~A Special Thanks to All~

I would like to take this opportunity to give a warm and special thanks to all of my colleagues. I appreciate each and everyone of you for sharing your perspectives,insights and personal experiences in your blogs and discussion posts. With your help I learned many new things.  

I wish all of you the best of luck..and hope that achieve your highest goals!!!

~Adjourning Stage in Team Development~

Adjourning stage:  the stage of group development in which members reflect on their accomplishments and failures as well as determine whether the group will disassemble or take on another project (O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M., 2012).

I believe many people will agree the adjourning stage can sometimes be difficult or seen as a relief.  I personally think this is influenced by the success of the group.  Groups that did not consist of trust and togetherness will probably look forward to dismantling the group.  However,  I believe that they must take the mistakes and mishaps that occurred and use them as learning tools for success in other group work.

On the other hand the groups that worked well together, and accomplished goals may have a difficult time leaving one another.  Many will more than likely decide to work together on another project simply because the trust and commitment is validated already.

The closing rituals that I enjoyed the most is recapping our experiences as a team.  During this time we shared the good, bad , and the ugly; as well as the coulda (could have), wouldas (would haves), and shouldas (should haves).  

I would imagine the adjourning stage from the group of colleagues I have formed while receiving my master's will consist of exchanging best wishes, maybe contact information and thanking one another for sharing personal experiences, perspectives, and advice. 

Reference

O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M.,.  (2012).  Real Communication: An Introduction.  New York:Bedford/St.Martin's. 

~Resolving Conflicts~

 A disagreement that I recently experienced is with my sister in law.  I have always disapproved of her parenting styles, but I have never voiced my opinion.  Well, while at a family gathering an incident occurred between my 4 year old nephew (her son) and my little cousin (5 or 6 years old).  I really don't know all the details of the altercation, but was told my nephew said some curse words and smacked my little cousin in the face.  I was approaching my nephew to discipline him, when my sister in law rushed up and grabbed him saying "his auntie not going to whoop him and he need his a** whooped".  So she snatched him from my hand, slapped across the face while cursing at him.  I was beyond upset and at this point and it was evident when I spoke.  I harshly attacked her parenting skills, and let her know that her son is doing the only thing she has ever taught him.  This turned into a big altercation, that led to other family members taking sides and at the end of it all the overall message was lost during the midst of the conflict.


With this situation I could have done a lot of things differently.  For instance I could have controlled my emotions, and waited until I was calm enough to approach her.  I should have also pulled her to the side and talked privately to her and not at her.  However, the  most important thing I think I should have done is to speak on the negative behaviors when I first noticed them instead of sweeping them under the rug and allowing tensions to build. 

~Evaluating Effectiveness~

While completing the evaluations I had a difficult time because I can be really hard on myself at times.  I have to say that I am probably my worst critic, in a good way :). Because I am so hard on myself, I was really surprised that the results of my other 2 evaluators were aligned with my results for all 3 evaluations.  According to the results I have low communication anxiety, moderate verbal aggressiveness, and my listening style is people-oriented.  

This week I learned that my communication skills are greater than I thought.  According to the course text the manner in which I evaluate my communication experiences wards a sense a self-adequacy, which is defined as evaluating your communication as sufficient or acceptable.

Because communication is a major component in the EC field,having the ability to accurately evaluate yourself is extremely important for future improvement.

~Communicating Differently~

Yes, I find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. When speaking with individuals from cultural backgrounds that I am unfamiliar with I am usually more of a listener, because I do not want to offend them. At times the situation may feel awkward, because I am not as comfortable.  

The manner in which I communicate with co-workers is different from the way I speak with friends. Now that I think about it,within my family I speak to members differently. The conversations I have with my parents and siblings are very different, as with my aunts/uncles and cousins.  

The most important thing that I feel I can do to communicate more effectively with people or groups, is to always remember that the communications needs will vary from person to person.  It is very important for me to take into consideration the individual communication needs, the environment and the scenario.  And lastly, I always speak to others the way I want to be treated, regardless of their behaviors.

