Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Baby Got Back

 
          While I have not ever given, nor witnessed a birth before, I cannot truly relate to those mothers and families out there who have. The closest I come to knowing about the experience, is from what my own mother has told me about mine. She found out she was pregnant immediately after graduating high school. As she had only been with my father for a month or two, she debated even telling him she was pregnant. She soon realized that she did not want me growing up without a father and upon my dad hearing my mom was pregnant, they married two months later. After 24 years of marriage now, both my parents talked about my birth as the scariest and most exciting times in their lives. 
          My mother had to be induced as I was well past the two week period after my initial due date and with her contractions, her blood pressure dropped immensely. With modern medicine (by early 1990's standards), they were able to clear her from the red and even helped treat me as I was diagnosed with jaundice at birth. Compared to many developing nations, the simple act of being able to successfully induce, treat the mother, deliver the baby, and treat any conditions, is something that we are blessed with. The simple fact that the hospital admitted my mother is something that women in South Africa struggle with. Christian Nordqvist from Medical News Today wrote an article on how maternal death rates in South Africa have been increasing while the world's rates have been decreasing. "According to the United Nations, approximately 4,500 women die annually in South Africa due to treatable and preventable pregnancy and childbirth related causes" (Nordqvist, 2011, para.6). If my mother had given birth in South Africa, there is a high possibility neither of us would be here today. 

 Reference

 Nordqvist, C. (n.d.). The Shocking Truth About Giving Birth In South Africa. Retrieved June 29, 2016, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php 
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Saturday, June 18, 2016

Exemplary Ethics

With my undergraduate degree in Sociology, I am no stranger to the world of ethics. I took multiple classes that showcased cases, studies, observations, and everyday research that were both ethical and unethical. I wrote countless papers on the history of ethics and the many organizations that work to ensure everything is by the books. While the majority of my studies were based on the Code of Ethics for research and observation, each field uses a unique set of ethics to define, essentially, the right and wrong of your own personal interaction within the field. 

In terms of Early Childhood, both the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Division for Early Childhood (DEC) have developed their own Code of Ethics, each similar in manner. 

NAEYC 

 I-1.3
     To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child

 It is important to realize that every child is an individual, with different thoughts, beliefs, and ways in which they thrive. It can be so easy to quickly group children based on gender, or age, or even thinking level. However, the child must be looked at as their own person in order to truly help them succeed.

I-2.4
     To listen to families, acknowledge and build upon strengths and competencies, and learn from families as we support them in their task of nurturing children 

Families are where children learn the majority of what shapes their personality and their beliefs system. In order to truly understand and/or get through to a child, we must first address the family. When we view the family and the child as a unit, in terms of learning what works and what doesn't, we become a functioning team who's best interest is the child.

I-4.3
     To work through education, research, and  advocacy toward an environmentally safe world in which all children receive health care, food, and shelter; are nurtured; and live free from violence in their home and their communities

As Early Childhood workers, we must always be researching, always be observing, and always be self-reflecting on how to make the world a better place for these children. We must always be an advocate for policies and reforms that benefit the children of this world for the better. 

DEC

Part 1-6
     We shall build relationships with individual children and families while individualizing the curricula and learning environments to facilitate young children's development and learning

We must always be adapting to the world and to the children and families we interact with. It will never help for individuals in the Early Childhood field to be solely dedicated to one strategy and one approach when working with children and families. The more you are flexible and able to see things from different perspectives, the better off the child will be. 

Part II-2
     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 

 If we do not seek, then we do not find. The world is evolving everyday, especially for Early Childhood. We must actively seek alternatives and resources to help better our own understanding and be active members in the change for good.

Part III-4
     We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers of services for their children

There is no "us" and "them" when dealing with children and their families. It is a cohesive unit that share the common goal of helping the child succeed. When we provide guidance and information to the families, then they are able to better formulate what the future hold for their child 







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Thursday, June 2, 2016

Be Quick, Be Smart, Be Resourcefule

Course Resources

 Perhaps the go-to resource for education, the Department of Education provides valuable tools on a variety of subjects; from applying and getting into an educational preparation program; to valuable tools that one can use in the classroom as well as to give to parents. Whatever the need may be, the Department of Ed. helps out all parties in the field of Early Childhood.

Early Learning Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2016, from http://www.ed.gov/early-learning/resources 


 As prepared as we may think we will be, there is no telling what will happen in our days as Early Childhood educators. Personal and school related issues may prevent us from being fully prepared for stints at a time. This resource provides ideas, well-thought out lesson plans, and access to a community of teachers to encourage and aide us in whatever happens. It might be a handy tool for the week after the weekend we spent out of town for personal reasons or a quick solution to a day of observation when little else was planned.
 
Tools for Early Childhood Teachers. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2016, from http://www.earlychildhoodteacher.org/teacher-tools/ 
 
While one of the biggest perks to being an Early Childhood educator is the chance to spread our creative wings and decorate our classrooms, it is important to keep in mind how our classroom management could impact the students' ability to learn. We always want to promote a comfortable environment for our students, but we must also be aware of their needs and attention levels. This article is a great resource on why it is important to pay attention to the material we put in our classroom, the overall functionality of it, and how the simplest changes could be either good or bad for our students. 
 
Classroom Management Tips for Early Childhood Educators. (n.d.). Retrieved June 02, 2016, from http://pilambda.org/horizons/classroom-management-tips-for-early-childhood-educators/ 


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Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices
Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being
Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
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
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