Research that Benefits Children and Families

Completing research on children and families can be very beneficial.  Research can provide personal knowledge and it provides samples of what is expected and what is to come.  A study released by the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) in December 2011, explores how family activities in the home contribute to children’s development while they are attending Head Start programs. This study applied complex econometric modeling to data from the Head Start Impact Study to examine changes in families’ tendencies to engage in a broad range of activities that support child development. It sought determine how changes in family activities relate to Head Start program elements and evidence of child growth indicated through assessment scores.

Snow, K. (n.d.). Research News You Can Use: Family Engagement and Early Childhood Education. Retrieved from https://www.naeyc.org/content/research-news-family-engagement

Getting to Know your International Contacts Part 3

I chose the alternative to the assignment:

Insights that I have learned from the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural organization website were

·       

•    The greatest difficulty faced by countries in their efforts to expand and improve the quality of early childhood care and education is the mobilization of resources. This is particularly daunting in developing countries, where early childhood may be overshadowed by other pressing priorities, such as universal primary education.
• ·       Early childhood care and education is often the concern of several government sectors and usually these are education, social affairs and health. The multi-faceted nature of early childhood care and education gives rise to the challenge of effectively coordinating provision of policy development and implementation across the different sectors.  Coordination issues include coherent regulation, funding and staffing schemes and a common vision of care and education. Effective coordination must exist among sectors at both national and local level, and also between public and private establishments.
• ·       Early childhood care and education programs should emphasize the child’s holistic development and extend beyond assisting the child’s transition to formal schooling. High quality childcare, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, promotes motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness.

Consequences

I have learned that in the United States we are more fortunate to have advocates who fight for ECE policies.  Some countries suffer due to lack of resources and funding.  Lack of support is also a consequence.  Many educators feel they don’t have the support that they should and lack of pay is a concern.  It is important that educators have an open communication so that all can benefit and develop solutions to any problems or issues.

My goal is to continue to learn and share as much information as I can with the families I engage with.  I will continue to learn as much as possible so that I can share with my colleagues.  It is vital that we can become benefiting factor in ECE.  It is also important that we learn from these international countries.  Some countries do have policies and use techniques that may be implemented in the classroom in the united states.

Sharing Web Resources

 The division of early childhood website is the site I continue to use.   One outside link I followed was panel of excellence which is where DEC encourages the development of high-quality products, using multiple technologies, to support the effective implementation of DEC's newly revised Recommended Practices in early intervention and early childhood special education. These products may be for families, emerging or practicing professionals, professional development providers, researchers, and/or administrators at the state, local, or agency level.

One area of the site I found was called learning decks.  This sections offers professional development webinars for those who work with, or on behalf of, young children with special needs.

 The division for early childhood was started in 1973 by a group of volunteers who cared deeply about the development of young children with special needs. DEC is one of 17 divisions of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the largest professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents. This site is solely dedicated to assist all young children with special needs, by making sure they receive quality and appropriate resources.

  DEC continues exceed expectations.  DEC consistently offer trainings to professionals to improve a wide variety of learning opportunities designed for professionals who work with or on behalf of young children with special needs.

 I learned that DEC collaborates with many different agencies.  With these collaborations, DEC is able to accomplish our mission of promoting policies and advancing evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities

http://www.dec-sped.org/

Getting to Know Your International Contacts Part 2

I chose the alternative assignment.  I explored the Harvard University's "Global Children Initiative" site.  Three insights that I have learned are as follows:

In Canada The Alberta Family Wellness Initiative (AFWI)  was created to counter the separation between science, policy, and practice work, which hinders the real-world application of scientific knowledge. Drawing upon the Center’s scientific resources, the initiative fulfills two key mandates:

 supporting research in early brain and biological development, mental health, and addiction, and

translating that research for policy makers, healthcare communities, and the general public.

The collaborative Núcleo Ciência Pela Infância (NCPI) has been highly successful in creating a science-driven early childhood movement in Brazil, most notably through training Brazilian policy makers on how to apply developmental science to inform programs and policies. Building a Brazilian scientific community around early childhood development. NCPI is convening an interdisciplinary group of Brazilian scholars to guide the synthesis and application of scientific knowledge about child development to policymaking and practice in Brazil. It is also fostering collaboration among Harvard and Brazilian researchers, including publication of a working paper series.

 A partnership led by Grand Challenges Canada, Saving Brains seeks to improve outcomes for children living in poverty through interventions that nurture and protect early brain development in the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. The Center on the Developing Child supports a dynamic learning community of Saving Brains innovators to help them advance the impact and scale of their work in countries around the world.

Sharing Web Resources

Division for Early Childhood

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. DEC is an international membership organization for those who work with or on behalf of young children (0-8) with disabilities and other special needs and their families.

This site offers guidance to parents and professionals who work with young children who have or who are at risk for developmental delays or disabilities.

As the premier international organization dedicated to young children with exceptionalities and their families, the Division for Early Childhood (DEC), a subdivision of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), is uniquely positioned to gather member and community input in order to send a strong message to political leadership and other stakeholders regarding proposed, amended, existing, and/or new legislation and regulations that have the potential to impact the children and families served through early intervention and early childhood special education (EI/ECSE) as well as the professionals that serve them. DEC provides members with access to numerous advocacy and political involvement opportunities.

http://www.dec-sped.org

Getting to know your International Contacts

I read about childhood poverty in Ethiopia.  The excerpt was entitled Nutrition in Early Childhood: Insights from rural Ethiopia.  During my reading I learned the following:

 Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in Africa and the national rate of undernutrition is 44 per cent (Ethiopia Demographic and Health Survey, 2011).