~Silence Speaks Volumes~

For this week's blog post I watched an episode of a show called "The New Adventures of Old Christine" on lifetime channel. I have never seen this show before and is unfamiliar with the dynamics of the characters. As a part of the assignment I watched the show on mute first and then again with sound.

While watching this show with no sound I assumed that the officer that came to the door was a good friend of the lady who answered the door because she was very warm and friendly when she invited him in and took a seat.  In this same scene I also thought the African American lady that entered the house was her partner. And they began to have a verbal disagreement. The man and lady that entered the house was her brother and pregnant sister in-law.

*While watching the show with sound I learned that the lady who opened the door for the officer was Christine and she assumed the officer who was on official police business was sent to her as an exotic dancer. I also learned the the African American lady is her best friend and they were having a regular conversation not an argument.  The man and lady that I assumed were her brother and sister in law, were actually her ex-husband and his wife "New Christine".

The next scene involves Christine at a mans house who I assume is her boyfriend or maybe ex-boyfriend.  At the mans house it appears that Christine is pleading to her boyfriend, but then discovers another woman is present. It seems like a confrontation occurs and the male decides that he wants to be with Christine. Christine and the male sleeps on the sofa spooning and the males jumps up abruptly.

*While watching this scene with sound, I was shocked to find out that the male is Matthew and he is actually Christine's brother. due to their interactions I would have never guessed they were siblings. 

During the last scene Richard and "New Christine" are in the hospital and I assume that there are complications with labor because they have looks of disappointment and frustration on their faces.

*Watching with sound I realized that they were upset because they did not want the baby to be born on "Old Christine's Birthday".

I must admit that all of the character and scene assumptions I made were incorrect. Due to facial expressions and body language I would have never guessed the relationships or the conversations. Had this been a familiar show I have been close, but probably not exact. 

Watching the show with sound I had numerous "aha" moments. Finding out the Christine and Matthew were siblings was a big one. Although the dynamics of me and my brother relationship is nothing like this, someone else may relate so therefore I must be mindful of others. The show is hilarious and it has taught me the importance of never relying on one aspect of communication. Doing so, can lead to false assumptions and maybe even disrespecting others. 

~Competent Communicator~

The first person to pop into my mind while creating this post is my 7 year old daughter. She can communicate better than many adults I know, and sometimes I wish I had her patience and finesse when speaking. Throughout the family she is known as "Diva", or "Lil Lady". My daughter has no problem expressing her feelings and sharing her thoughts. She will not raise her voice and engage in any kind of arguing of confrontations(This is definitely a trait that I wish I had). She often tells my son, "KD calm down you do not have to yell, or "if you can't speak to me like I'm speaking to you then this conversation is over".  My favorite quote of hers is "how do you expect to get help if you don't ask".

At times I have to ask myself, wow did she really just say that, because she speaks so maturely.  While at the nail shop I was speaking to my daughter on speakerphone, so everyone there heard our conversation. Her dad dropped her off at the nail shop, and when she walked in and acknowledged me, the other customers could not believe that I was just speaking on the phone with this little girl.  My daughter is very articulate and she speaks very proper, so they were expecting a much older person.

~HOPES AND DREAMS 4 EARLYCHILDHOOD EDUCATION~

As a professional in the early childhood field with goals of becoming a childcare owner, I anticipate working with children, families, as well as colleagues who come from diverse backgrounds.  As a professional in this field I could only hope to have a positive impact on all of the lives that I am in contact with.  I want to make everyone feel comfortable, accepted, and appreciated for who they are.  

Seeing as I have a bachelor's degree which entitles me to work with young children, I find it very odd that I have learned so much with regards to diversity,equity, and social justice in this course. A goal that I would like for the early childhood field is ensuring that adequate training is received in these areas before working with children is permitted.  I have been working with young children and families for years and never realized that I even had bias, that can potentially affect me interactions with others.  

