Relationship Reflection

Why relationships/partnerships are important to me

• They allow you to connect to people on a closer level
• You learn how to give and take
• You learn trust, dependence, love, and affection
• You have someone to keep you warm at night (for intimate relationships)
• You have someone to confide in and to keep your secrets
• Teach you how to be socially appropriate
• Provides stability and support (mentally, physically, and financially)
• Helps to set the foundations for new relationships

Identify several people with whom you currently have positive relationships

• My fiance Cameron, my sister and my niece, my dad and step-mom, my fiance's family, my co-workers, the students that I work with, and tons of friends
• These relationships are positive through the support, compassion, love, and affection that is shown between me and the ones that I am close with.  Factors that contributed to developing and maintaining these relationships are patience, trust, loyalty, compassion, kindness, empathy, and forgiveness.

Insights regarding challenges to developing and maintaining relationships

• Some don't like to compromise because they are set in their ways
• Some are not willing to open themselves up to others
• Some find it hard to consider someone else's feeling other than their own
• Some have huge problems with communication
• Some have to be in control of everything -- dominating

What do you see as special characteristics of these relationships that make some, if any, partnerships?

• Similar personalities
• Common likes and dislikes
• Similar demeanor
• Ethics
• A common bond (ex. going golfing)
• Making financial together
• Consideration of the other persons opinion, feeling, and thoughts
• Honesty and trust
• Open communication

How might you experiences with relationships/partnerships, including your ability to be an active, reflective contributor, impact your work as an effective early childhood professional?

I have a lot of patience, and I am a people person.  Having people in my life, such as friends and family, is hugely important to me.  I am loving, compassionate, caring, trustworthy, and understanding.  All of that will make me an awesome teacher.  I currently work at a school district, with children of all ages.  I find it very important to connect with them on their own level, and to build a trustworthy, yet authoritative relationship with all of them.  I want to be someone that they feel comfortable with, yet at the same time I want them to know that I am their teacher and there are things that have to be done.  My goal is to teach them not only to succeed in their educational lives, but also in their societal lives.

Quote about children......and Special Thanks!!!!!!

My favorite quote about children and learning is "Education does not just happen at school.  It is not just about Math and other subjects.  Your education and learning are happening all the time.  They happen any time your mind is open to learning" by Michael Stutman 2013.  

I really believe this quote tells it like it is.  Learning is not just in the school or classroom, and it does not just involve Math, Reading, Spelling, and other subjects.  Learning involves everything that happens in a person or child's lifetime.  Everyday is a new learning experience for me, and I am 30.  Children do not just learn from educators, they learn from t.v., society, video games, etc.  Every little thing plays a part in teaching children and people things.

A Special Thanks.......
I want to thank everyone in my group for all of the information and great blogs that they have provided.  I have learned so much from each and every one of you.  I also would like to thank our awesome and insightful professor that we had.  I really enjoyed taking this class.  I want to wish everyone good luck as they go through their degree, and throughout their life.

Testing for Intelligence

I believe that a child should be assessed based on their learning.  We need to know that they are learning what they need to in order to succeed in this world as an adult.  If they are not learning what is needed in school, then we need to make sure that child is provided with that necessary knowledge.  The assessment tests that my school district does on the children, is something that every school should do.  Every week the children are tested over every subject that they have covered during the week.  If they test low then the teacher will find them a tutor to work with so that they can catch up with the rest of the class.

I looked at Somalia to see what they do for their children.  In that country, they are just happy that children enroll into school.  They have one of the lowest enrollment rates.  The children that actually enroll, will be given books and paper and will be taught lessons every day that they show up.  Many are refugees from other areas that ran away from the dangerous environments that they once lived in.  There are not set assessments that are being done.  The educators there concentrate on teaching them the basics of reading and writing.

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/somalia_59551.html

Consequences of stress

The tornado that hit Joplin, Missouri was a horrible disaster to hit that town.  I know many people that were living there when that happened.  I was on the phone with one of my friends trying to tell her that she needed to take cover because there was a tornado coming.  When it hit I didn't know if she managed to protect herself.  Several hours later she called me and told me that she was ok.  Many of the people down there didn't know what to do.  Complete houses were gone, including my friends house.  The wonderful thing about this was the entire town got together to clean up and start rebuilding.  People from other towns and cities, and even states gathered resources and materials and came out to Joplin to help this town in a moment of crisis.  My job allowed me to take off so I could go down and help my friend gather what she could and find a place to stay.  I can remember asking my friend how she was doing and she said "all you can do is take it one day at a time and know that things happen for a reason".  She even told me that clearly it was meant for her to get a new home, and she laughed.  That was the best part about this sad devastation.

