When I Think of Child Development …

Over the past eight weeks, I have learned so much from my classmates in the  discussions and the Blogs.  I enjoyed reading each blog and learning from the week discussions. I am able to share what I learned with the teachers whom I work with. I would like to thank each of the my group members for all of their comments and feedback.


The following are my favorite quotes about children:

• Herbert Hoover, 31st U.S. president  "Children are our most valuable resource."
• Princess Diana, Princess of Wales  "Hugs can do great amounts of good, especially for children."
• Wess Stafford  "Every child you encounter is a divine appointment."
• English proverb  "The soul is healed by being with children." ( My Favorite)

I love this image of children playing happily.

Testing for Intelligence?

Testing for Intelligence?

Teachers have for a long time teaching the whole children. In my opinion, the wholistic approach to teaching means to teach a child across the curriculum to include: cognitively, socially, mentally, and physically. Children need to learn in all areas. Today teachers assess children in language, literacy, math, science, social and emotional skills, adaptive learning skills, social studies skills, and physical health skills. As a teacher, I know the importance of measuring meaningful outcomes for children and to make sure that they learn what they they need to learn. In learning about the purpose of assessing children and learning why we assess children. Assessment and measuring student achievement is used to help determine where students strengths and weakness are. 


In the last decade, there has been a growing recognition of the value of assessment in improving the quality of education, in particular the use of continuous assessment (CA) for improving the teaching and learning process in South Africa to improve student achievement. South Africa is trying to improve test score by the use of continuous assessment.


www.hsrc.ac.za

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

Childhood Hunger causes stress

As a very young child growing up, I can surely  say that I experience hunger or a lack of food as a child. I would not say that I did not get any food, but I can say that I did not receive a full balance meal. As an adult, I never let my children  leave home without breakfast or money for their lunch and most of the time they take lunch just in case they don't like what the school has for lunch. Hunger causes a child not to be able to develop and grow normally and cause stress on the child. 

As a child, I would have to think about what we were going to eat and how was my mother going to feed us because she was disable and was a single parent. As an adult, and I see child in that is going through what I experience I help parent to realize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, it gets the brain ready for the work that is has to do. As a young child, I did not suffer from from issues that most children suffer from but I did worry if my mom would be able to provide a meal for me an my little brother which cause stress as a child. Children who have to worry about food, the family have finance problems,like my mom was a single parent who was disable with limited income. I have learned over the years that child go through as much stress as the adults.

In countries such as Africa, families have less that $1 to live off, and the stats says that 41% of Africa is undernourished.  When reading about countries where children are starving hurts my heart to see so many people close to me that take food for granted. There are a lot people who do not have as much as we do and wish that they could eat and drink we do. I try to help others in my community who are in need a meal or child who even needs a snack, I have started to coupon and receive foods that will help others. 

I can’t think of any issue that is more important than working to see that no schoolchild in this world goes hungry.

-- Drew Barrymore

Child Development and Public Health

Children nutrition means a lot to me because as a teacher, parent and educator, I get a chance to help parents understand how important nutrition is to their children. Good nutrition helps children brain development. Good nutrition include helping parents to understand how to eat correctly and how to prepare healthy foods for their children. All children need food that is going to help them grow up to be healthy adults with healthy brains for learning. Nutrition help children be able to learn and thrive and be able to learn at their capacities which one day will enable them to be successful citizens. 


Malnutrition is a disease that happens when children are not receiving the correct foods and amount of food needed to be healthy. I chose these topics because I work with children and families and you would not know that so many children do not receive a balanced meal. As communities, we need to look closer at nutrition and malnutrition because it is closer to home than we think. 


I always wanted to know about Somalia, I learned that there is a significant number of children that die from hunger in a day that we will ever realize.  The numbers are so startling. I try to help with the problem in our community, I sponsor a food drive for the local care station that feeds people in our community. 


www. children health center. org
www. nutrition .org

Childbirth––In Your Life and Around the World

Childbirth is more admirable than conquest, more amazing than self-defense, and as courageous as either one.

GLORIA STEINEM

Twenty years ago, I got to experience childbirth at an very early age. On a hot day in June 1991, my first born entered into this world. The baby was wrinkle, pail and screaming to the top of his lungs. Those are all things I remember about my childbirth. But I will never forget that I placed my left hand in my baby hand and the infant squeezed so tight that as if he know I was his mom and he did not  let go. I will never forget the first actual touch to my child after a c-section. I always wanted to have natural birth, but due to health issues I can not. I try to tell everyone that the first touch of your child is a moment that you will never forget.