I would like to thank my colleagues for your comments,contributions and personal insights in this course.  With your participation was greatly needed and appreciated. Good Luck in all your future classes, and I hope to have the opportunity to work with all of you again!! 

~Welcoming Families From Around the World~

For this assignment I chose Cambodia as the family's country of origin. 

 In preparation for the Cambodian family I will first research the country. I will browse the internet and read books/articles on Cambodian culture, religion, politics, education, etc. After I have gained as much information as possible from outside sources I will then rely on information that I can gain from observing the family. Through observations I can see the dynamics within the family, roles, family culture, and etc. I will also take the initiative to learn the basic greetings and common words of their language.  I will compile a list of local/community resources and I will also try to incorporate their culture in my learning environment.  I will prepare a questionnaire in hopes of getting to know the family and their preferences a little better.  

I hope the steps that I intend to take will help the families transition. As anticipated me and the Cambodian family may worry about communication barriers and misunderstandings. I hope my actions will show the family that I am here to help and is prepared to take the necessary steps to help their child succeed.  In return the family may be more reluctant and open to my help.  Overall, I hope that my actions will make the family feel welcomed and comfortable.  

~The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, & Oppression

A couple of weeks ago I witnessed one of my close male friends become victim of bias. My friend is a 31 year old African American with french braids and multiple tattoos, and owns a successful construction company. One day me, my friend, and one of his employees (white male) were out having lunch and a problem occurred at an insurance office they were working on. The owner of the insurance company demanded that she speak to the supervisor. So we immediately went to the site. When we arrived the lady (white) was very upset.  When my friend tried to approach her she said "I do not want to waste anymore of my time talking to you people, because apparently you folks have trouble comprehending, now if you would excuse me I would like to speak with your boss". My friend tried speaking and she rudely hushed him and approached his employee. She stated her problem, and the employee said "I am sorry for the confusion, but as _______ stated it is against our company policy to switch materials once they are purchased. The lady was smiling and flirting, and she said "well can't you make an exception". He said "I'm sorry maam, but I have no say in that. But I'm sure my supervisor (pointing to my friend)would have considered it had you not offended him".  The lady rolled her eyes and walked away. 

Once we got into the truck the men were laughing and joking, and I could not understand why.  So I asked if I was the only person who saw something wrong with what just happened.  My friend said he experience this at least once a week and it does not bother him anymore.  He said it lets him know he's doing something right.  

I was still upset with the whole situation. The lady was rude and disrespectful, and on top of that she did not attempt to apologize.  I am very proud of my friend, he worked very hard to build his company and because he is a black man he rarely gets credit.  In this situation the lady did not want to see a black man with power or authority. It was not like she was just a nasty person because she was very friendly and pleasant with the white guy. Therefore, I believe there was inequity in the respect that the guys received.  In order for this scenario to change the lady would have to change her views and work on some issues.  

~Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions~

In preparation for this weeks blog assignment I have paid close attention to interactions of those around me.  I must admit that I was shocked at the multiple encounters of micro-aggressions I observed.  

During my son's birthday party we were having a conversation about favorite foods and foods we dislike.  My cousin (African American) said that he hates fried chicken.  And my friend whose Mexican said "Really, I thought all black people ate fried chicken.  That's like me not eating tacos".  She was not malicious with the comment and meant no disrespect.  In fact everyone laughed and continued with the conversation. 

The next incident took place in the nail salon.  An African American lady in her early twenties said to the nail tech "Dang, yo English fye.  Hi long you been over seas".  The young Korean girl said "Huh, I don't understand".  The African American lady said with an attitude "hi long you been in the U.S.".  the Korean girl then said "I was born here", with agitation in her voice.  I must admit that I was upset and embarrassed by the entire situation.  How dare she speak on someone's English when she could not even speak a proper sentence.  then to top it off she was very disrespectful with her mannerism.  I could not help but feel that she exhibited all of the negative characteristics of a stereotypical black person.  

