Sharing Web Resources

The newsletter that I found resourceful is the, National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies, they have been operating since 1987. The agency’s vision is “A nation that supports the development and learning of all children” (Childcare awareness of America, pg. 2, 2014) and their mission is “To promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership and support to community Child Care Resource and Referral” (Childcare awareness of America, pg. 2, 2014). This agency also provides training, promotes national guidelines and partnerships and provides information to the families (Childcare awareness of America, pg. 2, 2014). The newsletter caught my attention on child obesity. They reported that the numbers are going down. This is a relief to me because we have been promoting physical education in our center and are training the children about healthy choices and healthy living. The site also gave more information that can help childcare providers’ insight on other issue going on in our state and globally. National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies http://www.naccrra.org/ (Newsletter: http://capwiz.com/naccrra/mlm/signup/ )

Establishing Professional Contacts

Macedonia Foundation for Educational and Cultural Initiatives of Macedonia (FECIM) Suzana Kirandziska Email: skiran@soros.org.mk China – Hong Kong OMEP National Committee for Hong Kong Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association Dr. Betty Chan Po-king 20 Somerset Rd. Kowloon Tong, Kowloon Hong Kong Tel: 852-23396005 Email: sannas@ycef.com These are the two contacts that I chose. I have families that are from these areas and understanding their trends and issues will help me in my profession. Part of being a quality center is having a clear view of the families and accepting their diversities. Expanding Resources The issue in which I found interesting is about brain development and how important it is to keep a child active and engaged. Parent and childcare providers need to understand how the brain functions. We need to learn how we can enhance healthy brain development. The first three years of a child’s life is important and we as educators need to reach the child at this age in order for them to succeed in the future. “The first three years of life are a period of incredible growth in all areas of a baby's development. A newborn's brain is about 25 percent of its approximate adult weight. But by age 3, it has grown dramatically by producing billions of cells and hundreds of trillions of connections, or synapses, between these cells. In this section you will learn about the many ways parents and caregivers can help children get off to a good start and establish healthy patterns for life-long learning” (Zero To Three). References The Global Alliance of NAEYC has e-mail addresses for early childhood professionals worldwide:http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ )

"My Supports"

My first support is God; he has given the strength and my support team to get through my journey. My main supporter is my husband, and then will come my sister and parents. My husband is very supportive in my college career. Being that I am working fulltime and keeping up with other demands he is very understanding and patient. He is very helpful around the house and joins in with the household chores. If he sees that I stressed with other issues he will step in and manage the budget and will order take out. My sister is another supporter she is always available to step in and help out when needed. My parents are both in their 80’s and support me when ever needed. My mother will cook for me and my father will drive my daughter to places or allow me to borrow his car when my car is in the shop. Without these people in my life helping me, I would not have been able to return to school for either my bachelors or master degree in Early Childhood. They never ask for anything in return or expect it. I am in gratitude to them forever and thankful to God for all the blessings he has given me.

"My Connections to Play."

Quotes I you feel summarize what play represented in my childhood. “Play is the highest form of research.” – Albert Einstein “Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.” – O. Fred Donaldson STRONG SUPPORT My parents were strong supporter in different forms of play time for me and my siblings. My father worked at the steel mills and worked different shifts. In the summer time when he had the weekends off he would take us to the parks, where would meet other family members. We had cook outs and play in the sandboxes, climb trees and have races. He also would take us to the Chicago museums; there we would have picnics and go on bike rides along Lakeshore Drive. If it were a rainy day my mother would help us set the kitchen up into a grocery store. She would help me make purses out of aluminum foil and give us coins for our register. We helped my mother in the garden and we would have our own section. One year we had a pumpkin patch and we decorated them for Halloween. My parents were always looking for ways we would be able to play and interact with others. In the winter we were outdoors making igloos and having snowball fights. We would come in and she would have hot chocolate with cheese and crackers waiting for us. Our play station was outside. Play today is different for our children. In many households both parents have to work to make ends meet. They work long hours which leaves little time for the children to play outdoors. With technology we find more children on the computers playing game, watching television or on their electronic games. The art of outdoor play even in school is fading out. My fondest memory of being young was play time. Through play I was able to be creative, use my imagination and explore. In my adulthood I understand how important play is in a child’s life. As parents we encouraged and made time for my children to play outdoors. Explore and travel. As a teacher I encourage play as a form of learning. Many children tell their parents they play all day however; the parents see an increase in their child’s vocabulary, social/emotional skills and academic skills. I give the credit to their success to the art of “play”. Reference http://www.oneperfectdayblog.net/2013/02/21/quotes-about-the-importance-of-play/