Services that improve the child’s environment have complementary (and possibly separate) impacts on nutritional intake in terms of ability to catch up from nutritional shocks at an early age.

Small changes to economic wellbeing of households could make a big impact on both current nutrition and future outcomes, and underscore the importance of investment in under-5’s.

http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_childpoverty.html

http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/files/Catherine_Porter_CPI_Jan2013.pdf

Sharing Web Resources

The name of the organization I chose is the Division for Early Childhood http://www.dec-sped.org/.  The Division for Early Childhood was started in 1973 by a group of volunteers who cared deeply about the development of young children with special needs. DEC is one of 17 divisions of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), the largest professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of individuals with disabilities and/or gifts and talents.  This site is important to me because I have a passion for working with children with special needs.  I find it great to know that there is an organization that's sole purpose is refining education for those children. 

 Current news I found on the website was:

Division for Early Childhood Co-Signs New "Policy Statement on Family Engagement: From the Early Years to the Early Grades"

Monday, May 9, 2016

This article provides details of a new policy which is focused on family engagement which refers to systematic inclusion of families in activities and programs that promote children’s development learning and wellness, which includes planning, development and evaluation of such activities, programs and systems.  It describes in detail the importance of family engagement and the nurturing of positive relationships between the family and staff.  It explains how the role of family engagement is beneficial to a child’s success.

I also found it interesting that the website offers a wide variety of learning opportunities designed for professionals who work with or on behalf of young children with special needs.   One can choose from these areas on the site.

Conferences

Ask the Authors webinars

Learning Decks (online)

Professional Development Institutes

Special Interest Groups

Establishing International Contacts

I chose Alternative to Part 1.  The website I used was http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/. 

The website states that At The Global Fund for Children, we transform the lives of children on the edges of society—trafficked children, refugees, child laborers—and help them regain their rights and pursue their dreams. In other words, we do all we can to let kids be kids—no matter what their circumstances. Since 1997, we’ve reached nearly 10 million children worldwide.

The Global Fund for children finds and invests in small, locally led organizations that transform the lives of the world’s most vulnerable children.  By providing grassroots organizations with a combination of flexible cash grants and capacity-building services, we help them achieve their goals and maximize their impact. The result: strong grassroots organizations that are transforming children’s lives, their communities, and civil society as a whole.

I watched a video entitled Shining Hope for Communities:  Kiberia School Girls Perform Poetry.  This was a very inspirational video that showed young girls reciting poetry together.  This school for girls has won numerous awards from the Kenyan government at the National Music and Elocution.

My Supports

I believe that it's extremely important to have support in order to be successful.  My family and friends are my biggest supporters. To me I feel at my best knowing that those that love and support me have my back.  Knowing that I have their encouragement and their faith in me,  it just pushes me to do better. Just by listening to my mother, husband or my children tell me that they are proud of me for pursuing my goals means the world to me.  If I did not have any support I believe that I wouldn't have the drive to move forward.  Success is best when it is shared with those who truly believe in you!!

My Connections to Play

 As a child going outside to play was the norm. We would go outside and could play all day long.  My cousins and I would sometimes make up things to do outside.  We would play in the dirt, making mud-pies (which was my favorite)! We would jump rope and hula hoop. Our parents encouraged us to play outside. Sometimes they would come outside and join in on all the fun! The difference in play today compared to when I was growing up is children today have access to tons of electronics which we didn't have any access too.  With access to video games, I-pads, tablets, cell phones,etc. children have the tendency to stay inside.  That's when I feel parents or guardians should step in and encouraged the children to play outside.
There's nothing wrong with having electronics.   The key is to have balance between the two.  

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are important to me because its knowing that you have someone who loves you and have someone you can trust and depend on.  The relationship I have with my mother is amazing.  She is my best friend.  Although we live 3 hours away from each other not a day goes by that we don't call or text one another. She is the first person who taught me the true meaning of having a positive relationship.  Since I was her little girl she has always taught me right from wrong.  She has always been honest with me.  By watching her I've learned how to become an amazing wife, mother and a friend.  Through her teachings I've learned that compassion is a contributing factor to being an effective early childhood professional.  She taught me happiness, compassion and empathy.  Which are all beneficial in the classroom.  

My husband who is an amazing provider and protector taught me about hard work and never giving up.  The love he has for our family is extraordinary.  He exemplifies what a true leader is.  He goes above and beyond to make sure all our needs are met.  Through his leadership I've learned this is also a contributing factor to being an effective early childhood professional.   As an educator, being a leader in the classroom teaches children to complete tasks and to maintain positive and effective relationships.

My children who are my pride and joy have taught me about love and patience.  Being a mother has taught me about selflessness and unconditional love.  I have learned that each child is different and learn differently.   Being an early childhood professional it is important to know that each child you come in contact with is not the same.  Meaning they have different backgrounds, cultures and  upbringings.  This means the way they learn things may be different from others.  It is vital as an educator to be able to  accommodate each child's needs in each area of strengths and weaknesses.  Being able to teach diverse students and maintaining a positive relationship with them and their family are also beneficial in the classroom.