Thank You

A note of Thanks and Support

We a group of early childhood professionals from the different parts of the world, met on the journey to better educating ourselves.

We all inspired each other, learnt from each other, and shared the    wisdom and passion.

Now it is time to keep what we learnt in our hearts and minds and take the next step of this journey.

Maybe we will meet again, maybe not, but we all know one thing for sure that we all are making a difference in one young life at a time.

 We must be proud of what we do and continue the journey of being better leaders as much as the best educators in the field.  

I thank each and every one of you for what you do everyday.

I thank you for all the support you have given me past eight weeks.

I thank you for the wisdom you shared and the passion you carried.

I thank you for making the beginning of our back to school journey an easier for each another.

I wish you all the best of luck, my colleagues, until I meet you again.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all

Examining Codes of Ethics

Examining Codes of Ethics.

Three ideals contained in NAEYC codes of ethics that are meaningful to me and their significance to my professional life.

Ideals (naeyc)

The ideals reflect the aspirations of practitioners.

I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.

I choose this ideal as one of the most meaningful to my heart, as I know school is the safest place for almost all the children, it does not matter how old they are. It is their sanctuary.

When I think about the children who are in the classroom everyday, I believe it is my responsibility to create and maintain a safe and healthy environment for them. Especially with all the bugs going around these days I have to make sure it is extra clean and safe. They all know that their classroom is their safe place. They get used to the routine and schedule sooner when they feel that they belong there. When they are respected and the expectations are simple, clear and understood, it is a smooth sailing environment with social, emotional, cognitive and physical development taking place every moment of the day. There could be rough seas but they do not last longer as children know what is expected of them. Without having order in the classroom, learning environment hardly exists.  

I-1.8—To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the needs of children with and without disabilities.

As an educator I have to remember that each and every child is an individual person and that they have their own rights. With or without disabilities all children love to play and they need to play. I must provide appropriate toys and equipments for them to play and learn with. As every child learns through play, they deserve to have an environment that they feel safe and cared for. As an educator it is my duty to let them grow healthy to reach their potentials. Early years of the brain development matters for the rest of the life of a child and it will happen naturally in an environment where it is safe, cared and provided with the tools that the child needs. Whether the children are with disabilities or not they have a right to get the best education possible.

I-1.10—To ensure that each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.

In this ever changing world I always have to be open-minded about each and every child’s culture, language and family structure. Culturally there are lots of differences: cloths, rules, foods, there are children who are pure vegetarians, who have allergies, who eat gluten free food, some do not eat certain kinds of food due to religious believes, and list goes on. When it comes to language, there are children who start school knowing only their first language or as English language learners and it is my responsibility to open their world to another language. It takes time; some learn the language faster than the others. But they all need time and patience. When it comes to ethnicity the best is to ask polite questions and learn from the family. Family structure is also a valuable part of a child’s life. They differ from single mom or dad families, two parent families, foster care families, adapted families, bi-racial families or grandparents as parents families to name a few. Who is at the top of the family hierarchy is another important detail of a family. Sometimes, families can be immigrant or not legal immigrants. There are so many details to pay attention and learn as I work with the children as well as the families.

Some words that I think all the early childhood professionals have to keep in mind all the time.

Statement of Commitment:
As an individual who works with young children, I commit myself to furthering the values of early childhood education as they are reflected in the ideals and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. To the best of my ability I will

• Never harm children.

• Ensure that programs for young children are based on current knowledge and Research of child development and early childhood education.

• Respect and support families in their task of nurturing children.

• Respect colleagues in early childhood care and education and support them in maintaining the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.

• Serve as an advocate for children, their families, and their teachers in community and society.

• Stay informed of and maintain high standards of professional conduct.

• Engage in an ongoing process of self-reflection, realizing that personal characteristics, biases, and beliefs have an impact on children and families.

• Be open to new ideas and be willing to learn from the suggestions of others.

• Continue to learn, grow, and contribute as a professional.