One area that I learned about is in Africa.  There is so much poverty and hunger in that country.  They have missionaries that come in with supplies for those that they can get to.  However, there are people that the missionaries can not reach with the supplies.  Some are in very unsafe areas.  One major problem is diseases.  There are some plans in place to help with providing food and other supplies to people.  The one thing that will still be a problem is getting clean water.  Without that people will continue to get ill.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poverty_in_Africa

Nutrition and Malnutrition

Nutrition is extremely important to children and adults.  To be healthy, a child requires certain nutrients.  Eating a balanced diet is extremely important to gain those nutrients.  Food provides our bodies with protein, vitamins, minerals, essential fats, and energy in order to live, grow, and function normally.  There are many areas of the world that have a high percentage of malnourished children.  One area that has a high percentage is India.  43.5% of children under the age of 5 are malnourished in India.  There are areas that do not even have clean, sanitized water.  Many children are living out in the streets due to their parents having issues with getting a job.  They are currently working to solve the problem in India.  They are implementing programs that will provide breakfast and lunch, along with immunizations and medical care for those children who are malnourished.  They are hoping to overcome this huge problem they have and to stop 1,500 children from dying daily from being malnourished. 

If a child is hungry they can not concentrate on their school work.  That hunger will overcome their lives.  No child should be hungry ever.  One of the things that I help do in my community is to make sure every child has something to eat through the week.  We do this by collecting food and delivering it to those in need.  We also do community meals twice a month.  Offering a free meal to the entire town.  The school provides buddy packs on Fridays filled with all kinds of nutritious food.  This is the schools way of making sure the kids have something to eat through the weekend.  Good nutrition is extremely important in my community.  Programs such as buddy packs and community meals should be something that is done all over the world.  Even a little bit of help will make a difference.

I am going to continue to help those in my community.  Making sure every child has something to eat is one thing that I will always try to help with.   

http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/child-malnutrition-in-india/   

Birthing

The experience that I have with birthing is with my sister when my niece was born.  I was 21 yrs old and I had never witnessed a birth before.  My niece was born in January and it was a long and rough birth.  My sister went into labor at 3pm on the 3rd and my niece was born at 4:30am on the 5th.  This was after 5 hours in delivery.  My niece was stuck in the birthing canal and they were having trouble getting my sister to push because she was so exhausted.  One of the nurses had to climb onto the bed to push on the outside of my sisters stomach to help get the baby out.  They thought she was going to have to go through an emergency c-section.  Thank goodness that didn't have to take place.  It was a very stressful situation for everyone that was involved, and I was just glad that everything worked out alright.

Births in Africa
They are extremely dangerous for the woman involved.  1 in 22 women die during delivery due to the lack of access to healthcare or a trained midwife.  Many women have no choice but to give birth at home with family members beside them.  If something were to go wrong it would be several hours before help could get to them.  As there is a huge lack of transportation, many women would have to walk during labor to get help.

http://www.theguardian.com/journalismcompetition/giving-birth-the-most-dangerous-thing-an-african-woman-can-do

End of class!!!!!

I want to thank everyone that I have worked with in this class.  I really have enjoyed this class.  I have learned a lot from everyone, and I am looking forward to what my future classes at Walden will provide for me.  Thank you for everyone being willing to share their experiences and opinions.  This class was a great start for my degree.  I can not wait to continue on to all of my other classes.  I am looking very forward to achieving my degree from Walden.  Working with children has always been my passion.  I am grateful that I am able to currently work in a wonderful school district.  Having the hands on experience is one thing that will help me with my classes.  Good luck to everyone!!!!!

Meaningful Code of Ethics

1.  We shall serve as advocates for children with disabilities and their families and for the 
professionals who serve them by supporting both policy and programmatic decisions that 
enhance the quality of their lives.

2.  Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human cycle.

3.  We shall continually be aware of issues challenging the field of early childhood special education 
and advocate for changes in laws, regulations, and policies leading to improved outcomes and 
services for young children with disabilities and their families. 


These three codes of ethics are important to me because I currently work as a special education teacher.  This is a very hard field to work in as an educator.  I currently work with a child that is extremely autistic.  He can not speak, but he has taught himself sign language in order to communicate.  He is an extremely bright and intelligent child.  I enjoy spending every day with him.  Yes there are days when he has melt downs, but that is something that he can not control.  I hope to one day be a strong advocate for children in the special ed programs.  I believe that many people do not know how important or useful this program is.  Many schools, such as the one I am currently working at, have gone through budget cuts for their special education department.  I hope that one day I can make people see how important these programs are.

