Sharing Web Resources

I viewed several different sites before choosing one.  I chose The National Black Child Development Institute.  The website is www.nbcdi.org.  For the past 40 years the National Black Child Institute has been working towards its mission to improve and advance the lives of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education.  The affiliates, which are volunteers from across the nation, have been working to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and provide vital information regarding our children’s health.

One of the Institutes initiatives is Literacy.  Love to Read is the National Black Child Development Institute’s (NBCDI) national early literacy public education initiative designed to help parents and other caregivers improve African American children’s academic performance. Love to Read is targeted towards parents and caregivers of children ages 0 through 6. NBCDI has partnered with Reading is Fundamental (RIF) to offer an early literacy training program to early childhood educators to build their capacity and resources to develop and enhance early literacy skills of African American.

I chose this site because African American children are falling farther and farther behind other children in school.  Many of them don't even complete high school let alone attend college.  Their are many affiliates in major cities.  I am thinking of joining the one in mine!

Professional Contacts

Part 1

When I first read this assignment I was intimidated.  I couldn't understand how I was going to create contacts in other countries.  My biggest concern was the language barrier.  I must have looked at the sites for the blog resources about four times before I chose anybody to contact.  In the end I chose South Africa, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago.  I just did this yesterday so I haven't heard back yet but hopefully someone will respond. I'm actually anxious about getting the responses.  I'm looking forward to what I might learn from these professionals about early childhood in their countries.

Part 2

I looked at a couple different sites for this part of the assignment.  But I chose National Black Child Development Institute.  This organization's mission is to improve and advance the lives of black children and their families, through advocacy and education.  I chose this organization because I agree with the things they are working to accomplish.  I signed up for newsletter updates and I am thinking of joining the organization.  I found out their is an affiliate in my city.

My Supports

There is no one in this world who does not need, want , or have some sort of support.  I have many support system that get me through the day.  Some I can live without and others I could not.  My family is one of the greatest support systems that I have.  Without them I would not be where I am today and that includes in this program.  They all provide me with a tremendous amount of emotional support.  I was recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and everyone in my life keep me going.  My co-workers provide me with support at work by always having my back and being there when I need them.  My car, money, computer, and cell phone all also provide me with support.  Without my car I could not get to and from work to make the money that is needed to live on and pay bills.  Without my computer I would not have the option of being in this program.  And last but not least i depend on my cell phone to keep in touch with everyone, to wake me up in the mornings, and to remind me of what I need to do for the day.  As I said some I can live without but others I can't.  I can't imagine my life without the support of my family.  But without all the others in my life, it would be hard  but doable.  I haven't always had a car so I know how to ride the bus.  I haven't always been in a supportive work environment so I could deal with that.  And I have not always had a cell phone and a computer.  Life would be harder but I would make it.

As for the challenge I choose to be disabled and in a wheelchair.  I chose this because it is something I have to face sometime later in life.  I may not need a wheelchair but I will be disabled in some way.  If I were in a wheelchair, my biggest support would be my wheelchair.  Without it I wouldn't be able to get around.  I would have to depend on others a lot to do things for me.  I know being in a wheelchair doesn't mean you can't do anything but having a support system around that are willing to help you is definitely needed.  Without a good support system life would be very hard.  And without a wheelchair I would be bound to my house and possibly the bed.

Connections to Play

Quotes about childhood play:

Play for young children is not recreation activity,... It is not leisure-time activity nor
escape activity.... Play is thinking time for young children. It is language time. Problem-
solving time. It is memory time, planning time, investigating time. It is organization-of-
ideas time, when the young child uses his mind and body and his social skills and all his
powers in response to the stimuli he has met.

                                                                        --James L. Hymes, Jr., child development specialist, author

It is a happy talent to know how to play.

