Sharing Web Resources

The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

I chose to explore NAEYC website. The area which seemed particularly relevant to my current professional development was a section regarding "The Profession" Since I am a Pre-K teacher, I was interest in making an investment in the early childhood education profession a national priority. According to NAEYC, "we know that high-quality educators promote high-quality early learning, NAEYC is committed to achieving a vision in which the early childhood profession exemplifies excellence and is recognized as vital and performing a critical role in society" (NAEYC, n.d.). Although my classroom is NAEYC accredited, I want to continue having a classroom that aims for high excellence. I also look at and agreed with NAEYC vision statement mission statement, and beliefs that every child needs to be able to reach their highest potential. I have been very successful with implementing these skills in the classroom and studying ideas that are on NAEYC website for additional resources.

NAEYC for families was one of the topics found while searching. There were many great points made throughout the article, but the one section that made me think about an issue in a new way was all the ideas to help young children. NAEYC has a lot of information about children and how they are developing appropriately. I think that NAEYC has an affect on high-quality child care for children from birth through age 8. Expanding high-quality Pre-K programs would improve quality and expand the number of eligible children served. Refer back to the "strategic direction" to get more information on NAEYC

Lastly, another insight about issues and trends in the early childhood field that I gained from exploring the website is that NAEYC upholds all their values and beliefs for the sake of young children who are going to quality programs.They also break down core values and beliefs stated from the core value recognize that children are best understood and supported in the context of family, culture, community, and society.One of the beliefs is that Equity and Opportunity—We advocate for policies, practices, and systems that promote full and inclusive participation. We confront biases that create barriers and limit the potential of children, families, and early childhood professionals. I am glad that early childhood professionals have all these different websites/organization that promotes a well-being and strong background to help young children achieve their goals and do well in school. References

Lutton, A., & Ahmed, S. (2009). NAEYC revises standards for early childhood professional preparation programs. YC Young Children, 64(6), 88.

The National Association for the Education of Young Children http://www.naeyc.org/

Vartuli, S. (2005). Beliefs: The heart of teaching. YC Young Children, 60(5), 76.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

After numerous emails to contacts across the world, I still have no luck finding someone to connect with to ask questions about issues and trends that they may be experiencing around the world. It looks like I will be taking the alternative route. I was eager to get to know an International person to partner up with,but unfortunately it didn't happen that way.

According to UNICEF, child poverty is a multidimensional phenomenon that can be measure in many ways(UNICEF, 2015). On the other hand,I went to the website UNICEF read about childhood poverty in one country and now I am ready to share three insights/ideas I have gained from studying the website. I chose to look at childhood poverty in Namibia.First,poverty has impacts on the lives, development of young children in Namibia and their health and education. Second, I learned that some children in Namibia grow up in poor households.The poverty line in Namibia is 3,330.48 per year for extreme poverty and 4,535.52 for poverty.There is true evidence that poverty in Namibia is low for a middle income country. Third,another thing I did learn was an analysis was taken of a grant to make sure there is clean water, utilities, and sanitation. The grant system is making a contribution to ensuring that fewer Namibia children grow up in poverty. I think with these changes this could reduce poverty, improve child development, health,and mental well-being in Namibia. They have a report of Namibia household income that provides an overview of the extent child poverty across Namibia. UNICEF has various on-going projects and tools related to child poverty (UNICEF, 2015). I am still hoping to here from someone. I have faith that he or she will contact to me soon.

References

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html

http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_childpoverty.html

UNICEF, (2015), Child Poverty Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_68822.html

Sharing Web Resources

For this week's blog, I will be sharing a resource that I am most familiar with and has stuck with me throughout my teaching in Early Childhood Education. As an Early Childhood professional, I think it is important to keep up with resources about young children and families to refer back to when needed.There are so many wonderful resources out there, but I chose to follow The National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC).I chose this organization because I am a member and this is such a great organization for young children.In addition to, NAEYC is the best way for me to obtain all of the resources I need to help me reach my highest potential with the children in my class making sure they are taught to the best of their ability. NAEYC implements high-quality learning for all children and I am positive this organization gives you all the resources you will need to connect to a professional network of educators across the country. If you are looking for an Early Childhood organization to join look into The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Issues/Trends

NAEYC has a lot of news articles, but the one that caught my attention was the one that was issued out in December during Education Week that talks about voters support higher pay for Early Educators.Voters think early-childhood educators are paid too little according to voters by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.Voters are also saying that lead teachers should have a bachelor degree in Early Childhood and aides should have a associate degree. I feel this was a great topic because Early Childhood educators deserve more for what they do and feel appreciative for doing this.

Additional Information

Week 2 Topic is Issues and Trends: Changing Demographics and Diversity and the issues and trends that I found in the news room was talking about the same thing that I discuss in my discussion this week that is needing quality teachers and quality programs. NAEYC supports centers by accrediting them and this lets families know that this center is accredited and promotes excellence. NAEYC also supports any Early Childhood center that supports the increase in diversity. NAEYC has a multi site search that you can find all the latest on diversity. I have not received any contact back so I may have to use the alternative assignment. I chose the website "The Global Fund for Children." http://www.globalfundforchildren.org The Global Fund for Children transform the lives of children on the edges of society and help them regain their rights and pursue their dreams.I understood this organization because they just want kids to be kids.

References

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/early_years/2015/12/poll_voters_support_higher_pay_for_early_educators.html?r=401814295

http://www.globalfundforchildren.org

http://www.naeyc.org/

http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

For this weeks's assignment, I was asked to establish contact with two early childhood professionals outside the United States. I was unsuccessful with The Global Alliance of NAEYC my access was denied. I further my search with UNICEF because they have a lot of local representatives who are world wide to choose from.I chose Jamaica because I was suppose to take a cruise last summer,but I didn't go so I thought it would be interesting to find a professional educator who can share with me information to help me understand issues and trends in Jamacia. In addition to, I chose South Africa because I recently saw a video on you tube on how children in Africa attend school. I sent emails to the UNICEF contacts for Jamacia and South Africa introducing myself and explaining my assignment. I hope to hear back from both of them. I hope to get some great information to share with my classmates each week we post to the blog and to help me with any questions or concerns I may have. I dont think I will need to use the alternative assignment.

Lastly, I explored one early childhood organization that I am familiar with while working with young children The National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC).I work with a Head Start program that has several Head Start centers and all of them are NAEYC accredited. JCCEO is one of the first ten centers of Excellence in nation.I was very excited to see this organization on the list of resources to use and eager to learn additonal information that is presented on the website. NAEYC has a list of position statements and standards on issues related to early childhood education. I intend to share these with classmates through out our weeks in this class.I am also expanding my resources and researching The National Association of Head Start as well since I am a member. I think by exploring these website more with help me in the classroom to have as resources to refer back to.

References

http://www.naeyc.org/http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements

http://www.nhsa.org/

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html