Thank you!!!

I would like to take this time to thank all the classmates for the wonderful posts that was shared during our class and here on blogspot. I have gained many new insights and wonderful information to take with me. I also wish everyone a Happy Healthy Holiday Season.

Children's Quote

The biggest mistake of past centuries in teaching has been to treat all students as if they were variants of the same individual and thus to feel justified in teaching them all the same subjects the same way. – Howard Gardner

Testing and children

I feel that testing on children should only focus on areas where the parent and or the teacher suspect a disability. It seems that when children are given tests during the school year, the only thing that comes out of the testing is comparing the children to each other and more testing. Children are being labeled at an early age due to testing and unfortunately for many children that label never goes away.

The first recorded use of standardized testing occurred in France at the end of the 19th century and the start of the 20th century. France began to require all students attend some school, and educators and administrators foresaw the problem of special education. To assess the abilities of children, the French government commissioned Theodore Simon and Alfred Binet to study this issue. They came up with what we now call an "IQ test."

Read more: Types of Standardized Tests for School Age | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5468064_types-standardized-tests-school-age.html#ixzz1gAujm6p9

Violence

Violence

I was exposed to violence in my home growing up. My father abused my mother almost daily, until she decided to get away and move out of state. At times I thought this was a normal way of life, until I started to visit my friend’s homes and realized that their father did not yell or beat on their mom. I grew up not trusting and male figure, except for my grandfather. When I met my husband and we moved into our first home, I told him that if he ever hit me I would make sure he never hit another person. Thank goodness he was not that type of man. My children are very fortunate to have grown up in a home where the parents never argued or fought in front of them. To this day I do not like to hear of a woman and or children being abused. I am a true advocate against violence in the home.

I read up on UNICEF, they help children in war torn Iraq. These children are around violence and think of that as a normal way of life. UNICEF is calling for schools within Iraq to be a security safe zone for children and their teachers. “Schools are a haven for children in times of conflict,” said UNICEF Iraq Chief of Education Mette Nordstrand. “They are protected under international law as zones of peace. No matter what the circumstances, the only proper use for an Iraqi school is to educate and protect Iraqi children.”   UNICEF has been assisting the children of Iraq since the war crisis has begun and will continue their support for the children and people of Iraq. UNICEF Emergency Specialist Luciano Calestini. “However, the psychological impact on children will be far harder to heal. It is absolutely critical that they see an end to this violence and can get back into school as soon as possible.”

Reference

Hajaj,C. (2008,April,21). Violence in Iraq disrupts Life and Education. Retrieved from UNICEF website: http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/iraq

Benefits of breastfeeding

For the first three days after the birth of the baby a woman secretes Colostrum, a high calorie fluid (Berger 2009). In comparison to cow’s milk, a mother’s breast milk is at body temperature, sterile, and contains vitamins, irons and other nutrients for the body and brain. Recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics states that babies should be fed breast milk exclusively for six months, but can continue for twelve months if the mother desires.

Research has shown breast milk has many advantages. Breast fed babies have a decreased chance of developing respiratory and ear infections, asthma, bacterial meningitis, SIDS, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Research is also showing the advantage of being breast fed last well into adulthood. There is a decreased risk of developing breast cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

I looked at several cultures and their values on breastfeeding. The !Kung San (or African bushmen)  live in isolation on the plains of the Kalahari Desert. Over the past forty years, the! Kung has allowed scientists to observe their lives, including how they care for babies.

The ancient wisdom of the !Kung San focuses on three actors:

1. Constant holding

2. Immediate responding

3. Very frequent breastfeeding                  

!Kung San mothers breastfeed their baby three to four times an hour. This equals to fifty to one hundred times a day.