• Honor the ideals and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct

Core values

Standards of ethical behavior in early childhood care and education are based on commitment to the following core values that are deeply rooted in the history of

the field of early childhood care and education. We have made a commitment to

• Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle

• Base our work on knowledge of how children develop and learn

• Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family

• Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture,* community, and society

• Respect the dignity, worth, and uniqueness of each  individual (child, family member, and colleague)

• Respect diversity in children, families, and colleagues

• Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect

A news article that took my attention.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Collection of Resources on Early Childhood

  

Additional resources related to young children and Families

International Journal of Early Childhood Special Education

http://www.int-jecse.net/indexarticles.htm

Topics in Early Childhood Special Education

Topics in Early Childhood Special Education (TEC) focuses on information that will improve the lives of young children with special needs and their families. The practical nature of this journal helps professionals improve service delivery systems for preschool children with special needs. Each issue features reports of original research, literature reviews, conceptual statements, position papers, and program descriptions.

http://tec.sagepub.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/

National Head Start Association

NHSA maintains close relationships with leading independent researchers in the field of early childhood education and helps disseminate their findings. In addition to resources found on this site, NHSA shares findings with the Head Start community through articles in NHSA Dialog (formerly the NHSA Research Quarterly), NHSA’s magazine Children and Families, sessions at NHSA conferences, and other speaking engagements.

 http://www.nhsa.org/

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The Every Child matters Education Fund is a non profit, non partisan organization working to make children, youth, and families a national political priority.

http://everychildmatters.org/

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, from http://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, from http://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). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://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, from http://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, from http://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, from http://www.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, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~images/pdfs/snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  
  

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, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
• World Forum Foundation http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
  Read about OMEP’s mission.  
• Association for Childhood Education Internationalhttp://acei.org/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

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Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Childrenhttp://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhoodhttp://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Familieshttp://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTEDhttp://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letterhttp://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institutehttp://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conferencehttp://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//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
• 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.preknow.org/
• Voices for America’s Children http://www.voices.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=22807
• The Erikson Institute http://www.erikson.edu/
     

Professional Journals

• 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 Quotes

 Adults look upon a child as something empty that is to be filled through their own efforts, as something inert and helpless for which they must do everything, as something lacking an inner guide and in constant need of inner direction. . . . An adult who acts in this way, even though he may be convinced that he is filled with zeal, love, and a spirit of sacrifice on behalf of his child, unconsciously suppresses the development of the child's own personality

Maria Montessori

Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail.  What you gain at one end you lose at the other.  It's like feeding a dog on his own tail.  It won't fatten the dog. 

Mark Twain

Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.
Albert Einstein
The school is the last expenditure upon which America should be willing to economize.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Quotes from the professionals in video segment

“…What unique opportunity we have in working with children. We as professionals in early childhood field have the opportunity to shape the child’s life for the better.”

Sandy Escobedo, MS, is the Deputy Field Director, Preschool Advocacy Initiative for the California Community Foundation.

“I am not here to change the world; I am here to make a difference in the community that I am working.”

Raymond Hernandez, MSEd, is the Executive Director for the University of Southern California School for Early Childhood Education

• Urie Bronfenbrenner    

 Children need people in order to become human.... It is primarily through observing, playing, and working with others older and younger than himself that a child discovers both what he can do and who he can become—that he develops both his ability and his identity.... Hence to relegate children to a world of their own is to deprive them of their humanity, and ourselves as well. 
 
(Urie Bronfenbrenner (b. 1917) U.S. (Russian-born) psychologist, advocate for families. Two Worlds of Childhood: U.S. and U.S.S.R., preface (1973).)



In today's world parents find themselves at the mercy of a society which imposes pressures and priorities that allow neither time nor place for meaningful activities and relations between children and adults, which downgrade the role of parents and the functions of parenthood, and which prevent the parent from doing things he wants to do as a guide, friend, and companion to his children.
 (Urie Bronfenbrenner (b. 1917) U.S. (Russian-born) psychologist, advocate for families. Two Worlds of Childhood: U.S. and U.S.S.R., preface (1973).)

