Sharing Web Resources

Originally, I had chosen the National Association of Early Childhood Teachers but after reviewing their website I gained no additional insight.  In order to review the two journals on their website you had to become a member.  Therefore for this class it was of no benefit to me and probably many others that chose not to spend the little we are paid in ECE to fund these agencies.  As program coordinator I couldn’t even support spending my grant funds to become a member because there is so many other free evidence based resources on the web.  I then chose to research more information on Zero to Threes website. 

When reviewing the policy section on the Zero to Three website I came across their Infant & Toddler Policy Framework.  I compared the differences between the Infant & Toddler Framework to the economics of framework Human Capital Theory.  The human capital theory, while being an economic model, provides insight into the likely impact of policies on skills development and in a broader sense helps to link the seemingly separate areas or elements of early childhood policy, such as developmental stages, nature vs nurture and skills development, and better understand their multi-layered relationship (RAND, 2008).  Infant & Toddler covers the domains of health, family strengthening and early learning together to build good health, strong families and positive learning experiences for all children (Zero to Three, 2010).  Human Capital Theory is looking at the economics and future investments for investing in children while the Infant & Toddler Framework is looking at the whole child and how one would benefit  all domains that affect a child’s well-being.  The Infant & Toddler Policy Framework  is a “comprehensive early childhood systems equation of services(accessible, high quality, culturally responsive, inclusive) +  define & coordinate leadership, recruit & engage stakeholders,  finance strategically, enhance & align standards, create & improve improvement and ensure accountability) infrastructure=system”. (Zero to Three, 2010).  This framework I feel is relevant and can be utilized be all early childhood education programs regardless of the services we are providing.  It is so much more in line with child-centered care and focus on the family versus focusing purely on a child as a tangible economic source. 

Currently, I am working on developing goals and strategic plan for this 2014-2015 grant year with my program.  The Infant & Toddler Framework will set the tone for things that I would like to see progress in my program.  By providing this to staff will also enable them to develop their personal goals as well as develop a programmatic goal.  Overall we need to increase our services to meet the needs of children and families as their needs and goals progress each year.  

In this week’s Monday Memo from Raising Special Kids there was a link on the Attorney Generals Eric Holder and his message to combat bullying.  I like that the campaign was geared directly to children and posted on Cartoon network.  It is called “I Speak up”(The United States Department of Justice, 2014).  I appreciate that they are targeting this message directly to children and to a cable channel that children engage in.  The challenge is get to one million people to speak up against bullying.  These days this type of message will spread across social media as children love to do challenges.

The RAND Corporation. (2008). What does economics tell us about early childhood policy? (Research Brief). Retrieved fromhttp://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_briefs/2008/RAND_RB9352.pdf 

The United States Department of Justice. (2014).  Justice News.  Retrieved September 27, 2014, from http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/attorney-general-holder-records-message-cartoon-network-s-i-speak-campaign-combat-bullying

Zero to Three. (2012).  Infant and Toddler Policy Framework.  Retrieved September 27, 2014, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/AgendaMar5.pdf?docID=7921

My original contact failed to contact me back and I was very blessed that I was able to be in contact with another thanks to my friend Ayeesha in Saudi Arabia. 

My international contact name is Marenal Liva.  She currently lives and works in Saudi Arabia but is from the Philippians.  She likes to be called Mar.  She is a very sweet young lady and thus we have already began not only an early childhood professional contact but a friendship.  I met Mar from a friend that I have in Saudi Arabia.  Currently, Mar works at one of the International schools in Riyah.  She teaches math and English to 4-5 year olds.  The system her school adheres to is very unlike what typical American schools do.  She spends 4 hours in the classroom and is allotted 4 hours of what she calls paperwork time.  She grades test, papers, records documentation, lesson plans and makes visual aids.  She has 35 pupils (what she calls them J) in her class.  “My pupils are smart, babbly children.  And their parents are very supportive for their education” (Marenal Liva, Personal Communication, 2014).

I asked Mar the following questions:

First email with questions

Can you share with me any specific issues of poverty that you encounter when working with children in your community as well as any concerns with poverty that you have throughout the world with poverty?

Second email with questions

What as teachers do you do to end poverty?  Does the school serve lunch?  How old are the children that need to work to support their families?  Can you tell me about the housing for those living in poverty?