The observations from this week affirmed my beliefs that discrimination, prejudices, and stereotyping very much exist.  Although everyone are not trying to intentionally hurt others, we must be aware of the power that our words and actions hold.  

~Perspectives on Diversity and Culture~

For this week's assignment I asked several people their definitions on culture and diversity.  

Mechanic (Cuban, 35)

Culture is made up of your families beliefs and practices that are passed from generation to generation.

Diversity is accepting people for who they are, and what they can do.

Male neighbor (African American, 18)

Culture is our family traditions, food, the way

we dress, and act. 

Diversity has something to do with treating everyone equally regardless of their differences

Friend (Mexican, 27)

Culture is the practices and traditions in our everyday living that makes us unique.

Diversity the beauty of the people and things that are different.

  

The aspects of culture and diversity that I studied in this course that are included in the answers I received are some components of surface culture and deep culture.  Almost all the answers mention components of deep culture such as family traditions, while only one mention surface culture such as food and clothing.  

The different perspectives that I received are just as diverse as the people who spoke them, and to me that sheds light to extent of culture and diversity.  It seems as if everyone has their own definition, which means they have their own views of the subject.

 

~MY FAMILY CULTURE~

For this week's blog assignment I had to imagine that a catastrophic event took place, and as a means of survival my family and I will be placed into a country where everything is foreign to us.  We are allowed to take three small items with us.  Just imagining these circumstances is devastating to me, because I am a very habitual person and I love order.  I must admit that I am a tad materialistic as well. 
 

• A description of the three items you would choose

     The 1st item I would bring is my family bible.  Although my children and I have our individual bibles, we also have a family bible that has pages and pockets so that we can write notes, and insert things.  With the family bible we usually discuss scriptures and verses that have a special meaning to our daily existence (that we can relate to based on past and present experiences).  Our religious beliefs and practices guides us through our daily lives and we rely heavily on prayer and worship.

    The second item that I will bring is what my children and I call our grab and go binder.  A few years ago my neighbors experienced a horrific fire.  During that fire everything was lost. They had a difficult time obtaining identification documents and were emotionally devastated because of the lost of pictures and sentimental items.  At that time my children and I decided that we will create folders with items and pictures that are important to us, and we update them on new years eve. In my folder I have a copy of our birth certificates, social security cards, shot records, collages, a copy of my educational documents, identification cards, insurance papers, and bank documents.  My children have pictures and items that are meaningful to them.  With this item we will have reminders of who we are and where we come from at all times.  As well as precious memories and moments.

   The third item I will bring is a fleece comforter that my dad brought me.  The blanket has my favorite character on it (Mickey Mouse), and my children and I cuddle under the blanket when and watch movies, read books, and when we are afraid or sad ( due to storms, death, and illnesses).  this blanket will provide me and my family with comfort and togetherness. 

• Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you

      I would be devastated if I could only bring one item to remind me and my family of what our lives once was. I would feel disrespected in a sense that our feelings were not taken into consideration.  At that point and time my children and would decide as a family which item is more important.

• Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise

     As a result of this exercise, began to empathize with immigrants and displaced families.  They are basically placed in an unfamiliar environment and expected to drop everything that forms their individuality so that they blend with society.  Those expectations are unfair and inhumane.  

**When I Think of Research**

 Taking this course has caused me to develop a new respect and admiration for researchers and the hard work that they do.  Researchers devote a tremendous amount of time, dedication, and hard work into their studies.  Before taking this course I knew absolutely nothing about the steps needed in planning, designing, and conducting research.  One of the most important things that I learned about research is that the researcher must carefully plan out every single detail during the planning and designing phases.  This includes everything from selecting the topic, participants and data collection to the manner in which data will be analyzed and everything in between.  It is almost as if researcher must foresee any problems and find possible solutions before they even occur.  

