Final Blog Assignment

Each module in this course has further enhanced my capacity in the field of early childhood care and education.  The in-depth discourse with colleagues, international professionals, our own instructor, Dr. Klein as well as the many articles that have been made available as well as what I discovered  have added to the vast array of ideas acquired.   

Three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for my professional and personal development are:

·         To develop a greater awareness of the issues and trends facing the field of early childhood in other parts of the world and learn of the measures adopted to improve the life chances of all children especially those children whose academic development is likely to lag behind. 

·         To increase my resolve to continue my advocacy efforts to ensure that quality care and education is available to all children.  Interestingly, several weeks were spent collaborating on equity and excellence as it relates to policies, availability, accessibility and affordability as well as early childhood professionals because these areas are extremely pertinent for a successful program.  They impact significantly on the success of programs and it was important for me to share with my international contact and at the same time learn about how these areas are being addressed in her sphere.

·         To foster lasting professional relationships.  Dr. Lyon has extended that invitation to me.  I wanted to raise the issue in my closing remarks with regards to whether we can continue our professional relationship but I was a bit hesitant.  She was quite generous in doing so and for this I am forever grateful.  It is important to know that there are persons not only on a local level but on the international level that one can discuss issues pertaining to children’s development and the field of early childhood as well, as we strive to ensure that the bars of quality education continue to remain high and social justice is attained for all served in the field.

·         One goal for the field related to international awareness is that we will continue to extend our level of awareness to include issues and trends on the international arena so we can learn from their efforts, obtain additional support for the measures we hope to implement in our local programs so we can improve the quality of service provided for children, families and the field at large. The quality of care young children receive will impact directly on the state of the economy.

 

THANK YOU NOTE

Finally, I must express thanks to all my colleagues for the level of  collaboration that occurred during the last 8 weeks. I must say it was deep, insightful and compelling. We would have learnt a lot from each other and I wish you all the best in your future courses.  I am sure some of us will share the same classroom in the next course.  All the best! God Bless!

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

Once again, I contacted my international contact Dr. Susan Lyon and I shared with her my thoughts about excellence and quality as well as my professional goals and dreams. I posed the under mentioned questions to her and stated below are her responses.

What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

This is all relates to the context or the location state, local or national level.  There are some minimum requirements here for teachers in ECE so my project provides a structure for professional development that most teachers do not get.  It is not required.  Their directors or bosses must believe in the training.  All kinds of non-profit organisations and agencies are offering PD in many areas: reading, literacy, parent  involvement., mental health.. the list goes on. Usually the school district decides on the choice of PD.  In ECE there is very little. All teachers deserve high quality thoughtful ongoing professional development thru their entire teaching career.  I forgot to emphasize ongoing.  We ask teacher to create a pd plan every year for themselves as well as the school has a pd plan with a particular focus. Many times schools and teachers get lost in their work without knowing where they are going.

What are some of your professional goals?

 My goal is to mentor.  My goal right now is to mentor a person I have chosen to take over the Innovative Teacher Project and expand it.  For the next 2 years she will co-direct with me learning about the project.  I am mentoring students in the doctorate program at Mills College.  To build a K-8 Italian immersion school in SF inspired by the Reggio Approach... this is already in the works.  I already established a preschool with a group of parents and it is the first Italian immersion preschool in SF.

What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?

I would love to make a film about the meaning of childhood.... it is in the infant stages now.  I am more interested in the visual than a book.  Several people have asked if I am going to write a book.  At this moment I believe the most important work is local.... everything I have done has always started very small and grown organically.... it is true and pure in a sense.  

Insights gained from the conversation.

When Dr. Lyon stated that all kinds of non­-profit organizations and agencies are offering professional development in many areas that struck a chord.  There are many persons who believe they can perform the duties of the early childhood professional, it does not require skill and that is what we have been discussing again this week which is furthest from the truth.  I strongly believe that training for early childhood teachers must be conducted by persons who are knowledgeable about child development, developmentally appropriate practices, teacher-parent partnerships, secure attachments with children in order for children to grasp school readiness skills for academic learning as well as that critical foundation in social and emotional regulations that make learning possible (Lasser & Fite, 2009 cited Zigler, Gilliam, Jones, 2006).

 Reference

Lasser, J & Fite, K. (2011). Universal Preschool’s Promise: Success in Early Childhood and Beyond. Early Childhood Educ J.

Sharing Web Resources

The website I have been exploring is the National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org

This week I decided to explore the resources link and there I found a wealth of information.  The resources link comprises of the bibliography, papers and publications.  Under papers I found 5 areas which are considered priority of the NBCDI in 2011 and coincidentally these areas also contribute to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education and at the same time issues and trends in the early childhood field.  They are:

• Protect and sustain investment in Early Childhood Education and Care
• Increase alignment and coordination across early childhood and the early grades
• Invest in early childhood workforce quality
• Promote meaningful family engagement
• Reduce childhood obesity and hunger

Among the Recommendations and Letters is a letter that was sent to President Obama on the 29th July, 2011 by an advocacy group appealing to the President not to use children as any deal as it relates to raising the debt ceiling. This letter also addresses issues of equity and excellence.  The group noted that 1.3 million children drop out of school each year.  Forty three percent of families with children are struggling to afford stable housing.  Poverty level for children will soon hit 25 percent. It really worth your time actually it deals with the starling really that is facing us so you can access it at: http://nbcdi.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Final-letter-to-President-and-Congressional-Leadership-on-Federal-Budget.doc

Another letter was sent from NBCDI to the Administration for Children and Families in which comments were sent pertaining to the proposed rule amending Head Start Program Regulations to establish a system of designated renewal.  In this letter an appeal was made to ensure that high quality programs are not sacrificed at the expense of low-performing programs, the need to close the achievement gap and many other related issues. The article can be sourced at: http://nbcdi.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Head-Start-Redesignation-Letter.pdf. 

I was unable to access the publication area, a donation is required.

Additionally, I realized that having a deficit budget may not be a negative thing since it will keep many persons – elderly children, families on the brink from experiencing sever hardship unlike if efforts are made to ensure that a balanced budget exists.  It would necessitate severe cuts in vital programs.  I am sure that early childhood would be one of those programs that will be sacrificed if it comes to that.  I believe that it is for reasons like these that serious efforts are not being made to make early childhood care and education compulsory by making universal preschool education a reality – free preschool education available to those who need it.

Reference

National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org