Resources
The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.dec-sped.org/

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Course Resources

Part 1: 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, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Part 2: 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, fromhttp://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
• Websites:
• • 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 media segment 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/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org/
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

Tip: Use the Journal option under Search & Find on the library website to find journals by title.

• 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

Part 5:  Additional Resources

• www.aacap.org/  American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• www.childareaware.org  State by state Resources for Families
• www.nasponline.org/families/ 

Quotes from Influential People

"They are our partners in this learning enterprise, and we have a special responsibility to use this knowledge--not to fill up journals, but to make the lives of these children better."

~Edward Zigler~ 

"In the good years, work very hard to win everything that's possibly winnable.  In the bad years, work just as hard to keep your losses to a minimum.  There are good times, and there are bad times.  But you have to stay in the game."

~Edward Zigler~

"You are the stars and the world is watching you.  By your presence you send a message to every village, every city, every nation.  A message of hope. A message of victory.  The right to play on any field?  You have earned it.  The right to study in any school?  You have earned it.  The right to be anyone's neighbor?  You have earned it."

~Eunice Kennedy Shriver~

"Passion to make sure all children were taught in environments, and ways that truly nurtured their abilities to grow, and to develop to their fullest abilities."

~Louise Derman-Sparks~

"We as professionals in the early childhood field have the opportunity to shape a child's life for the better."

~Sandy Escobido~

Personal Childhood Web

Five people who nurtured me:

1.  Jim Gardner (My Grandpa): He was the main person that pushed me to my full potential.  He knew that I could go far, and he was always someone that I could turn to for help or advice.  He was more like a father to me than just a grandpa.  I knew that I was his special girl.  He was the one that taught me how to love, care, and stand on my own two feet.  He even taught me how to drive when the time came.  If I was having issues with an assignment, he would sit down and help me with it until we figured it out.  I always wanted to make him proud, and even though he is no longer with us, I know that I have made him proud by continuing my education and making right choices in my life.  I still think of what he would say to me when I am making certain decisions.

2.  Leona Jones (My Mother):  She may not have been the best mom, but she always pushed me in school.  She wanted me to have a better life than she had, and she wanted me to make something of myself.  I am the only one of my siblings to go this far in school, and I know that she is proud of that.  She always told me that I was the smart one, and that I had huge potential.  She is still someone that I can turn to if I get discouraged, and she will lift me back up.  

3.  Karen Brucks (Best Friends Mom):  I spent a lot of time at my friends house.  We have known each other since elementary school, and her mom was always there for us.  She treated me like I was part of the family, and would make us work on our homework before we were allowed to do anything else.  School was very important to her, and she always pushed us to do our best.  She is still someone that I talk to about my life and my education.  She was like a second mom to me and still is in many ways.

4.  Chris Froment (My Dad):  My dad was creative.  So if I had an art project of some kind that I had to do, he was the person to go to.  He is really good at drawing and building things, and that is something that I inherited.  He wasn't someone that I could lean on, but that is where my grandpa came in.  However, he did want me to get a great education, and he always told me that I was too smart not to go to college.  He also wanted me to have a better life than he did.

5.  Barbara Sasser (My Aunt):  My aunt passed away when I was 12 years old.  Before she passed away I spent almost every day with her from the time I was born.  She was my rock that I could lean on.  If I needed mothering, she was who I went to.  If I deserved to be scolded, she was the one that usually did it.  She was the one that taught me how to read when I was a little girl.  She always did fun activities with all of us, and she always took us to the library.  She told us that you can never learn too much, and I agree with her.  That is one of the things that keeps me going to school.  She put this drive into me to continue to learn new things, and that is what I am doing.

My aunt and my grandpa were the two people that have formed me into the person I am today.  Without their influence, I probably would not have gotten this far in my education, and I probably would have turned out more like my parents have.  They are the two people that I still try to pack proud, even though they are no longer here.  They still matter and always will.

This is a photo of my Grandpa, who I considered more like a father.

Current Picture

Here is a pic of me (MaryJane) and my fiance at the local County fair yesterday

Welcome to Collected Education

Hello, my name is MaryJane.  I would have to say that my favorite children's book title is "Goodnight Moon".  This is a book that you can read every night to your child and make it your own.  I used to read this book to my niece every night at bedtime, and I would have her look around her room and pick things out that she would like to say goodnight to.  It made it a fun way to get her to go to bed, and a way for her to learn what different things were.  Here is my favorite quote regarding family:

The reason I chose this quote is because your family may not necessarily be biologically connected.  Everyone's definition of family is different, and for me it includes my closest friends and people who have been there through good and bad times.