The most challenging part of conducting my research simulation was developing a research question.  I knew exactly what I wanted to ask, I just could not seem to put it into words.  In order to overcome this challenge I had to work my research in reverse so to speak.  I designed every aspect of the research project and then I formulated my research question.

I have always had a tremendous amount of respect and admiration for early childhood professionals.  Early childhood professionals work very hard and are dedicated to their field.  It is sad to say that many professionals of our field are often overlooked and under-appreciated.  Taking this course has given me all the more reason to respect and applaud ec professionals.  I mean, I have always known that this field requires a lot of hard work, but I could have never imagined the phenomenal work that goes into a research project. 

~International Research~

For this weeks assignment I decided to explore the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) website @ http://www.eecera.org/journal/.  

The research topics that I have listed below caught my attention because they are aligned with this week's learning topics.

* Introducing children's perspectives and participation in research.

* Research with children: three challenges for participatory research in early childhood.

* Listening to young citizens: the struggle to make real a participatory paradigm in research with young children.

Some other topics that I find interesting are:

* Something to talk about: does the language use of pre-school teachers invite children to participate in democratic conversation?

* Playing and learning in another language: ensuring good quality early years education in a language revitalisation programme

* Practicum assessment of culturally and linguistically diverse early childhood pre-service teachers

The EECERJ, the Journal of EECERA, is one of the most prestigious early childhood journals in the world. It is one of only four early years journals indexed by the Institute for Scientific Information.

 

 

 

~EARLY CHILDHOOD RESEARCH~

-"Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be?"-

If I had this opportunity I would conduct a longitudinal research project that studies the long term affects of a fathers absence in young children.  The components of this research will require analyzing 15 boys and 15 girls from the ages of 0-18, and once again when they turn 25. The children will be separated into 3 groups of equal boys and girls.  Group 1 will have a 2 parent household, Group 2 will have a single mother with minimal contact with father, and Group 3 will have a single mother with no contact with father.  All of the children will have the exact same circumstances as far as social status, income, parents education level & age, and religion.  

The research team will collect data across all developmental domains, as well as social interactions, peer relationships, family relationships, and school success.  With the data collected from the research, ec professionals can incorporate programs to encourage fathers involvement, and also develop therapeutic services with the intention of preventing any possible harm to the child.

~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. 

~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".

 

~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.

~Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 2~

As part of the alternative assignment I explored Harvard University's "Global Children's Initiative" website @ http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/

While exploring the website I learned  Global Children’s Initiative is
focused on three strategic objectives:

• To reframe public discourse about the early childhood period by educating high-level decision-makers about the common underlying science of learning, behavior, and health;

• To support innovative, multidisciplinary research and demonstration projects in selected countries or regions to expand global understanding of how healthy development happens, how it can be derailed, and how to get it back on track; and

•  To build leadership capacity in child development research and policy among individuals and institutions in low- and middle-income countries in order to increase the number and influence of diverse perspectives that are contributing to the global movement on behalf of young children.

The Center's Global Children’s Initiative has begun to build a portfolio of activities in three domains: early childhood development; mental health; and children in crisis and conflict situations.

EARLY CHILD DEVELOPMENT

"The first priority in this area is to adapt the successful work the Center has conducted in the United States for a broader range of strategically selected audiences, in an effort to energize and reframe the global dialogue around investments in the earliest years of life".  

"The second priority is to generate and apply new knowledge that addresses the health and developmental needs of young children in a variety of settings". Some of the projects include:

•  Assessing quality in early childhood environments and programs in diverse global contexts;
• Piloting assessments to measure child development outcomes linked to malaria control strategies in Zambia; and
• Expanding effective interventions to improve preschool quality in Chile.