“ I came from a country where poverty is one of the main issues where children cannot go to school in a regular basis or every day because they don't have enough resources to support their schooling example they don't have money to buy food in school, they need to help their parents to work even for a young age. And their parents always tell the school that instead of buying materials for the projects they will use their money to buy their food first. As teachers our responsibility is not only inside our classroom but also in our community we should make people aware the importance of education to stop poverty and improve the means of their living. In our country teachers spend their own money to help children go to school. They have a feeding program to give children food while they are in school. In that way children like to go to school because they can eat at the same time they learn.”

“As teacher we can help our community and country to end poverty to encourage people to send their children to school and finish it to find a better occupation in the future to improve their lives. Our parents always tells us that the only thing they can give us is Education because we are not rich. Education is the only way we can end up our poverty? Yes in some public schools they have canteen where children can buy their lunch. But in some remote places the schools have no canteen some kids bring their own food to school, that is why teachers contribute so they can help feed these children whom their parents can't give them food to school. Their works depend where they live example if they live in city these kids in poverty level works in the dumpsite they gather garbage and sell them. If they live in the rural place yes they work in the farm with their parents. Sad to say they work at young age of 4- up. If they live in the urban place usually they live in a squatter area they build their houses beside the train railways, land owned by other people or they live on the riverbank, their houses made of light materials like wood and bamboo. If they are in the province/rural area they live in the farm where they work and their house made of Bamboo and nipa or we called Bahay Kubo. I hope I answer your question properly. God Bless” (Marenal Liva, Personal Communication, 2014).

I very enlightened last week and driven to learn much more.  My career has been centered on working with woman, children and families that experience poverty.  I worked 12 years in Early Head Start and Head Start which serves children living below the poverty level. “Children from birth to age five who are from families with incomes below the poverty guidelines are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services. Children from homeless families and families receiving public assistance such as TANF or SSI are also eligible” (Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center, 2014).  

Currently, the program I work for does not have income guidelines but the families served are in an extreme povern community. I appreciate that Mar states that regardless of the families circumstances that the support education of their children.  It is even more admirable that the teachers support the children as well by encouraging and buying food for the children.  From my experience in HS and EHS the meals/snacks they received at school was the only meals they would be served for the day.  We strongly encouraged eating.  Poverty is worldwide.  My new insight this week is the mindset of of how families and different communities face it.  Positive reinforcements and encouragements can really inspire some.  I am sadden that children at 4 years of age are having to work to support their families.  I am grateful for educators like Mar and her fellow co-workers for taking care of children. 

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center. (2014).  Poverty Guidelines and Determining Eligibility for Participation in Head Start Programs.  Retrieved September 20, 2014, from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/operations/mgmt-admin/eligibility-enroll/income/PovertyGuideline.htm

I chose the organization Raising Special Kids to describe to their newsletter.  Each Monday I will receive an email called the Monday Memo in additional to their full newsletter.  The Monday Memo will encompass featured news articles for Arizona and national headlines, community events, Raising Special Kids workshops and a family story.

“Raising Special Kids exists to improve the lives of children with the full range of disabilities, from birth to age 26, by providing support, training, information and individual assistance so families can become effective advocates for their children” (Raising Special Kids, 2014).

The Monday Memo contained an article about a new research study that looks at the correlation autism and vaccines.  It validates that there is no link.  I know that for some time it has been a concern with many families.  Although there is new research that states there simply no validity I know there are many families that will still have this concern and chose not to vaccinate their children. 

Raising Special Kids. (2014).  History & Mission.  Retrieved September 13, 2014, from http://www.raisingspecialkids.org/about-us/history-mission/

Establishing Professional Contacts

In order to find a contact outside the US I initially turned to Facebook.  I posted that I was looking for two ECE professionals outside the US.  I emailed friends that I knew that have friends and family that live in another country. I emailed friends that I also personally have that live in Saudi Arabia and England to request assistance.  I made FB post on about 15 on FB pages for preschools all over the world.  I also searched on Google and sent out emails to business addresses. My best friend shared my post on her FB page and her friend had a friend in Australia named Jodie that is a primary teacher (5-6 year old).  I was very excited to have Christina from The Nursery School in Malta.  Malta is an island in the Mediterranean Sea.

For the website I am going to explore The National Association of Early Childhood Teachers.  I was very familiar with several others listed and wanted to challenge myself with a new website.

http://www.naecte.org