I Believe in Early Childhood...

Because the following words say it all, I would like you to join me in celebrating the work that Early childhood professionals do every day to ensure that the children of tomorrow are prepared to take the world down a successful path.


“Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for the future” JFK

"The return on investment from early childhood development is extraordinary, resulting in better working public schools, more educated workers and less crime."-- Art Rolnick & Rob Grunewald

Special thanks go out to dedicated educators such as Dr. Myers who continue to educate future leaders in the Early Childhood Field.
Continue to advocate for the children of this world!!!



To my colleagues, I hope and pray your passion for the field continue to keep burning bright. As learnt in our Foundations class, everyone you meet that shares your passion is a resource so feel free to reach out to me as I am sure I will remain in contact as needed.

Assessment as a Tool

A holistic approach to viewing young children would entail an environment to supports physical, social, emotional, mental, spiritual, and academic development.  Once that environment is established, I do believe that in order to established an atmosphere of growth assessments are necessary.  Assessments provide caregivers with the information they need to take children to the next level of development.  Assessments should focus on a single child’s abilities and not the child’s ability compared to other children.  In addition, assessments should take into account the environment and the child’s mental and emotional state when the assessment is taking place because it can affect the child’s performance.

            From personal experience, I recall in Haiti assessments are administered in the form of tests.  There are national tests taken by all children in order to move onto the first grade, the seventh grade, and twelfth grade.  The results of these exams determine moving to the next grade and the final one that is administered in the twelfth grade determines graduation.

Effects of Violent Stressors....

The following story is based on true events, names have been changed or concealed for confidentiality purposes.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful little family; mom, dad, Son, Daughter X and Y.  

Well at least they started out as a beautiful family.  The parents split up when Daughter X was 5 years old and Dad and his brother took over the care of the children with visitation rights for mom.

Three years go by and Daughter X is now 8 and one afternoon a distant cousin (who now lives with the family) take her up to the roof and tell her he wants to play.  When they get up there he touches her inappropriately and does enough not leave any permanent damage, physically.  This little game of theirs goes on for at least a year.  Then Dad remarries and the family moves to a different home.

At this point, Daughter X is well into her 9th year of life and because of the sheltered life her father ensures for her she doesn't know that what is being done to her is completely wrong.  So when Stepmom's nephew moves in and start playing the same games with her when she turns 11 she thinks nothing of it.  Those games continue until she well into her thirteenth year and no one is aware of what is going on.

At 13 1/2 she moves in with Mom and as the years passed somehow buried the memories of these experiences until her sophomore year in college when one of her closest friends is raped and the memories came flooding back.

No one will ever be able to discern why her experiences empowered her instead of weakened her because she sought to become a counselor for women of domestic and sexual violence in order to help them deal with the experience.  She sought therapy (Formal counseling with a psychologist) in order to help her understand how the molestation(s) impact her present day decisions.

She chose to serve women and children and their families and she understands that that decision was a direct result of her molestation.  She has never been in a romantic relationship because the experience has made her distrustful of men. She admitted that therapy played a major role in her growing past her childhood experience but they are still a very large part of her personality.

Much like my friend in the story, violence affect million of children around the world.  One of the major reasons why I dream of working for UNICEF one day is because of the work they do to alleviate some of the effects of violence on the development of the children.  They provide soap, clean water, food, medicine, and other necessity to areas of great violence in order to alleviate some of the effects of war.  In moments of violence and war, learning is interrupted, cognitive development is stunted, psychological development is impaired.  Somalia is one of those regions impacted by war where the children need advocates.

Immunization

The topic of immunization is important to me because sick children do not learn as effectively as healthy ones do.  Diseases are interruptions to a child's education, not to mention the fact that they are sometimes debilitating while the child is inflicted and sometimes afterwards; and some are deadly.

Children in the US are required to have certain vaccinations at birth and as they grow into adulthood.  US babies do not die from simple infections and diarrhea.  Something not afforded to the little ones in Nigeria, Afghanistan, and Sierra Leone.

What do these three countries have in common?

