Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that I am able to help them build on their experiences by getting them to understand the gift of being surrounded by diversity.   
We have to make our voice heard.
One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice would be to help children unlearn some of the stereotypes they have already formed.  I have found a wealth of materials that can assist me, books, materials and also individuals.

It hard to believe we have completed another class.  I'm very PROUD and THANKFUL to each and every one of you.  I hope we will be able to continue on this journey together.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Family Outreach

Volunteering  with my schools Family Outreach  program the newest family we will be welcoming into our school community is a family from Bolivia.  Not knowing much about Bolivia it will be necessary for me to do some home work.  I learn that the Spanish id on of four languages spoken there which is what the family speaks. Although there are many dialects of the Spanish language fortunately I am able to communicate in Spanish with some assistants.  The dominant religion is roman Catholic, which is what the family practices.  Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America.  Leaving it necessary for both parents and the young children the reasonability to work in order to sustain the family.  A few of the steps I have taking to help the family feel welcomed.

I locate and visit a Spanish market.  With hope that it will have some of the food the family is familiar with.

I vist a neighborhood Catholic church.  Picking up information about hours of services and when the Spanish speaking service is held.

On one of my visit to the library I look at the children section and find a selections of books, movie video's and Cd's in Spanish that the whole family can enjoy.

I decide to make welcome backpack for the children.  Including coloring picture with Spanish titles I printed  form the computer.        

Volunteering  with my schools Family Outreach  program the newest family we will be welcoming into our school community is a family from Bolivia.  Not knowing much about Bolivia it will be necessary for me to do some home work.  I learn that the Spanish id on of four languages spoken there which is what the family speaks. Although there are many dialects of the Spanish language fortunately I am able to communicate in Spanish with some assistants.  The dominant religion is roman Catholic, which is what the family practices.  Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America.  Leaving it necessary for both parents and the young children the reasonability to work in order to sustain the family.  A few of the steps I have taking to help the family feel welcomed.

I locate and visit a Spanish market.  With hope that it will have some of the food the family is familiar with.

I vist a neighborhood Catholic church.  Picking up information about hours of services and when the Spanish speaking service is held.

On one of my visit to the library I look at the children section and find a selections of books, movie video's and Cd's in Spanish that the whole family can enjoy.

I decide to make welcome backpack for the children.  Including coloring picture with Spanish titles I printed  form the computer.      

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The most salient experience in my life directly related to my race. Having grown up in a town where I was not from the dominant culture, I have many memories from my childhood that were very painful and emotional. Obviously, because forty plus years later when asked to write about them. I feel a sense of emotion welting up inside of me and I still can recall them. I would have to share that the most painful one would be in my teen years. Hanging with classmates someone would use the word” nigger”, explaining to me “No offense”. I would stay silent, not saying a word. 

Having been taught that, that word was developed for salves by the dominant race.  It was used to make a person feel weak, degraded and offended.  It should never be used it and I must be offended by any person that does use it.   The bias made me feel bad, sad, and sorry for myself.  It hurt my feelings.    

I would later find the words to educate my classmates aka friends on why it was not alright to make such statements to anyone for any reason.  And that say “nothing against you” only makes it worst.   

Microaggression

The most blatant example of microaggression I witness this week was made by a principle at the school in which I teach about a four year old child.  A parent of one of my students asked to speak to me in regards to foul language her child used at home .  When the mother questioned her about such language the child stated that she heard another student in her classroom use this language.  I worked with the mom explaining how sorry I was and that I would have a tlak with the entire class about appropriate language.    

Later that day I brought the incident to my principles attention.  Her respond was “I am not surprised if …… uses such language, you’ve seen that that family, I mean where did all of those kids come from?  They look all different.  And that dad has been to jail.”   My response was … could have heard it from anywhere, her parents are very involved with her and I think she was just making a bad choice.  I left her offices feeling sad, embarrassed, offended.  I had nine siblings.  Does that mean I was allowed to watch inappropriate movies or listen to inappropriate music or use foul language?  Not with my parents or one of my elder sisters knowledge!   

