Thank you

I would first like to thank Dr. Parrish for leading us on a path of learning from our resources and from each other.  I looked forward each week to posting to the blog and especially looked forward to seeing everyone else’s blog.  It gave us the opportunity to add a personal side to our professional interconnection as we posted our relationship web, quotes we love, resources we rely on and books we read to and about children.  I feel as if I have learned so much already from everyone.  It is so nice to be a part of a community of people who share the same passion, motivation and drive for early childhood education.  I have no doubt that this group of women will make a great impact on the life of children and families.  I want to thank Vanessa, Corryn and Rachelle for posting comments to my blog.  I enjoyed reading your responses and encouragement.  I wish only the very best for my colleagues at Walden and look forward to our continued journey together.  

NAEYC Ideals on Ethical Responsibilities to Children

1. To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training

This ideal is meaningful to me.  As an Early childhood educator I want to have an understanding of child development to be able to offer a rich and meaningful educational experience for all children and families in my care.   The early education field needs teachers to continually be engaged in professional development through continued education and training. This is very significant to me as I want to teach adults early childhood. 

2. To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines as well as a particular knowledge of each child

This ideal is important to me as a classroom teacher.  I am gaining more and more knowledge each year in my teaching career about related disciplines.  I am now working with Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists.  Year after year, I am seeing more children that are in need of referral for support services and intervention.  As a teacher, having knowledge of each child, I am better able to be an advocate on behalf of children and families.

3. To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child

This ideal is significant to me know as a classroom teacher.  I am such a “kid watcher”.  I am committed to really knowing all of the children in my care.  I want to learn how each one ticks.  I recognize that all of my children are unique and diverse learners.  I have respect for where my children are and how they learn.  This helps me to give each child what they need to thrive and grow. 

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://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://main.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, fromhttp://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.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.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

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, fromhttp://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

Websites:

World Forum Foundation
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us

World Organization for EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
http://www.omep-usnc.org/
Read about OMEP's mission.

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

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/

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/

Institute for Women's Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/

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.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067

Voices for America's Children
http://www.voices.org/

The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

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

Additional Resources

Child Development

Play…The Foundation that Supports the House of Higher Learning

by Lisa Murphy www.ooeygooey.com

Research

Jessica Vick Whittaker

Professional Resources for Teachers

Early Childhood News www.earlychildhoodnews.com

NAEYC www.naeyc.org

Quote

  “A teachable moment is an unplanned opportunity that arises in the classroom where a teacher has an ideal chance to offer insight to his or her students. It is not something that you can plan for; rather, it is a fleeting opportunity that must be sensed and seized by the teacher.”-Beth Lewis

www.teachhub.com/intentional-teaching-enjoying-teachable-moments

Professional Quotes

Louise Derman-Sparks

“It was the most joyful experience where I felt everything in me was being called on to teach and also it was very rewarding.  It made me feel whole and creative so it became my lifelong work in early childhood education and the passion to make sure all children were taught in environments and ways that were truly nurturing their ability to grow and develop to their fullest potential.”

I could not agree more.  I have always had such a passion for teaching young children.  Watching children blossom and grow is so rewarding.

Renetta M. Cooper

 “I see early childhood education, all education really, as a civil rights issue because the right to what we think about a childhood that leads you, leaves you ready.  A childhood and an education context experience throughout your life cycle that opens up the world to you and gives you the tools you need to ask questions and investigate things.  Those are the things I want for children.”

A good teacher can help foster a love of learning for a child.  I want to be a part of creating lifelong learners.  To give children the tools to ask questions, investigate things and problem solve.  

Professional Quotes: Marcy Whitebook and Susan Bredekamp

Marcy Whitebook

"The question of who will teach our children is as pressing at the preschool level, if not more so, than for older grades.”

This quote resonates with me as early childhood teachers are so important to the growth and development of young children.   


Susan Bredekamp

“Child-initiated activity is all that’s important and that teacher-directed instruction or any form of teacher-directed activity is not appropriate.” 

I like this quote, because I truly believe that children should use their own creativity and imagination.  Cookie cutter art is not art.  A child should be allowed to express themselves without being told what their creation is supposed to be.

Personal Childhood Web

          I have two twin second cousins, Sheila and Letty Sustrin.  They are now 75 years old and children’s book authors.  They had a huge impact on me growing up.  I admired them so much.  They were both kindergarten teachers.  They had a love for teaching that was so contagious.  They took me with them to their classrooms so many times.  I could see how much they cared for their children and the families that were in their care.   This is where my love for children and teaching began.  They were the kind of teachers that made a difference in the lives of every family and child they touched.  I wanted to become that kind of teacher.  Now authors, they are always going into schools to read their books and still love every minute of it.  They have always encouraged me to pursue early childhood education.  They have always followed along my journey and still have the same kind of excitement about teaching as they always did.

          My mom always made me feel loved and as if there was nothing I could not do or accomplish.  I learned so much from her and continue to learn every day.  She always felt for herself there was nothing she could not accomplish.  My parents were very young when they got married.  My mom was only 18 years old.  For many girls back then, it was get married and have babies.  When my brother and I were school age she went back to work.  She only worked part-time and was home for us every day after school.  Her drive and passion for a career was inspiring.  I learned from her that hard work and drive will get you far in life.  She started off as a secretary and just retired as Assistant Director of a Development Department with only a High School Degree.  What an example she set for her children.  She instilled in me passion, drive, hard work and a never ending belief in myself.  

          My father, Joel, taught me to have a love for learning.  Growing up I remember, him always having a hobby.  He always wanted to perfect something new.  He loved to cook and invited me to join him in the kitchen to help.   He loved woodworking and had every tool. With his help, I tried every utensil and appliance and held all the tools.  Unfortunately, I am not a great cook or a master craftsman, but I am not afraid to experience new things and learn as much as I can about things that interest me.  All of these people in my life helped to make me who I am today.  

          My grandmother, Dorothy was so important to me growing up.  I spent a lot of time visiting with her staying at her house for long weekends and on school vacations.  We never went anywhere special or did anything away from home.    She made me always feel special and loved for just being me.  She was so important because it was just quality time together.  She was such a great listener.  Everything I said was important.  My fondest memories are sitting at her kitchen table eating ice cream, talking and playing cards. She made me see the value of taking time to talk and play with the children in your life.   I felt as if there was no one else she would rather be with.  She made everyone in the family feel as if they were the most important.  She instilled in me the importance of strong family connections.

Family Picture

A child began this school year.  His father passed away the year before when this child was two.  In the beginning of each school year, we ask the children to bring in family photos and we put them together in a book.  Each child has one page.  This helps the children with “beginning of the year blues”.  When the children feel sad or are missing family, they may go and look at the book and find their page.  It very quickly becomes the favorite book in the classroom.  Before we put the book together, we allow the children to come up and share their family with the rest of the class.  It was his turn to share.  He came up and shared his page.  He said,” this is my dad and he died.”  I said that my daddy died too.  The part of the story that most touched my heart was at lunch that day.  He and I were sitting next to each other and he again said that his daddy died and again I said I know and my daddy died too.  It happened to be thundering.  He said,” my mommy told me that when it is thundering that is my daddy bowling in heaven.”  He looked at me and said, “maybe our daddies are bowling together.”  This child and I talked many times about memories of our daddies.  I hope it helped him in some small way. I will always remember and tell this story as it always touches my heart.