Week 2 Assignment

 

 

 

Sharing Web Resources

 

 

 



 

 I chose the National Black Child Development Institute because I never heard of this organization.  The National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) is a nonprofit organization that provides and supports programs, workshops, and resources for African American children, their parents and communities in: early health and education; child welfare; parenting; health and elementary and secondary education. The National Black Child Development was founded in 1978 by Greensboro native, Sarah Walden Herbin, the Black Child Development Institute of Greensboro, Inc. is one of 33 affiliates of the National Black Child Development Institute.  Since their inception they have been steadfast in their mission of improving and protecting the quality of life of children, youth and families in their communities. They are a trusted partner in delivering culturally relevant resources that respond to the unique strengths and needs of Black children around issues including early childhood education, health, child welfare, literacy, and family engagement. Their mission is “to improve and advance the quality of life for Black children and their families through education and advocacy.” By organizing NBCDI as a national advocacy group, they created a unified movement to develop strategies to improve the life circumstances of the Black child through policy change. The NBCDI is one the only national organizations dedicated exclusively to the success and well-being of Black children, the National Black Child Development Institute and their network of Affiliates have been a strong and successful voice on issues related to the education, care, and health of Black children and their families. The reason why this organization interested me because I never heard of this organization, and I am from a small rural town in the state of South Carolina in which I believe would benefit from this organization. I would like to know more about it because I believe every child should have the same experience in receiving a good education regardless of what their ethnic background may be. Also this organization help and works with mostly  black children birth through age eight and their families, through coalition building with community-based organizations, foundations, corporations, school systems, elected officials, government, child care, Head Start and many other public and private partnerships. I am also joining this organization to learn how I can help make a difference in the child’s life I teach.

 

 

 

National Black Child Development Institute
http://nbcdi.org/
(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters

 

 

 



Establishing Professional Contacts/ Expanding Resources

 

 

Establishing Professional Contacts/ Expanding Resources

 

 

Establishing Professional Contacts

 

The early childhood professionals I decided to have contact with are the followings; Asia, Canada, and Mongolian. I have email theses professionals along with adding one to my blog. I am waiting to here a response from them. I am also excited to know how these educators interact with their

young toddlers.

 

 

 

The NAECTE members are people from all across the United States and from countries around the globe. These individuals are joined together because of their common interest in Early Childhood Teacher Education. The goal of the organization is to enhance and facilitate early childhood faculty research and professional development.  This organization promotes the professional growth of their membership, as well as advocate for improvements in early childhood teacher education. They also provide a forum for consideration of issues and concerns of interest to educators of early childhood teacher’s educators. This organization establish communication network for early childhood teachers educators. Along with facilitate the interchange of information and ideas about research and practice. This organization is really a good way that all Early childhood educators across the world can learn from each other.

 

 

 

 

	



Week six

My Support

My mom is my biggest support system. I really would not know what I would do if she was no longer in my life. It has been very difficulty for me since I have relocated to Texas not being able to see her everyday. She is my best friend no matter what circumstances I face she is always there to encourage me. She was the one who encourage me to relocate even though we misses each other but she knew it was the best decision for me. We talk on a daily basis. She always tell me to remember to put God first. She was my biggest supporter when I decided to go back to school to receive my Master. She was their for me when I had complications from a major surgery she never left my bedside. Also not to meant how well she nurse me back to health just like I was a little girl. My mother's guidance and moral values help shape me into the women I am today.

My sister also is a very strong supporter in my life. We have always been close since childhood. She is always encouraging me to step outside the box don't be afraid to try new things even if you fail at it. You can always said I gave it my best and try again. I am so grateful and thankful for her and her family for allowing me the opportunity to go after my dreams. I can never repay her for what she have done for me over these past two years. She have faith and belief in me when I didn't have it for myself.  I do not know what life would be like if I didn't have the support system from my mom, sister, and my whole entire family in my life.

