Okay, so since I haven't received a response from CUBA or PERU although I have really been trying since they are my ethnic countries, I chose option 2....:(
Here's what I learned this week:
1) As per the Global Monitoring Report in UNESCO, there are four important skills for a child to learn: 1) Critical thinking about themselves 2) Learning about other children's culture 3) Skills to be good citizens and 4) Life skills and core values.
2) A quality education helps reduce poverty and enables children to become empowered and gain social cohesion and peace and human development and most importantly, children have a right to learn from birth....."Children's Rights are Human Rights". --UNESCO, 2013.
3) "International Day of the Girl Child" is a program to raise awareness and build stronger action for girls' UNESCO is committing to getting the estimated 32 million girls who should be in primary school to gain access to education. It's a global effort!!! How great is that???
References:
(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Friday, June 14, 2013
Sharing Web Resources NAEYC
This week, I decided to go ahead and join NAEYC as a member to receive all it's membership privileges, and boy did I learn something! If you become a member for only $40 as a student, or $66 as an educator, you gain a world of resources at your fingertips. You can join discussion groups with other online members, share resources and join interest forums. In addition, you receive Young Children and/or Teaching Young Children in your home bi monthly. Also, you have members only access to current issues of these magazines and even Tesoros y Colores which is the Spanish version of Teaching Young Children in digital format. With the click the mouse, you also get access to years worth of these magazines with tons of reference articles. These articles are not only good for students conducting research and teachers looking to education themselves further, but they are terrific to print out for parents. Lastly, a great benefit to being a member of NAEYC is that they are even offering 10% off tuition for new Walden University students!!!!!!
Although the newsletter didn't directly relate to this weeks topic of discussion; Awareness, Accessibility and Responsiveness, it did have archived articles under previous issues of Young Children that related. If you are interested in accessing these articles, you must first become a member and then logon and read "Early Childhood Education: Diverse Approaches for a Diverse Nation", July, 2010, Volume 65 or "Supporting Dual Language Learners and their families", March, 2013, Volume 68. Both these articles related to responsiveness in early childhood.
As for equity and excellence in early care and education, I think the website's family link provides an excellent resource for parents. They have a link for parents to search around their location for accredited programs and also include their standards for accreditation. It gives parents a way to look for quality programs, read articles about their child's development and has an area for them to sign up for family newsletters to keep them on top of all the current developments in early childhood education around their area. Not to mention the links on the family site that has discussion forums, blogs, family activities, music and much, much more. This is an excellent resource for everyone. I am surely going to put it on my classroom newsletter under Favorite Websites.
Mainly this week I am happy to announce that I am a member of NAEYC and that the benefits that come along with the membership are going to be an excellent asset to my Master's Degree research, as well as a resource that I will be sharing with my co-workers, students and families. I hope that everyone takes a minute to check out www.naeyc.org and becomes a member if they aren't already so they can gain the same benefits!!!
Although the newsletter didn't directly relate to this weeks topic of discussion; Awareness, Accessibility and Responsiveness, it did have archived articles under previous issues of Young Children that related. If you are interested in accessing these articles, you must first become a member and then logon and read "Early Childhood Education: Diverse Approaches for a Diverse Nation", July, 2010, Volume 65 or "Supporting Dual Language Learners and their families", March, 2013, Volume 68. Both these articles related to responsiveness in early childhood.
As for equity and excellence in early care and education, I think the website's family link provides an excellent resource for parents. They have a link for parents to search around their location for accredited programs and also include their standards for accreditation. It gives parents a way to look for quality programs, read articles about their child's development and has an area for them to sign up for family newsletters to keep them on top of all the current developments in early childhood education around their area. Not to mention the links on the family site that has discussion forums, blogs, family activities, music and much, much more. This is an excellent resource for everyone. I am surely going to put it on my classroom newsletter under Favorite Websites.
Mainly this week I am happy to announce that I am a member of NAEYC and that the benefits that come along with the membership are going to be an excellent asset to my Master's Degree research, as well as a resource that I will be sharing with my co-workers, students and families. I hope that everyone takes a minute to check out www.naeyc.org and becomes a member if they aren't already so they can gain the same benefits!!!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Getting to Know Your International Contacts- PART 2
In reviewing Harvard University's Global Children Initiative website, I found new insights that I am very excited about.
1) CHILD AND FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH - This project focused on anxiety and anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, and all kinds of conduct problems in children including adolescent delinquency and violence. I found this to be very important as it should be a top priority to educators and parents all over the world. So much is known about children's development, yet we see time and time again children struggling with these mental issues that affect their entire lives.
2) RELATED RESOURCES SECTION - This section of the website provides non-English videos which are translated into Spanish and Portuguese and they are informative videos about the core concepts in Early Childhood Development which is also a great resource around the globe for people who are visual learners, and especially for those who do not know how to read. I failed to realize how important it is to have videos available to parents who cannot read. How can we expect them to know what's appropriate for their child by just giving them a pamphlet? These videos are full of information and it would be great if they were translated in more languages.
