Welcoming Families From Around The World

My family is originally from Africa. I would to visit Africa and learn more about the countries background. I would love to visit different schools there to see, how smart and what procedures their teacher use to teach. I would look on the internet and see the pregnancy rate on young teenage girls, and compare my results to the United States. I would try to see if I can contact someone that lives in Africa, to see what their life is like up there. Hopefully, in a couple more years, I will pay Africa a visit.

I hope I here form someone pretty soon. I would also like to compare our grades in the EC Field to their system that they are using. I heard that still have another part of my family up there; I hope I can get in touch with them, so we can get a trip or gathering planned soon.

Week 4- Blog Assignment

My example of microaggession that I am sharing with the class is:

One day at work a new teacher joined our staff and she was nice, loud, joyful, and always had a smile on her face. Their where two white teachers talking and I overheard their conversation, they was wondering why the superintendent was hiring a lot of black loud teachers.

When I heard that, as a black teacher I stood up for myself and coworkers and I confronted them. I thought to myself, why they will say something bad about us when we are really helping them out. I really couldn’t think straight I was so upset, my eyes got watery, and head start pounding.

It made me think about things I said in the past, that hurt somebody, and after that I thought to myself, I take back everything I ever said badly about someone. Things are still going on right know that really needs to stop for someone end up hurt or even in a real bad condition.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I have 3 people that are different in many ways one with different religion background, age, and gender. The readings from this week can relate to the people I met like, race and languages, and also the ways of life.

They all had near the same definition to culture and diversity, they defined it as, different backgrounds as of languages, races, traditions, and other ways people live. The person with the different religion was explaining to me their different songs and how they worship their gods.

I have gain a lot of insights form the information that the people shared with me, I learn that I shouldn’t be nervous when approaching people, I should have my mind set and see what responses they have to offer me.

Some aspects omitted economics, religion, parenting patterns, the way we eat, sleep, talk, care for the sick, relate to another, think about work, and life styles (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

Week 2 Blog Assignment

The three items that I would choose to take would be:
1).My Crystal. 2). My Ring That My 2 daughters gave me.
3). My Holy Bible.

The explanation to others of what each item means to me:
The crystal gives me strength to make good decisions and it keeps all of my thoughts. My ring that my kids gave me for mother’s day, and it makes me feel special. My bible will help guide me through the words of catastrophe.

My feelings on having to give up two of the three items:
I would feel very bad if I have to give up my ring because I like to keep a piece of my kids everywhere I go. I would never give up my bible for nothing, I love the lord, even though he is with me everywhere I go, I would like to read some of his words for the Holy Book.

Any insights that I have gained as a result of this exercise:
As I thought about the three items I would take it’s hard for me to choose, because I will gain insights from all three items. But, I will pick the bible overall just in case I need some words of encouragement, and then I will pick my ring because without my babies I wonder what field I will be in, they encouraged me to be in the Early Childhood Field.

Week 5- Research Around The World

I chose the link http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/ to research this week.
This link has a huge/a lot of information to offer for any teacher or professional in the Early Childhood Field. I have been reading the articles and newsletters because they are very interesting and helpful. You will be impressed with all the information that this website has to offer, you will gain a lot of skills too.
Some of the international topics that I found on this website are
 Everyday learning about responding to the emotional needs of children.
 AJEC Vol 36 No 1 Feb.2011.
 How does your state rate?
 Your child's first year at school: A book for parents-order now for 2011.
 Join ECA's mailing list-Stay up to date on early childhood information.

Topics such as:
 What's New on the Early Childhood Australia website?
 Free online services for the Early Childhood field.
 Free ful-text articles form quality-assured publications.
 Free newsletter.

Other noteworthy information:
 FACEBOOK
 Early childhood Australia's mailing list
 MySpace
 Kids Matter- Australia Early Childhood Mental Health Initiative
 Twitter

Final Blog Assignment

1).I can proudly say that I have impacted a lot and gained a lot of information from different perspectives about Research and the process you need to take to have an successful project. I learned that research is like an investigation on an specific topic and it has a lot of information that follows it, it really doesn’t matter how you start the topic, just make sure it’s a specific form, so you can get accurate results.

2). My thoughts about research has changed a lot because, I really didn’t know you had to go through all them steps to even make sure your questions is as specific as it can get. You have to be patient when conducting a research project, because at first I just wanted to do something to say I did it. You have to have time and patience and don’t give up when something may go wrong keep going.

3). If you don’t have your research planned out, how you expect to go as you want it. You have to make sure it hit all the key points and that the information you provide is mainly what the topic is addressing.