 CHILD MENTAL HEALTH

In the early childhood field mental health concerns are very issues that are not given enough light.  "There is an urgent need to identify the scope of the problem within and across countries and to develop evidence-based approaches in policy and service delivery that are responsive to diverse cultural contexts."  In an effort to meet this challenge the following three projects have been selected:

• Assessing the state of child mental health services in China;
• Developing and evaluating family-based strategies to prevent mental health problems in children affected by HIV/AIDS in Rwanda; and
• Addressing child maltreatment and mental health outcomes in three Caribbean nations (Barbados, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname).

CHILDREN IN CRISIS & CONFLICT SITUATIONS

The Global Children’s Initiative is currently exploring potential synergies with the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative and the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of Public Health, both of which have extensive experience working in emergency situations across the world. The goal of this effort is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration that incorporates a science-based, developmental perspective into the assessment and management of child well-being in a range of natural and man-made crises, focusing on both immediate circumstances and long-term adaptation. Two issues are the initial focus of activity in this domain: 

• Exploring comparable approaches to surveying child status in post-earthquake Haiti and Chile. 
• Bringing the science of child development into strategies for addressing acute malnutrition. 

From exploring the websites of different organizations, and viewing the different podcasts I have realized that children all over the world are experiencing some of the same dilemmas and hardships.   However, the degree of development and resources makes all the difference when it comes to coping with these stresses.  This is why it is extremely important for educators around the world to advocate for the well being of our children.

~SHARING WEB RESOURCES~

 THE NATIONAL BLACK CHILD DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE

http://nbcdi.org/

The main reason I decided to take a further look at this website is because i personally feel as if some of our African American children are left in the in-between zone.  The African American culture is unique, and sometimes misunderstood.  The main goal of the NBCDI is to “To improve and advance the lives of black children and their families through education and advocacy.”

While reviewing this website I noticed that many of the tabs are under construction.  So for this assignment I would discuss a program that I feel supports the early childhood field in the most important way EDUCATING PROFESSIONALS !!!!!!  The NBCDI offers a program called T.E.A.C.H. early childhood, which is a program designed to provide sequenced educational scholarship opportunities for child care center teachers, directors and family child care home providers who work in regulated settings. 

In 1990, Child Care Services Association created the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood® Project to address the issues of under-education, poor compensation and high turnover within the early childhood workforce.

T.E.A.C.H. is built on four components:

Education: T.E.A.C.H. helps participants to earn a required number of college credit hours in early childhood education each year.

Scholarship: T.E.A.C.H. offers counseling and financial support to pay for college courses and fees, books, travel, and time away from work.

Compensation: T.E.A.C.H. recipients earn a compensation bonus or raise after successful completion of a year of education.

Commitment: T.E.A.C.H. recipients agree to continue their service as a child care professional in their current early care and education setting.

~Getting to Know Your International Contacts~

Unfortunately, I have not been able to establish any international contacts so I had to do the alternative assignment.  Completing this weeks assignment has really caused me to take a good look at the world around me.  In one way or another poverty affects more families than I ever could have imagined.  The effects of poverty is detrimental to all members of the family and can have lasting effects.  CHIP states "Today's poor children are all too often tomorrow's poor parents. Poverty can be passed on from generation to generation affecting the long-term health, wellbeing and productivity of families and of society as a whole. Tackling childhood poverty is therefore critical for eradicating poverty and injustice world-wide".

TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT INDIA
India has an estimated population of 1.03 billion citizens with 260.2 million of those living in poverty.  Close to 400 million of the population are between 0-18 years.   About 62 million children under the age of five are malnourished and 34 percent of new-borns are significantly underweight. Important achievements have been made in health and education.   But India still accounts for 20 per cent of the world's out-of-school children. It has the largest numbers of working children in the world, with nearly a third of children below 16 years working.

India has three main types of anti-poverty programs run by the central government, rural employment creation and infrastructure development programs; self-employment; and food subsidy programs.  
 
According to CHIP "Over 600 million children world-wide live in absolute poverty - an estimated 1 in 4. In many countries, rates are much higher with over 60 percent of children living in households with incomes below international poverty lines".  Those numbers are devastating and they will more than likely increase if we do not take preventive measures. 

