THANKS FOR A GREAT EIGHT WEEKS!!

I would like to thank everyone for the opporunity to share my thoughts and goals with during the past eight weeks. It has been a pleasure getting to know everyone in group two and I feel I have learned so much from each and everyone of you. I wish everyone the best of luck in the future and I hope to have you in another class. I also I would like to thank Dr. Ferrari for providing me with the knowledge I have gained over the last eight weeks!

NAEYC IDEALS

I -4.5 – To promote knowledge and understanding of young children and their needs. To work toward greater social acknowledgement of children’s rights and greater social acceptance of responsibility for their well-being.

I – 1.15 – To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, intellectual, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions

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I -1.6 – To support the right of children with special needs to participate, consistent with ability in regular early childhood programs

The first ideal is important in that we as educators need to promote independency and confidence in the classrooms to prepare our children for their future. The next one is very important in that it’s so important that we provide a safe environment and treating/educating the child holistically.  The last ideal is close to my heart because I have such a passion to provide for the special needs children I serve and include them in all classroom activities.

Course Resources

COURSE RESOURCES

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• 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/53036/CRS-CW-4603357/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
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• 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. 

Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being

• 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.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• 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/
     

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Walden University (Producer). (2010). Learning Resources. Retrieved December 2, 2010 from  http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4603357&Survey=1&47=8295579&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Additional Resources

1. NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf

2. Association for Childhood Education International. http://acei.org/about/

3. http://www.education.com/

4. http://www.fcd-us.org/

5. http://www.fcd-us.org/

Favorite Quotes

“Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity” Quoted by: Lyndon B. Johnson.



"Effective teachers are intentional in everything they do–they are purposeful, they’re planful, they know why they’re doing what they’re doing and they can explain it to other people,” Quoted by: Dr. Sue Bredekamp

Personal Childhood Web

I have many individuals who have nurtured me and was influential during my young years and continue to be. First of all I have to say my mother and father are the first two to come to mind. My father passed away in 2000 and I miss him so much and even though he is no longer with me I still stop and think before I make a decision and ask the question "Would daddy approve of this?". I always looked for my father's acceptance and always felt the need to make him proud of me. My father grew up very hard and didn't have a formal education however, he was one of the most loving and nurturing person I have ever known. I remember so many nights as a young child I would sick either with a stomach virus or cold and my father would get up and set with me for hours with me and never complained. My mother and father also made me feel special.

I also had two older brothers, my baby brother was eleven years old than I so they both were influential in my life and provided alot of nurturing and protection of their little sister. My oldest brother provided more of disciplinary position, he always made sure I behaved. My younger brother provided me with a sense of security and protection growing up, however, we did have our share of fights.

Last but not least the last person to list is my babysister I had prior to starting school, her name was Mattie. Mattie was so much fun and she never got upset with me or at least she never showed it or raised her voice at me. We would play, dance and just have a wonderful time. When Mattie couldn't make it that day my mother would go and pick up the back-up babysister and I would cry and pitch a fit only because this babysister wasnt as nurturing.

Passion for Children

A child who has special needs tends to fuel my passion for my job. I currently have a child in my class who is developmentally delayed and requires alot of one on one adult attention. He has a hard time feeding himself, he is not potty trained and he only speaks two word phrases. This child comes into the classroom each day with a smile on his face and he seems to just love school. At the end of the day he makes me feel like I have made a differences in his life. I also have a passion for children who come from a home environment that isn't filled with love and caring, my heart and soul go out to these children and I my best to show them as much love and care as I possibly can during the 8 hours they are in my care.

My Favorite Children's Book

I have to say that one of my favorite children's book has to be the kissing hand. I find this book very helpful and soothing for the children during the first few days of school. For those of you who may not know of this book it is a book that helps children deal with the feelings of feeling abandoned and sad during the first week of school. Its a very sweet and well written book.

Hello

Just checking out my blog for the first time!