On the earlychildhoodnews.com website, I read an article entitled Does Parent Involvement make Your Job Easier or More Challenging? This week, I had parent-teacher conferences with my oldest and middle daughters' teachers (one daughter in Kindergarten and one daughter in middle school). This article intrigued me because as an early childhood professional, I have asked myself this question many times! But, from a parent point of view, I gladly accept the offer to volunteer at my daughters' schools! In the parent-teacher conference for my kindergartner, her teacher seemed timid in a sense. But, sense I was able to observe her teaching ability through various occasions of volunteering in the classroom, I could openly compliment her on her teaching style and her interaction with the students. It surprised me when she said she was grateful for my compliments and that as teachers, "you never hear you're doing a good job; only complaints about what you're doing wrong". When she said this, it made me reflect on my experiences dealing with parents and it made me realize that because I had the opportunity to be involved in my child's learning environment and to informally observe the teacher, I had a better understanding of her teaching personality. To bridge the gap between home and school as well as establish a solid line of communication between the parent and you, the early childhood professional, I feel parent involvement is a must! When parents enter the classroom, even if it's for a few minutes, they have a chance to see the other side of the center (outside of paying fees and signing papers)! "Parents develop positive attitudes toward school and better understand the schooling process, which eventually builds more effective programs with higher community awareness and support." (Beery, n.d., p. 1)
There was a section in the article that talked about how beneficial parent involvement is for the overall success of the center's program. "Parents who understand and provide input often complain less and offer more support to staff and teachers. This in turn strengthens staff morale and stress management—ultimately causing less staff turnover." (Beery, n.d, p. 1) I thought this was interesting because I never considered that simply inviting a parent to read a story or do a puppet show for the students could possibly cause less staff turnover!
As early childhood professionals, especially those who are in the classroom, some of us dread having parents and their "ideas" come into "our" learning environment. But, from what I have read in this article, such involvement and support greatly enhances both the educational experience of the students as well as eases some of the stress for the teachers.
Reference
Beery, M. (2014, September 27). Earlychildhood NEWS. Retrieved September 27, 2014, from
http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=144
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Friday, September 12, 2014
Sharing Web Resources
The name of the organization that I chose (I'm not sure if this is an appropriate organization) is Earlychildhood NEWS (http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/). I chose this website because I receive their newsletters and they offer enlightening articles. I originally was introduced to it through purchasing various items from the website.
One current issue/trend from the newsletter from the website that caught my attention is Ask the Expert: Teaching Culture Through the Arts by Anna Reyner Art Therapist. This article talks about incorporating culture through different themes such as: seasons, life-cycle, and vacation.
"One good way to incorporate multicultural learning into the classroom is to follow cultures by seasons. Take winter, for example, when many cultural holidays and celebrations occur. A teacher can easily teach and compare a wide variety of winter holidays by having the classroom create ritual objects for display and study. For example, the African winter holiday of Kwanzaa can be contrasted with the Judaic winter holiday of Chanukah. Both cultures use a candleholder to celebrate these holidays, but their candleholders look different and have different meanings. A classroom can create both a Chanukah "menorah" and a Kwanzaa "kinara" and talk about the differences and similarities between the two."
I thought this information was interesting because most children know about Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Mothers day! So these are easy topics to use to implement culture into the classroom through an array of pictures, items, or stories of how different countries celebrate such holidays. I think it would be creative to, also, show students how various cultures celebrate birthdays!
One current issue/trend from the newsletter from the website that caught my attention is Ask the Expert: Teaching Culture Through the Arts by Anna Reyner Art Therapist. This article talks about incorporating culture through different themes such as: seasons, life-cycle, and vacation.
"One good way to incorporate multicultural learning into the classroom is to follow cultures by seasons. Take winter, for example, when many cultural holidays and celebrations occur. A teacher can easily teach and compare a wide variety of winter holidays by having the classroom create ritual objects for display and study. For example, the African winter holiday of Kwanzaa can be contrasted with the Judaic winter holiday of Chanukah. Both cultures use a candleholder to celebrate these holidays, but their candleholders look different and have different meanings. A classroom can create both a Chanukah "menorah" and a Kwanzaa "kinara" and talk about the differences and similarities between the two."
I thought this information was interesting because most children know about Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Mothers day! So these are easy topics to use to implement culture into the classroom through an array of pictures, items, or stories of how different countries celebrate such holidays. I think it would be creative to, also, show students how various cultures celebrate birthdays!