4). My biggest challenge was when I had to get the children consent, I was wondering how I’m I going to get it and they are 4-5 year old students and they don’t really understand the importance of this project. I just wanted to seek out and find a program that is edible to help them with their language skills and to help them bond even though they have different backgrounds.

5). I have learned a lot from this pass course but, I learned when it comes down to projects dealing with young kids and their language and culturally skills to be patience and willing to lend a hand at any time. There is a lot that a young child should know, and it takes us as professionals in the early childhood field to seek out and help. I would like to give a big thanks to Group 1 and Dr. Davis for being their when I need your help. This course made me stronger with my kids because of the research project; I can’t thank you enough, because getting to know them better was great. They are my little hearts…!!!

Week3-Blog Assignment

I would to discuss the articles that I viewed and liked with my colleagues that have impacted teachers, students, families, parents, and more. My first choice was, "The Effects of Universal Pre-K in Oklahoma: Research Highlights and Policy Implications.” The authors are William T. Gormley, Jr. and Deborah Phillips. I found it on one of my courses research paper through Walden University. My second choice was, “The Effects of Universal Pre-K on Cognitive Development". The authors are William T. Gormley, Jr., Ted Gayer, Deborah Phillips and Brittany Dawson. My best friend told about this site, she convinced me to take a peek and browse at it, I feel love with it.
I was really surprised with these articles they were very impressing and I found lots of information. I like these websites because they both are dealing with Pre-K and it really helps because I am a pre-kindergarten teacher. I think anyone that are professionals need to read about the Universal Pre-K program and how they affect children and families. All of the new teachers, current teachers, professionals and more need to visit these two articles and make sure other teachers view the pages.

Blog Assignment: Week 2

The topic I chose is: Diversity in the Early Childhood Field. I chose this topic because I wanted to read more about the diversity in the classrooms and how well different teachers have an effect on the child/children learning experience. Over the past 5 years, I have had so many different cultures and diversity in my Pre-K classroom and other teachers in my school have too. I am now able to work with kids who speak different languages, I’m eligible to speak to French students, Spanish students, and of course English students. I am now furthering my language to speak to Greek students and Jewish students. At my school we have 2 speech teachers on every building, they help the teachers that can’t understand parents that have different languages, and they mainly translate questions and answers. We don’t really get comments from people with different languages, but we make sure that we ask them before the conversation is over with. My school principal don’t really like us having meeting with the children, but they can come of it’s only a major issue. I think the research chart was more helpful for me because I can get a better learning/more information that I need to further the specific topic dealing with diversity. I link caught my attention, it had a conversation dealing with a parent and a teacher and they really understood each other and made a friendly bond. I also like the link that you can ask questions and put suggestions in the box, and they will email you their response in your email. If any of my colleagues need any suggestions or need to ask me some questions, you can email me and I will respond to you ASAP. Also, if they have things to tell me that I need to change or need to improve on feel free to email about that too, I’m trying to be as successful as I can in this field and try to further my education. I just would like to say this for my classmates, Work Hard, Do Your Best, its ok if you make mistakes, sometimes, just come back the next week with some BETTER!!! BELIEVE, ACHIVE, AND YOU WILL SUCCEED...

Wk 8 Final Blog Assignment

Three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for my professional and personal development:

1). As a professional, learning about the international early childhood education, I really think that it is helpful to new experienced teachers in the EC Field. It can provide some extra help for those who need it and for all newcomers.

2). I also can use some information about the international early childhood field, to help strengthen the field with teachers that know what they are doing and to let the community know how important it is for a child to have a high and good learning experience.

3). When I visited some websites on the international early childhood field, I learned a lot of information that helped me in my Pre-K class. The pre-know website really helped me because the people updated their website every day

From my perspective there are so many resources and information that that international early childhood field provides for the Early Childhood Field teachers and professionals, who are interested in the field.
One quote for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations:
"This state has put a lot of concentration on reforming the K-12 system, but we've done very little with early childhood education. We can't wait until they get to kindergarten because then we're just playing catch-up."
- Evelyn Keating

