Time Well Spent

Three deep Learnings Throughout the last eight weeks I have learned so much. To have to narrow it down to three is difficult however, one of the issues that I have learned and will follow in my career is the Community of Practice. Choosing the right people to help you move your goals/vision forward is very important for a successful program. The second educational factor I have learned in this course is how important it is to know what the challenges are in the early childhood field and to know the needs of the children and their families. The third educational factor is to research what others in the early childhood field have done with the challenges they faced. How they overcame and pushed forward for a successful program. Long Term Goals One year ago I began the JL Academy for special needs children. My long-term goal is to have my academy well established. We provide kindergarten preparedness to kids with sensory issues and behavioral concerns through a play-based curriculum that focuses on fine motor skills, social/emotional skills, language (verbal and sign) and academic skills (colors, numbers and alphabet). The academy will include curricula such as sensory integration techniques. These techniques which are: Brain Gym, Handwriting without tears, Minds in Motion, Therapeutic listening, SOS snack time, ABA individual home programming and social communication strategies. Farewell To my colleagues, These last eight weeks were very trying. My husband was in a horrible trucking accident. He was in the ICU and now he is on the road of recovery. Throughout these eight weeks my decisions were short and to the point. I apologized for not engaging in decision board fully. I would like to say farewell to all my colleagues I wish you all the best in your future goals and hope our paths will cross again. God bless. To Dr. E. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences with me. I know that I did not share my situation with you but I feel that excuses always need a solution. I pushed through and have made it out fine. Once again thank you and God bless. Sandra Cruz

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The three organizations that I am interested in are United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and Save the Children organization. The reason I choose these organizations are because they are changing the lives of the children and their families. The organizations are a positive movement and the first priority is the children and their well-being. The job opportunity for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) organization the job listing shows a Supplies and Logistics for education. For this position you have to collect material for school. The School in a Box program is a wonderful way to promote education to children around the world. United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is another organization that interest me because of the opportunities of early childhood programs for children to expand and grow. Although, I did not see job opportunities on this page it will be a great program to advocate for and move forward.

Exploring the Context: Connecting With the Present

The three organization that I would like to be a part of are one Action for Autism – Delhi empower kids and adults with autism. From spreading awareness and influencing policy changes to finding better employment for people with autism, AFA is covering many grounds. Website: www.autism-india.org Two… Angloinfo in global expat network in Spain. I would like to also be a part of the community practice in the school for special needs children in Spain. I am a bilingual specking therapist and I would be able to help the community practice translate the needs and wands of the organization. Website: http://spain.angloinfo.co Three…The Ronald McDonald House is an organization that helped me and my husband with a warm and inexpensive place to stay while my son was in the hospital that was an hour away. They are now located in more than 60 countries across the globe. Website: http://www.rmhc.org/about-us These organizations are involved with the well-being of the children and their families. By being a part of the community practice I will be able to use my talents and education. Their mission statement is in line with my interest of help children who have special needs and sensory issues. The job that I would like to obtain is in India. I would like to relocate to the area because I feel the needs are great at this location. I feel that I would be able to use my knowledge to further their programs. Delhi, India Sr. Relationship Manager Corporate Engagements Skills and experience I would need to fulfill the job is, To understand mandate for corporate engagement, identify suitable partners and ensure smooth implementation of the volunteering event. Website: www.autism-india.org References Action for Autism – Delhi www.autism-india.org Angloinfo in global expat network in Spain http://spain.angloinfo.co The Ronald McDonald House http://www.rmhc.org/about-us

Sate and Local Organizations

The three organizations that I have chosen are NAEYC, Carmelite Home and Boys and Girls club. I choose these organization because in each I will be able to help children and their families to reach goals that will encourage them to continue to move forward. In each organization I will need leadership and communication skills and I will also need have organization skills that will help me to stay on top of the latest resources that will help the organization get stronger. Looking on the web-site there are many position open that will help me to obtain a job that will help families and the children.

Adjourning

In the meeting or conferences that I attended the adjourning was always on a strong note. The person who hosted the meeting would give some encouraging words. Many times as you were adjourned I felt that I needed to act on thoughts or I felt as though I was making a difference in someone life. The group that is hardest to leave are those who have built strong line of communication and trust. The group of colleagues in my bachelors program was hard to leave because of the bond we formed. I still keep in touch with a few. Adjourning from my colleagues at the end of our master degree journey I hope will not be the last time we speak. My colleagues and instructors have been a blessing to me. They have been very encouraging and up lifting.

Nonviolent Communication

In the month of July, I had a disagreement with my CEO. The situation made the atmosphere very tense. If I would have had this class the situation may have ended on a better note. I would have used the 3R’s to handle this conflict. One strategy I could have used was to allow for the situation to cool down and the second strategy I should have allowed her to explain her reason for her actions. I was very upset with a situation, which involved another employee. Because of the CEO’s approach, I expressed my thoughts strongly. I should have thought things through and approached her from a different angle. I made my thoughts well known and I did not back down. It ended where we agreed to disagree. However, the tension was still present. So my colleagues how would you have handle the situation?

Becoming a Strong Communicator

In my communications class I took an assessment for Communication Anxiety Inventory, Verbal Aggressiveness and Listening Styles. I found that I scored moderate in all three. I had my coworker evaluate me and with her my score was higher. She feels that I am a strong communicator and that I can influence the audience. I do not see this in myself. I thought my listening skills were stronger than what I scored and it is something I truly feel is important factor in communication. The insight I learned about myself is that I am concerned about what I say to others so that I will not offend anyone. I also learned my listening skills need to improve. Listening and communicating are so important when, I as a professional, speak to the parents. Listening to their concern and needs are important gaining their trust and helping the situation. Listening one of the main ingredients to building strong relationships with the families; therefore I have to build my skills in order to be effective.