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Getting Ready- Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources
Due to time constraints, I was unable to communicate with any of the major early childhood organizations on different continents; faculty of early childhood departments of universities in different parts of the world; or ask early childhood professionals you know in this country if they know any colleagues in different parts of the world. When I tried to review the World Forum websites, they were are not accessible at the time and received an error code (Not Found
The requested URL /wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio was not found on this server.
Apache/2.2.15 (CentOS) Server at www.worldforumfoundation.org Port 80). In reviewing the Save the Children website, I could not find any specific person to contact to get further information about who they are and their background with Save the Children. One the Contact Us page of the website, it was outlined with the following information:
The requested URL /wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio was not found on this server.
Apache/2.2.15 (CentOS) Server at www.worldforumfoundation.org Port 80). In reviewing the Save the Children website, I could not find any specific person to contact to get further information about who they are and their background with Save the Children. One the Contact Us page of the website, it was outlined with the following information:
Contact Us
Thank you for contacting Save the Children. To help increase efficiency, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page first, to see if your question has already been answered.
For Donor Services
Please call toll-free 1.800.728.3843 (8:00am-5:00pm EST, M-F) or emailsupportercare@savechildren.org
For Inquiries about Major Gifts
Please e-mail MajorGiving@savechildren.org
Save the Children U.S. Headquarters
501 Kings Hwy E, Fairfield, CT 06825 1.203.221.4000
2000 L Street NW, Suite 500, Washington, DC 20036
1.202.640.6600 (8:00am-5:00pm EST, M-F)
Save the Children U.S. has regional fundraising offices in the Midwest and on the West Coast. For more information please contact our home office listed above.
Read our:
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U.S. Press Contacts
International Children's Issues/Programs:
Eileen Burke 475.999.3044 (W); 203.216.0718 (M)
Phil Carroll 267.992.6356 (M) Wendy Christian 475.999.3059(W); 203.465.8010 (M) Ajla Grozdanic 202.640.6709 (W); 202.251.5859 (M) Jeremy Soulliere 475.999.3245 (W); 203.295.5842 (M) Francine Uenuma 202.640.6810 (W); 202.450.9153 (M)
U.S. Children's Issues/Programs:
Tanya Weinberg 202.640.6647 (W); 202.247.6610 (M)
With this format, I was unsure as to how and whom I should contact someone on this website. I guess I could send a general inquiry and see what I receive back. However, through the Global Alliance for the Education of Young Children on naeyc.org, I have contacted Dr. Betty Chan Po-king (Pacific Early Childhood Education Research) in Hong Kong; Nives Milinovic with Open Academy "Korak po Korak" ("Step by Step") in Croatia; and Dominique Hudicourt with "Tipa Tipa" ("Step by Step Program") in Haiti and awaiting correspondence. I chose these contacts because they are very distant parts of the world and it would be interesting to see how each country advocates for their children. Do you think these "Step By Step" Programs is the equivalent to the Early Head Start programs in the US? What type of rules and regulations these organizations implement? I am excited to find out!
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Saturday, August 9, 2014
My Supports
The factors in my daily environment that are supportive to me are my physical, emotional, and practical supports. My physical supports include belief in my Higher Power, my body, the roof over my head, the cars that I drive, the nature trail that I walk 4 miles through every morning, the nourishment I place in my body, the back rubs that I receive from my husband, and the daily hugs and kisses from my daughters. My emotional supports mostly include the support of my husband, my daughters, and my in-laws. My practical supports include the money used to purchase things, my laptop, my phone, my pen, and my notebook! The benefits of these different forms of assistance are endless!
The encouragement of my physical support allow me to be the best possible “Monique” that that I can be! These factors offer security, freedom, and rejuvenation which helps me to grow daily as a person. It is reassuring and uplifting to always “have someone in your corner”! To have that voice in your ear saying "You can do it!" "I'm proud of you!" The emotional support that I receive from the above mentioned have helped me to become the person I am today! Like most people nowadays, I use my phone for everything! To check the weather and the time; as an alarm clock, a listening device, and a book’; my health mate as it tracks how many steps I take a day and how many calories I intake; and to communicate with the outside world!