3) "UN BUEN COMIENZO", A Good Start - This was launched in Chile and it's a professional development educational program for teachers to improve the quality of early childhood education and health (including socio-emotional development) in this Country. We know that programs like this are a great success and it's great that it's being implemented in Chile. I hope to see this type of initiative to be taken all over the world, especially in poorer countries where there are so many children lacking health and educational well-being.
I think it's important to understand the issue of health and well-being in all children. If we understand it, we can work toward getting programs started globally that will make a difference in all children's lives. There has been great advancement, however, we have a ways to go. It's taking classes like these that open our eyes to the problems in early childhood education and the resources and hope that there is to create a better tomorrow for ALL children.
References
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative
1) CHILD AND FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH - This project focused on anxiety and anxiety disorders, depression, ADHD, and all kinds of conduct problems in children including adolescent delinquency and violence. I found this to be very important as it should be a top priority to educators and parents all over the world. So much is known about children's development, yet we see time and time again children struggling with these mental issues that affect their entire lives.
2) RELATED RESOURCES SECTION - This section of the website provides non-English videos which are translated into Spanish and Portuguese and they are informative videos about the core concepts in Early Childhood Development which is also a great resource around the globe for people who are visual learners, and especially for those who do not know how to read. I failed to realize how important it is to have videos available to parents who cannot read. How can we expect them to know what's appropriate for their child by just giving them a pamphlet? These videos are full of information and it would be great if they were translated in more languages.
3) "UN BUEN COMIENZO", A Good Start - This was launched in Chile and it's a professional development educational program for teachers to improve the quality of early childhood education and health (including socio-emotional development) in this Country. We know that programs like this are a great success and it's great that it's being implemented in Chile. I hope to see this type of initiative to be taken all over the world, especially in poorer countries where there are so many children lacking health and educational well-being.
I think it's important to understand the issue of health and well-being in all children. If we understand it, we can work toward getting programs started globally that will make a difference in all children's lives. There has been great advancement, however, we have a ways to go. It's taking classes like these that open our eyes to the problems in early childhood education and the resources and hope that there is to create a better tomorrow for ALL children.
References
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative
Saturday, June 1, 2013
SHARING WEB RESOURCES: NAEYC
As posted earlier, I chose NAEYC as my website to explore and this week their newsletter published an article about Technology in the Preschool Classroom that coincides with the professional development happening in my district as we are all getting IPADS in September to supplement our students' learning. NAEYC and Fred Rogers Center for Early Learning and Children's Media got together and conducted studies and created a position statement that is in favor of using tablets in the classroom, one really good reason is that children don't have to know how to handle a mouse to navigate touch screens which is great for children with fine motor delays. They believe that "young children need opportunities to develop the early 'technology-handling' skills associated with early digital literacy that are akin to the 'book-handling' skills associated with early literacy development." (NAEYC, 2013). I also learned through this newsletter that there are over 5000,000 apps available in all subjects, with 58% of those apps geared toward preschoolers. What a great tool!
This article made me view the technology in the classroom in a whole new way because I see a lot of children struggling with computer skills and mouse handling, so I'm very happy that research is pushing for tablets in the classroom. I also think it will be a great asset to teachers taking anecdotes for assessments.
The newsletter also contained an article about Obama's historic budget proposal for 2014 which calls for 75 billion dollars over the next 10 years for preschool education. It's called "Preschool for All" which I really hope passes. He is a big supporter of early childhood education and I can't imagine the change that would create for families struggling with child care and the jobs it will create for teachers and the advancement it will create for children in general. GO OBAMA!!!!!
Last, but not least, I learned through the website that they are offering
This article made me view the technology in the classroom in a whole new way because I see a lot of children struggling with computer skills and mouse handling, so I'm very happy that research is pushing for tablets in the classroom. I also think it will be a great asset to teachers taking anecdotes for assessments.
The newsletter also contained an article about Obama's historic budget proposal for 2014 which calls for 75 billion dollars over the next 10 years for preschool education. It's called "Preschool for All" which I really hope passes. He is a big supporter of early childhood education and I can't imagine the change that would create for families struggling with child care and the jobs it will create for teachers and the advancement it will create for children in general. GO OBAMA!!!!!
Last, but not least, I learned through the website that they are offering
Friday, May 24, 2013
GETTING TO KNOW MY INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS
Despite many attempts to contact both UNICEF organizations in Peru and Cuba, to learn more about those countries and their education systems, I have failed to make contact. Emails have been returned as undeliverable and the ones that have gone through, have not replied. So, I am doing to alternative assignment with the podcasts.
I have chosen to learn more about Indonesia, specifically the orphans left behind after the devastating Tsunami of 2004. So many years have passed that people have forgotten all the horrible devastation that occured there and how over 500,000 people were left homeless.
