Issues Related to Excellence and Equity in the Early Childhood Field

 

 

How-To: 5 Steps for Brain-Building Serve and Return

These steps and a short video can be found on http://developing.harvard.edu/resources/how-to 5-steps-for-brain-building-serve-and-return 

1. Share the focus

2. Support & Encourage

3. Name it!

4. Take turns, back and fourth

5. Practice ending and beginnings 

Simple serve and return interactions between adults and young children help make strong connections in developing brains.

Play in Early Childhood: The Role of Play in Any Setting

http://developingchild.haravad.edu/the-role-of-play-any-setting

1. Supporting responsive relationship: Promote play with family and their children. Teaching parents how to play with their child.

2. Strengthening Core Life Skills: Planning skills, problem solving, taking turns. (create environment into play)

3. Reducing Sources of Stress: Engaging in play stress is reduce. -Play can be a therapeutic intervention. 

What is COVID-19? And How Does It Relate to Child Development?

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/How-does-it-realte-to-child-development

This article talks about COVID-19 affects the children and the family. Covid-19 It is important for us to keep our distance from one another (physically)  and also stay connected to the people we care about. Some ways are: video chatting, saying hello to a neighbor that is 6ft or more away.  These connections can make stress feel easier to bear,

Also taking a minute to close your eyes and breathe in and out can help. Because slow breathing tells your body's stress system to ease up. This can help you response better at even the most difficult times. 

I found these three articles/video clip very interesting. It really makes the material very easy to understand. I love the way that all three can connect with each other. And in the way the culture has changed since COVID-19, we now more than every have to make those bonds with children through play more now than ever. 

References

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/about/what-we-do/global-work

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/how-does-it-relate-to-child-development

Sharing Web Resources

 

Making Connections: Early Returns Are Promising

  In this article with Rhian Evans Allvin, she is the chief executive officer of NAEYC. She is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of the organization as well as overseeing daily operations.

  In the article Allvin, mentions how Data-and the stories data can and tell-are really important.  Some of the data that has been collected ranges from March 2018 to December 2020. In March 2018, Congress passed and the president signed a budget that included an annual $2.4 billion increase in child care spending- the biggest increase to CCDBG in its history. The Fiscal Year 2019 saw additional $50 million added to CCDBG, and in December, Congress increased the funding for Fiscal Year 2020 by another $550 million. (Young Children/May 2020) 

  Allvin, also mentions how the elections creates big changes, but not only wait for elections to do something, there are decisions being made and funding being distributed right now in administrations and state houses across the country.  We need to push for the system to be fully funded-for states to pay for the actual cost of high-quality child-care.  (Young Children/ May 2020)

Reference

Making Connections: Early Returns Are Promising

Resources/Publications/Young Children/ May 2020 /Making Connections: Early Returns Are Promising. Allvin, Rhian. E,  naeyc.org/resources

From Spotlight on Young Children: Exploring Play

   In this article it talks about how important play is. The article mentions how decades of research suggest that children learn best when they are active (rather than passive), are engaged (not distracted) and, find an activity meaningful, and when an activity is socially interactive (Hirsh-Pasek et al., forthcoming: Chi 2009). Play embodies each of these characterisitics.

 

 The climate for play and playful learning has become so eroded that one teacher in the article by Trawick-Smith and colleagues notes, "I avoid using the P-word."  The value of playful learning and its rightful place among educational approaches in early education.  Play and learning are not antithetical but are integrally connected. (naeyc.org)

  The waves of educational history have both celebrated a whole-child, playful approach to learning and argued that playful learning robs children of their academic potential (Bishop-Josef & Zigler 2011; Gilliam &  Barnett 2011). In the mid-1950s, with Piaget's and Vygotsky's theories prominent, play was considered the "work of childhood" the arena in which children learn to solves problems and understand social rules. (naeyc.org)

  The article also talks about how we must invest in playful learning that includes both free play and guided play. In both free and guided play, the child directs her own actions and creates her own plot lines. In guided play, however, children do this within adult-supported contexts, such as in Montessori classrooms (Lillard 2013), or with the assistance of an adult who follows their leads and scaffolds the play to a deeper level.

Reference

From Spotlight on Young Children: Exploring play, edited by H. Bohart, K. Chrner, and D. Koralek. Copyright @ 2015 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. naeyc.org/resources/pubs/books/except-from-spotlight-young-children-exploringplay.

  In both articles they both put information that proves doable within the classroom. With the first article there is many things that we as teachers can do that will help invest and communicate our needs to the appropriate people. We start within our classroom with attending and conducting PLC meetings, attending some school boards meetings and working with our local Partnership for Children. The next article is an easy fix, just start intentionally incorporating learning into play. 

Getting to Know International Organizations Part 1

 

                                                       @Unicef/Uno149769/Dejongh

The Organization is UNICEF: Education & Poverty

Education: "Every Child Has The Right To Learn"

The lack of trained teachers, inadequate learning materials, makeshift classes and poor sanitation facilities makes learning difficult for any children. (UNICEF/Education)

The learning crisis is the greatest global challenge to preparing children & adolescents for life, work and active citizenship. Children and adolescents are excluded from education for many reasons; Poverty remains one of the most  barriers, with children from the poorest households almost five times more likely to be out of primary school from the richest. (UNICEF/Education)

This YouTube video will give more information about the challenges that UNICEF is working on making better for that country.

https://youtu.be/_F8nNLZlZrQ

UNICEF works to provide learning opportunities that prepare children and adolescents with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive. 