WK7 Getting to know your International Contacts

I really don’t know what’s going on, but I’m having trouble with my international contact, also. I haven’t heard or got an email from my contact yet. I have been sending emails back to back and I have been wondering, if I am putting something in wrong or what. Since, I’m not getting a response; I’m starting to contact other people or information. The state department came in my class to observe and see how well my students developed from Head Start to Pre-K, and I ask the lady could she help me. I showed her the blog assignment and she begins to tell me about the state Early Childhood Program and she showed me some graphs of poverty, low income, and many more. She starts emailing me from that day, lots of good information that we have been discussing in the last couple of weeks. She told me that the state of Mississippi has a lot of young teachers that don’t have any teaching experience. She said that they have been accepting people who had a high G.P.A. and ACT score. In the city that I live in we really need some teachers in the schools, because most of them are quitting on the kids. She said if they had money to pay for the teachers to get some training, they will do. She also said that her job is to help teachers and give them advice on what they need to change; she also is eligible to train new teachers. She said anything for kids she can do, she’s going to let them have the proper education they need to receive. She is also able to change some rules that the teachers have to go by. She has started to raise money for the new teachers that need training for the professional position.

I really enjoyed the information that was provided to me. She has changed and impacted my Pre-K class a whole lot, since the observation.

Sharing Webs

I really enjoyed the http://www.preknow.org/ website from the first time I did some research on it; I think it’s very helpful for professionals that are new to the education field. I learn new things every week when I visit the site.

• Where do they lead? During my exploration of other links outside of preknow, I mainly found a lot of links that where dealing with families and community involvements. I also seen a link that was for special education, and I was really shocked with some of the things I read.

• What do you find? I chose the Educator’s link and went inside to learn more about Pre-K Teachers Resource Center. As a Pre-K teacher, you are required to meet high standards; you have to get to know the latest research-based, and teach the kids the states curricula. A new teacher’s or parent active involvement in the education field can make a big impact on the future success of their child.

• What new information is available? Leadership Profiles is a link you can go to, so you can check out different leadership skills from professionals in the field. If you would like to suggest a business leader to be profiled, please submit your suggestion to info@preknow.org. (I think you Mr. Morgan should try out this link and put some leaderships skills on the sites for professionals like my collogues and I can look at, it can help us in our classroom.)

Yes, I can really say this website is helpful for teachers, parents, community members that are interested in the Education Field, and professionals. The information that was provided can help teachers and professionals can really stand-up and talk to some high position people that are in the education field and say that the Pre-K program needs much attention at this hard time right know.

In the closing, I can say that I learned that all the Pre-K programs around the world are experiencing problems, so we as teachers need t stand up and start to make a change before it is too late, because you never know what’s ahead.

Part 2-Getting to Know Interantional Contacts

This week I had to do the alternate assignment this week because I really didn’t hear anything yet from my contact in Africa and Mexico. I may have to resend my email to my contacts again because, I they might not have received it yet.

While I was looking at the website Global Children's initiative, I read that,

Mainly other countries are seem to be in the same condition the United States is in. Example: They have a lot of children with mental problems and not enough teachers to help them with educating the kids.

The following three initial projects have been selected to launch this effort, subject to sufficient funding:
• Assessing the state of child mental health services in China;
• Developing and evaluating family-based strategies to prevent mental health problems in children affected by HIV/AIDS in Rwanda; and
• Addressing child maltreatment and mental health outcomes in three Caribbean nations (Barbados, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname).

I recognized that the other countries have different ways of approaching to child development. I also read that the teachers are close to the children and they have a special way of communicating with the children.

“To the extent that many of the kids who are most at risk for not reaching their capacity…due to poverty and/or malnutrition and disease, these things are interrelated. So, action has to really take place across these fronts, because the kids and families are being affected in multiple areas.”

To me Child Health is very important and you have to be very responsible if you want to take a position as a professional in the Early Childhood Field.

I also found things about the faculty and partnership. A major goal of the partnership with these two highly respected, non-partisan organizations is to build the leadership capacity of state policymakers to design and implement successful birth-to-five policies and practices that enhance the odds of success for vulnerable children and their families.

I liked looking at this website it was very helpful and interesting. I learned more things about child development. I also watched the video of the, Un Buen Comienzo (UBC), "A Good Start," is a collaborative project in Santiago, Chile, to improve the quality of early childhood education through teacher professional development. UBC, which has received some funding from the Center on the Developing Child, is an example of the kind of integrated child development work that is central to the Center's mission.