The benefits of my pen and my notebook are (when used together) they help me to center my thoughts and express my intentions. All of these aids and their gains are the force that keep me alive and moving forward on a daily basis and would be unthinkably difficult to exist without them! They would have a tremendous impact on my life if they were gone because I have incorporated them into my daily living! It would be like starting life all over again! It feels weird to make this statement but I say this because “support” is such a strong concept. When you are supported by something or someone, you rely on it (to a certain degree) and can put you weight on it, whether it’s emotional or physical weight. Whatever the support maybe, you have made it a part of who you are because of its strength to hold you up/together when you can’t do it for yourself.
The encouragement of my physical support allow me to be the best possible “Monique” that that I can be! These factors offer security, freedom, and rejuvenation which helps me to grow daily as a person. It is reassuring and uplifting to always “have someone in your corner”! To have that voice in your ear saying "You can do it!" "I'm proud of you!" The emotional support that I receive from the above mentioned have helped me to become the person I am today! Like most people nowadays, I use my phone for everything! To check the weather and the time; as an alarm clock, a listening device, and a book’; my health mate as it tracks how many steps I take a day and how many calories I intake; and to communicate with the outside world!
The benefits of my pen and my notebook are (when used together) they help me to center my thoughts and express my intentions. All of these aids and their gains are the force that keep me alive and moving forward on a daily basis and would be unthinkably difficult to exist without them! They would have a tremendous impact on my life if they were gone because I have incorporated them into my daily living! It would be like starting life all over again! It feels weird to make this statement but I say this because “support” is such a strong concept. When you are supported by something or someone, you rely on it (to a certain degree) and can put you weight on it, whether it’s emotional or physical weight. Whatever the support maybe, you have made it a part of who you are because of its strength to hold you up/together when you can’t do it for yourself.
Friday, July 25, 2014
My Connections to Play
In my childhood, play represented...
Three essential play items for my younger self...
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| http://www.pinterest.com/pin/4081455887105980/ |
Three essential play items for my younger self...
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| I figured out the hard way that you're not suppose to feed her applesauce! |
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| I can remember trying to make REAL cornbread with my oven! |
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| I absolutely LOVED my Teddy Ruxpin! His eyes and mouth would move as he told stories from the tape you would place in the cassette holder in his back.
In my childhood, play was supported by allowing me to be free to be creative. Around eight years old, I remember getting my parent’s video recorder, setting it up in front of my bed and pretending to be a news reporter! I was always encouraged and provided the supplies need to be as imaginative as I could by my parents. I can remember being surround with toys during Christmas! There were bicycles, roller blades, easy bake ovens, blocks, bubbles, baby dolls, barbie dolls, dramatic play kitchen, etc! Christmas day definitely showed how play was supported in my childhood!
The best way to describe how I feel about play is with the proverb, “The body heals with play, the mind heals with laughter and the spirit heals with joy!” This is a perfect description for how play does so much for children and adults. Play, nowadays, is different from the play I experienced as a child because it is limited or non-existent in certain aspects. Those who create the policies and the requirements for certain educational programs do not understand the importance of this simple act of indulgence-filled learning!
http://peekaboobeansblogspot.blogspot.com/p/play-quotes.html
“Play is the highest expression of human development in childhood, for it alone is the free expression of what is in a child’s soul” by Friedrich Frobel. I feel this quote can be for adulthood as well. Play is needed to create a balance between structure and freedom.
http://blog.playdrhutch.com/2014/01/06/play/
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Saturday, July 12, 2014
Relationship Reflection
Relationships are so vital to me because of the closeness, security, and support that such bonds bring to my life. We live in a social world; so it is impossible to live life without others and form life-long bonds with others. I can remember viewing a multimedia presentation about early childhood and infancy. In this presentation, it spoke of how important touch and "parent-infant bond" is to a premature infants. Feeling the touch and warmth of another human being does wonders to their development and overall survival.
One of the most important relationships I have is with my husband and our 3 daughters. My husband is my foundation! I KNOW I am limitless with him in my corner! Our relationship was destined from the beginning. When we met, I didn't know he was my other half but 3 years later I am proud to say he is definitely the other part of who I am, my growth, and my achievements!
My daughters are my passion and motivation! They are the reason why I HAVE TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE! When I see their smiling faces and feel their arms around me, I know I must keep moving forward to give them the best life and opportunities possible.
My relationship with my sister is part of who I am today. She knows who I am and where I have been. Although, we are 3 years and 1 day apart, she is definitely my twin!
