My Supports

Support is defined in multiple ways.  For example, "to bear the weight of, especially from below, to hold positin so as to keep  from falling, sinking or slipping.  As a child we received support from our family members and as we come into contact with society, we receive support from teachers, friends and coworkers.  The support I receive at home is from husband and children.

Elijah my oldest son is very loving.  He supports me emotionally.  If I had a hard day at work he will give me the greatest peep talk.  For example, he would say mom you are home now and with your family who loves you forget about it tomorrow is a new day.

Khalil, (blue shirt) is my youngest, he is a definite smooth talker.  He plays the role as the "baby" of the family and keeps me very busy.  He is extremely smart and supports me by keeping me abreast of important dates regarding school and activites at home.

Elio, my husband of 18 years, supports me in the most important way, financially and providing the basic necessities that our family needs.  He is the most my major support system because he is my rock in everyway you can imagine.  If I fall he is there to pick me up and if I make a mistake he is there to provide support to help me fix it.

It would be very difficult for me to live in this world without my family because they are the reason I want to live.  There love and support motivates me to strive for success in everything that I do.  Two years ago my grandmother died on July 4 at 7:30pm at home from cancer.  She was the one person that really taught me all that I know now and supported everything I did up until her last days.  Sometimes I feel lost without her here and I yearn to hear her voice.  If it was not for my family helping through the grieving process I would have fallen into a deep depression.  They are my true blessings from God!

Reference

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/

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My Connections to Play

The Value of Play

You say that you love your children, And are concerned that they learn today, As am I, that's why I'm providing A variety of kinds of play. You are asking what's the value Of having your children play? Your daughter's creating a tower, She may be a builder someday. You're asking me the value Of blocks and sand and clay. Your children are solving problems, They will use that skill every day. You're saying that you don't want your son To play in that sissy way. He's learning to cuddle a doll, He may be a father someday. You're questioning the interest centers, They just look like useless play. Your children are making choices, They'll be on their own someday. You're worried your children aren't learning And later they'll have to pay. They're learning a pattern for learning, For they'll be learners always. ~NAEYC

Quote

“Play is the beginning of knowledge.” ~ Anonymous



"Double Dutch"



     "Football"


 Children playing tag





When I was around eleven or twelve years old I knew I wanted to run track.  Everyday I would get up early and just want to run so I would ask my grandmother if I could go outside and run up and down the block.  She thought I was crazy and asked why, at that time I did not know why I wanted to run so bad but she allowed me to do it.  She was my biggest support system as a child and also as an adult up until her passing in 2010.   At first she was very protective and did not allow me to even cross the street when I went outside but as I got older it changed.  She would watch me play through the window and wave to me as I ran around playing tag with my best friend Mike.  He was my motivation to run because no matter how fast I ran after him I could not catch him.  During highschool I decided to run track and found out how really hard it was but my grandmother supported me even when I quit the team.

 This is what play is today.  Children stuck in front of a computer screen playing video games.  Play today does not involve any type of exercise or stimulation of the senses.  Play today compared to when I was a young child is not fun!

Relationship Reflection

  

As a young child I dreamt of getting married and having children just like my grandmother did.  She was married for over 49 years before she passed away last year.  She taught me how important it was to create a relationship with someone who will love me first.  When I met my husband at the young age of 16 I fell in love quickly.  My grandmother supported the relationship because she saw how happy I was but warned that a broken heart will come sooner than later.  She knew what a relationship entailed and taught me to love only when love is given.  For a successful relationship to last you must love hard and learn from eachother everyday.  For the last 20 years I have loved hard and my husband has loved me back.  We have two wonderful, intelligent young men Elijah 15 (plaid shirt) and Khalil (11).  Our relationship with our children are the most important thing we have in life.  We both believe that we live for them and encourage them to love one another and respect our family.

God has blessed me with a man and children who love me each day for me and all my faults and I thank him each day.

When I Think of Child Development......

