Web Resources

 

This week, I chose to research one of the related links offered by the NAECTE I have been researching.  I have always been interested in learning more about High Scope, especially now as I am researching several new curriculum choices to weave into my school's curriculum map.

There is a page on the NAECTE titled, "Links to Related Organizations".  To my surprise, the High Scope Educational Research Foundation was listed: http://www.highscope.org/.    Their website offers a variety of information related to my current professional development.  The first link I chose was High Scope Curriculum, and immediately selected "Evidence Based".  This led to several links to organizations who recognize the curriculum as effective.  As you click on each one, there is an actual report on why that organization feels the curriculum is evidence based, complete with statistics and an outline of their overall study.  I found this to be both impressive and helpful.  Sometimes researching information can be overwhelming; I think starting from nationally recognized organizations is the best way to do this.

As far as controversial information, there is a link called, "News and Info", leading to a link titled "Hot Topics".  Listed there are several reports on the latest research and buzz topics in the industry.  You can find them at: http://www.highscope.org/Content.asp?ContentId=136.

International Contact

 

I have been blessed with an international contact in the Netherlands.  The father of one of my Sunlight families moved to America from the Netherlands.  Through "facebook" I still keep in touch with many of my families because I love to hear how our students are doing once they leave the school.  When I asked my friend Carrie if anyone her husband knows was an educator, she happily connected me with his cousin, Ankie Moelker.

Ankie and I seem to have a lot in common.  She is 37 years old and I am 34 years old.  We both have three children.  Her children are Femke who is 7, Bart who is 4 and little Sanne, who was born a little over a month ago.  My children are Brennen who is 11, Madison who is 7, and Riley who is 6.  Ankie says that Gouda is a small, very nice city in Holland with about 70,000 inhabitants.  Since Holland is small they are able to maintain close relationships with their families which is a huge part of their lives.


Ankie has been a teacher for ten years.  She started teaching in primary grades 10 years ago, was an ESL teacher for 2 of those years, and substituted last year.  Unfortunately, the economic crisis has also hit over in the Netherlands, so she was laid off as a substitute this year.  She has also spent the last three years deepening her knowledge of the English language and focusing on multiple intelligence and teaching strategies for gifted children.  She is blessed with her daughter, Femke, who has already skipped a grade because she catches on to things so quickly.  Ankie wants to be equipped with the knowledge and tools to be able to help her.


Ankie stated that children begin school at age 4 and attend primary school until the age of 12, so they have eight years there before moving on to secondary school.  This sounds similar to a K-8 school in our system, accept that they start a year younger than we do and have one less grade.  She stated that before the age of four many children attend preschools or day care centers, and that preschools usually focus on "education through play" whereas day cares are more of a babysitting service.  She also mentioned that due to budget cuts, schools over there are relying more and more on volunteers to work with the children.  She spends a lot of time helping out in her daughter's school.


I look forward to learning more about Ankie, her passion for education, and they way the early childhood system works over there.  I feel I can learn a great deal from her and am so very excited about this opportunity!  


As far as my view of poverty, I know people all over the world are suffering.  I want to ask Ankie what they do in her country to help with this issue.  Poverty is a serious issue and can affect children in a variety of ways.  It is important as educators, we do become advocates for all children, and finding ways to help with the problem of poverty is a great way to contribute.  I look forward to hearing some of her ideas and suggestions based on examples from her country.

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TEACHER EDUCATORS

I chose the website for the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators, http://www.naecte.org, because I do believe in national standards for early childhood educators.  I think all our children deserve a well-rounded education providing culturally diverse activities and promoting brotherly love.  This goals of this organization seem to align with my own viewpoints.  

I focused primarily on the position statement for early childhood education this week.  I really respect their beliefs as to what the requirements for early childhood educators for children ages 3-8 should be.  They state, "The goal of teacher certification/endorsement requirements must be to assure that children receive instruction from teachers with the best possible teacher preparation rather than using certification to accomplish the most flexible placement of teachers. This means assigning teachers with preparation focused on the developmental and educational needs of the age group taught. A teacher of children eight years old or younger cannot be considered highly qualified without specialized early childhood preparation." (NAECTE, 2012).

I really think this is important.  Within our preschool we have currently changed our qualifications to require teachers to hold a minimum of a BA or BS degree with a certification encompassing prekindergarten.  This has been something we have wanted to do for a long time, however, not many people focus on early childhood  because that is not where the money is.  It is extremely important teachers are trained to work with young children because the techniques and style of learning greatly differs from that of older children.  I think more and more, teachers will be pursuing early childhood degrees due to the rise in standards.  I hope providers are able to compensate teachers based on their qualifications.

