Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I have tried to contact early childhood professionals from all over the world. I have emailed 7 different individuals from Ireland, Australia, Germany, Canada, and Italy. I received their contact from either friends that live out of the country that are playing middleman for me or from Google searches. I have not heard back from any of them. I keep thinking I will open my email and be flooded with responses as of now, there is nothing. I am hoping to gain contact before week 3.

I chose to study The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). I chose NAEYC because I really wanted to have the chance to dig deep into the website and the information they provided. I had heard that they recently came out with new information about Math and Technology and I also wanted to find and read about that.

First I went to http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements to read the NAEYC position statement. I was expecting something much different than what I found. They actually have a page of position statements on every subject imaginable. There is a plethora of information at your fingertips on just one page.  

Then I went on a search for the two articles I was looking for. They are actually new spotlight books. The first one, Exploring Math (http://www.naeyc.org/store/node/17287), talks about the importance of math in the early childhood daily curriculum. “The book offers a comprehensive resource list and a professional development guide with questions and activities to help readers reflect on current practices and incorporate new ones” (naeyc). The second book, Spotlight on Young Children and Technology (http://www.naeyc.org/store/Spotlight-on-Young-Children-and-Technology), talks about how “Technology has paved the way for new and exciting teaching practices”(naeyc).

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


“My Supports”

While I like to see myself as a very independent person I know that there are some definite supports that I have and could not live without.

The first support would be my family. I know that my parents always have my back and are there for anything I need. There are still time I need a driver for certain doctor appointments, (especially the ENT because I often leave there dizzy) and my mom is always a willing driver. There are also times I need assistance with home repair and maintenance and I have the knowledge that my dad or brothers are just a phone call away. I get constant love support and encouragements form everyone in my family.

My next support beam would be my friends and my Dog. Friends and pets are always there to lift a mood, understand a problem, or be a “wingman”. Without them this would truly be a lonely life.

Another support beam would be certain inanimate objects like technology, appliances, and modern conveniences. I would not be working on my Masters today without technology. I also feel like I would be lost, disconnected, and very unorganized without my smartphone. I also know that I would not have been a very good pioneer woman. I could not imagine cooking over a fire outside, using a fireplace for your only heat source, using an outhouse for a restroom. I am very thankful for my appliances and modern conveniences.

I live in a society that has so much. Upon reflection I am a very lucky person. I cannot wrap my mind around what life would be like without some of my supports let alone all of them. I know life would be amazingly difficult.