Research Can be Positive!

A positive research experience includes the one that I am currently a part of.  United Way of Metropolitan Nashville funds a School Readiness Initiative with three-star rated child care centers. Part of my job as a literacy coach (the liaison between the centers and United Way) is to collect data on the progress of the children in our program.  The teachers implement the curriculum year round and I assess the children in the Fall, Winter, and Spring in order to assess the usefulness of the curriculum. 

The methods employed do not place greater than minimal harm on our children.  The data collected from the assessments not only support that the curriculum at hand provides sufficient kindergarten readiness preparation, but it also highlights the areas in which the curriculum is weak thus affording the teachers the ability to supplement said areas.

Data collected proves the program yields approximately 94% success rate in accomplishing the goal of preparing our children for kindergarten.  Outside of the research, graduated parents return to express gratitude on the investment we put in their children because it is now paying off in elementary school.

Chosen Topic

Social emotional development has always been a topic of interest to me.  I am glad in this class, I will have the opportunity to explore it further.  I am a firm believer in this program called Conscious Discipline (which I highly recommend you look up) because the program makes you think about the way you discipline yourself and children.  It encourages you to keep those around you in mind and take their feelings into account.  The program is incredibly insightful and it has sparked my interest as to what other methods are being employed to support social emotional development.
The simulation assignment this week was rather easy to write because I have been interested in the methods employed to support social emotional development for quite some time.  Due to the strong support I have for Conscious Discipline, I am now forced to come out of my comfort zone and explore other methods of support.  I took into account my bias and my simulation intends on focusing on different and other methods used with children. 
If you by any chance come across any literature that relates in any way to social emotional development (methods, beliefs, programs, etc.) I am also open to hearing any ideas you might have on ways to design my research that would yield the best results.  I really appreciate the support you provide and look forward to continuing the exchange of ideas we have started.