Relationship Reflection

I am in a relationship and have been happily married to a wonderful man for 26 years. Our relationships began when I was 15 and he was 16. We stayed dating until he joined the Marines and I was a senior in high school. His wishes were that I graduate and get married. My wishes were I graduate and go to college. Our communication skills were not the best at the time. We tried to make things work but it just was not the right time. Years later after I finished college and he was out of the Marines for 3 years our paths crossed again. We were married and now have 3 beautiful children. This relationship is important to because I feel he completes me and is a wonderful father. I also have a great relationship with my sisters one sister is 3 years older and the other one is 6 years younger. We have a great bond and seek each other for advice and comfort. Each relationship is strong and is a positive aspect of my life. Now that I am older I have found that a relationship that is strong is one that each person involved are honest and open. We keep the lines of communication open and discuss all issues weather we are in agreement or not. I can pick relationship that are positive and up lifting. Now I know and understand that I do not have to have many relationships and having a chosen few is greater that having many. There are always challenges to develop and maintain a strong relationship. Each person has their own personality and views. One challenge that I have found with my husband, by him being an over the road truck driver, is keeping an open mind and making sure we resolve our differences before he leaves to work. A special characteristic that we have in our relationship is that we all get along and we all can have our differences and still love and encourage each other.

Inspirational Quotes

I would like to thank all of my classmates for your informational blogs. They have been inspiring and helpful. I hope to hear from all of you in the next class. Have a happy and safe holiday. Here is a quote that is inspirational to me. I strong feel that education can set a person free. "Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons" (di) http://www.pinterest.com/pin/

Testing for Intelligence

 I am Education Coordinator at my work.  I have just implemented Kindergarten Readiness level 1, 2 and my classroom is level 3.  In level 1 the children are 21/2 year olds, level 2 is 3 year olds and my classroom is 4 and 5 year old (ready for .  We conduct assessments at each level.  However, it is not to measure intelligence we are more concerned with their social/emotional development.  We also look for areas of developmental delays.  In this manner we can suggest early intervention.  We teach the whole child and not just academics. I believe if a child is not ready, social/emotional, it will be difficult for them to be taught (Berger, 2013). 

Yes it is important for the child to know academic skills, but if I teach a child to control their emotions and stay in control, then I have helped the child to have a successful future.  So many communities in the United States are striving to be top schools or Blue Ribbon schools.  If they achieve this high honor the school will receive funds and new programs to better the education.  It is also comes with bragging rights of being the best schools.  Unfortunately the children are being pushed to learn the standardize test.  I now have to teach my preschoolers skills that 1^st graders should know; in this manner the kindergarten teacher can push them further. It is as though they have taken away the “play” in the children.  In the public schools it is more skill and drill and have pushed children into maturity.   

The mission statement in Australia is “The Australian International School is committed to excellence in all things.  Whatever it is that interests our students, that they excel at or show a talent for, be it academic, sporting or artistic we at AIS promise to teach, foster and encourage so that they can "play it out" and see where it goes.  Who knows where it will lead. EXPRESS YOURSELF”  (www.ais.com.sg/welcome).‎  The children “play it out” www.ais.com.sg/welcome‎.  They learn how things work through with the hands on effect.  Maybe we should follow their example. The school system is considered the finest in the world. What a legacy.
Reference

Berger, K. (2005). The developing person through the lifespan (6^th ed). New York NY: Worth

Australian School SG - International Preschool – Year 12‎ www.ais.com.sg/welcome‎