The Value of Play

You say that you love your children, And are concerned that they learn today, As am I, that's why I'm providing A variety of kinds of play. You are asking what's the value Of having your children play? Your daughter's creating a tower, She may be a builder someday. You're asking me the value Of blocks and sand and clay. Your children are solving problems, They will use that skill every day. You're saying that you don't want your son To play in that sissy way. He's learning to cuddle a doll, He may be a father someday. You're questioning the interest centers, They just look like useless play. Your children are making choices, They'll be on their own someday. You're worried your children aren't learning And later they'll have to pay. They're learning a pattern for learning, For they'll be learners always. ~NAEYC I would like to thank everyone that has read my blog and made comments on it.  I can't believe this class is over already.  I have learned a lot in the last 8 weeks and am looking forward to the classes to come.   See you in the coming classes!


Testing for Intelligence

I believe it is important to look at the whole child. Teachers should be able to work with the children in their class and know what kind of learner they are and adjust their teaching styles to fit those children.   Teachers need to know that not all children learn the same way they (themselves) do.

I don't think standardized tests are completely accurate.   It doesn't give a complete picture of the child.   A problem our school had this past school year was after the state test was given, the state decided to change they way they graded it.  Our school did horrible!!  It was so obvious that the teachers only taught to the test and only focused on the parts that in previous years were graded higher.  Another problem is some children are not good test takers.  They freeze up but if a teacher were to ask them the same question they would get it correct.

In Germany, the school system is set up very differently then here in the United States. Children aged three to six may attend kindergarten. Children in 1st to 4th grade attend elementary school.. Then, after the 4th grade, they are separated according to how well they are doing in school and what their parents want, and  they attend one of three different kinds of schools. They could attend a school that teaches at a slower pace and has some vocational opportunities.  Or a school that has part-time vocational opportunities and if the students have higher academic success they can transfer to the next school that prepares them for college.  Some students start right out in the school preparing them for college.

Reference
http://www.howtogermany.com/pages/germanschools.html

Stress in childhood

When I was growing up, my mom was sick.  She was actually diagnosed before I was born.  She had syringomelia.  She spent a lot of my childhood in and out of hospitals.  When she was home she was in a wheelchair.  Her right arm and left leg were paralyzed.  I used to help her in and out of bed and in and out of the car. 

My mom was a great person.  She was very strong.  Her mind was fine it was her body that was useless.  When I was 12 years old, she went into the hospital for the last time.  She would spend the next 15 years in the hospital.  She passed away 11 years ago on Dec. 23, two days before Christmas. 

My father was and still is a wonderful man.  He raised my brother and I and had a sick wife.  Most men would not have hung around for that.  He went to see my mother almost everyday or every other day.  He brought us to see her on a regular basis. 

This was a stressor in my childhood because my mom was in my life but not right there when I need her.  I can't imagine how stressful this was for her.  To this day I still miss my mother and wish she was here to see her grandchildren grow up.

Children in China live in a very stressful world.  There is the stress and pressure from school and from their parents to do well.  There is a high suicide rate among post-secondary school-agers.

The stress can be related to China's one child rule.  Parents put everything they have into their one child.  China sees that there is a problem with stress in children but at this point have not found ways to help resolve it.

Reference
 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/7027377/Third-of-Chinese-primary-school-children-suffer-stress-study-finds.html

Immunizations

Childhood immunizations are very important for children all over the world.  Every country has different requirements for what immunizations children should have when they are born.  Immunizations can help protect children from many common infections. These infections can lead to serious and even life threatening complications.

I believe immunizations are very important to keep children healthy.  Most immunizations have been around for years and have been through many years of research.

I work with child care providers.  It is required for providers to have up-to-date immunization records on each of the children in their care.  We make sure they have the most recent immunization information.

In Bolivia and Brazil it is required to be immunized for yellow fever, typhoid and rabies.  These are immunizations that are not required in the United States. 

Birth Experience

Two weeks before my due date, I went to my sister-in-laws wedding.  After the wedding, we went home for a little bit before going to the reception.  I started getting contractions about 2 minutes apart.  I quickly packed a bag for my almost 4 year old son and dropped him off at my fathers.  On the way to the hospital we passed my sister in laws limo!!  About 1 mile from the hospital my water broke.  We parked the truck in the circle in front of the hospital.  My husband went in and got a wheelchair.  I got up to labor and delivery and in less than 5 minutes I gave birth to a 6lb 11 oz baby girl.  We were excited as we didn't know what we were having so now we had a boy and a girl.  My husband called the reception hall to let everyone know we had the baby.  My father brought my son down to see the baby and he came in the room and wanted to know where his pink baby was!  It was so cute!!

I chose this event because it was pretty interesting that I had her in between the wedding and the reception.  Plus it was a very quick delivery compared to my son's.

I believe that events that happen at birth play a huge role in a child's development.  There are some dramatic things that can go wrong that will affect a child forever.

The Ngöbe are among the poorest of Latin America’s people.  The women give birth in their straw huts far away from medical clinics.  All pregnancies are classified as high risk due to the extreme poverty.   It is also common for women to have 9-10 children.

I can understand how the lack of medical care in rural areas can play a huge part in  how children are born and children's development.

Three meaningful ideals

To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training. (NAEYC 2005, Code of Ethical Conduct).  I think it is very important to continue to partcipate in any trainings being offered that will expand your knowledge in early childhood.  I believe that as a professional, you need to seek out training opportunities.

To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful. (NAEYC 2005, Code of Ethical Conduct).  I believe that all children deserve to have the opportunity to be successful.  Teachers need to look at each individual child to determine the child's own needs.  So a teacher might need to teach in a few different ways in order for all children to be successful or determine that some children need extra help.