Through the World Forum Foundation Radio podcasts, I was able to hear from Meridas Eka Yora who is the founder and chairperson of the Fajar Hidayah Group. His organization started boarding schools for the 400 orphans of the Tsunami in 2004. They employ teachers who not only teach these children but act as their mothers and father. He said in the podcast that "this is a big home, a big family for us", as they are trying to provide as normal a life as possible for these children. Today Fajar Hidayah Group runs four schools in Aceh, Indonesia housing over 2000 students ages 2-17.
I also researched poverty levels in Indonesia and found that as of 2010, their total population was 239,870,937 and of that number 18,436,000 live below the poverty line. Here are some statistics from http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/topic:
Statistics
Poverty, hunger and malnutrition
When you read these things it really opens your eyes to the poverty that exists around the world. I look forward to getting more information and to see if there's anything we can do to advocate and possible make a difference. So much devastation for so many children, it's just awful!!
References:
Website: World Forum Foundation Radio. Includes links to podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals.
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php
Website for Dimensions of Indonesia: http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/topic
I have chosen to learn more about Indonesia, specifically the orphans left behind after the devastating Tsunami of 2004. So many years have passed that people have forgotten all the horrible devastation that occured there and how over 500,000 people were left homeless.
Through the World Forum Foundation Radio podcasts, I was able to hear from Meridas Eka Yora who is the founder and chairperson of the Fajar Hidayah Group. His organization started boarding schools for the 400 orphans of the Tsunami in 2004. They employ teachers who not only teach these children but act as their mothers and father. He said in the podcast that "this is a big home, a big family for us", as they are trying to provide as normal a life as possible for these children. Today Fajar Hidayah Group runs four schools in Aceh, Indonesia housing over 2000 students ages 2-17.
I also researched poverty levels in Indonesia and found that as of 2010, their total population was 239,870,937 and of that number 18,436,000 live below the poverty line. Here are some statistics from http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/topic:
Statistics
Poverty, hunger and malnutrition
- More than one billion people in the world live on less than US$1 a day
- 2.7 billion struggle to survive on less than US$2 per day
- More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day, including 300 million children
- Every 3.6 seconds a person dies of starvation, and most of those who die are children under age of 5
- Every year 6 million children die from malnutrition before their fifth birthday
When you read these things it really opens your eyes to the poverty that exists around the world. I look forward to getting more information and to see if there's anything we can do to advocate and possible make a difference. So much devastation for so many children, it's just awful!!
References:
Website: World Forum Foundation Radio. Includes links to podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals.
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/radio.php
Website for Dimensions of Indonesia: http://www.ruralpovertyportal.org/topic
Sunday, May 19, 2013
Sharing Web Resources
I am going to be following NAEYC as an organization that is focused on accrediting programs of the highest quality in early childhood education as well as providing endless research, professional development and resources to educators and families in the early childhood field. You can sign up for NAEYC's free newsletter at http://www.naeyc.org/.
Their current newsletter included an Online Training on Creating Classroom Portfolios that you could sign up for. A Classroom Portfolio is a great way for teachers to document and display children's learning experiences for families. I thought this idea was great because you can learn to put together a portfolio that can be put into a Power Point and can be shown at different times of the year. It can also be translated into different languages which is one of the topics we have been learning about, culture, diversity and languages.
Parents like to see what's going on in the classroom and this is a great way to display that for them. I'm definitely signing up!
If you would like to sign up too, please click on this link:
http://www.naeyc.org/ecp/online/portfolios
Their current newsletter included an Online Training on Creating Classroom Portfolios that you could sign up for. A Classroom Portfolio is a great way for teachers to document and display children's learning experiences for families. I thought this idea was great because you can learn to put together a portfolio that can be put into a Power Point and can be shown at different times of the year. It can also be translated into different languages which is one of the topics we have been learning about, culture, diversity and languages.
Parents like to see what's going on in the classroom and this is a great way to display that for them. I'm definitely signing up!
If you would like to sign up too, please click on this link:
http://www.naeyc.org/ecp/online/portfolios
Friday, May 10, 2013
Establishing Professional Contacts & Expanding Resources
Okay, so I have sent emails out to try to reach UNICEF in both Cuba, my country of origin and Peru, my husbands country of origin. I have also reached out to the Global Alliance of NAEYC in Cuba and I am very hopeful that they get back to me. Right now, I haven't received a response from any of them, but I will keep on trying!!
I have also decided to expand my resources and learn all there is to learn about NAEYC in the United States, and particularly in my home State of New Jersey. I have some experience with them as I have attended their convention in Atlantic City the past couple of years but attending workshops is just a piece of what they offer as an organization. I have subscribed to their newsletter and am looking forward to learning a lot more to better assist my students, co-workers, families and community.
I'll keep you all posted!
I have also decided to expand my resources and learn all there is to learn about NAEYC in the United States, and particularly in my home State of New Jersey. I have some experience with them as I have attended their convention in Atlantic City the past couple of years but attending workshops is just a piece of what they offer as an organization. I have subscribed to their newsletter and am looking forward to learning a lot more to better assist my students, co-workers, families and community.
I'll keep you all posted!
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