~ Quotes To Live By ~

Listed below are a few quotes that may be helpful in our daily work. I wish all of you the best in your future endeavors. Please know that I appreciate all of your comments, insights  and encouragements. You all are greatly appreciated!!!

* The whole purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows. ~Sydney J. Harris

*  An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life. ~Author Unknown

* Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won't fatten the dog. ~Mark Twain
* Education is an ornament in prosperity and a refuge in adversity. ~Aristotle

* Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence. ~Robert Frost

* "Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression.- Dr. Hiam Ginnot

* "Free the child's potential, and you will transform him into the world."- Maria Montessori

* "This state has put a lot of concentration on reforming the K-12 system, but we've done very little with early childhood education. We can't wait until they get to kindergarten because then we're just playing catch-up."- Evelyn Keating

* "Experts tell us that 90% of all brain development occurs by the age of five. If we don't begin thinking about education in the early years, our children are at risk of falling behind by the time they start Kindergarten."- Robert. L. Ehrlich

* "We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."- Stacia Tauscher

 

 ~ Commitment To Young Children ~

In considering commitment to young children I think developmental assessments should be done to help identify possible developmental problems. The child may be showing signs ofhe child and he or she can be eligible for certain programs and interventions. The teacher can become aware of the child and their strengths and weaknesses. Some teachers may also need to give testing material at a lower level allowing the child to work themselves up so the teacher can properly identify where the weakness are.

Another factor I feel should be measured is a child social interactions and ability to form relationships. I think this is important because they can miss out on opportunities that are critical to resolve social conflicts, communicate, and compromise. Children then develop low self-confidence, and little faith in their own abilities. I also feel asseessing the child environment is also vital. In assessing the environment you can measure the family stressors, and coping styles. You can also look into the family support systems and caregiving skills. Environment plays a strong role in children development, i affects the child's mood, actions, and views of life.


Lastly, I would do Teacher Evaluations. This is important because it would allow the teacher to be aware of what he/she needs to work more on to help teach the students as well as herself grow. Constructive Critism too me  is very insighful. In Asia they focus on performance in classroom assessment, where they complete course reuirements . The course measure their ability to regurgitate information and being able to use it. They also perform self assessment, teacher observations, portfoilios, and uizzes/test. Assessment is important because all of the decisions made will be beneficial for educating the child, and all assessment decisions as whole will alter the child learning outcome.

References: http://asiasociety.org/education/

~ STRESSORS AFFECTING DEVELOPMENT ~

~VIOLENCE ~

There are many factors and stressors that affect development. However, I chose to discuss Violence. In choosing Violence it brings back memories not when I was 16 years old. I started dating the father of my oldest child. Everything was fine at first but attitudes and really bad arguments begin around the time I turn 18. I can remember my high school graduation he jumped on me because I wanted to go out and celebrate instead of being with him. That was the first time he ever hit me. After that the promise to never hit me again and after that hits and punches became regular. I remember lying to my parents like I ran into something or I fell or I would even stay weeks on campus to keep my family knowing I was in an abusive relationship. My mom has an idea of it but I would always lie because I thought I was in love. He took me down, I was even jumped on while I was eight months pregnant but did not know how to tell anyone I needed help. I had friends who would talk to me about getting out the relationship, even threatened to tell my parents but I begged them not too. However, that all came to an end when he pulled a gun on me and I knew I had to get away if not for myself for the sake for my little baby girl I had just had. I finally reach out and told my family and they literally wanted to hurt him. We were together six years and that was the most stressful period in my life. I hair fell out, my weight was up and down , my grades dropped in school, at times I could not eat or sleep, I was just down and out majority of time. Today I still have a few issues that I believe have to do with that relationship, there were many decisions I made that I did not agree with that I was forced to do that I believed hinder my development in certain areas of life. I just thank GOD for bringing me out that situation. I would not wish anything like I have experienced on anyone. I encourage anyone to get out before it's to late.

In researching about other regions or other counties that are affect by violence, I chose to discuss Mexico. The most pervasive violations of women’s rights involve domestic and sexual violence, both are widespread and vastly underreported. According to a national survey by the Secretariat of Health (SSA), one third of women in health centers and hospital were victims of domestic violence. 30-50% of women in Mexico reported that they have experienced physical violence or psychological abuse from their partners according to surveys in different localities. Because of the insufficent resources, Mexico has numerous other public health issues (aside from domestic violence), which are competing for attention and funding. While there are a few organizations and a few government institutions, adequate attention to domestic violence does not exist. However in Chihuahua Mexico, they became the first Mexican state to use satellite tracking bracelet to protect domestic violence victims. The bracelet is small snd similar to a watch. The victim will be able to call for help using their voice. 


