Time Well Spent

I can’t believe we all have made it to the end….it seems like it was just a few months ago since the beginning but thank God he saw us through.

Since beginning my first course with Walden I feel like I have become a better student and writer. I feel that the instructors I have had the pleasure of working with have given me the advice and tools needed to become a better student and writer.  I have also learned so much from my fellow classmates, many of whom have been in every class together. I enjoyed the blogs because it have us a chance to express ourselves freely with one another and share ideas as well as support one another. I also feel that I have learned strategies to prepare me to be a leader.

A long term goal is to make a positive difference in my community. I hope to evidentially become an owner/CEO of my own consulting business.

Favorite quote is: “The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – Bill Copeland

Dr. Myers you have truly been the most supportive instructor and I feel that your feedback enhanced my knowledge and understanding.

To all of my fellow classmates I will miss our discussions and blogs and wish all of you the best of success and may god bless each one of you.

God Bless!!

Betty “Traci” Lewis

706-598-2020

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Website: http://www.unicef.org/. At this time there are no job opportunities listed under education and the USA.

Website: http://www.acei.org/.  At the present time there are no job opportunities available.

Website: www.zerotothree.org .  At the present time there are no job opportunities listed on website.

I choose these three websites because of their passion for Early Childhood Education as well as the well being of young children. These websites have an abundant amount of research based information that I found to be very useful and beneficial in many of my research projects.

However, I feel that if there were job opportunities with any of the three organizations and perspective employee must possess the characteristics of being a professional and effective leader. This individual also needs to have great organizational skills and communicative skills.

Jobs/Roles in Early Childhood Education Community: National/Federal Level

The first National agencies I choose to explore are the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NEAYC).  NAEYC is the leading membership association for those working with and on behalf of children from birth through age 8. NAEYC convenes thought leaders, teachers and other practitioners, researchers, and other stakeholders and sets standards of excellence for programs and teachers in early childhood education. NAEYC members include teachers, Para-pros, center directors, trainers, college educators, families of young children, and the public at large. Membership is open to all individuals who share a desire to serve and act on behalf of the needs and rights of all young children. The NAEYC Academy sets and monitors standards for high-quality early childhood education programs and accredits programs that meet these standards. NAEYC Accreditation has been helping parents make the right choices and improving the quality of education and care provided in programs for young children since the early 1980s.  Parents looking for a high-quality program for their young child can watch the Right Choice for Kids video and search for an NAEYC-Accredited program. Programs interested in achieving NAEYC Accreditation can learn more at www.naeyc.org/academy. The only job opportunity available at this time is a Chief IT Officer in Washington DC.  This job required a BS in IT or related computer field.

The second national organization I choose to explore was National Head Start Association (NHSA). NHSA’s mission is to coalesce, inspire and support the Head Start field as a leader in early childhood development and education. NHSA is determined to play a valued leadership role in this country's efforts to educate and serve its most vulnerable children and families and actively committed to being a high-impact organization. This organization also values partnerships and collaboration and are intent on transforming ourselves into a relationship-based organization. There was only one job opportunity posted on the website which was for a Public Policy and Research Director in Washington DC. This job required a Doctorate degree and experience as a Director.

The third national organization I chose to explore was National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies (NACCRA). NACCRRA, the National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, is our nation’s leading voice for child care. We work with more than 600 state and local Child Care Resource and Referral agencies to ensure that families in every local community have access to quality, affordable child care. To achieve our mission, we lead projects that increase the quality and availability of child care, offer comprehensive training to child care professionals, undertake groundbreaking research, and advocate for child care policies that positively impact the lives of children and families. Since 1987, NACCRRA has been working to improve the system of early learning for children by Providing training, resources and best practices standards to local and state CCR&Rs that support high-quality, accountable services. Promoting national policies and partnerships which facilitate universal access to high quality child care. Collecting, analyzing, and reporting current child care data and research, including child care supply and demand trends. Offering child care and parenting information and resources to families and connecting families to local CCR&R services.  At this time there were no job openings listed under human resources.

Exploring Roles in ECE Community Local and State Levels

I live and work in a very rural and small community that I feel collaborates with agencies within the community very well that work to make a positive difference in the lives of families and children served. One organization that I currently take part in is our local Glascock Action Partners collaborative serves as the local decision-making body, bringing community partners together to develop, implement, and evaluate plans that address the serious challenges facing the children and families of our community. This organization currently has no job opportunities, however, is considering downsizing due to lack of funding. Glascock County Action Partners mission is the following: The mission of Glascock County Action Partners Family Connection Communities in Schools is to strengthen families and schools in Glascock County by building community partnerships that will ensure lifelong learning and success.  To become an active member of this group I have gained skills of collaborating and communicating with other agencies in my community to reach a goal.