~Sharing Web Resources~

National Black Child Development Institute 

http://nbcdi.org/

The mission of the National Black Child Development Institute is to improve and advance the lives of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education.  The NBCDI have worked to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and provide vital information regarding our children’s health.

Partners

In many regions of the country, the National Black Child Development Institute is represented by affiliate chapters that provide direct services at the community level. NBCDI’s nationwide affiliate network is a dynamic and geographically diverse force of dedicated volunteers located in urban and rural areas and on college campuses across the country.  The affiliate chapters are made up of people who actively care about the well-being of Black children. They are parents, professionals, proletarians, and others who share a commitment to making a difference in the lives of young people.

INITIATIVES

Love to Read is a research based national early literacy program designed to help reverse the achievement gap and to improve the academic success of African American children.  Love to Read is targeted towards parents and caregivers of children ages 0 through 6

T.E.A.C.H.  In 1990, Child Care Services Association created the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps (T.E.A.C.H.) Early Childhood® Project to address the issues of under-education, poor compensation and high turnover within the early childhood workforce.  The T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® Project gives scholarships to child care workers to complete course work in early childhood education and to increase their compensation.
T.E.A.C.H. is built on four components:
Education: T.E.A.C.H. helps participants to earn a required number of college credit hours in early childhood education each year.
Scholarship: T.E.A.C.H. offers counseling and financial support to pay for college courses and fees, books, travel, and time away from work.
Compensation: T.E.A.C.H. recipients earn a compensation bonus or raise after successful completion of a year of education.
Commitment: T.E.A.C.H. recipients agree to continue their service as a child care professional in their current early care and education setting.

Entering the College Zone (ECZ) is conducted in 23 cities nationwide and is a collaborative effort between NBCDI, major public school systems, and colleges and universities.  The goal of program is to increase substantially the number of disadvantaged students who enter college by equipping them and their parents during middle school with the skills and resources that will allow them to navigate through the college preparation process.

 Promoting Positive Nutrition Project is a health and nutrition education initiative supported by the Walmart Foundation, the project is designed to encourage healthy nutrition practices specifically among Black families with young children.

 Parent Empowerment Project (PEP) is a unique program that seeks to educate, motivate and inspire parents to excellence as their child’s first teacher.  The program consists of a  four-part parenting education curriculum that identifies and describes culturally competent and appropriate parenting practices and activities that focus on parent strengthening and education, infant and child development, and family support.

The NBCDI, has many more programs to offer and they provide many resources...

~Establishing Professional Contacts~

In preparation for this weeks blog assignment I emailed two early childhood professionals, one from "Step by Step" in Romania and the other from "Step by Step" in Haiti.  I have not got a response email from either professional but I plan on sending another email on Monday.  I did not choose Romania and Haiti for any particular reason, but as I glanced over the Global Alliance website they grasped my attention. 

When choosing the early childhood organization I went with National Black Child Development Institute because it is an organization that I am least familiar with.  Because I frequently visit majority of the other websites, such a NAEYC, and zero to three I feel that I will benefit more if a chose a organization that has a different range of information.

~My Supports~

It saddens me to say that at the current moment I feel as if I have no support.  My life is very hectic and stressful and I feel as if I am in this alone. I live in a city where I have no family and friends, and I am currently  seeking employment.   Usually I would have support from my family but at the current moment it seems as if everyone is going through problems of their own.  So, I can speak from experience when I say that losing my support system has me in a very bad space.

Because of the current state that I am in I would love to have any support at this point and time.  I really miss being able to count on my family to back me up in my many endeavors.  They are the ones who motivate me to keep striving.  My family has so much faith in me that they believe in me even when I don't.  Normally, my fiance is home to provide me with emotional support and a extra hand wherever it is needed.  But because of personal problems he had to leave town and care for his grandmother.  (Which is a wonderful thing)  My mom who is my bestfriend has been ill so the dynamics of our relationship has changed drasticly.  My siblings have been in Louisianna for the past 3 months, so all I can rely on at the moment is my kids to keep me going from day to day.

