Sharing Web Resources – Taking a deeper look

Over the past few weeks I have been diving into The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website. Professionally, I have been looking for information that will help me explain the value of helping organizations that support children in poverty. I have also been interested in diversity issues and how to support children. In order to help support my professional development I looked to NAEYC for much needed information. First I was able to find a policy update (http://www.naeyc.org/policy/federal/4_5_12) that was very interesting. It talked about the money and changes happening in the House of Representatives. It was not wholly the information I am looking for, so the search continues. Mostly I was extremely interested in anti-bias curriculum. I came across an informative blurb about celebrating Thanksgiving in the classroom (http://www.naeyc.org/content/anti-bias-guide-holidays/thanksgiving). This gave me a lot to think about and I could see the controversy. It also made me wonder why the holiday continues to celebrated in schools. I wonder how many families and children have been offended by the information, celebration and teachings of the holiday while at school.   

Looking at information that would support the learning for the week of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field was easy to locate. There was a quite a bit of information to support this fact. Although I was hoping to find more information about how economists support the field of early childhood and that was a little harder to locate. NAEYC is full of so much information it is easy to get lost within the site. It is also easy to become over whelmed and loose track of time while exploring the site. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

My conversation partner is a Jo from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. She works with 2 year olds in a daycare setting. I asked her about the effects of poverty in her community. Her response was, “I don’t have to deal with issues of people who make a low income to much at my daycare. We are located in a fairly well-to-do community. The children I have in class take many holidays with families. Anything we need for the classroom all we have to do is post a sign and the items are brought in the next day. I am lucky to work in such a place. I know America has more struggles than we do because we already have a lot of needs offered to us for no cost while Americans have to pay for example health care. Our government also will step in to help us when needed to. I think you call it government assistance.”

            While the conversation was brief I was happy to make contact at all. I am hoping to glean more information in the coming weeks. I was surprised to find that poverty is not an issue for her. I am also holding hope that I can establish communication with another individual from Australia so see the variances in answers between communities.   

Sharing Web Resources

I chose to read more into the NAEYC website and subscribe to their e-news letter. I feel like I never get the chance to read up on the information NAEYC provides and this gave me the perfect opportunity to do that. A few of the articles included, a New Edition of Ethics and the Early Childhood Educator, A New Basics Book, Refresh with Summer Learning Content from NAEYC, and new spotlight books along with other general information. Out of all the articles I was most interested in reading about the new Basics book that is coming out this month. The bit was talking about how this is the newest book is a series. This particular book is titled “Basics of Supporting Dual Language Learners”. It is about focusing on teaching dual language learners. It is also an introduction to dual language learners “for educators of children from birth through age 8” (e-News, 2012).  The book “covers key points about first and second language development, discusses the importance of supporting the home language, and describes how programs and schools can prepare for a diverse group of students” (e-News, 2012). I was so intrigued by this book and the information it provided that I ordered a copy of it. I really think it will be informative and further support the Issues and Trends class.

References:

e-News. (2012). NAEYC. Retrieved July 4, 2012, From http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/naeyc/issues/2012-06-07.html

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.