Thank You!

I would like to say thank you to my classmates and Dr. Longo for all of the words of encouragement throughout the last 8 weeks.  This was a new experience for me and you all made this a great one.  I was sceptical if I could make it through an online program, but after experienceing this class I am very confident that I can finish the program.  All I can say is THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

Introspective Process

One quote that is worth remembering is: "being a voice for the voiceless". (Renetta Cooper)  This quote means a lot to me.  It makes me feel good about what I am currently doing and also the things I aspire to do in the future.

Before this course I did not realize how many resources were out there and I intend to use any and every resource we have discovered during this course.  I also plan to continue to research and find more resources including continuing to use my colleagues.  I feel like my colleagues are the best resource!

Code of Ethics

NAEYC Ideals
I-1.3- To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.

This ideal is important to me because every child is different.  They each have their own personality and qualities.  Each child should be treated with respect and should know that they are held to the highest expectations.  Children's unique qualities should not be held against them but they should be shown how to use these qualities to better themselves.

I-2.2- To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with families we serve.

This ideal is important to me because I believe that the children benefit from their teacher and parents having a good relationship.  It's easier to deal with problems that may arise when there is mutual trust and a partnership with the families.

I-3A.2- To share resources with co-workers, collaborating to ensure that the best possible early childhood care and education program is provided.

This ideal is important to me because the work situation I am in know is an example of this ideal.  I can not imagine working with people who are not willing to help and share ideas with their colleagues.  I think I am successful in the classroom because of the collaborating my team and do.


DEC Ideals
Professional Development and Preparation
4. We shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services.

This is important to me because when I was new to the field I was given all the support a new teacher could ask for.  I in turn want to do this for other new professionals to the field.

Responsive Family Centered Practices
4. We shall empower families with information and resources so that  they are informed consumers of services for their children.

One of my professional goals is to conduct workshops for families to give them the resources needed to better the lives of themselves and their children.  I want to be able to give families all the resources I can.

Enhancement of Children's and Families' Quality of Lives
3. We shall recognize and respect the dignity, diversity, and autonomy of the families and children we serve.

Everyone is different and we as educators must realize and respect this.  I have handled a few different cultures since I have been a teacher and have learned that each culture has there own values.  These need to be respected and honored.  It is much easier to deal with someone of a different culture if you show them respect and not judge.

My Additional Resources

My students enjoy the website:
http://www.pbskids.org

A great book to have handy is Smart Start The Parent's Guide To Preschool Education  by Marian Edelman Borden

I also love anything by Dr. Jean Feldman.  She is wonderful and a great inspiration!

Resources for the Week

Part 1: 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, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

Part 2: 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 International
  http://acei.org/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements. 

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://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/
     

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.) 

• 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

Video Program: "The Resources for Early Childhood"

Quotes from video!

"I've always felt like I owed the families my best."   Renatta M. Cooper


"...Create opportunities for parents and their children to have those opportunities presented to them also, helping them learn about resources for their children to be able to go to school, that there is more to life than just--what's in the neighborhood, that they realize that their children can do more."   Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed

Elena Bodrova and Marcy Whitebook

"TV shows and computers, even with carefully selected educational content, cannot replace live play mentors."  Elena Bodrova and Deborah J. Leong

"We now have scientific evidence to support a belief that many of us have held for a long time: that children’s environment of relationships in the first years of their lives shape the architecture of their brains, influencing their abilities long into adulthood.

This brain research tells us that adults---not just parents, but teachers and providers too, function as either protective or risk factors in children’s development. And that means we must, as a society, do whatever we can to ensure that the teachers and providers who spend their days with children have the preparation, support and reward that allow them to play that protective role in children’s lives."  Marcy Whitebook- from a speech given in April 2010