References:
  latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2012/11/22/satellite
vocesunidas.org/training/Reports_on_Mexico_DV.pdf

~CHILD DEVELOPMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH ~

~Breastfeeding~

Beastfeeding is giving human breast milk to infants to meet their nutritional needs. I chose Breastfeeding because I never knew much about it until my baby was ill and could only have breastmilk. I never really cared for breastfeeding and it was never an option for me. However, that changed with her being sick. My doctor informed me how it would provide nutrients for her body and also antibodies to protect her. The doctor also said how much easier it would be for her to digest the milk rather than formula. The first couple weeks I tried and it took me forever to fill a bottle and it bothered me, but I continued no matter how long it took. I would like to think that breastfeeding played a vital role in getting her well. In the Philippines out of almost 7 million children below the age of five (87%) were never breastfed. Nearly 3.4 million children were given liquid or food other than breastmilk within three days after being born. This was so shocking to me, especially feeding babies food starting the first couple days after being born. I usually did not give my kids tablefood until they were about 10 months old. 31% of the mothers claimed they did not breastfeed because they believed they didn't have enough milk. In the Philippines breastfeeding lasts only an average of 24 days. However the Philippines are experiencing hunger and malnutrition.1 out of 4 children are underweight, and 1 out of 20 die due to malnutrition. So now they are trying to promote exclusively breastfeeding, in which the infants only drink breastmilk. Some believe it will cut down the cost of buying milk and research shows that children who are exclusively breastfeeding have a higher I.Q and are 14 times more likely to survive. ILO an initiative was started to promote exclusive breastfeeding in the workplace. They believe this will reduce hunger, extreme poverty, and child morality rate.

References:
www.unicef.org/philippines/children/breastfeeding_2.html

Video: www.youtube.com/watch Exclusive Breastfeeding in the Workplace.

~ Personal Birthing Experience ~

 

 

Giving birth is something that is very special. A birthing experience I would like to share is the birth of my youngest daughter Jada Symone, who is now two years old. On the day I gave birth I had a doctor appointment at 3:00p.m that day. I got up that day I went to the store to get some storage containers to put the baby clothes and bathing needs in. Walking around in the store my lower back started to hurt. So I called my cousin who is a nurse and told her that my back was hurting, she asked when was my next appointment with the doctor and I told her later that day. She said "Jamill take your bags it sounds like you in labor." I said I can't be in labor because I'm not having contractions, she said do what I tell you! :) I then went to a few more stores, went back home, then left to the doctor leaving my bags behind. Making it to the doctor she comes in asking have I been having contractions, I told her no but back pains. The doctor immediately checked my progress and to my surprise I had dialated four centimeters. I was admitted into the hospital and I awaited the birth of my little girl. A couple hours later a nurse came in and broke my water. An hour later around 9:00 p.m. I felt a gush of blood streaming down. My mom immediately contacted the nurse and she came in and said it was nothing but the fluid from breaking my water. I told her I don't think so she left without checking me. Hours passed and it was now midnight and I felt the urged to push. My mom paged for the doctor she comes in to check to see how far I had dilated. I was now 9 centimeters as I was preparing to push she said "Ms.Henry your sac has ruptured." I pushed three times and my baby was born at 12:10a.m. No cries! I immediately began to worry I sit up they take my baby to the side and began suctioning blood from her mouth. They took her out the room and I began to cry not knowing what was going on and in rage because if the nurse would have checked me this would have all be avoided. I demanded to see my baby and know what was going on. The doctor came in and told me my baby lungs were not fully developed, she was not breathing on her own and they were fixing to airlift her Jackson,MS to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital for Children. When I was discharged from the hospital my family and I left for Jackson and when we arrived she was hooked up to ventilator on 100% and was on the nitrate machine for her heart. There were tubes running from her body and I could not stand the sight to see my baby laying there hopeless. I broke down and prayed to God to heal her not able to touch her and giving birth to her not able to hear her cry. Never in my life had I ever felt that way in my life. Two months passed and my baby was finally making progress she was finally breathing on her own and almost three months later she was finally able to come home. I prayed and thanked God for healing her and now she is two years old and do good. Currently she is still on steroid shots until she turn three. To this day I still believe the doctor and nurses lied about my baby lungs being undeveloped. I honestly believe my baby swallowed the amniotic fluid and it in got in her lungs. If her lungs were not fully developed the doctor would have noticed it way before she was born. However, that was the longest three months of my life and I am forever grateful to have her healthy and here with her family. This moment was heartbreaking and in turn joyful. One thing that stuck with me was I did not start my prenatal vitamins until around four months it's still apart of me that believes also if I would have started earlier her lungs or her body would have bmore stable. In reading on other countries I found India and China to be interesting they facing Gendercides where they have a mass killing of girls or female fetuses to control population as well as killing of handicap babies. I think this is very obsurd and I think its unfair. However, I also think it is somewhat the same here allowing women to abort their unborn babies. Both acts to me is Murder. I truly believe babies are gifts from God.