My physical challenge or difficulty would be being blind. When I think of being blind, I  imagine being in total darkness. Imagine being struck blind. I think about the things I would  miss? I think of those sunsets, and the face of a loved one. There are practical things too, such as the ability to navigate a world built by humans for the sighted. Consider visiting a new city, and navigating its public transportation system. Even if the language is foreign, certain universal symbols, such as arrows or a color-coded map, might allow for efficient travel from one point to the next. According to the World Health Organization, over 39 million people in the world are blind; over 246 million have some form of impaired, or low, vision.  Touch comes in handy when a person is blind  and wants to read books. I would have to learn how to read by using a special system called braille. Braille is a way of expressing letters, words, and thoughts. To read braille, I might even experience or  feels a series of little bumps that are associated with letters in the alphabet. For instance, "A" is represented as one bump. Computer programs and other devices that can "see" turn the words on a page into braille. I would need a guard dog to assist me with doing my everyday errands. It would be very difficulty for me and I would need lot of moral support from family and friends

Week 4 assignment

My Connection To Play

 “Play is so integral to childhood that a child who does not have the opportunities to play is cut off from a major portion of childhood.” -Musselwhite

 “Play is the only way the highest intelligence of humankind can unfold.” -Joseph Chilton Pearce

Playing on the see-saw

 

Playing in the sand

 

Playing with dolls

 Talking on the telephone with a friend

Playing jumping rope

 

Playing with friends priceless!!

During my childhood I really enjoyed playing. It was a important part of my life. I look forward waking up getting dress so I can have fun playing. Especially during the summer month because we had more time to spend outside playing. I love climbing tree and playing softball for the summer months. My entire family took part of playing softball and this was our time together. My mother always made sure we did a lot of outdoor activities, by during this we were getting to use a lot of our gross muscle skills. I do not remember to many of my friend having a lot of medical condition  such as(diabetics, and obesity). I believe this was because we did a lot of outdoor activities that result in more physical things. I enjoyed my childhood play because when I was growing up we create  most of our games by using our imagination. 

In today's society our young children are not using enough of their imagination to even reinforce play.  We must kind in my that our young children learn by imagining and doing. When our child engages in pretend (or dramatic) play, he is actively experimenting with the social and emotional roles of life. Through cooperative play, he/she learns how to take turns, share responsibility, and creatively problem-solve. When your child pretends to be different characters, he has the experience of "walking in someone else's shoes," which helps teach the important moral development skill of empathy. It is normal for young children to see the world from their own egocentric point of view, but through maturation and cooperative play, our child will begin to understand the feelings of others. Our children also builds self-esteem when he discovers he can be anything just by pretending/playing!

 While it may seems as if our children's play is worthless, however there's a lot of work — problem solving, skill building, overcoming physical and mental challenges — going on behind the scenes. Pretending, or imaginative play, is one of the cornerstones of our young child's world.

Relationship Reflections

I believe that when we as adults have proper interaction early own in life, we as children will begin to gain a sense of positive identity and self-assurance. We begin to identify the various roles adult can play, and by beginning to learn how to interact positively with adults we learn how to interact positively with our peers. When helping our children build a caring relationship with adults who are a consistent part of their lives. We must keep in mind as adults we are our children's primary source of their social, emotional, and developmental support. It is important for young children to have lots of different adults giving them encouragement, support, and positive attention. As parents, we will also benefit from building a network of caring adults for our children, because we are building support for ourselves as well. It can take time to find and foster a healthy adult relationship for our children, but such a relationship has lifelong benefits. It is worth the effort. With that being said the following people help my gain positive relationships with others as a child up until my adult life.

My parents they are my backbone. They have supported me in every decision I have made. They encourage me to be the best I can be even if I fail never give up but continue to strive to reach my goals. They also raise me to have a compassionate and caring heart for others. They also raise me to accept and appreciate others differences because we can learn from them. And whatever I do put God first and trust in him to guide me in the right directions. With this positive relationship with my parents have made me into the person I am today. I thank them for this and  I will always love them with all of my heart!!!


Another positive relationship that reflect the person I am today is my grandmother even though she no longer with us. She was like a second mother to me, she always made me realize that every problem have a solution if you are willing to solve it.  She always knew what to say to make me laugh even when I didn't feel like it.  She would always encourage all of her grandchildren about the importance of  receiving  a good education. She also taught me how to pray to God and ask him to help me no matter what my circumstances are. That is something I continue to do now even as and adults.  I thank her for that. 