 

This is the logo from the website Children's Defense Fund, the words are so simple but it speaks so loudly.  I want to thank everyone who has viewed my blog and helped me through my second course in my master's degree.  It has been an absolute pleasure sharing ideas and our knowledge of chidhood educaton these past eight weeks.  I want to especially thank Theresa and Frank for both of you have been an inspiration to me throughout these weeks.  Hope to see your name on my discussion board next year.  Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Should a student be measured or assessed?

This is a difficult question for me to answer because I live in the state of Florida.  Here the students are assessed quite often due to the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test that is given to primary and secondary public schools.  Students take their first FCAT exam in the third grade.  In my opinion, the test has lost its tenacity in the eyes of our children.  The test has no merit or importance to them anymore so education is starting to take the back door.  She the students be assessed, well yes, to determine their grade level.  The assessment should be a standardized exam to interpret the students ability and not to intimidate them.

In Jamaica the students are "the primary education in Jamaica addresses the basic educational needs of students and prepares them for Secondary Education.  Under the Caribbean Examinatio Council student assessment has changed significantly from what was generally an automatic promotion to secondary school through the former Common Entrance Examination at the end of Grade 6.  Since 1999, the National Assessment Program and Grade Six Achievements tests (GSAT) have been utilizing a variety of teaching strategies to ensure that learning experiences are more broad based and student centered.  Common Entrance Examinations are taken by some children in the UK as part of the admissions process for academically selective secondary schools at age 13 or (for girls) 11.  The CE has been criticised by headteachers who complain that it uses 3 to 4 years of the children's time at prep school preparing for an exam.  The exam does not encourage dynamic learning with tick-box system that is currently used." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Jamaica)

When a child is stressed........

I can honestly say that my grandmother did a great job of providing everything I needed in life.  There was not a time when I needed anything whether it be food, shelter, clothing or money.  However, there were times that I saw my close cousins being abused by their parents.  A lot of the abuse was physical and mental such as them being called, bit*&%, and constantly cursed at.  Cursing became part of their language  because they would even curse in front of other adults and did not think it was wrong.  Now that they are older it has taken a toll on their adult life.  They have not progressed in life, such as graduating from highschool or even middle school.  In Jamaica, where my family is from, the stress of growing up without a stable home and poverty is prevalent.  Many children grow up on the street and fall into the political violence spreading through the parishes.  Children grow up quickly and without formal education but is taught street life instead.  There are many people here in the states that help their families and also help those in need through churches associated with the programs.

Breastfeeding vs. Formula

Breastfeeding is very essential to a child's life from birth up until two years of age.  It is in my opinion that children who are breastfeed live a healthier life free from such things as ear infections, diarhea, and the common cold.  As I researched more on breastfeeding I found the following:


"Infant formulas were never intended to be consumed on the widespread basis that they are today. They were conceived in the late 1800s as a means of providing necessary sustenance for foundlings and orphans who would otherwise have starved. In this narrow context – where no other food was available – formula was a lifesaver."(http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/268337/breastmilk_vs_formula_food.html)


Now programs such as WIC that was created for woman to help provide the basic necessities such as milk, eggs and juice for the mothers to consume, are also providing this cheap form of milk for our children.  I applaud the program for the effort and what they are helping to supply but it also gives a false impression to mother's that breastfeeding is not essential, in my opinion.


My sister had my nephew almost a year ago, his birthday is next week saturday, and he has not been sick  at all since his birth.  I asked her why do you continue to breastfeed Jelani, don't you think he is old enough to stop.  He reply to me was, " my goal is to stop breastfeeding him when he is 18 months I refuse to give him anything else because I know what is in the milk I am providing."  Breastfeeding counselors such as Mary Smale led me to ask her that question because she stated, "‘If anybody were to ask ‘which formula should I use?’ or ‘which is nearest to mother’s milk?’, the answer would be ‘nobody knows’ because there is not one single objective source of that kind of information provided by anybody. Only the manufacturers know what’s in their stuff, and they aren’t telling. They may advertise special ‘healthy’ ingredients like oligosaccharides, long-chain fatty acids or, a while ago, beta-carotene, but they never actually tell you what the basic product is made from or where the ingredients come from." (http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/268337/breastmilk_vs_formula_food.html)