The second organization I choose to explore and currently not a member of is Georgia Association of Educators (GAE) is a professional organization which is for public education professionals. The mission statement of this organization is the following: As an organization, we believe that public educators are the faces on educator’s front line. We exist to support, protect, and strengthen those who nurture Georgia’s children. After all, our educational program can be only as good as our educators. For us, standing up for education means stating up for public educators. That’s who we are as an organization and that’s what we believe. And that’s why we exist. This organization only has administrative openings available at the current time which are located in the Atlanta area and I’m not interested in moving. As a GAE member I have access to workshops that expand my skills through GAE’s Professional Development Workshops. Through this organization I will also be given liability insurance. GAE’s government relations department fights laws and policies that affect the profession of education, state standards and the classroom. This organization will give me the peace of mind that I’m a member of an organization who stands up for educators.

The third and last organization I have chosen to explore and currently not a member of is GAYC (Georgia Association of Young Children).  The mission statement of this organization is the following: The mission of the Georgia Association on Young Children is to encourage and support healthy development in young children by working with others (1) to increase public awareness of the importance of early childhood education, and (2) to improve the quality of programs for young children through learning opportunities for early childhood educators.  Members of this organization are individuals, who care about the education of young children. These individuals are those who want to make a difference, learn more and meet others who share their interests. The board and membership reflect Georgia's diversity with representation from many cultural and ethnic orientations; urban, suburban and rural perspectives; a full range of early care and education professions; as well as parents, advocates and individuals concerned with quality education for Georgia's children. Currently this organization doesn’t have an available job opportunities listed. Being a member of this organization will give me resources to enhance my skills as an educator. 

Reflection

To all my colleagues I would like to thank for supporting me through this class and my journey through the graduate program. It has been a pleasure working so closely with each and every one of you on and off over the past year.

I plan on continuing my graduate studies in Teaching Adults in Early Childhood.  I don’t only have learned so much from the studies, readings and assignments, but I have learned so much from each one of you through our discussions and blogs.

As we move on into our specialties I hope to keep in touch with those who may no longer be in any of my classes.

I wish each and every one of you a very successful professional future and please don’t hesitate to contact me at betty.lewis@waldenu.edu.

Happy Holidays!!

Week 6

According to the readings this week most people adjourn with a celebratory dinner or perhaps a simple thank you or goodbye (O’Hair & Weimann, 2009).

During the adjourning phase of my group I found the hardest to leave was the ones I had already established supportive and trustful relationships. Our group consisted of several who had established supportive relationships were to our advantage. We respected one another and valued their opinions and differences.  As a group we supported one another and each individual’s strengths were utilized to accomplish our goal.

The closing rituals that I have experienced include having dinner in honor of the group as a thank you and also having a recognition ceremony to recognize those individuals who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.

As my time at Walden draws to an end it will be somewhat difficult to leave my online classmates whom I have established relationships with and it’s always comforting when I begin a new class to see familiar names. During the past year I have found comfort in sharing stories and ideas classmates, something I will dearly miss after graduation.

However, I believe adjourning stage is essential stage of collaboration and teamwork because it gives us the opportunity to reflect in order grow academically.

Resources

Abudi, G. (2011). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

O'Hair, & Wiemann, (2009). Real Communication. An Introduction.

Bedford/St. Martin's

Week 4 Blog

These three self-assessment tool helped me identify my weaknesses as well as my strengths. I was able to identify the positives and negatives which I can build on and enhance both.  I was basically not surprised at the results when I answered the questions myself however, I was somewhat surprised at the answers I was given my co-worker and a family member.

My family member and coworker had very similar views on the communication anxiety inventory piece. One particular difference in the way I perceive myself and the way in which my family member and coworker perceived me in regards to having self confidence and feeling comfortable communicating in most situations.  My family member and coworker’s view was that I was often very comfortable and very relaxed in speaking to a large or small group of people and my view was that experience a considerable amount of anxiety.  

My family member and coworker also had very similar views in regards to verbal aggressive scale and their score was only two point difference.  However, their responses were also very similar to my answers with only a two and four point difference. I felt very proud and honored that my coworker and also my family member viewed me as an individual who engages in verbal aggressiveness or personal attacks no matter the situation.

Again when questioned by my family member and coworker I received similar responses to the questions.  When I completed test three I was placed in Group I and when my coworker and family member completed test three they also placed me in Group I. I consider myself as a good listener however I do have room for improvement, particular when patience is challenged. My coworker as well as my family member both identified this as a weakness, patience. Until I completed this assignment I never realized that I was letting my short patience show in my conversations, this was a gained insight for me.