I also believe  that having a positive relationship with my siblings. Also played and importance part on how I interact with others. My parents raised my siblings and I to love and respect one another and always have each others back. I learned from this positive relationship with my siblings how to bond with my friends. My siblings and I are very close. We love each other and respect one another differences. So therefore I by learning to appreciate the differences of the people I grow up with, have influence me to use this same strategy all though out life. When I interact with my peers and other people who I come in contact with.  I am so grateful to have a positive relationship like this with my siblings because I have friends who would die to have this type of connection with their siblings.

Finally, the last person who I have gain a positive relationship reflection with is my best friend. She is like a sister to me. She really define what a true friend is really suppose to be. She always encouraging me to see my inner and outer beauty. When I mistakes in life she always tells  me its okays try again tomorrow and I even find myself using these same words to my students. Sometime I feel she knows me better than I know myself. I true love that about her.

 

Finally, family and friends support will help you form a positive self-image and foundation for learning how to connect with encouraging people. When we feel safe and secure and love we will be more capable of relating to our peers, more well behaved in life, and better able to interact appropriately with others. Giving our children positive love and care  works best when we pay attention to their unique characteristics. 

When I think of Child Developement

When I think of Child Development

I believe that child development is  rarely straightforward. I feel that so many factors plays a part. For example, it is what happens during pregnancy and delivery, what skills and abilities our children are born with, and the way he/she is stimulated while they are being raised in the home, child care, and school. I feel that heredity and the environment interact to make our babies into their unique, special individual who have his/her own contribution to make to this world.

Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.- Dr. Hiam Ginnot

"In early childhood you may lay the foundation of poverty or riches, industry of idleness, good or evil, by the habits to which you train your children. Teach them right habits then, and their future life is safe.”- Lydia Sigourney

"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."- Stacia Tauscher



Week Assignment Testing Intelligence

 

 

 

Testing for Intelligence

Whole child can be define as understanding that children grow physically, emotionally, and intellectually, in other word we expect our school system to teach and reinforce our children  in all of these areas of growth.   We as teachers and caregivers should teach our children how to become motivated about them and to express their creativity, imagination, along with showing developing their social and emotional skills. The term holistic education can be defined as improving how the child adjusts to living within their community and natural ecosystem.  Researchers stated and suggested that the purpose of the holistic education to help make it possible that children will have the opportunity to be what they can be or what is describe by Maslow (1954) as “self-actualization.  Holistic education mainly deal with the development of all individual  intellectual, emotional, social, physical, artistic, creative, and spiritual potentials.. The significant for holistic education to see that the educational process and environment work for the developmental path of the individual, rather than the individual make changes to accommodate their environment. As we are aware in  today’s society and this  era of standardization of curriculum student assessments, educational setting, and expected grade-level progress our schools systems do not display any or not that much encouragement for individualization based on the needs and post school goals of the student.  Instead the main focus is on these standardize test such as how well they will do on reading, writing, and math. It is okay to want our children to do success or be successful but when we have expectations that really doesn’t show or reflect what they know about real-life differences, such as how to interact with others. Then this will play a factor is why so many of our children have difficulties in adapting to the standards, so therefore they are being left behind.

An article I read suggested that, the United States focuses more on using tests as a means of holding educators and school districts accountable, Finland--which is one of the top performers on international tests--has gone in the opposite direction. Instead in Finland,  the few tests students take are low stakes, stated Finnish educator, Jari Lavonen in a presentation . They use their  assessments as a tool for professional development and to help teachers gauge student growth, never for accountability.  Finnish students do exceptional well on these standardized exams with lack of practice. The article stated that they are ranks consistently near the top in math, reading and science in the Programme for International Student Assessment ), which is a standardized test taken by students in dozens of countries.

Finally, I feel  that here in the United States if we would follow Finland strategies just may be our students will perform better on these standardize test if so much pressure is not put on the students along with teachers then we could have a difference outcome.

Reference:

Johanson, R.  (2012). Standardized Test A foreign Concept in Finland with World’s. www.huffingtonpost.com/../standardized_testing_a_n_2145623html.

Retrieved on 12/06/2013