Week 8

Even though I  did not receive a response from my international contacts I believe that interacting with professionals from other countries would help appreciate how we handle early childhood education as well as gives us  new tools and  information to engage our self and the children we serve.

I am an individual who loves  to learn and lean new ways of  doing things. So I believe that international contacts could only be a plus for me.

I would challenge  those who work in the Early Childhood Field to try to continue to make Early Childhood a priority and make sure that all children are afforded a free appropriate education regardless of his or her families dynamics. Although this was a rough semester for me  I really enjoyed reading everyone's post and interacting with all my classmates.

Week 7

In reading and scrolling the website, I saw a lot of interesting things. The things I focused on were those having to do children and the Access, Equity, Quality, Investment, Coordination and Integration. I found so much information about early childhood education and how coordination and integration is a worldwide problem. I learned that Countries often promote alternative services for poor children with limited or no access to mainstream early childhood services which can be cost-effective and pedagogically innovative, but often raise concerns about sustainability and quality. Also children who are privileged get benefits from investments by the stated but those children who are poor do not receive as much attention from the government. I really am not shocked to read that those of us who are not as privileges as other are not the governments concern.

            I also look the tab that discussed coordination and integration. I learned that it is very difficult to obtain Cross-sectoral coordination.

 The other tab I looked at was the social and human science tab. This tab had all types of events on it one that discussed International Youth Day that is held on August 12th. This day was a day filled with a lot of activities for the young because the young account for almost 30% of internal migrants but not much is known about the struggle or opportunities that are affected by migration. This day is set aside to try and learn more about the struggles or migrant youth.  

I really had not given much thought to migrant youth or the issues that they face. This organization is a very good one and Is involved in a lot of things that affect us as Americans.

 Reference:

(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/),

Week 6

One of the outside links I looked at was the website zero to three. I found a lot of information on this site that benefits parent. While on the page I looked at the link about Ralley4babies. I found this to be a interested link The link discusses early childhood funding.

      Being a parent of a child that has ADHD I chose to look at a section on the site that also discussed behavior and child development. This section talked about the many challenging behaviors that children have to how the brain develops. There was also a section that talked about how important it is for children to be able to socialize effectively with people. I really enjoyed the site.

     I feel that anyone who has children or works with children would find the site to be very beneficial.

 

Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative

Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative

 

 

In looking at the website I found a lot of interesting things on the site. The site discussed many things that interest me. One of the things that interest me is how the purpose of the Global Children’s Initiative is to reframe the discourse around children health and development, support and   build leadership in child development polices and research.  

The focus of the site  is on early childhood development; child mental health; and children in crisis and conflict situations.Theser are the chidlren and family the site helps to suport.

I also enjoyed the link  that had many books and articles about different issues related to chidlren, povery and their family. One article titled Strengthening Adult Capacities to Improve Child Outcomes: A New Strategy for Reducing Intergenerational Poverty by  Jack P. Shonkoff, Harvard University. This Article discussed the different issues related to poverty and what we as educators a parents must do  to help our children succeed. Shonkoff stated “It’s clear that high-quality early childhood programs can make a measurable difference for children in poverty, but we must do more.” And I agree. There are so many children in this world that are not afforded the luxury of a good education that will prepare them for school. I understand that poverty is an issue but I feel that parents who are capable and who know and value education should implant their knowledge and education into the children.

 

 

References:

Strengthening Adult Capacities to Improve Child Outcomes: A New Strategy for Reducing Intergenerational Poverty Jack P. Shonkoff, Harvard University - Posted April 22, 2013

 

 

The Headstart Association

THE NATIONAL HEADSTART ASSOCIATION

 

                                                       What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?

The information on  advocacy, professional development, research, membership also the statement that the organization present on the cite stating that they are committed “To lead.To be the untiring voice that will not be quiet until every vulnerable child is served with the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family and the community.” And that they are  committed. “To advocate.To work diligently for policy and institutional changes that ensure all vulnerable children and families have what they need to succeed.”

                                                       Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?

                                                        

                                                       I did not find anything to be controversial but I did like the issue on Maternal and Infant Home Visiting Program Evaluation. As a new grandmother I was glad to see that head start in interested in the care of infants and young children. The program is called The Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program (MIECHV) and it provides intensive home-visitation services to families who are expected a child or children. The goal is to help build relationships and assist parents in becoming ready for the family.

 

       What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

                                                               

                                     The research Tab had some wonderful information on how Head start is beneficial in many different areas such as educational. Economical and even Law enforcement. I was shocked to see how Head Start could benefit Law Enforcement, but according to the article it stated that “HS children are significantly less likely to have been charged with a crime than their siblings who did not participate in HS.”

 

                                                        

       What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

    

                                                       When I explored the Head start website I also learned that there are a lot of resources out here and that people really do care about the education of our young people. I also learned that more needs to be done.

 

National Head Start Association http://www.nhsa.org/

(Newsletter: http://www.nhsa.org/news_and_advocacy/advocacy/legislative_eupdate

Benefits of Head Start and Early Head Start Programs

Getting to know your International Contacts

I previously sent out email to two International contacts however I have not heard a reply from them.

I chose the Country of China. It was really surprising to me that China had a problem with poverty.    China has the population of 1.27 billion back in 2001.  According to the site Much of chins’ poverty issues have been due to the economic an social transition. I also was glad to read that by China moving from a centrally plan need to a globalize market economy has help decrease the poverty.  There are about   4.2 million children in china who are living in absolute poverty and there are more than 8 million living in conditions that are considered be disadvantaged.

In exploring this site I am more informative about individuals in poverty. I really did not realize that so many children live in poverty here in the United States.  I would like to learn more about absolute poverty and how it differs from Poverty.        

The website also discussed The Minimum Living Standards that relate to Social Security reform and how  it was developed. The social security system has had to change because there are so many different forms of poverty and the change was needed to make sure every one is protected.

 

As a professional I will continue to learn more about poverty and how it can be reduced in our County.

 

Reference:

 (http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/),

Professional Contacts

       Provide the name and link for the international website you selected, and a brief description of the organization’s focus.

        

South Africa
OMEP South African National Committee
The National Early Childhood Development Alliance
Mr. Eric Atmore
P.O. Box 2363
Clarinch, 7740
South Africa
Tel: 27 21 683 2420
Email: cecd@iafrica.com

 

The website focuses on Early Childhood Education

Ghana Rev Charles Arko-Nunoo
P.O. Box MK 157
Mankessim C/R Ghana
Tel: + 233 42 34180
Email: 2kdotcom@ghana.com

 

       Identify one current issue/trend from the newsletter and/or from the website that caught your attention.

 

One of the Current issues that caught my attention was the issue on School Readiness.

 

Head Start is the leader in the early childhood field with a strong and clear focus on healthy child development. These developments include physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, all of which are essential to children getting ready for school.  Head Start requires all programs to establish school readiness goals, setting expectations of children's status and progress in a full range of development domains, as part of Head Start reform regulation.

 

The site shares a parent post card as well as a worksheet  that  teachers parents how to feed their children healthier meal and what proportions are needed for the children to get a balanced meal as well as discussed how important it was to limited television time and more outdoor play.  This was very interesting to me because our children are not actively involved in more outdoor activity in our schools or at home. The site also discusses tips for children and infants to succeed in school as well.

 

 

       Share if there was anything else you learned from studying these resources related to the topic of this week.

        

       I have learned that there is a lot of information out here if one is able to access it. I believe that all children have the right to a great education.