Key Areas of work in Education

1. Access

2. Learning & Skills

3. Emergencies & Fragile Contexts 

This YouTube video gives more information about  UNICEF- Education Strategy 2019-2030/ Every Child Learns 

https://youtu.be/EkW-M2ElrfQ

UNICEF will promote equity and inclusion

What I have found interesting about this article that I have chosen is that how poverty can affect all parts in a child's life. I like how UNICEF uses different resources to reach out and help children and families make a better life for themselves. 

Refences

http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_childpoverty.html 

Unicef.org/education  

Sharing Web Resources

The Web Resource that I decided to research is NAEYC, the National Association of the Education of Young Children. What is NAEYC? NAEYC, is a professional membership organization that works to promote high-quality early learning for all young children, birth through age 8, by connecting early childhood practice policy and research. (naeyc.org) 

Core Values (NAEYC)

Recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society. Respect the dignity, with and uniqueness of each individual child, family member and colleague. Respect diversity in children, families and colleagues. (www.naeyc.org)

Some Facts about NAEYC

NAEYC is accredited program must: promote the nutrition and health of children and protect children and staff from illness and injury.

NAEYC Accreditation helps parents find the best possible early childhood experience for their children.

 

The two articles that I found on the NAEYC website all deal with Dual Language Learning.

1. Digital story helps dual language learner connect with classmates.  The article was separated into three parts: the plan, how this worked and the technology

2. The second article is "Many Languages, One Classroom: Supporting Children in Superdiverse Settings.

References

Resources/Publications/Teaching Young Children/December/ January 2019/ Many Languages, One Classroom: Supporting Children in Superdiverse Settings.

www.naeyc.org 

My Support

 

My daily support consist of three major groups my co-workers, my family and friends. Monday-Friday there are a group of ladies at my job that lifts me up in different ways. Being a techer at times you can feel overwhelmed, mentally drained and can feel defeated at times. These ladies help to encourage my spirit, provideme with different techniques with teaching a particuliar unit/ dealing with an difficult situation/ parent. They also provide me with laughter or an ear to listen when needed. 

One of my best friend

(Danielle)

She keeps my life interesting and up to date. 😊😀 She also adds to my life in a positive way.Even though she has moved to the West Coast she always find time to makes sure that I am on top of my game.Whether it is in me working, encouraging me to take time for myself, relationship advice or just some good old fashion girl talk. She always keep it real with me even if I am wrong. 

Family

My family keeps me on my toes. 😀😀😀 When they see me getting to comfortable with my situation. They push me and remind me of my goals. They also will help provide things that I need because they seed that I won't do it for myself, cause I am always taking care of everyone else. 

Benefits of Supports

For majority of the time, my co-workers make coming to work enjoyable. They have helped me through some stressful times in my life. They also provide different creative ways of thinking or doing activities in the classroom. I have learned so much from each one of these ladies made me a better teacher. My family provide me with a safe place and security. Best Friend she keeps my life interesting and up to date. She also adds to my life in a positive way.

How difficult will it be to exist without these supports?

My life without these supports would be a hot mess. I wouldn't have accomplished half of what I have accomplished already. I would have been still trying to figure out who am I and my purpose.

What impact would they have on my life if they were gone?

If these supports were gone from my life, it would be hard to adjust, but I would adjust. They have given me such a strong and solid foundation, That I would be able to stand and funtion everyday just like if they were still with me. I would use what each one of them have given me and continue to strive and accomlish my goals.

Reference

Motivationping.com 

 

Childhood Connections to Play

 

I love this quote! Cause I always felt like if your play/ have fun hard. Then children really have accomplished their job fo the day.

I remembered this as a child. I had a little girl cabbage patch kid doll, that came with her very own birth certificate and a large chalk board for me to write on. I remembered I used to draw and do games and writing on that board.

Man. I loved this stuffed animal/ ball. We used to kick and throw this poppel all over the house. I still have mine! This is one of the few things that I have from my childhood. I have this exact same one as my brother have the white one.

This is another toy that I enjoyed as a child. The Litee-Brite. This game was so fun to create different things and have it glow up as you made your creation. 

By far today's play is very different from mine. I am and 80's baby. We had to rely more on our imagination. And the toys that we played with was not that far technology advanced. Play as I grew up was more interesting, exciteting. We had more exploration on figuring things out. We did more hands on investigation, as of now children can investigate on the web and not actually put in the physical work on knowing exactly how things work. And our play forced us to be more socially face to face interaction. So we had to have verbal conversations with each other. Now must things are done by email, text or some sort of social platform that the children as well as adults do not know how to interact with each other.

References

Quotesgram.com

Pinterest.com

Throwbacks.com

Relationship Reflection

 

This is my grandma, and she has a major impact on my life. She keeps me grounded.

My mom and dad these two are my support system always pushing me to do better. When I feel like I am done and wants to give up they will not let me, be encourage me to keep moving forward.

One of my best friends, been knowning her for over 10 years. We have been through many things together. We laugh, cry and strive each day to be better. She pushes me to complete my goals and not apologies for complete it.

These two Carla and Tyneika, we met at the job and became more than co-workers, we became friends. Carla keeps it 100% real all the time, even if it hurts. She always trys to set you on the right godly path when  needed. Tyneika is the youngest out of the three of us. She keeps the laughter going in the group. Her warmth towards people and the way that she encourages me to dream big is alway appreciated. 

This is my old man, Cujo. He is 15 years old and always provided me with unconditional love. My days are never a dull moment with him.