~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.