 

References:

www.gendercide.org/case_infanticide.html

 

Pictures of my daughter Jada after she was born

Below is a picture of her NOW!! (On the Left)

My Children

 

~ MEANINGFUL NAEYC CODE OF ETHICS STATEMENTS~

Below are a few NAEYC code of ethics statements that are meaningful to me. I hope these statements will create ideas to better your development as an Early Childhood Educator. Good Luck in all your endeavors.
 
 

 ~ I-3A.2- To share resources with co-workers, collaborating to ensure that the best possible early childhood care and education program is provided.

 

 

~ I feel teachers collaborations is essential and I think it improves student achievements as well well as behaviors and attitudes. It allows the children to see how dedicated the teachers are working together for their well-being. It gives students a sense of coherence and teachers are better prepared to support one another as well as the students strengths and accomodate the weaknessess.
 
 

~ I-4.4—To work through education, research,and advocacy toward a society in which all young children have access to high quality care and education programs.  

 

~  I think this statement is important because we have an obligation to our students to better understand their development and learning to provide the higest quality of education. In doing so, we must research and speak up for our children and their families to provide the best care possible to suit their learning needs.
 
 
~ 1.11 When we become aware of a practice or situation that endangers the health, safety, or well-being of children, we have an ethical responsibility to protect children or inform parents and/or others who can.
 
~  I chose this statement because protecing our children whether it's at home or school is first priority. As educators we are state mandated reporters. It is our responsibility not only to keep our kids safe and healthy as well.
 
 
 

 
 
 
~ Hope one of these statements influenced you to make a difference !!! ~ ~ GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!!~

~ GREAT EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION COURSE RESOURCES ~

Listed below are some great resources to use daily. Hope you find everything helpful.

~ Position Statements and Influential Practices~

~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, from http://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, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf

~ Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being ~

~ Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

~ Websites ~

 ~ World Forum Foundationhttp://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us

 ~ World Organization for Early Childhood Educationhttp://www.omep-usnc.org/
 ~ Association for Childhood Education Internationalhttp://acei.org/

~Selected Early Childhood Organizations~

~ National Association for the Education of Young Childrenhttp://www.naeyc.org/

~ The Division for Early Childhoodhttp://www.dec-sped.org/

~ Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Familieshttp://www.zerotothree.org/

~WESTEDhttp://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm

~ Harvard Education Letterhttp://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85

~ FPG Child Development Institutehttp://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm

~ Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conferencehttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/

~ HighScopehttp://www.highscope.org/

~ Children's Defense Fundhttp://www.childrensdefense.org/

~ Center for Child Care Workforcehttp://www.ccw.org/

~ Council for Exceptional Childrenhttp://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

~ Institute for Women's Policy Researchhttp://www.iwpr.org/

~ National Center for Research on Early Childhood Educationhttp://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/

~ National Child Care Associationhttp://www.nccanet.org/

~ National Institute for Early Education Researchhttp://nieer.org/

~ Pre[K]Nowhttp://www.preknow.org/

~ Voices for America's Childrenhttp://www.voices.org/

~The Erikson Institutehttp://www.erikson.edu/

~ Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library ~

Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)

· 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

WAIT ! THERE'S MORE, MORE, MORE !!!!!!

~ Books ~

~ The Children's Literature Lover's Book of List by: Joanna Sullivan, Ed. D.