As for support I wish I had... I would want to work for an agency that backs there staff up 100%.  With support from the agency I would have the confidence and resources to provide the best educational services to the children I serve as well as their families.

~My Connections to Play~

 “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.” -Plato

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.”  -Kay Redfield Jamison

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning…They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.”  -Fred Rodgers

I played dress up in my mom's clothes almost everyday!!!

I cooked as my mom cooked!!!

This is a talking Mickey Mouse that I adored!!!!

She went everywhere with me!!!!!

As a child playing was everything to me!!!!  My days were so peaceful and fun when i was able to play with my friends and toys.  I can remember crying when i had to go over to my aunts house because she did not like for kids to play in the house and she did not allow us to go outdoors.  I must admit that those weekends were the worst.  Not being able to play made me miserable and it also caused me to be mischievous at times.  I personally feel that so many children today are misbehaving in class because they are deprived of recess and free play to let out that burst of energy.  When I was younger I can remember going to neighborhood playground, and playing with the kids on the next block.  In today's society a lot of this has changed because it is just not safe for kids anymore.  It is really sad!!!

When I was younger my parents allowed me play at my own will.  The only things that were off limit were harmful or inappropriate for children!!!  My mom and dad would arrange play dates on weekends, with friends and cousins.  They made sure we always lived near a playground and in safe neighborhoods so the outdoor play can take place.  As for toys, I had so many our basement looked like a toy store. 

~Relationship Reflection~

Having healthy relationships and partnerships are extremely important to me for several reasons.  I strongly believe healthy relationships affects our happiness, and the ways in which we deal and cope with stress.  Relationships can have an impact on our emotional and social health as well as aspects of physical health.  Relationships bring love, support, advice, compassion, sympathy, and a whole lot more.

To the right is a portrait of my parents...Gregory and Mary
My mom is one of my biggest supporters and she is the reason that i am the strong independent woman that I am today.  My mother is always there when I need that extra push to keep me going, and she does not hesitate to put me in my place. 

My father is the greatest man alive!!! He has the ability to turn your worst day into the best day of your life with simple words and a warm smile.  My dad has always been a very patient man, and always make me fill as if I can conquer the world.  Growing up many of friends loved to come to my house because their fathers were not around and my father made every feel loved and appreciated.  
                    ~Together my mother and father were yin and yang, which represented a perfect partnership~

 
To the left is my daughter, and to the right is my son.....
Words could not express the impact my relationship with my children have on my life.  My children are my biggest supporters and motivators.  They are literally the driving force of my determination and focus. 


Although I am a single mother I still have a very good relationship with the father of my children.  Regardless of what problems or differences me and him may have, we always find ways to push them aside for the well being of our children. 

NAKEISHA, NATASHA, and GREGORY JR. (3 older siblings):  The roles and relationships I had with each sibling was different but they fit perfectly together.  Because I am the youngest sibling I got spoiled often.  Nakeisha was the sibling that helped me with homework, and allowed me to help take care of her responsibilities.  Natasha taught me how to protect myself, and she also allowed me to teach her things.  Gregory is the only boy and because we are the closest in age he taught me the true definition of "anything you could do I can do better".  My dad use to joke with his friends and say "I won't have to worry about her because Jr. got her "Tonka Tough".  Because of my siblings I value education, responsibility, and helping others.

 ****Building all of these relationships took time, as well as ups and downs.  With every relationship one must go through challenges in order to learn the dynamics of the relationship.  The road to building each of these relationships consisted of many tears, hurt feelings, arguments, pain, laughter, sadness, as well as happiness.  If I could I would not change a single experience because it is those that set the foundation of our relationships. I am thankful and blessed to have so many positive people in my life.****

****Outside of the above mentioned relationships I have countless others that has a impact just as big as those.****