President L. B. Johnson

TOP

May 22 1964Remarks at the University of Michigan  ("Great Society Speech")(The Presidential Papers, Item 357)

"A third place to build the Great Society is in the classrooms of America. There your children's lives will be shaped. Our society will not be great until every young mind is set free to scan the farthest reaches of thought and imagination. We are still far from that goal.”

"In many places, classrooms are overcrowded and curricula are outdated. Most of our qualified teachers are underpaid, and many of our paid teachers are unqualified. So we must give every child a place to sit and a teacher to learn from. Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty"

Personal childhood web

When I look back at my childhood, it is hard for me to pick just 5 people. I wonder whether we as a culture knew about the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child” because looking back that is how I feel about my childhood.

My father

He was the one who was always there for me, and made everything right for me. He gave me the little nudge I needed when I need it. It did not matter whether I was by him or thousands of miles away from him. Everybody always said that I am my father’s daughter. He was the motivation for my career path. He opened up the wide world in front of my eyes from a young age I always had the desire to see places and to learn. He always told me sky is the limit for an educated person. He encouraged me to follow my heart but have the education in hand and make a difference in the world. He was a very hard working person, he worked in financial field but during the weekends he was an avid gardener. His love of nature was very infectious. He had the most beautiful garden in the village and shared his passion with everyone. He is my hero forever.

 

My mother

I wish I could write this about my parents without singling them out. My mother’s world revolved around her husband and her 2 children. She was a stay home mother full of wisdom and knowledge about life. Her doors were always open just as her heart. She always told me the importance of education and having a carrier. Growing up she did not have the opportunity to go to college or to have a carrier as that was not the tradition at that time, but she did not believe in that for her girls. She raised her girls to be educated, strong women. She makes me stronger everyday by just seeing the way she lives her life. She made sure that we were up, ready to go school, on time. She did our hair everyday in the morning for the school as we had to have 2 braids as a part of our school uniform. Eating the breakfast was a must in our home. After father and daughters left, it was her quiet time but she still had to entertain the people who visited our home everyday. She never complained about anything she had to do. She was happy to take all the roles as the family doctor, nurse, teacher, entertainer and much more. My mother was my first teacher and my best teacher forever.

My uncle

He is my mother’s oldest brother. He was the first one to go to college, an Army veteran, an educator; his list of accomplishments goes on. He had a special connection with me as I was the one with a million and one questions for him. My uncle was the one who got me reading English classics to any book I could get hold of. He had his own library and I had the privilege of getting the books I wanted under his recommendation. We live close enough that I could walk across my parent’s property and then I would be at his house eating warm donuts. He told me all kinds of motivational stories about the school children as he was a teacher and then a principal. Culturally, every adult had the goal of giving the best possible education to the children, but for my uncle it was the mission of his life. He always believed that there was no gender, age, financial status or any discrimination in education. For him, it was a human right and I totally agree with him.

English language teacher

I have a great respect for all my educators. I am eternally thankful for them for everything they did to give the best possible education to the children. In Sri Lanka, we learnt English as our second language from the kindergarten. If we get a lower grade level for the English language then we have to repeat the whole year again. That was the worst nightmare for a child. My mother’s favorite English language teacher (when she was in school) made herself available to teach me. She was a retired teacher at that time and she had lessons two times a week at her home. My cousins also joined me to go to the lessons. She made learning so much fun, we never complained about the lessons. Rain or shine we went to her home and she was there for us. I did this for 5 years and learnt so much from her. She still lives at the same home and I still visit her when I go back home.

My sister

 Last but not least it is my baby sister who is a strong connection in my web. My sister and I had our own little world.  Growing up we had our own fun times, play times, school times, and gardening times with our father as well as fighting times too. I was the chatty person; she was a quiet and an analytic person. She was my buddy, not just my sister. We were always partners-in-crime. It was amazing, how we ended up living thousands of miles apart from each other today. We still keep in touch as often as possible. Every time we are connected through Skype, or telephone we go right back to big sister, baby sister roles and we are in our own world from there on for hours. It is hard being apart but we both know we are close in our hearts for ever.