I have not subscribed to their newsletter because you must be a paying member to do so.  There are, however, two E-Letters posted on the site per year.  These are filled with updates on current information and at the bottom of each letter their purpose is listed.  See below:

OUR PURPOSE
 To promote the professional growth of our membership.
 To discuss educational issues specific to our membership.
 To advocate for improvements in early childhood teacher education.
 Provide a forum for consideration of issues and concerns of interest to educators of early childhood teacher
educators.
 Provide a communication network for early childhood teacher educators.
 Facilitate the interchange of information and ideas about research and practice.
 Use, as vehicles, the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, conferences, resolutions, position
papers, and other publications.
 Cooperate with other national and international organizations concerned with the study and education of
young children.

So far, the only thing I have found in relation to "culture" was in their definition of early childhood.  See below:


Early childhood - Early childhood is the period between birth and eight years of age, a definition based on
documented intellectual and emotional development milestones. This definition is grounded in an extensive body of research that documents that young children’s ways of knowing differ considerably from those of older children and adults regardless of culture.

Although it's simply stated and at the end of the definition, this proves to me they do believe all children learn the same no matter what culture they come from.

Issues and Trends - The Importance of Network

Establishing a network of professional colleagues is important.  Often, I turn to my contacts for advice, ideas and support regarding school matters.  Two heads are better than one, and several are even better!  I love culture and embrace diversity, so the assignment of corresponding with early childhood professionals from another country excites me.  Initially, I went to the website provided by my instructor and began sending emails, but several of them were returned as undeliverable and the rest I have not yet heard from. It took me a moment, but I realized I have over 300 contacts on facebook, and several of them have relatives in other countries.  I also have an employee who is from London who is working on getting me in touch with a friend of hers.  I am hopeful these leads will work out.

I have chosen to explore the website for the organization, "National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators", at www.naecte.org.  All the current information pertinent to the field is reported on, there are links to other organizations, and there are 2 E-letters published twice per year summing it all up.  I plan to follow this site closely to stay up-to-date on information in my field.

My Supports

Well, I have to say, my husband Ryan takes the cake when it comes to support.  He is the most amazingly loving, supportive, funny guy I have ever met.  After almost four years together, I still often pinch myself to make sure I am not dreaming.  He raises my six year old son as his own while also being an amazing father to his own two children. He cooks, cleans, and loves to have fun with the kids.  He can fix just about anything, has the greenest thumb of anyone I know, and makes me laugh hysterically. There is no way I could ever work full time, teach dance classes in the evening, and attend college without his love and support. I cannot believe God has blessed me with such a wonderful man.  Thank you Lord!

 

When trying to think in terms of tools as support,  I came up with the items pictured above.  Without my phone, car, or computer, I would not go back and forth to work, keep in touch with my loved ones or do my job as efficiently.

My dependency on these tools really started to make me think about the supports we can provide children within the classroom.  If we can benefit so much from the tools around us, think of how much children can benefit with the right tools.

Aside from providing personal, loving support from a teaching standpoint, early childhood educators also have the responsibility to offer children the tools they need to become self sufficient in their leaning process.  Scaffolding the environment with these tools and providing routine procedures and gentle guidance are both forms of support.  For example, computerized programs are available for just about anything.  They can assist in teaching children language, math concepts, music - the possibilities are endless.  With exposure to the computers and a system for sharing them with the other kids, the children can learn so much.  We can also post pictures of their families, provide them with books about a variety of cultures, and be sure there are plenty of hands on learning opportunities  around for children to utilize as tools to keep them comfortable, motivated and engaged.

There are, of course, challenges to creating an environment where diverse learners can coexist and thrive simultaneously.  Funding for materials, personnel and technology are always scarce.  The trick is to do the best with what we have and be smart with planning.

The importance of play at all stages of life

 My husband and I had so much fun creating the video game, Super Mario Brothers, for our trunk or treat at the church.  We didn't even have our kids that weekend but he had a blast making the scene, buying the costumes, and we even downloaded the music from the video game and blasted it in the car while the children came up to get candy!






My mom, my best friend, and myself went to a local art workshop where we could choose a picture and try to reproduce it.  We had a blast!


