Saturday, April 21, 2012

~FINAL BLOG~

Over the period of this course I have had the opportunity to explore some wonderful websites and organizations.  I really wish I could have established contact with an international early childhood professional, but unfortunately for me that did not happen.

1.  I think the main consequence of exploring the international early childhood field is that it has sparked an urge to fight for the well being and rights of young children and families across the world.  Children do not have the ability (nor is it their responsibility) to speak for themselves in terms of their basic rights as humans, or their educational rights, and I feel as a professional this is my duty.

2.  Another consequence is that I have the ability to look at issues and trends from multiple perspectives.  I am a parent, educator, and advocate and therefore I must analyze issues and trends using the awareness tool.

3.  The final consequence is knowing about the harsh conditions that children from underdevelopment countries must endure on a daily basis.  This really saddens me because I wish I had the ability and means to provide direct assistance for ALL children.

My goal in terms of the early childhood field and international awareness is that all professionals within the early childhood field take a full stand and dedicate themselves to fighting a cause effecting children all around the world. 

Saturday, April 14, 2012

~Getting to Know International Contacts-part 3~

For this week blogs assignment I did not get a reply from an international contact so I did the alternative and reviewed and reviewed UNESCO's website at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

I must admit that I have never heard of this organization or any of its affiliates.  While exploring the website I gained some very valuable information and insights that I feel personally align with my professional goals in more ways than one.  I guess it is safe to say that my ultimate goal is to ensure that each and every child has access to high quality care and education.  With that being said I believe that every child deserves to have there basic needs and necessities met regardless of their location.   In order to ensure these things I am prepared to advocate for children and families around the world wholeheartedly. Some of the work I am prepared to do and the issues that I am prepared to face are being faced by UNESCO.

I cannot believe that I have was unaware of the Global Action Week 2012 (April 22-28).  During Global Action Week is an annual awareness-raising campaign on Education for All. UNESCO actively supports the campaign by organizing activities in its Headquarters and Field Offices, mobilizing networks and encouraging Ministers of Education and all EFA partners to participate.  This years theme is "Rights from the Start! Early Childhood Care and Education Now!", will focus on the first of the six Education for All (EFA) Goals:

*Education for All Goals*
Six internationally agreed education goals aim to meet the learning needs of all children, youth and adults by 2015.
Goal 1
Expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children
Goal 2Ensuring that by 2015 all children, particularly girls, children in difficult circumstances and those belonging to ethnic minorities, have access to, and complete, free and compulsory primary education of good quality.
Goal 3
Ensuring that the learning needs of all young people and adults are met through equitable access to appropriate learning and life-skills programmes
Goal 4
Achieving a 50 per cent improvement in levels of adult literacy by 2015, especially for women, and equitable access to basic and continuing education for all adults.
Goal 5
Eliminating gender disparities in primary and secondary education by 2005, and achieving gender equality in education by 2015, with a focus on ensuring girls’ full and equal access to and achievement in basic education of good quality.
Goal 6
Improving all aspects of the quality of education and ensuring excellence of all so that recognized and measurable learning outcomes are achieved by all, especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills.

UNESCO has a strong belief that quality education focuses on the holistically, extending beyond preparing the child for school readiness.  "High quality childcare, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, promotes motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness".
 

Sunday, April 8, 2012

~Sharing Web Resources~

As you guys already know the website that I decided to explore is the National Black Child Development Institute at nbcdi.org.  


Unfortunately for me the website is still under construction so the information provided is limited.  I have tried to access several of the tabs and I either receive an fatal error message or a under construction tab.  So what i decided to do is give some information on an event that the NBCDI has provided a link to.

Head Start’s Eleventh National Research Conference



Welcome

Head Start’s National Research Conference is a biennial event, which provides practitioners, researchers, administrators, and policy makers involved in Head Start, early childhood, childcare, health care, and administration programs the opportunity to share research that promotes positive development in young children.
Click HERE for more information about the Head Start’s National Research Conference.
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/

Goals and Objectives

Head Start's Research Conference seeks to identify and disseminate new research in early childhood and family issues, while encouraging dialogue among researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. Applied research ranging from major national program evaluations to small studies about child and family development will be presented.

Another initiative that the NBCDI is also involved in a campaign called Lets Move! Child Care State Challenge!

Let’s Move! Child Care State Challenge!

To reach more child care providers and encourage state participation in the Let’s Move! Child Care (LMCC) initiative, NACCRRA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and  the Administration for Children and Families Office of Child Care have launched  a nationwide competition, the Let’s Move! Child Care State Challenge. States  have the opportunity to be recognized in two categories: 1) the state with the  highest percentage of licensed or legally operating child care programs that  sign up as LMCC participants, and 2) the state with the highest percentage of  programs that complete the Let’s Move!Child Care Checklist Quiz.

 I apologize for not being able to provide more information, and hopefully the websites construction will be complete by the next blog post.