                                                                     --Ralph Waldo Emerson, philosopher, poet, essayist

         

    









These three things were essentials when I was a child.  I always had a jump rope and still do.  Cabbage Patch kids were the only dolls I would play with and I treated them like they were my children.  And a kickball was essential because all the kids that lived on our block would come together for games of kickball and dodge ball.  Kickball was a neighborhood favorite.

My mother is an early childhood teacher so she always understood the importance of play.  As a child all I remember doing was playing, whether it was inside, outside, or at the ball park.  My brother and I always played.

The only way I think play is similar is that all children like to play.  They may not play the same games as we did growing up but they still want to play.  I grew up in the 80's and all I can remember is wanting to play outside.  My brother and I would get up on Saturday mornings, do our chores as quickly as possible and get outside to play.  Children these days only want to be involved in electronics.  Whether it's a game system, computer or some sort of music device.  Cell phones are even becoming big with children at a young age.  I grew up with all boys so I was a tomboy.  I could run faster and play sports better than a lot of the boys and I enjoyed it.  Now girls want to be cute all the time.  I miss the games of kickball, hide and seek, kick the can and dodgeball.

The role of play is very important because it teaches so many things.  I think adults forget how to play.  Adults need a little playtime here and there also.  We as adults and educators need to encourage play as much as we can.

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding

I chose the topic breastfeeding because I believe it is the best thing for a baby.  I tried to breastfeed and was quite disappointed when it did not work out.  I try to promote breastfeeding to anyone I talk to who is pregnant.  Here in the United States it is more common to give our babies formula instead of breastfeeding. Many women don't even give it a try.  They don't want to go though the pain.  I was going through a lot of pain but I was trying everything to give my baby the best thing for him.  I read that in Kenya breastfeeding is a priority.  A woman who does not breastfeed is frowned upon.  It is nothing for women in Kenya to whip out a boob whenever and where ever to feet their baby.  It is so common that the mothers don't even use a cover up.  No one pays a breastfeeding mother any mind when she is feeding her baby.  If a mother in the United States tried to breastfeed in public with no cover up or anything, she would be frowned upon and maybe arrested for indecent exposure.  I think it is ridiculous that a lot of the poorer countries have enough sense to encourage breastfeeding but women in the United States just think of themselves instead of the baby.  I believe a lot of mothers in the United States are being selfish in a sense.  One goal of mine is to give workshops to parents to help better themselves and the life of their children.  Breastfeeding would be a great topic for one of my workshops.  I would show how mothers around the world don't have a choice but to breastfeed and all of the positives of breastfeeding.

Quote About Children

Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”

James Arthur Baldwin  We as adults need to remember to practice what we preach.  Children see everything.  We are their role models, of course they are going to want to do what we do.

Why assessments?

Assessments have become a priority in school systems all over the world.  In Louisiana students must pass the LEAP, Louisiana Educational Assessment Program, in the forth and eighth grades in order to move on to the next grade.  I do not like this test or any like it because of the amount of pressure it puts on the students, teachers, and parents.  Some of the material on the test the children can't even relate to.  This test focuses on Reading and Math but includes Science and Social Studies.  I don't think it is fair that a child can be held back a grade because of one test.  I my kindergarten class I have to give benchmark tests for reading.  These test every three weeks are stressful.  My students don't quite understand the importance of passing a test yet but they get stressed because these tests are too long and they are very confusing sometimes.  The pictures are the main thing that confuses them and I do my best to explain as much as possible without giving the answer.

I read that Japan has a standardized test based educational system.  The article I read did not mention what standardized test but says once enrolled in junior high school all the "initiative, creativity, and thinking outside the box" is taken away because of the standardized testing.  Many Japanese students have lost their love for education because of this system.  The author mentions that because of this system Japanese are very indecisive and they don't have an opinion about anything.  He says if you ask their opinion they will answer but can't tell you why they feel that way.

I don't like our assessments but they are far better than what has been described in Japan.  I can't imagine not having an opinion about something or even worse losing my love for education because of standardized testing!