This topic is meaningful to me because parents who have young children must understand that it is very important to the health and well-being of their child that the best foods be given.  The natural proteins and vitamins that is in breastmilk helps promote healthy brains cells and smarter children. The cost of breast milk when I had my first child was $5.00 a can now it up around $8.00 a can.  In the UK I found that milk is $14 a pound versus 14 pence which is what they spend on government programs to promote breastfeeding.  In underdeveloped countries such as Africa woman don't have to be told how important it is for them to breastfeed their child.  First it is a traditional aspect of motherhood and woman can not afford the supplements.  

The Birth of Elijah E. Valcin

My first son was born on December 31, 1996 at Downstate hospital in Brooklyn, New York.  The excitement of giving birth outweighed the pain during those first couple of hours at home.  Once my water broke we rushed to the hospital hoping for a quick birth.  However, it turned out to be the worse experience of my life.  I arrived at the hospital around 9 am and suffered labor pains for about eight hours before the doctors decided I needed to have a c-section.  Once the consent was documented and I met with the anesthiaologist they wheeled me into the operating room.  Next thing I hears was a doctor instructoring another woman in scrubs, every step of the operation.

After about an hour, I heard the sweetest sound of my son's voice.  They did not place him in my arms, they wheeled him away into another room.  I was placed in a recovery hall filled with empty beds and surgerical equipment.  None of my family members knew where I was until I was moved into my own room.  After five days in the hospital with a wound literally covered with gauze I was released and sent home.  Three weeks later, I was rushed back to the hospital because my incision began to bleed.  For the next six months a nurse was assigned to come to my home each morning to attend to my open wound.
Postpartum set in immediately due to the fact I was in so much pain I was unable to bond with my son.

The birth of my child was not in a country with insufficient medical care or doctors such as maybe Africa, however, I felt I was treated terribly.  Everyone assumed I was young according to the nurses who refused to help me out of bed to the restroom after removing my catheder, stating a seventeen year old like you can get up on her own, I was 22.  Yet I was treated as if I were in a country that did not respect woman.  I believe my son's illness three months later was the cause of complications I had during his birth.  On the day of his christianing party he developed an infection they could not identify.  He was hospitalized for seven days, and underwent multiple test the worst being a spinal tap.

Today he is a healthy fourteen year old, attending a prominent school and  making straight A's.  With the love of both myself, husband and other family members he has grown to be a wonderful child and I beileve he will be a great man.

Thank you to my professor and colleagues

This has been a wonderful eight weeks with all of you as we took a ride on the Early Childhood Education train.  We have passed through many avenues and learned many ways to assist us in our future.  I would like to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart that has commented on my blog and on the discussion board.  I hope to meet you again in the next class but if not I wish all of you the best.

Denise

Code of Ethics

This week we were required to read the articles regarding the code of ethics for early childhood education.
In addition, identify three that are meaningful to us and how they will become a part of our professional life.

According to the Division for Early Childhood, " we shall build relationships with individual children and families where individualizing the curricula and learning environments to facilitate young childrens development and learning." It is important that we involve families of young children in the classroom because once we establish a true relationship with them it will resonate with their children in the classroom.

According to the NAEYC, "effective public policy advocacy work requires intentionality, which in turn requires organization.  If all of us work independently without a well-defined vision and capacity to act and react to changing political, social and economic contexts, we will not make the progress that is needed.  If we work together strategically, we can cause the changes that we seek for children, families, and the professionals in the field.

All three ideals are significant to my professional growth because it is necessary to adhere to the statements to become an effective educator and understand what entails to help educate young children.

According to the Division for Early Childhood, "we shall use individually appropriate assessment strategies including multiple sources of information such as observations, interviews with significant caregivers, formal and informal assesments to determine childrens' learning styles, strengths and challenges.