~ Engaging young writers by: Matt Glover

~ Alternatives to Worksheets

~ Creative Resources for the Early Childhood Classroom by: Judy Herr and Yvonne Libby Larson

~ Effective Practices for Early Childhood Education by: Sue Bredkamp

~ INFLUENCIAL PEOPLE ~

~ Johann Pestalozzi                                              ~ Lyndon Johnson

~ Friedrich Froebel                                              ~ William Clinton

~ Maria Montessori                                             ~ Edward Zigler

~ Margaret McMillarn                                         ~ Sam Meisels

~ Jean Piaget                                                         ~ Virginia Buysee

~ Susan Bredekamp                                              ~ Marcy Whitebook

~ T. Berry Brazelton                                             ~ Stanley Greenspan

~ Marian Wright                                                   ~ Hillary Clinton

~ Art Rolnick                                                        ~ Lilan Katz

~ Sylvia Chard                                                      ~ Pamela Winton

                                                                                      
                                             ~ Ann Turnbull

~Web Links~

~ http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com

~ http://www.edweek.org

~ http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/instructor

~ http://www.essentiallearningproducts.com/lesson-plans-and-activities

~ http://www.techlearning.com/index

~ Quotes To Live By ~

~ I think a hero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles." -- Christopher Reeve

~ Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become your actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, it becomes your destiny." -- Frank Outlaw

~If a seed of a lettuce will not grow, we do not blame the lettuce. Instead, the fault lies with us for not having nourished the seed properly." - Buddhist proverb

~The great end of education is to discipline rather than to furnish the mind; to train it to the use of its own powers rather than to fill it with the accumulation of others." -- Tyron Edwards

~Good teaching is more a giving of right questions than a giving of right answ ers." --Josef Albers

~ Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength of the nation." -- John F. Kennedy

~ Your role as a leader is even more important than you might imagine. You have the power to help people become winners." --Ken Blanchard

~ If you want to live more, you must master the art of appreciating the little everyday blessings of life. This is not altogether a golden world but there are countless gleams of gold to be discovered in it." --Henry Alfred Porter

~Don't limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, you can achieve." -- Mary Kay Ash

~Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants." -- John Gardner
   
~ I consider a day's teaching wasted if we do not all have one hearty laugh." He meant that when people laugh together, they cease to be young and old, master and pupils, jailer and prisoners. They become a single group of human beings enjoying its existence." -- Gilbert Highet

~ To ensure that your work is also a play, I recommend that you develop a personal mission statement. This will help you find what it is to enjoy so much that you lose track of time when you're doing it." -- Ken Blanchard

~ It is not what is poured into a student that counts but what is planted." -Linda Conway

~ The greatest sign of a success for a teacher...is to be able to say, "The children are now working as if I did not exist." -- Maria Montessori

~ There is in every child a painstaking teacher so skillful that he obtains identical results in all children in all parts of the world. The only language men ever speak perfectly is the one they learn in babyhood, when no one teaches them anything." --Maria Montessori

We learn by example and by direct experience because there are real limits to the adequacy of verbal instruction." -- Malcom Gladwell

~ Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything." -- Mary Hemingway

	~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ YOU CAN MAKE IT !! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

~ Education is not the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire." --William Butler Yeats

~ No one but us ourselves-no one can and no one way. We ourselves must walk the path, teachers merely show the way." -- Nancy Wilson Ross

~One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." -- Carl Jung

~Every time you wake up and ask yourself, "What good things am I going to do today?," remember that when the sun goes down at sunset, it takes a part of your life with it."--Indian proverb

~ A hundred years from now, it will not matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, how much money I had in the bank...but the world may be a better place because I made a difference in the life of a child." -- Forest Witcraft

~ Inspirational and Passionate Quotes ~

~T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.~

" When we strengthen families, we ultimately strengthen the community. Our goal is that parents everywhere work with supportive providers, feel confident in their parenting role and form strong resilient attachments with their children. To help achieve this, providers must be responsive to parents, knowledgeable about children development and eager to see every parent succeed."

~Marian Wright Edelman ~

"When I fight about what is going on in the neighborhood, or when I fight about what is happening to other people's children, I'm doing that because I want to leave a community and a world that is better than the one I found.

"I'm doing what I think I was put on this earth to do. And I'm really grateful to have something that I'm passionate about and that I think is profoundly important. "

~Renatta M. Cooper~

" It's not all about you; you have got to take your ego out of it and think about what's best for the child."

~Raymond Hernandez~

" My passion comes from wanting to make a difference, I'm not here to save the world; I'm here to make a difference.

References:

~Touchpoints Center: http://brazeltontouchpoints.org

~About.com Women History

~Video Program: " The Passion for Early Childhood"