Week4- Blog Assignment

I went back to the preknow.org website this week, and it had a lot of up-to-date news about what’s happening know around the world. I have been working with Ray Brooks School Pre-K since 2004. I just got approved last year some time for my license for a lead teacher, but sense that school district don’t have a lot of teachers I been working in the lead teacher spot since I enrolled as a full-time teacher. I have a BA in the Early Childhood Field, but know I’m anxiously waiting on my degree in Master’s, which will make me seem like I did something and I am in a higher position.
The topics from this week really made me have second thoughts about the children in Beniot School District. Most of the kids in my Pre-K class went to Head start first and then they came to Ray Brooks, there is only a few who have not been to school before. They are very smart and the little I do have that hasn’t gone to school is smarter than the ones who went to head start and sometimes I wonder why.
To me Pre-K programs were develop to learn more information before primary school and so they can get use to the school feeling instead of being babied all day. Also think they get stronger with their communication skills, social skills and physical skills they need to learn before they graduate to kindergarten. I hope that the children of today and the future can get different and more things, to better their education experience. I also hope that the President donate some money to the Education Field so schools can get more fun things involved, especially for the little kids like all the schools need to be required to have a playground.
In my perspective, the Pre-K program is impacting on a lot of little kids because the kindergarten teachers ask me what all I teach them at times, and they really do be surprised. I have enjoyed all the hard work and play with my little ones, I wouldn’t give up my position for no one I love it that much, I think of them as my little tools , like the show Handy Mandy.

CHIP

Alternative Assignment:
I chose the country China from the website, http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/. I learned that the country China contains almost 38 percent of world population and that they are slowly understanding ways to tackle childhood poverty. The New Rural Co-operative Medical Care System (NRCMCS) is a 2005 initiative to overhaul the healthcare system, particularly intended to make it more affordable for the rural poor.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Constitution came into force on April 7, 1948, and China has been a Member since the beginning. The WHO China office has increased its scope of activities significantly in recent years, especially following the major SARS outbreak of 2003. The role of WHO China is to provide support for the government's health programs, working closely with the Ministry of Health and other partners within the government, as well as with UN agencies and other organizations. China's government with WHO assistance and support has strengthened public health in the nation. The current Five Year Plan incorporates public health in a significant way.
If patients go to a small hospital or clinic in their local town, the system will cover roughly 70-80% of their bill. If the patient visits a county clinic, the percentage of the cost being covered falls to about 60%. If the patient requires a specialist in a modern city hospital, the plan would cover about 30% of the bill. By 2002, 92 percent of the urban population and 8 percent of the rural population had access to an improved water supply, and 69 percent of the urban population and 32 percent of the rural population had access to improved sanitation facilities. The Patriotic Health Campaign, first started in the 1950s, there are campaigns aimed to improve sanitation and hygiene in China.
China's first mental institutions were introduced before 1949 by Western missionaries. After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, the treatment model was indigenized during 1949-1963. During the Cultural Revolution (1964-1976) strong political control governed diagnosis and treatment as well as detention and discharge of mental patients. Later, due to the modernization and reform advocated by Deng Xiaoping, western models of treatment and rehabilitation were gradually introduced by psychiatrists. After more than 25 years of planning and fundraising, American medical missionaries opened the first mental hospital in China in 1998. In 19th century China, the mentally ill were usually confined by their families in a dark room of the house, essentially neglected.
China has been developing rapidly for the past 30 years. Though it has uplifted a huge number of people out of poverty, many social issues still remain unsolved. One of them is malnutrition among rural children in China. The problem has diminished but still remains a pertinent national issue. In a survey done in 1998, the stunting rate among children in China was 22 percent and was as high as 46 percent in poor provinces.

Sharing Web Resources

Out of the organizations I had to choose from I chose the, Pre [K] Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States, it was so interesting to me, you may think the reason I chose this is because I teach Pre-K, but the real reason why is because I like the topic when I first seen it, and I just wanted to know more information.

The main purpose of this organization is to make sure every child who has the ability to enter Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten will have the ability to learn and become intelligent with skills that are provided by the instructors. When the students leave from Head Start they should be able to succeed in some of the centers the instructors have provided for them.

The website has recent information about the reason why Pre-K is important and it have a lot of facts, too. It also shares information from Pre-K centers across the United States of America and it tells you that if some professionals that’s in the Early Childhood Field wants some more information you can email them or also get more info from your state head building of education.

I learned a lot more about the Early Childhood Field and the importance of Pre-Kindergarten. I also found out that there are many states that acquire the Pre-K program. I think the whole nation should be required to have Pre-K because the early ages of life are the most important development stages.

Blog Assignment Part 1: Establishing Professional Contacts

Part 1:
Establishing Professional Contacts

I have started to email 3 people and I have not got an respond yet, so I think I’m going to have to start with the alternative. I also has contacted some of the kids family’s that are from Mexico and I enjoyed the conversation.