Additional Resources

• Article: National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2004, Winter). Children's emotional development is built into the architecture of their brains (Working Paper No. 2). Waltham, MA: Author. Available from Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University website
  http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/library/reports_and_working_papers/working_papers/wp2/
  
• Article: Shonkoff, J. P. (2006, November). A promising opportunity for developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the interface of neuroscience, psychology, and social policy: Remarks on receiving the 2005 C. Anderson Aldrich Award. Pediatrics, 118(5). 2187–2191. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1728. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/5/2187.full.pdf+html
  
• Article: The World Bank. (2010). Early childhood development. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
  http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTCY/0,,contentMDK:20246241~menu
  PK:4697089~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:396445,00.html
  
• Article: Bang, Y.. (2009). Helping All Families Participate in School Life. YC Young Children, 64(6), 97-99. Retrieved April 5, 2011, from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1908826341).
  
• Web Article: The National Institute for Play. (2009). Play Science—The Patterns of Play. Carmel Valley, CA: Author. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.nifplay.org/states_play.html
  
• Walden Resources:
• Walden University Writing Center
  http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/
• Ask a Writing Tutor
  writingsupport@waldenu.edu
• ESL Resources
  http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/Grammar-and-ELL.htm

Optional Resources

• Video: Davidson, R. (2007). The heart-brain connection: The neuroscience of social, emotional, and academic learning. Edutopia. The George Lucas Foundation. Retrieved June 2, 2010, fromhttp://www.edutopia.org/richard-davidson-sel-brain-video
  
• Podcast: Spiegel, A. (2008, February 21). Old-fashioned play builds serious skills. NPR Morning Edition. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514
  
• Web Article: Alliance for Childhood. (n.d.). Play resource list. College Park, MD: Author. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/play_resources

Collection of Resources for Early Childhood Education


Here are a list of resources including there websites:

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
• World forum foundation

• http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
  
  
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP’s mission.
  
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/ 

Here is a list of organizations along with the website:

• World Forum Foundation
  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage
  
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP’s mission.
  
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/ 

Here is a list of journals:

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Here are three additional resource:


http://www.projectapproach.org/projectApproachStudyGuide.pdf


http://workplacepsychology.net/2010/04/22/7-reasons-why-employees-leave/


http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/poptopics/ecarefunding.html

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Hi Everyone, Here are some words of inspiration and motivation from phenomenal woman in the early childhood education field.

Mary Wright Edelman founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF), an advocate for disadvantaged americans for her entire professional life.

                                                                    Quote that inspired me

" We all must take a stronger, more systematic, and more programmatic interest in alleviating the problems that affect black children.  No one has a greater stake than we do in whether our children read, write, think, survive, and grow up healthy."

Marcy Whitebook is the leader of the WorthyWage Campaign advocating for equitable compensation for child care professionals.  She is also the Director of the center for study of child care employment at UC Berkeley.

                                                         Quote that inspired me

"My primary intention has been to reflect upon our past efforts with an eye to informing the work that remains to be done ensuring that child care teachers and providers receive compensation, support and respect that they, and the children and families in their care, deserve."

Renatta M. Cooper a program specialist in the Los Angeles County Chief Administrative office.

                                                         Quote that inspired me

"All education is a civil rights issue."

Louise Sparks a professor at Emeritus Pacific Oak College, California.

                                                         Quote that inspired me

"My built in passion is to make a real contribution to the world and fix all the injustices in the world."

Hello everyone, meet the people that I love the most.

First is my grandparents Ruth and Lloyd Vassell.  There are no words to describe the influence these two individuals had on my life.  Since I was ten years old I vowed to mimic their relationship.  My grandmother raised me up until she passed away July 4, 2010 .  Her passing has placed an emptiness in my heart that can no longer be filled.  Her famous words to me, since my father's passing in 1980 is, "I promised your father that I would take care of you" which she's upheld even upon her death.  Now when I look into my grandfather's eyes, I can see the pain we share, missing her.  I cherish every little moment we have together and try my best to make him as happy as I can.  Our relationship wasn't always this peachy, but I always knew I wanted a husband that would stand by me and love me as he did my grandmother.  They taught me good work ethic and great family values and for this I will forever be grateful.