Reference

Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

http://www.happiestbaby.com/cultures/breastfeeding-other-baby-lessons-from-the-kung-san/

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/importanceofhumanmilk.htm

My grandson's birth

When my second grandson Sean was born I was with my daughter and son-in-law. Her water broke at seven p.m. on a Friday evening. When she arrived at the hospital she was dilated four cm. By the time I arrived she was in bed with her I.V. in place and the baby heart monitor on. We were all excited and thought we would be in for a very long night. Well Sean had other thoughts, by eight thirty her pains were five minutes apart she has not dilated any further. The nurse gave her some meds to help along the contractions. Two hours later she was at seven cm. By eleven thirty they decided to start her epidural, after that was in place the nurse decided to check her again, she was a full ten cm. I was right by my daughter’s side helping with her breathing and counting as she pushed. My son in was pushing with her, I was waiting for him to pass out and hit the floor. She pushed for thirty minutes and Sean would not come down any further. The doctor sat her up waiting for Sean to slide down, by one forty-five a.m. she is in the full mode of pushing again. At two a.m. my beautiful grandson Sean Matthew was born weighing seven pounds and he was twenty one inches long. I will always cherish that memory of watching him be born and love my daughter and son-in-law for allowing me to be a part of it. Today Sean is a happy healthy seven month old little boy.

                        

               

                                                                                                               

 A woman giving birth is seen as an accomplishment in Sweden. The women have pain medicine available to them during labor; however, it is not encouraged to be used. Midwives are highly trained and work in the hospitals, therefore the instance of epidural is lower. Fortunately, prenatal care is free and the absence of it is unheard of.  

 Reference:

http://www.pregnancy.families.com

Thank you!!!

I want to take this time to thank all my fellow classmates and bloggers for the wonderful comments and feedback during our journey with the Foundations class. All of you are wonderful people and have valuable knowledge in the field of Early Childhood. Thank you Professor Kein for all you have added to our class.

Code of Ethics

NAEYC, Section 1
Ethical Responsibilies to Children
I-1.1 To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

This is very important to me. I have been in the field of early childhood for thirteen years. Since this time I have obtained and Associate degree, and a  Bachelors degree in the field of Early Childhood Development. By staying informed I have created developmentaly appropriate activities for the children in my care.


NAEYC, Section II

Ethical Responsibilities to Families

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

Families and teachers are a team in thier childs education. With out the families support I cannot create the developmentally appropriate activites for the children. I need the families input on thier childs likes, dislikes and any other important information about that child.


DEC Code of Ethics

Enhancement of Children's Families' Quality of Lives
1. We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and other with whom we work, honoring their beliefs values, customs, languages and culture.

Every person is unigue in thier own way. I repsect all my co-workers and my families and listen to what they have to say. Creating a respectful working environment and classroom will help the child grow up to be "themselves" not change into something that someone else wants.

Collection of Resources

• Video Program: “The Resources for Early Childhood”
  Five early childhood professionals discuss their preferred and trusted resources.

 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, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://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, from http://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, from http://main.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/~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.

 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://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    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-usnc.org/
    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.

 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/
  
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
  

 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
• Additional Resources
  Early Childhood Education Symposium to feature author, expert Michele Borba
  http://www2.summitcds.org/news/Early-Childhood-Edu
  Website:
  Partners for Literacy
  http://fpg.unc.edu~literacy/earlychildhood.cfm
  Books:
  Rethinking Early Childhood
  By: Ann Pelo
   Rethinking Schools;    First edition (October 31, 2008)
  ISBN-10: 0942961412.
  Yardsticks: Children in the Classroom Ages 4-14
  By: Chip Wood
  Northeast Foundation for Children; Third edition (January 1, 2007)
  ISBN-10: 1892989190.
  
  

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

“The passion to make sure that all children were taught in environments and the ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and to develop to their fullest ability” Louise Derman-Sparks Professor Emeritus Pacific Oak College, Ca

“For children to reach their full potential--and for our nation to reach its competitive potential--we must provide the learning environments and services that children in their first few years of development” Yvette Sanchez Fuentes National Director Head Start

“Enjoyment is not a goal of education; it is the goal of entertainment” Lilian Katz Professor

Emeritus College of Education University of Illinois

Reference

• Video Program: “The Passion for Early Childhood”
  Five early childhood professionals share passion, motivation, and commitment to the early childhood field.