All of these personal connections developed positively through building trust, communication and being genuine. The most essential aspect to any relationship is open, positive communication and being genuine. With all three of these bonds, I can truly be myself (the good, the bad, and the ugly). My sister and my husband have seen me in my most vulnerable moments in my life. It is my personal opinion, in order to have an authentic relationship, one must not be afraid to expose who they truly are (to a certain extent) and allow others to see their vulnerability.
In my experience in developing and maintaining relationships, over time, I understand that people are who they are and you cannot change them. We all have something we are dealing with (either from our past or present) that has an affect on our personalities and no matter how I want the best for another, it cannot happen until they want the best for themselves. One thing I have learned is you have to allow people the freedom to be authentic in order to maintain a positive relationship. When you try to control a person instead of accepting him/her in their true nature, then finding and having that life-long connection is inaccessible. Although, I am close with the people mentioned in this post, doesn't mean I agree with all of their decisions or ways of thinking. But, I accept them for who they are and love them in spite of.
Building trust, open communication, and being genuine in how you approach the other person(s) in your partnerships are some special characteristics that help to develop and maintain such relationships.
It is my experiences with such relationships, that impact my work as an effective early childhood professional because I have enhanced my ability to meet the child as well as their family on THEIR level. Through the close, personal connections that I have with those around me, I have learned to accept people for who they are and I am humble enough to communicate with others; no matter their background, educational level, or ethnicity. We are all human and have the ability to teach and learn from each other (especially children).
My daughters are my passion and motivation! They are the reason why I HAVE TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE! When I see their smiling faces and feel their arms around me, I know I must keep moving forward to give them the best life and opportunities possible.
My relationship with my sister is part of who I am today. She knows who I am and where I have been. Although, we are 3 years and 1 day apart, she is definitely my twin!
All of these personal connections developed positively through building trust, communication and being genuine. The most essential aspect to any relationship is open, positive communication and being genuine. With all three of these bonds, I can truly be myself (the good, the bad, and the ugly). My sister and my husband have seen me in my most vulnerable moments in my life. It is my personal opinion, in order to have an authentic relationship, one must not be afraid to expose who they truly are (to a certain extent) and allow others to see their vulnerability.
In my experience in developing and maintaining relationships, over time, I understand that people are who they are and you cannot change them. We all have something we are dealing with (either from our past or present) that has an affect on our personalities and no matter how I want the best for another, it cannot happen until they want the best for themselves. One thing I have learned is you have to allow people the freedom to be authentic in order to maintain a positive relationship. When you try to control a person instead of accepting him/her in their true nature, then finding and having that life-long connection is inaccessible. Although, I am close with the people mentioned in this post, doesn't mean I agree with all of their decisions or ways of thinking. But, I accept them for who they are and love them in spite of.
Building trust, open communication, and being genuine in how you approach the other person(s) in your partnerships are some special characteristics that help to develop and maintain such relationships.
It is my experiences with such relationships, that impact my work as an effective early childhood professional because I have enhanced my ability to meet the child as well as their family on THEIR level. Through the close, personal connections that I have with those around me, I have learned to accept people for who they are and I am humble enough to communicate with others; no matter their background, educational level, or ethnicity. We are all human and have the ability to teach and learn from each other (especially children).
Sunday, June 29, 2014
Quotes about Children
The most profound comment I read was on a fellow classmates blog: candicechatman.wordpress.com. On her blog, she had a short video of quotes about children from famous people. The quote that resonated with me TO MY CORE was "The soul is healed by being with children" by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. As an early childhood professional, I can truly say from experience that this quote is accurate! I can remember working as an Early Head Start teacher and sneaking across the hall to the infant room so I could get my "fix" for the day! I didn't know how to explain it until I read this quote. But, every time I held one of those babies in my arms, the troubles of the day melted away instantly! I would leave feeling so refreshed and ready to face the rest of the day! The energy I felt, the calmness, the genuineness of the moment stayed with me. And because those moments became a part of me, I always say if I ever went back to the classroom full-time, I would want to work in the infant room!
I would like to extend a professional thanks and support to candicechatman.wordpress.com and kathypierre.blogspot.com whose blogs I have followed and learned from throughout this course. THANK YOU for giving me a sneak peek into who you are and how you see child development!I have learned so much!
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