I will not forget......

Are We There Yet?

Omg! I cannot believe that we have reached the last day of our Early Childhood Education Foundation Course! I have learned so much that I will carry with me throughout the remainder of my academic career and into my professional career. To all of you that take the time to read my blog......

THANK YOU 4 EVERYTHING!

Check Yo Self Before You Wreck Yo Self

NAEYC and DEC Code of Ethics                

1. We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all our professional activities in order to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families and of those with whom we work. 

2. We shall use individually appropriate assessment strategies including multiple sources of information such as observations, interviews with significant caregivers, formal and informal assessments to determine children’s learning styles, strengths, and challenges. 


3. We shall recognize our responsibility to improve the developmental outcomes of children and to provide services and supports in a fair and equitable manner to all families and children.


The aforementioned codes of ethics really spoke to me in that they sum up what lending a helping hand is all about. We must be accountable for our own actions. We must treat each other with respect and dignity. In order to be an effective teacher, one must listen effectively. We must exercise what works and modify what does not work. 

Additional Resources

I listed an article that I found to be interesting, along with some websites that may be helpful tools in parenting and child advocacy. I chose to reference sites that serve my community because I feel that is the best place to start in redefining my community. Please visit the following sites as you will find loads of useful information.......

Mental Health America. (2012). What every child needs for good mental health. Retrieved July 29 2012, from (http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/information/get-info/children-s-mental-health/what-every-child-needs-for-good-mental-health

www.chicagocac.org

www.chicagoparent.com

www.chipublib.org

www.sos-usa.org

Course Resources

• • 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, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  • NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  • NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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.

  • 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 media segment 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/
      Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

  • 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/
  • 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/

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"You have to stay connected and current.  Learn more, know more and never get comfortable with what you already know because there is always something else coming at you that you gotta learn."

- Lenatta M Cooper

Program Specialist

"No one works alone when working in the human services field.  All education requires a constant journey of our own learning and growing."

-Louise Derman-Sparts

Professor at Emeritus

Personal Childhood Web

Kimberly- My mom raised me. She instilled values in me that continue to help me navigate through life as an adult.  Though we didn't have much, my sisters and I grew up feeling that we had it all. For that, I will always be grateful. As I move forward in my academic career, I reference my mommy for strength, courage and wisdom. I love her!



Tiffany- Growing up, my aunt was forced to take me wherever she went. She was the ultimate babysitter, though she didn't' choose the job.  Nonetheless, we bonded and I was able to share lots of memories with her that I still reminisce about these days. As much as she didn't want me tagging along with her when I was a child, she somehow encouraged my presence around her as an adult. We still hang out and we have lots of fun! My aunt helped to continues to impact me now because she set the bar. It was my aunt that decided to go to college, earn a Bachelor's degree and go on to earn multiple Master degrees.  In seeing her success, I was able to actualize my own.  It is because of her that I developed the attitude that I can achieve whatever I can dream. I love her!



Alan-My dad was great! A violent crime and a case of mistaken identity left my dad in a coma when I was 5 or 6. I believe that he died when I was 7, yet at 28 I talk about him as though he stays around the corner from me.  I can remember going to carnivals with him. I remember my sister and I playing with our dolls and fake makeup while in his room. I remember laying on his chest and hearing his heartbeat.  My dad made me feel loved and special. I can feel his presence around me and part of why I choose to be all that I can be is to make him proud. My dad is awesome and those few years that I had with him can rival father/daughter relationships that last a lifetime. After all, quality is more valuable than quantity. I will always love my dad!




Puddini-I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MY GRANDMOTHER!! She is amazing and the best person in the world! As a child, my grandmother told me stories, nurtured my creativity, healed my wounds, protected me from spankings, cooked and baked goodies for me, took me to church and hair appointments, bonded with me and treated me like the greatest child in the world! She continues to mold me and help shape my attitude. Puddini means the world to me and she continues to help guide me through my adulthood, just as she did my childhood. I love you, Puddini! You are amazing!

Iyanla Vanzant

Iyanla Vanzant’s Peace from Broken Pieces: Generational Curses, “I am my mother’s daughter, no, my mother is me!”

-Iyanla Vanzant

Marian Wright Edelman

I've been struck by the upside-down priorities of the juvenile justice system. We are willing to spend the least amount of money to keep a kid at home, more to put him in a foster home and the most to institutionalize him.

-Marian Wright Edelman

Marian Wright Edelman

Parents have become so convinced educators know what is best for children that they forget that they themselves are really the experts.

-Marian Wright Edelman

Tired of the old? Renew!!

Good morning, world! Today I awoke with a new attitude. There is a lot for me to be grateful for and I realize that I am truly blessed! You know, I was unable to see that even when the universe moves in my favor, I m still not satisfied.......I am changing my mind today. No, I am changing my mind today!

To paraphrase a quote from a friend, "I will recognize my problems but devote my power and energy to the solutions."

HAVE A GREAT DAY, EVERYBODY!!

:-)

Children playing

And you can quote me

"A family that prays together, stays together." I love this quote because it is a constant reminder that we must put GOD 1st in our lives.  :-)

My favorite childhood book

Corduroy is my favorite story from childhood because it is adventurous, fun and interesting. Each time I read the book seemed like the first time and I still enjoy reading it today!  I really love this book because  I can vividly remember my mom snuggling up to me and reading it at bedtime.  :-)