Part 2:
Expanding Resources

The two websites that impressed me was http://www.naccrra.org/ and http://www.zerotothree.org/, I really learned a lot of things from them. I chose Zero to Three because it was the center (heart) of states. I love to learn visual and I like to see the data sitting in front of my eyes, I think that makes my brain get smart and more intelligent. I like learning about Pre-School kids so, I can get to know more about my students I teach and see the different ways they can develop or how they develop. I also I’m very impress when I read things about communication, because that is the number one thing the need to operate in the classroom. First, I went through all the websites to see which one was “eye-catching”, caught my attention. I am ready to see if I’m going to get some good feedback so I can learn from that, also.

My Supports

[[My Support's]]
Factors:
My phone is great support in the morning, I have to get up at 5 a.m. every morning to get ready to teach. I have a spoiled little girl that don't never want to get up early, so she push me behind on my work. I have to print out the daily work every morning.
My mom is great to me because she picks me little daughter up from daycare on Tuesday's and Thursday's because I got home late after 21st Ceuntry AfterSchool Program. My mom also buys little toys for my students for different occassions.
Mr. McDavid the principal at my school, he's so great. He makes sure that I have my lessons plans in on time. If I don't know how to put my grades in Sam's he's there or even if I need some help in my classroom.
Every year my Pre-K students support me through the whole school term with me. They make sure I go over their class song, alphabets, numbers, five senses, vowels, sight words, colors, shapes, and more. They are a big help, esipically, when it's time to change centers. I love my little babies to death, they are my heart, too..!!!
I thank these people alot, they mean so much to me, all the support and help from them made me the intelligent, kind-hearted, nice Pre-Kindergaten teacher I am today. When I first started I had a hard time getting up on time, getting my plans done and turn in on time, and not spending enough time with my 2 girls. If my mom wasn't here that would be a big difference in my life, my 2 girls, and my Pre-K students. My 2 girls love spending time with they granny on the weekends, they shop, eat, and have fun. In class, I still have a hard problem with getting to know 3 of my students because they don't like to talk, 2 boys and 1 girl. But, you know what I have the rest of the students to try and talk to them and play with them, and that has made a big impact in my class. They have started to come out their shells, they have been practipating more. All three of them kids are cousins and they are experencing the same thing in their house. I found out that they stay with their sickly grandma and their mom's come home 3 times in one year. I called some people up to help the grandma and she's doing great now, and I'm seeing a change in the kids. I wonder what I would have did if I didn't have my wonderful students. I am so proud of the group I had this year, I have only 3 more months to spend with them, so I got to make the best out of them.

My Connections With Play

"Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don't begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten."
- Robert. L. Ehrlich
Ex: Last year, I had a little girl in my class that parent didn't really care and brothers and sisters doing her homework.This year, shes in Kindergarten but they are thinking about holding her back for another year.

"If you're going to equalize the academic playing field, you've got to get the kids in early childhood programs."
- Paul Vallas quotes
Ex: I'm trying get more of my Pre-K kids in the 21st Century AfterSchool Program.

I have so many childhood memories of creating and enjoying lots of free, unstructured play. I was the child who was always playing and making things with water and mud, homemade cakes and cookies made on the stove, and mud. I could go for hours with my craft supplies. I made clothes, food, books, murals, gifts, and cards. I loved when we use to go play in the fields with the dogs.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast milk directly from female human breasts rather than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. Most mothers can breastfeed for six months or more, without the addition of infant formula or solid food. Human breast milk is the healthiest form of milk for human babies. Breastfeeding promotes health, helps to prevent disease, and reduces health care and feeding costs. Artificial feeding is associated with more deaths from diarrhea in infants in both developing and developed countries.
In Kenya breastfeeding is the most preferred way to feed infants unless there are some contraindications. Breastfeeding in public is not an issue. I have seen moms do it in public buses and in public places. If baby cries they will just take their breasts out, although they cover with a baby blanket. In rural areas, most often they don't care. It's something everybody is used to, they just take their breasts out regardless of how many people are might see them. Respect to all breastfeeding moms. Most of the Africans always tell people “that's the way to go, keep your kids healthy and smart.” If you want to know the difference between breastfed and formula fed, just look around any town in America, they have group homes or special homes with kids with emotional problems and very low IQ, they trade this for their boobs!!! Breastfeeding or not, boobs naturally sag due to increased size and number of milk ducts due to pregnancy.

• I will start telling mothers how good breastfeeding is and how it had a huge impact on mothers from all over the world.
• When I have papers to do and it questions why breastfeeding is healthier or better than Enfamil and etc., I will compare them based on data from hospitals.