Now my husband, I believe with all my heart, is God's personal gift to me.  We have been together since I was sixteen years old.  He has taught me everything from driving a stick shift car to learning how to smile with others.  Our life together has been a rollercoaster ride that I would not trade for anything and would do it over in a heartbeat.  His patience with loving me has taught me to humble myself and  to be charitable.  We have been blessed with two beautiful sons, Elijah and Khalil and with the three of them everyday is a new lesson in life.  (By the way he is the one holding the plate of food)

Great read!

The Issues Facing Men Working in Early Childhood Education

Sep 17, 2011  0 comments  Recommend (0)

In 2006, the National Education Association (NEA) reported the lowest percentage of male teachers since the 1960s. Two years later, Bryan Nelson, founder of MenTeach.org, a non-profit organization that encourages men to pursue teaching careers, estimated that only 4 percent to 5 percent of all early-childhood educators (preschool through third grade) were male. These shrinking numbers have sparked efforts to attract men to the profession and tackle some of the issues facing those working in early childhood education.

Gender Stereotypes

The notion that teaching is "women's work" is a major issue facing male teachers. Nelson says he once received email from an aspiring male teacher who was asked during an interview, "Why would any healthy male want to work with kids?"
The expectation that men wouldn't want to work with children, combined with the stereotype that men aren't as nurturing as their female colleagues, can lead parents to believe that men are not as capable as women of teaching younger students.

Accusations of Abuse

The fear of being accused of sexually abusing a child is another reason men shy away from teaching. In an article in the Chicago Tribune, Valora Washington, president of the Community Advocates for Young Learners (CAYL) Institute in Massachusetts, said that administrators are reluctant to hire men to teach young children for fear of abuse allegations, especially if the men are "young, single and fresh out of college."
This fear is also a common concern among male teachers in England, where 27 percent of schools have no male teachers. Professor Alan Smithers, director of the Centre for Education and Employment Research at Buckingham University, said in a Daily Mail article, "'It's a sad comment on society that more men aren't attracted into teaching in primary schools. In part, this is due to concerns in society about paedophilia [pedophilia]. Men are receiving the signal that it's more appropriate for them to teach in secondary schools than primary schools."

Low Pay

NEA statistics reveal that in 1940, the "average male employee" with four or more years of college (who did not teach) earned 3.6 percent less than the average male teacher. By 2000, men with four years of college who pursued careers outside of education made 60.4 percent more than men who became teachers.
When the large percentage of teachers with master's degrees are factored in, this further widens the gap in wages. A 2006 list of teaching trends compiled by the NEA reported that the number of male teachers was highest in Michigan, which ranked among the top five states with highest teacher salaries, and lowest in Mississippi, which ranked 49th in teachers' pay.

Difficult Students in the Classroom

Parents and administrators recognize the positive influence male teachers potentially offer as role models for their students, however, the low number of male teachers available to serve as role models to so many male students can be daunting.
"From my experience, a child with behavior issues, such as hyperactivity and defiance, is more likely to be placed with a male teacher," said Joe Cecchini, who has taught first through fourth grades at Bryant Elementary in Flint, Michigan, since 2001. "I've noticed a bias among administrators and parents that seems to say: This child is difficult to manage, he -- they're usually boys -- needs a man."

My Favorite Children's work of art

This is an absolutely beautiful piece of art work.

My Favorite Children's Book

My favorite children's book is The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Suess.  This series of books is an all time favorite of mine for school age children.  I've read this book to both my children numerous times growing up and they can recite this book now.  I believe it is a great book to teach children how to read being that the words in the book are no more than 3 to 4 letters.

Favorite Children's Picture