One of my favorite books

One of my favorite authors for the preschool or elementary years is Ezra Jack Keats.

His books are timeless stories, to name a few: The Snowy Day, Whistle for Willie, Peter’s Chair, Letter to Amy, and Goggles. I have these books in my classroom library, and children love them all as they can relate to Peter the main character well.

As I have to pick one story, I picked “Snowy Day”. It is a child’s adventure on a snowy day with social emotional, science, and literature mixed together. During the cold winter days in Michigan, we basically get to enjoy the full adventure at the school.  

A quote about children

“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future”

        John F. Kennedy (35^th President of United States of America)

This is a quote that has a special meaning for me as I truly believe in it. When we get our hands on a valuable resource we get it cut and polished to make it even more precious. Just like that it is our ultimate responsibility to make the most valuable resource that we have, the children, priceless.  There is no other way to do it than giving them a world-class education.  

I believe if we create a strong base in the early years of a child’s life then everything built on that will be strong and sturdy too. If a building is on a strong foundation it is not going to collapse due to wind or rain. Just like that, if a child has a strong educational underpinning in early years, that child will not loose the motivation to continue his or her journey due to the challenges in life.

A family picture by a 4 year old

This is a picture by one of the 4 year old girls in my classroom. It is very eye opening for me to hear her discription of the picture. "my mommy is big and strong. My family is going out side to play in the park. My baby sister is little and my big sister is in a big school now, she is big. I wrote lots of letter M's, my mommy is helping me to learn them". she dose not mention much about her dad other than naming him on the picture. I know for fact that he works night shift and has to rest during the day time, so children spend more time with mommy and she is a very involved mother too. For me this picture shows what really matters in a child's world.( writing on the picture are mine other than the letterM's:).

Just Playing Poem

Here is a poem that I live by everyday in the classroom. I consider "Just Playing" to be my quote that has a special meaning for me in early childhood.

Just Playing

    Author Unknown

When I’m building in the block area,

Please don’t say I’m just playing.

   For, you see, I’m learning as play: about balance and shapes.

   Who knows, I may be an architect someday.

When I’m getting all dressed up, setting the table, caring for the babies,

Don’t get the idea I’m Just playing.

    For, you see, I’m learning as I play:

    I may be a mother or a father someday.

When you see me up to mu elbows in paint, or standing at an easel, or molding and shaping the clay,

Please don’t laugh and think I’m Just playing.

   For you see, I’m learning as I play.

   I’m expressing my self and being creative.

   I may be an artist or an inventor someday.

When you see me sitting in a chair” reading” to an imaginary audience,

Please don’t laugh and think I’m Just playing.

   For you see I’m learning as I play.

   I may be a teacher someday.

When you see me combing the bushes for bugs, or packing my pockets with things I find,

Don’t pass it off as just playing.

   For, you see, I’m learning as I play

   I may be a scientist someday.

When you see me engrossed in a puzzle or some plaything at my school,

Please don’t feel the time is wasted in Play.

   For you see I’m learning as play.

   I’m learning to solve problems and concentrate.

   I may be in business someday.

When you see me cooking to tasting food,

Please don’t think that I enjoy it, it is just playing.

   For you see, I’m learning as I play.

   I’m learning to follow directions and see differences.

   I may be a cook someday.

When you see me learning to skip, hop, run, and move my body,

Please don’t say I’m Just playing.

For you see, I’m learning as I play.

I’m learning how my body works.

            I may be a doctor, nurse, or an athlete someday.

When you ask me what I’ve done at school today, and I say, “I just played”.

Please don’t miss understand me.

   For, you see, I’m learning as I play.

   I’m learning to enjoy and be successful in my work.

   I’m preparing for tomorrow.

Today, I am a child and my work IS Play.

My First Post. Ever.

Hi everyone! I struggled for days with this thing, and I finally got it! Technology is not my cup of tea, but I'm proud to be an early childhood educator, and this is my blog to share the wisdom of everyone.You are invited to come join me and share your early childhood education wisdom.