WAR
What war does is disrupt the Public Health measures put in place so children are not being vaccinated causing 194 thousands deaths of children under the age of 5 in Nigeria, 257 thousand in Afghanistan, and 282 thousand in Sierra Leone. (Berger, 2009)

This is one example of the interconnection of the various aspects of social life.  The political situation in these countries are affecting the social life and the health of these countries citizens.

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

The Birthing Business

I have never personally been a witness to a birth as a result I interviewed my friend about his brother's birth and it went as followed:
His mother went into labor and followed her birthing plan.  During the delivery in the hospital, the baby was too big and the doctor wanted to perform a Caesarian section when she refused, the doctor had to physically remove the baby using his hand.  In the process, her uterus detached from her diaphragm causing the doctors to have to surgically attach her.  This made her unable to have children and caused some hormonal imbalance in the future.

The United States  has the largest number of births in hospitals than all other developed nations.
Compared to Egypt, the US has over twice as many Caesarian sections.  More births occur at home than in hospitals.  I believe the differences in numbers between the US and Egypt is the fact that giving birth is more of a business in the US than it is in Egypt.  It is more beneficial for both the hospital and the insurance company for expectant mothers to have their children in hospitals hence why that is the culture in the US.

The documentary "The Business of Being Born" executive producer Ricky Lake goes into depth about births in the US being viewed as a business deal.

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

Expressions of Gratitude!!!

Colleagues,

As the course nears its end, I would like to take the time to personally thank Dr. Longo and  all the members of group 2.

Dr. Longo:
Your dedication to rearing future leaders in early childhood has made it possible for me to incorporate you in my pool of resources.  While the course did not create passion and motivation for me, it most certainly reinforced it. I appreciate the work that you do and thank you for your work in inspiring future early childhood educators because I AM INSPIRED.

Lindsey Newman:
Your genuine passion for the field has made me take the time to rediscover why it it I choose this profession. Your love for children all over the world and your desire for them to succeed is something we share.    Years in a profession such as ours has a way of numbing us to issues at hand so continue to whet your passion in order to keep it from going dormant. Wishing you success in future endeavors!!!!
See you around :)

Denise Love:
I appreciate that you understand in order to effectively train early childhood teachers/professionals, you need to be knowledgeable in early childhood studies.  I have appreciated and learnt from your humbling nature and have grown even more reflective due to our interaction.  Thank you for your contribution to our course and I hope our paths cross again soon.  Keep your passion alive and continue to inspire others to advocate for our little ones.
Best Regards!!!

Sharon Munroe:
Your professionalism and dedication to the field has been apparent in every discussion, every response, and every comment made in the past eight weeks.  Continue to advocate and keep your passion alive and on fire.   I extract comfort in knowing that you are on our team and have no doubt your contributions will be impact-full.  May you accomplish everything you set out to and hopefully we can cross path again.
Best Regards!!!

Robin Miller, Kami Lindzer, Joanne Lynch, and Druesilla Lunsford:
You have been indispensable to my success in this course.  Your responses to my discussion responses, the resources you've provided, the thoughts and ideas that triggered intentional reflection have truly contributed to my growth during the past eight weeks.  I wish you all success in your future endeavors and hope we work together again very soon.
Best Regards!!!

WAVES OF GRATITUDE TO YOU ALL, CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR REFORM!!!

BEST,

ANNIE P.

Ethics in ECE!

NAYEC  CODE OF ETHICAL CONDUCT AND STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT
1-1.3 To Recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.
(I believe this one is the one that is the easiest to forget.  Adults forget often that children are their own person and are constantly seeking guidance.  Children often get ideas and thoughts and ideas imposed on them because adults do not respect their individuality.

1-1.9 To Advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have a ccess to the support services needed to be successful.
(That is what motivate me; I get up in the morning and look forward to work because of the experiences I acquire to increase my efficacy as a professional.

CODE OF ETHICS
 2. We shall honor and respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of the multidisciplinary colleagues with whom we work recognizing their unique contributions to children, families, and the field of early childhood special education.
(Because reform is impossible alone professional must respect the thoughts of others and use them to refine personal vision)