Sanchez-Fuentes, Y. (2011, September 28). Head Start: Making a Good Thing Better [Blog posting].Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yvette-sanchez-fuentes/head-start-making-a-good-_b_962

Katz, L. (2003, October, 9). What is Basic to all our children: A Contemporary Perspective [opinion paper].retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED481062.pdf

My Childhood Web

Personal Childhood web

I was blessed to have a wonderful mom and grandparents in my life. I do have large family, five siblings, several aunts, uncles and cousins. The five people that made the most impact on my life growing up are my true angels and I love them with all my heart.

My Mother

My mother was a single mother to six children. She worked very hard to take care of us and made sure that we had everything we needed to survive including love. She was and still is my hero! Mom was abused for several years by my father. When she made the decision to leave I knew it must have been the hardest decision to make with 5 children. She did remarry a few years later and we all moved to Oregon. Unfortunately the marriage did not last and my mother drove across country with us including a new baby sister. As I look back to all mom had to give up in order for her children to have a roof over their heads and food on the table I know I had the best mom I could ever ask for. We lost mom eight years ago. I had the hardest time telling my mother goodbye, but I know she is in a better place and is watching over me, my sibling, her precious grandchildren and great grandsons.

My Grandfather

My grandfather was the light of my life growing up. I remember when we were younger he would take my siblings and I mushroom hunting. We had so much fun with gramps walking through the woods. He was always there when my mom needed him. When my mom was in the hospital for several weeks he took us home with him and grandma. He truly loved us and made us feel safe. I can still smell his chicken frying and his music playing from his radio. When we lived in Oregon gramps and grandma came for a visit. That was the best summer. We took them to the ocean, camping in the mountains, walked through the mint fields and laughed as the neighbors goose attacked him as he was bent over pulling weeds from the garden. Oh how he wanted to cook that goose for dinner.

My Grandmother

My grandma was a very special lady. She was there to take care of us when mom was in the hospital. I remember when gramps bought her a new sewing machine; she taught me how to sew. I still sew today making crafts and blankets for my grandsons. I only wish that she lived long enough to see her grandchildren grow and marry. She would have loved to snuggle her great grandbabies.

My Great Aunt Doreen

I remember going to Aunt Doreen’s house during the summer. She was from New Foundland Canada. One summer she decided to build a shed for her lawnmower, she tore down the picket fence around the back side of her yard. After she built the shed her neighbor came home a few days later asking her what happened to his fence. When he seen her shed he laughed so hard I thought he was going to fall over. Aunt Doreen made me laugh; she loves life and enjoys making people happy and tearing down other people’s property. I still visit her today, she is nearing ninety years old and becoming forgetful, but when I mention the fence she remembers that like it was yesterday.

My fourth grade teacher Mrs. Bailey

Mrs. Bailey was the best. The year I entered fourth grade was the year my mom left my dad. She noticed how I was staying to myself. She cared about my feelings. I remember her stopping by our house one evening, to this day I still wonder why she came. My dad arrived a few minutes later. She noticed the fear in my mom. Mrs. Bailey loaded us all up in her car and took us home to her house until my grandfather was able to pick us up. I believe Mrs. Bailey is the reason I chose to become a teacher and advocate for children. She is and will always be my angel.

Unable to respond to posts

Sorry to all that I have been trying to respond to. It keeps telling me I am not allowed to post a response. I have tried everything from our class site and this site. When I figure it out I will respond to everyone that has responded to me.

I was 6 years old in this picture with my 3 brothers.

My favorite children's book

 My favorite children’s book is Guess How Much I love You by Sam McBratney and Illustrated by Anita Jeram

When my first grandson Austin was born I bought his book for him. I read this to him every time he was visiting us. He still has the book on his shelf along with the music box and bunny rabbits from the story. Austin is now eleven and has a new cousin Sean. When I had Sean for a day of grandma spoiling, Austin brought the book over to read to Sean.

"Once children learn how to learn, nothing is going to narrow their mind. The essence of teaching is to make learning contagious, to have one idea spark another." -- Marva Collins

What a fun adventure

I have never used a blog before. This will be a fun learning experience for me. I talked with my 11 year old grandson last night he has a blog this year at school. He laughed at me because I had no clue what to do to set up my blog. I guess when I need help I will call him.