My entire family (grandparents, mother, cousins, etc.) dressed as pirates and when out on a "pirate ship" for the day.  We had a wonderful time!

I come from a family who will always be young at heart.  From the time I was a small child, my grandfather was always playing with me.  We watched cartoons together, drank chocolate milk, created castles out of cardboard, and searched the garage for anything we could use to play games.  To this day, at 86, he still has that playful spirit and finds the time and energy to do the same with my children.  My mother is an art teacher. I often find myself at her house over the weekend creating new things.  We love to shop at the thrift stores and find things we can make even prettier with arts and crafts.  My husband is still a kid himself.  He is an engineer by day, as well as an engineer of fun by night!  At Christmas time he took several cardboard boxes, connected them down our curvy staircase, and allowed all the kids to slide down.  He even tested it out himself to be sure it's safe (I think he enjoyed it more than the kids!) see below:

Play is important all throughout life.  Not only is it healthy for ourselves to play as adults, it sets a positive example for our children, to let them know not to take life so seriously.  There is definitely a time for play and a time for business, but allowing those roots of play to guide our intentions for business is what makes us a success.  For example, as a preschool director I try to plan events for our children and families that I think are fun and educational.  My husband designs boat lifts and is always trying to invent nifty gadgets that look sleek and do cool things for the lifts, toys if you will.  These are always top sellers!

Below are some quotes I feel are an inspiration.  I especially like the one by Theodore Roosevelt.  If children are fulfilled they will learn there is a time for play and a time for school.  They will intertwine the two as long as their teacher allows, and learning will be fun, reducing behavioral problems.

Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play children learn how to learn.

O. Fred Donaldson
Contemporary American martial arts master

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

Plato
Greek philosopher
427–347 BC

I believe that those boys who take part in rough, hard play outside of school will not find any need for horse-play in school.

Theodore Roosevelt
American president
1858–1919

Reference:  http://www.thestrong.org/about-play/play-quotes

Relationship Reflection

"Personal relationships are the fertile soil from which all advancement...all success...all achievement in real life grows."

Ben Stein


Growing up an only child and a product of divorce I struggled with sadness, loneliness, and feelings of guilt. I was fortunate to have many people around me who loved me. Without these relationships I do not think I would have had any hope or confidence to achieve the things I have in my life. My grandparents, Nana and Papa, were extremely involved in my life and still are. They are 81 and 86, and they only live two hours away, so I am blessed to be able to spend time with them to this day.  Nana is an outgoing, strong woman who worked her way through college and became a teacher while her husband drove a truck and was away.  Papa is a quiet man who would do anything to help anyone, laughs a lot, and still has the spirit of a child.  The two of them have a dynamic relationship and have been married 63 years!  They have always cherished me and made me believe I was special and capable of anything.  They stood by my side no matter what, and never showed any disappointment in me even when I made poor choices.  They taught me the meaning of unconditional love and modeled for me all the wonderful characteristics I possess today.

My Mom is an independent woman who struggled trying to provide me with the best of everything while raising me.  She worked and went to college full time and finally became a teacher when she was 38.  She always taught me I could do anything I could put my mind to, and she was right.  I ended up divorced with a baby and knew I wanted to finish school.  I was working full time and raising him and didn't think I could, but I knew she did it, so I knew I could.  

Attending school wasn't easy, and I could have NEVER done it without some very good friends. I was fortunate to find a job as an office assistant in a small church preschool.  It was there I met some of the best friends I have today.  After work many of them offered to watch my son when I had classes late at night.  Not only did they help with him, but they lifted me up and told me how proud they were of me.  They told me that I was their inspiration and I hope this is true.  I have been blessed by so many and my wish is that I can provide even more people with blessings in return.

My passion, my preschool, is a place where I depend on many women to help me provide the best quality spiritual and academic early childhood experience.  They dedicate their lives to working toward this common goal and I have learned and grown so much from them.  Without them, I would not be who I am or where I am.

There are many challenges in maintaining relationships.  It is not always easy.  When it comes to work it can be very difficult because I love all the women who work for me.  We are a family.  Sometimes it is very difficult to discuss performance issues or changes in the workplace without letting our emotions get the best of us.  We work through it and we work together in order to establish positive relationships with our families.  Many who walk through our doors can immediately sense the strong bond we all have and comment on the warmth and peace they feel just being around us.  This leads to them placing their children in our care and many of them become our "Sunlight Families" and remain involved with our school for years to come!