It was like he was waiting to grab my finger and hold onto it. I was nervous, scared and sick all at the same time, but I got through it. I only had the support system of my mom. Over the last eight years I have gotten to experience childbirth up close and personal. The experience is life changing to see the action thing happening. I have also gotten to see what my mom did not see when I had my son, I have also been the the operating room to  see a c-section performed which will knock you off your feet if you have can't take it.  I used what I had learned from my experience of childbirth to help someone else experience better. I have a coworker who did not have anyone, so I was her support person.


I always wanted to know how Japanese childbirth were doctors are addressed as "Sensei" in Japanese. You have the choice to have a natural birth, water birth and a C-section is only given in case of severe health circumstance. In Japan there is may hospitals to choose from. 


Doctors  favor very "natural" pregnancy and childbirth. They do not prescribe prenatal vitamins of any kind, but encourage the mother to eat healthy, walk if it is possible and be active in general if there is no problem with the pregnancy. And they also advise you to control your weight - more than 10-12 kilos over your normal weight before pregnancy is considered too much as they fear complications before and during birth. So, limit your calorie intake and try to eat as many foods containing calcium and iron as possible. Do not expect epidurals or some other anesthetics during childbirth. Cesarean is also very limited. About the father's presence during birth - some hospitals OK it, but some do not.

A Note of Thanks and Support

To my professor and colleagues in this course, this was a very inspiring experience. I learned something from everyone in this class. I would like to say thank you for the blogs, your posts and your feedback to me. I know that there are others who share the same passion as me in this field. This was a great experience. Thank you for your support during during this class. Please remember that "all  children need someone who is crazy about them". Thank you and I hope we will learn together in another class.

Examining the Code of Ethics

The following code of ethics have meaning and significance to me as an teacher.

I  - 1 . 3 —To recognize and  respect the uniqueness and the potential  of  each child.

~As a teacher, we must  communicate a deep regard for students' lives, a regard infused with unblinking attention, and  respect. An engaged teacher begins with the belief that each student is unique.

I  - 1 . 5 —To create and maintain  safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, intellectual,and physical development  and that respect  their dignity and their contributions.

~As a educator and teacher, students must be provided an environment that is safe,be consistent in the way that you treat students so that they feel they can trust you. Promote a friendly atmosphere between students through group activities that foster respect for others. Students who are physically healthy are better learners. 

I  - 2 . 1 —To develop relationships of mutual trust with families we serve.

 -We must as Early childhood professionals we play a critical role in the attitudes parents develop about their child’s schooling. Teachers of the very young often establish the first connections parents have to school situations and thus influence parents’ attitudes toward involvement. These first connections may be respectful and supportive.

I believe all teachers and educators should have a copy of the Code of Ethics in their classrooms to remind them of their responsibilities as teachers to students, co-workers,  parents and your employers. 

Collection of Resources for Early Childhood

List of Early Childhood Organizations 

• 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/index.cfm
  
• 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/
     

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRRA) - NACCRRA is the national network of more than 850 child care resource and referral centers (CCR&Rs) located in every state and most communities across the nation. CCR&R centers help families, child care providers, and communities find, provide, and plan for affordable, quality child care. http://www.naccrra.org (opens in a new window)
National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) - NBCDI is a national organization dedicated to improve and protect the quality of life of African American children and their families.http://www.nbcdi.org
National Association for Family Child Care (NAFCC) - NAFCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting quality child care by strengthening the profession of family child care.http://www.nafcc.org
National Head Start Association (NHSA) - NHSA is the national organization dedicated exclusively to meeting the needs of Head Start children and their families. http://www.nhsa.org/
United States Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) - ACF is the federal agency that funds head start programs and the NYS Head Start Collaboration Project. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/index.html/ 


Other Resources


http://www.effectiveteaching.com/ (Harry K. Wong)

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

The following quotes are inspirations to me and I share them to inspire someone else

"Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity."~Lyndon B. Johnson

We must open the doors of opportunity. But we must also equip our people to walk through those doors.”

