Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

The topic I would choose is 'Adolescent Suicide', the reason I say adolescent is because the age of suicide is becoming younger and younger, occurring well before they enter their teens.  I would like to discover the underlining reason behind these suicides and implement programs to aide in decreasing these sad cases.   The pretty little girl below is Jasmine McClain age 10, her mother found her in her bedroom dead...she hung herself.  Jasmine was a victim of bullying, her mother stated that she was being teased about her shoes and clothes.  Jasmine did not want to return to school and was very unhappy.  I think it is time for parents to start taking responsibility in their child's actions, letting them know that it is not nice to hurt their peers by picking, teasing and or taunting.  These cases are becoming more and more prevalent all throughout the United States and we need to  get a hold on this before it  spirals out of control.  Implementing self-esteem building exercises in  early childhood programs would help children increase their self-esteem and they can love themselves just as they are.  This will help children realize that even though they do not have the type of clothes and shoes that are in style they are still unique and beautiful.  Only positive returns will come from this research, lives would be saved and families (parents) would be able to continue to grow.  I know there is something we can do to help children before it gets to this point.  If we look at history children with low self-esteem tend to either hurt others or themselves.  Some become overweight and or obese, eating to numb the hurt of being teased.  Others obtain weapons and enters school armed to kill those who hurt them.   This has escalated since  the Columbine High School massacre and needs to be stopped, so many innocent lives are being lost right in our public schools. 


To read this story follow the link:
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/10390079/



 

Your Personal Research Journey

The topic I chose for the simulation is how to discern between ineffective and effective teaching strategies.  I chose it because I am very new in the field of Early Childhood Education, other than me opening an in home daycare in September I have about three months of experience working with children other than my own or family members.  This is why I think it is very important for me know if the curriculum's I am developing are hitting its intended targets and goals.  From constructing the research chart I have gained some helpful tips about research and how to identify creditable sources.  I look forward to learning more about research since I feel that it is an area I consider myself to be weak in.  I am willing to learn from both this course and my colleagues, as I know this will help my professional growth and development. 

Final Blog Assignment

I learned a lot about the international early childhood field through the duration of this course, however there are consequences to focusing on matters unrelated to my professional and personal development.  The site and sessions that I listened to were mainly focusing on children that had been abandoned and or abused who had no where safe to live.  I believe that this is an awesome way to help steer children in the right direction who come from troubled backgrounds.  However my professonal goal is to open a daycare center, this will not help me in my development of becoming a successful director and owner.  Another consequence is that I did not have the opportunity to learn how to deal with problems that may arise in the childcare setting.  I would like to have learned more about early childcare facilities and some of their day-to-day operational situations and how to improve an existing program.  The last consequence is that international learning was great to view the early childcare field from a perspective completely different from what I am use to but I would have liked to seen some of the same issues that go on in my local community.  This would have enabled me to grow both personally and professionally in that I would be better able to understand some of the issues that are currently facing my potential parents and children so that I can develop programs and incorporate curriculums that will help my families. 


One goal for the field related to international awareness of the issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations is to include some current issues that are lurking in our communities.  If early childhood educators and professionals are aware of what is going on locally then they would be able to better serve these individuals.  Holding annual workshops to discuss what other professionals are doing to improve their program will to give others ideas on how to improve their own.  It would also create a relationship between great leaders in the field. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

I have not yet received a response, so I went to UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage and share a few new insights I have gained about issues related to international early childhood education that relate to my professional goals.  A few of my professional goals are to open an above average quality child care facility.  I would like to have a staff of well-educated teachers that will provide excellent care to the children; helping them to be developmentally ready to start school.  In order to obtain this type of program I would need to develop a holistic approach to child development.  Child care programs consists of children from a variety of backgrounds, some are at a disadvantage financially and or emotionally.  These programs should promote confidence, cognitive and linguistic development and motivation.  Quantifying the quality of early childhood programs has several factors that should be taken into consideration such as the learning materials, personnel training, parental education and involvement.  The materials within the center should be culturally and developmentally adequate; to achieve the goal and mission of the program it should also be child centered.  Another attribute of a high quality child care program is one that actively involves the parents, community, and applicable play and learning materials.  This will help to ensure that the child as a whole is developing properly, not just academically ready to start school, in addition to the increased sustainability of stakeholders.

Reference:

UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/).

Sharing Web Resources

Some of the outside links from my organization of choice (Liberty Foundation) lead to a variety of sources such as plenty of in depth information about the city Belize and their approach and challenges faced towards learning.  One link in particular stuck out to me because it discussed the many issues children have living in the city.  To begin with the majority of children do not live in a home with adequate sanitation and their growth is far too often stunted in this population due to malnutrition.  These children could also be left orphaned and themselves may face illnesses because Belize has the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Central America.  Other links discussed their educational approach which is Montessori, which focuses on the fullest development of the child as a whole. The last link I viewed discussed the Reggio Emillio approach towards learning which promotes creativity and active participation.      