To listen to families, acknowledge and build upon their strengths and competencies, and learn from families as we support them in their task of nurturing children. (NAEYC 2005, Code of Ethical Conduct).  I believe that is important for early childhood professionals to listen to families and help them  work on goals for their child and their family.  It is also important for the family to feel involved with their child's day and to encourage them to come into the classroom.  If they are unable to come to the classroom they can read or do activities at home to help the child succeed.

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

Additional Resources

I just went to a Facilitator's training and this book came highly recommended.  I plan on getting it soon and reading it.  I will post a comment to give my opinion. (http://www.amazon.com/)

This is another book that was mentioned at the training.  It is another one I look forward to reading.  (http://www.amazon.com/)


Another resource that is worth checking out if you haven't yet is
www.ellynsatter.com

She has wonderful ideas on feeding children and the division of responsibility.

I work with child care providers in CACFP (food program).  I had Connie Ever's come out and do a presentation in nutrition for my program.  She has a book out called "How to Teach Nutrition to Kids" by Connie Evers .  She was a great speaker!  It is a good book if you are working with children to teach them about nutrition.

Course resources

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/53029/CRS-CW-4465394/educ6005_readings/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~images/pdfs/snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
• World Forum Foundation
  http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
  
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
  Read about OMEP’s mission. 
  
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements. National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children’s Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
  
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=22807
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

An excerpt from Dr. Ann Turnbull

"But our greatest hope is that its not just the responsibility of parents and inividuals with intellectual disabilities to be advocates and ambassadors but the classmates, the co-workers, the neighbors, the members of religious communities."




Resource:
"Attitudes Toward the Intellectually Disabled." Talk of the Nation, Washington DC, August 11, 2009

A quote from Dr. Alice Honig

"Family is the first school for young children, and parents are powerful models."

Resource:
"Helping Children Become More Caring and Cooperative," NYSAEYC Reporter (Winter 1994)

Personal Childhood Web

My dad:  My dad was and still is an amazing man.  He had to be mom and dad to my brother and I. He made sure he took us to visit my mom when she was in the hospital.  He always made time to play with my brother and I whether it was outside playing in the snow or drawing pictures on cardboard boxes so we could play in them.  He worked a full time job but always made sure we were taken care of when he was gone.  My dad sits very high on a pedestal in my eyes.  There are not a lot of men who would have stuck around with a sick wife and 2 small kids to raise.  He has shown me what commitment is really about and what is truly important in life....family.

My mom:  My mom was a very important person in my life.  She was in and out of the hospital from the time I was about 5 until she went in for the last time when I was 12 years old and never left for the next 15 years.  She always wanted to know what was going on in my life.  She wanted to know how school was and wanted to hear about everything that was going on in my life.  The one thing I remember is that she never complained about her situation.  She taught me to never give up. Also, I am a very responsible person because of her and her not being able to be home.

Dolly:  My cousin Dolly was very  important to me as I was growing up.She was very close to my mom when they were growing up and as they got older.  I remember that my brother and I spent time with her and her husband at their house in New Jersey two different summers.  She was very patient with us and taught us all kinds of things about the ocean.  They took us out clamming in the ocean.  She made me feel special by spending time with me. 

Pat:  She was someone who had worked with my mom and they became friends.  Pat would take me to my orthodontist appointments.  She would include my brother and I on activities with her family.  I know she cared about me because she would take me on my appointments and she took us to do fun things.  She was single with no children and she gave up her time to spend with us.  I believe because of her influence I like to help others whenever needed.

Helen:  Helen was like my second mom.  She was someone who had worked with my dad and became a friend of the family.  Helen used to take me everywhere.  She made me feel special because she always counted me as her daughter.  She included my brother and I in almost all of her family events.  Even her family treated us like family. I always felt very loved and safe when I was with her.  I knew I could tell her anything.

A story that touched my heart

When I worked at the Child Care Center as a Site Supervisor, we would receive calls on a daily basis from parents looking for day care.  The one story I will never forget was one mom calling me who had a 4 year old son.  She was crying because she could not find a place for him because he was Autistic.  I told her we had a spot for him and to come over anytime to check out our center.  She said, "Are you sure?  He is Autistic."  I explained to her that I was sure and that made no difference to me.  She enrolled him right away and was over joyed.  Even though by law, providers and centers could not turn him away some how they did.  I will never understand how and why that happened but in a way I was glad because we got him.  He stayed in our program until he was 13 1/2 years old.  He would come every day before and after school.  He is a child that my staff and I learned a lot from and he is a child I will never forget.  As he got older, his mom would remind me of that day she called me crying looking for day care and how I took him in like he was my own.  She told me that she would never forget me for what I did for her and her family.  I would have had a whole center of special needs children if I could have because they teach us so much.  I had a lot of children through out the 9 years I was there, but this is one of the children I truly will never forget.

I love children!!

My desire to work in the Early Childhood Field is my love of children.  I have always known I would either work with or do something to help children.  When I was little, I used to play teacher.  I had a small blackboard on the wall in my bed room and used to set up my stuffed animals as my students. 

I started college right after high school with the intention of being an elementary teacher.  In my junior year I realized I didn't want to be confined to a classroom and changed my major the child development.  I realized then the the Early Childhood Field was and is the place for me!

Favorite Saying

"Live life for today because you never know what tomorrow will bring"
(author unknown)

I live my life everyday by this saying.  My mom was sick my whole life and spent many years in the hospital.  She did not plan it.  She was diagnosed with a rare illness.  I know that things can change in an instant and I am going to do things now and not wait for the "someday" like many people do. 

My son turned 11 years old today.  His birthday is 9/9/99.  He has the coolest birthday!  He was born at 7:02 pm (which adds up to 9)!

I am looking forward to "talking" with my fellow classmates.  I am new to this so it should be an adventure!