronic malnutrition.  This website compares chronic malnutrition with severe malnutrition in the following way: severe malnutrition is equivalent to a death sentence and chronic malnutrition is equivalent to life imprisonment.  They go on to state that 1 out of every 5 children has chronic malnutrition.  This to me is very scary that so many children have a life sentence put on them at such an early age. 

            Violence and natural disasters are other challenges that this region faces.  UNICEF states that 85,000 children die annually as a result of violence in the home.  They go on to say that violence affects over 6 million children and adolescents.  The natural disasters are hurricanes and flooding occurs yearly.

            All of the challenges that I listed above could affect children’s emotional wellbeing.  These challenges affect how children view themselves as well as how others view them.  These challenges may have children thinking that they are not worthy of things.  Poverty and malnutrition leave children focusing on when and/or what they are going to eat.  Being excluded and violence often leaves you wondering if you are worthy.  All of these affect are emotional wellbeing.

            Personally I have lived in poverty and understand what it is like to go to bed hungry.  I was excluded by my peers because I was poor and just did not fit in with them.  This is totally different from what the children in this region is faced with.  So many children are suffering in this region.  I can only phantom what they are going through.  Professionally this exploration helps me to understand about the different cultures and beliefs that need to be considered when planning our curriculum and daily classroom activities.  A common example would be a sensory table full of rice or noodle necklaces.