	Links Buy your seeds from this website and support Liberty at the same time! www.botanicalinterests.com Award-winning resort hotel in Belize City and Liberty Foundation sponsor: www.radisson.com/belizecitybz/ Belizean travel and directory site: www.belize.com Liberty's Park Renovation project: www.imagefactory.bz   Liberty helps a Belizean kidney transplant patient: http://new.channel5belize.com Monolithic domes, Liberty Foundation's choice for ecological, hurricane proof buildings: www.monolithic.com Montessori, an educational approach pioneered by Maria Montessori aiming for the fullest development of the whole child: www.montessorieducationuk.org www.montessorimagazine.com Official Belizean Government website: www.belize.gov.bz Reggio Emilia, an approach to early childhood education that promotes creativity and active participation: http://zerosei.comune.re.it Salamander, an ecological hideaway resort on Ambergris Caye: www.salamanderbelize.com School opening with Moya Brennan, the voice of Clannad: www.inspiremagazine.org.uk www.christiantoday.com Seasports Belize, offering quality tours for eco-travellers: www.seasportsbelize.com World Health Organisation, the health situation in Belize: www.paho.org UNICEF, the United Nations Children' s Fund analysis of Belize: www.unicef.org A site connecting Montessori projects around the world: www.montessoriaroundtheworld.org

One of the newsletters I reviewed relates to the issues we have been studying in that in September 2011 the Foundation Reggio Children was developed.  This organization works to promote quality education through research, internationally, solidarity and educational quality.  All of these aspects are very important in overcoming barriers that early childhood educators may face when teaching.

The website or e-newsletter did not add to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education because the resources that were provided this week were excellent sources of information.
I did gain new insights about other issues that children in other countries and even in the US may face, such as high HIV/AIDs rates that can affect their health and their parents health. Also, these children may be facing severe difficulties such as malnourishment and inadequate sanitation areas.  These circumstances can affect the child's learning ability.  Since their growth can be stunted by this matter their development is also affected.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

I decided to identify another podcast from Maysoun Chehab, a Regional Early Childhood Care and Development Program Coordinator for a non profit non governmental organization (www.mawared.org).  Arab Resource Collective is located in Beirut, Lebanon and they work to promote the positive development of children in their own community.  This will help to develop their rights to knowledge, protection and health just to name a few. 


Maysoun Chehab discussed the goal of the ARC as well as describe their goal and mission.  The ARC produces Arab resources to help parents and teacher learn more about how to assist children with proper development.  During the war they provided special support to children who are affected by this event.  They work to support the parents of the children which will ultimately help to provide support to the children.  If the parents are not supported it will be very difficult for the child to obtain the type of support that is needed for them to have the proper opportunity to develop at a successful rate. 

I have learned that there are particular programs located in communities that are affected by such serious events such as war that will help children and their families not only survive physically but mentally, socially and their overall development.  Childen who dwell in these types of war zones have less opportunities to obtain the neccessary resources that are needed to reach certain developmental milestones.  The ARC is an excellent organization and areas within local communities in the United States where it is saturated with lower income individuals should have an organization similiar to this one to provide support to parents, providing adequate resources to them so that they can have a fair chance at a proper development.

Sharing Web Resources

There were not any specific information that was relevant to my current professional development since I am a novice in this field; I have not held a position in this field until now.  I have just recently started an in-home daycare and I really enjoy my role as director and teacher.  Now I can say that I have a similar educational approach as the Liberty's new preschool program.  Their program is child-centered and helps children to develop self confidence and acquire the desire to learn new things.  They also incorporate several activities that focuses on creativity and the improvement of social skills.
 Their program Parent's As Teachers made me think about an issue in new ways.  They recognize that parents are every child's first teacher and if they strengthen the parents ability to parent their child then the child will have a much better opportunities in their future.  Inadquate parenting is one of the main issues with children not being properly prepared to start kindergarten.  Improving the early childhood programs is an excellent idea and I believe these programs should be the best for our children.  However, helping parent’s be their children’s best first teachers will ultimately help their child. In this program parents are provided with information, guidance and assistance.  They also provide practical support to families with young children in need of assistance and identify children who are at risk and those with disabilities, special needs and provides support to both these children and their families.
The website did not specifically indicate how economists, neuroscientist, or politicians support the early childhood field.  However they do use a variety of resources to assist with funding such as fundraisers, phone recycling, donations, buying gifts and sponsoring a child.

A new insight about issues and trends in the early childhood field that I gained from exploring the website was  improving the parenting styles of parents and the Reggio Emilia approach to learning, which strives to serve the child's welfare and the social needs of families, promotes child creativity and active participation.