Lyndon B. Johnson quote

Developmentally appropriate practices are ways of teaching that vary for or adapt to the age and experience of the individual learner. So fundamentally the definition has not changed. Instead, it has been expanded to include the fact that not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities."~ Sue Bredekamp


"Effective teachers are intentional in everything they do-they are purposeful, they're, planful, they know why they're doing what they're doing and they can explain it to other people"-Sue Bredekamp


As a teacher I feel I have a moral obligation
to help the children in my classroom grow
toward becoming full human beings and to feel successful.
Teaching cognitive skills is not enough...
-Jean Medick


In an effective classroom
students should not only know what they are doing,
they should also know why and how.
-Harry Wong




Learning is a treasure
that will follow its owner everywhere.
-Chinese Proverb

My Personal Childhood Web

The following people played a part in my life as child which had an impact on me today 

My mother- Doris Bailey who is deceased now. She was the person who taught me how to be a lady in everything I do. She shared things that she went through and encouraged me not to make the same mistakes she did. My mother was first my mother and secondly, she was my friend. She could make everything better. She taught me that education was the  most important thing in life and to learn as much as possible as early as possible. She taught me how to cook, how to treat others and how important family was.

Mozetta Williams, & Madge Harris, Neighborhood friends- They were people who acted as Aunts to me because my mother had no sisters. They treated me like I was their daughter. As a very young child I remember her telling me " you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up". We hared Sunday dinner together every Sunday as a young child. Their daughters and I were best friends then and the relationships has not changed in over thirty years. They have been there for me through the deaths of my mother and father. They still to this day gives me advice to me and we share Sunday dinner together.


Frank Brown- Stepdad- Frank was my stepdad after my father died. He treated me with respect, treated me like I was his daughter. He did everything he could for me and my brother.  He shared stories to me about his time in the war because he was a veteran. He use to tell me "you are my princess and if no man treats you like you are their princess, then he cannot be your king."  I called him dad and he called me his daughter. He always cared for my feelings, give me support all through school.

Ms. Cotton & Ms. Walls- Head Start Teachers- I remember how friendly they were and that they would always tell my mother if I was good or a little troublesome. I remember that they used to read to me. I even remember that when I fell and hurt myself how nice they were. I used to visit both of these ladies before they passed at their homes because I felt they had a tremendous impact on life as a teacher. They provided me with a classroom environment that was positive, caring and supportive.

Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people - your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.”

~ Barbara Bush

What Early Childhood Means to me?

                              








These are just pictures that remind me  of what early childhood mean to me.

A Quote I share with my teachers in Pre-Service training

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up"

-Thomas Edison

I share this quote with teachers because I never want them for once to give up on a child. I encourage and demand that they do all they can for the children and families. Failure is not a option in my eyes.

It's Me

I was on my way to the Induction of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority

My Favorite Book

The Little Red Hen is my favorite book because it teach about teamwork and helping others. I look at this book when I think about teaching teams working together to build this wonderful end result  which is the child.  
We should never just sit down and do nothing when someone is trying to accomplish something in the end.

"Nobody can be successful unless he loves his work." — David Sarnoff

I believe that everyone has a passion. Everyone has something that they spend their life achieving or changing. For some people, it may take a long time to find or realize their passion, however; I have been lucky enough to realize mine at a young age. I grew up in an extremely loving and supporting family. My parents always gave me the opportunity to create my own dreams and aspirations. Being surrounded by all of this love and support enabled me to find and act upon my passion which was education. My passion involves advocating for head start. I believe every children deserves a quality education. I believe that passion can change the world.


I ask this question " What is your passion"?


Napoleon Hill once stated" that the reason most people are still in their current jobs is not because they want to be there, but because of indecisions. They never decided what they were  wanted to do in life, never set goals, they never ended up doing what they 
enjoyed or were passionate about.


 Refer to this website for more of Napolean Hill quotes. http://www.eruptingmind.com/goal-setting-life-purpose/

Website for Early Childhood or Head Start Teachers

The Early Childhood Knowledge and Learning Center provides a wealth of knowledge for those want to stay abreast of changes in head start. The is a must have website.

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/

Parental Involvement is Key

As a Early Childhood Educator, parental involvement is key to the success that children  in school.The most consistent predictors of children’s academic achievement and social adjustment are parent expectations of the child’s academic attainment and satisfaction with their child’s education at school. When parents  get involved  in a child’s educational process parent involvement begins, the more powerful the effects.When a parent gets involved in his child's education, she/he positively influences his child's chances of success. Kids whose parents are involved in their education tend to perform better than their peers who have uninvolved parents. Some parents may not know how to get involved in their child's education, but once they do, they can make a big difference. Parents and school personnel need to work together to ensure positive parental involvement for every child through email, conference, home visits, telephone calls, text whatever it take to ensure that children receive the best education as early as possible