The definition of culture and diversity

This assignment was more difficult than expected.  I had to come to terms with the fact that I did not agree with what people, that I consider being a part of everyday life.  They did not have the same understanding of what culture and/or diversity is as I do.   I would like to start with a female, Hispanic co-worker once I explained the reason for my questioning she seem to let her guard down.

Sandra, Mexican American, describes culture as who a person is in the inside.  It is everything that a person has learned from their parents and family.  Diversity is what I am made up of.  My Mexican heritage and traditions blended with my American traditions. .      

Ana, from Bolivia moved to America one year ago to work as an Au pair.  She describes culture as what she has learned from her mother, how to cook, clean and sew.   Diversity as sharing her food, stories, religion and love with her new family and hopefully with a husband she has just joined a dating site.

Stephanie, from Hawaii.  Proudly states that her people are proud of their believes, how they take care of each other.  Diversity is sharing those believes.  

Thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics in a concerned way.  Explaining its complexity comes with a great challenge. 

Emergency Evacuation

In case of an emergency evacuation the three items I would take with me are:

            My Joyce Meyer bible, which will give me strength to make it through another day. 
            My personal documentation, which I will need to start my new life. 
            My youngest daughter's baby books which letters and pictures of most of my loved ones. 

I would feel devastated if I was told I could only take one of the items with me.  I would keep my document file stuffing it with pages from my  bible and pictures of my loved one.

The insight I have remains the same.  Living in America can be hard but it allows me to embrace my culture.     

Reflection

When I think of research now I know longer see it as one must be a scientist to be able to conduct research.  Research is not something I should be afraid of.  Research is an enriching process by which I will gain skills.  If I have an interest I can develop my field of interest.  This class has empowered me. 

I my eyes have been opened to the power behind research.  Research is defiantly hard work but more importantly you have to be committed to your cause.  I have a new found respect for researched.  It’s not all test tubes and numbers.

The most challenging things I encountered were other professionals not showing an interest in research.  I was surprised by the, someone has already done that attitude.  However this class gave me the knowledge to explain that more of the same thing in research is good.  Numbers are power. 

My perceptions of an early childhood professional has been modified in a way that I can now connect research with early childhood as puzzles fitting to gather we need one with the other.  It is a back board to all the other pieces.  Advocating, teaching, caring…

Thank you for sharing yourself with me this class.  You have helped me grow as a professional and person.  Hope to hear from you next class!

Research Around the World

I chose to learn more about Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Developed and maintained by the University of Victoria, Canada.

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php
http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

The ECDVU offers virtual and face to face programs.  The ECDVU participants are nominated by early childhood development committees.   Based on the nominees commitment to early childhood development.  ECDVU goal is to improve the quality of life for children and their families in Africa.

A few of the current international research topics learned about are:

·         A Community-driven Rural Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project, with Emphasis on Culturally and Developmentally Appropriate Exploratory Learning Concepts .

·         Parents’ and Other Caregivers’ Perception of Early Childhood Development Needs and Quality: A Study of the PLAN-Assisted Programs in Ghana. 

·         Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in ECD Training and Services .

The research and work being done are very much the same here in America but on a different scale.   The common goal is responsible, hard working adults that can give back to society.  The research understanding that affordable, good early childhood programs are a must for the better of cultures, villages and the future.  They are researching programs that are working for villages, considering the culture and trying to duplicate what is working.  They are educating the parents about early childhood development.  And supportive of on- going teachers training.  Offering the ssupport of cchildren, families and community. 

If you can read this thank your childcare provider

The topic I would choose would be literacy.  In America students continue to graduate from school programs with an average 4th grade reading level.   When a person can read the chances of them graduating from high school increases.   Having a high school diploma increases the chance of a person going on to college or getting a job. Lower the crime rate and making for a better community as a whole.   What can research teach us about promoting literacy and a love of reading.

My Personal Research Journal

My chosen topic for the simulation is literacy in early childhood development.  I chose this topic because as a child I struggled with reading and it affected not just my reading, but also my spelling, writing and myself esteem.   An insight that I have gained thus far from constructing the research chart are the terms and definitions that define the process of research.  I looked up many of the websites list in chapter 2 and have found many articles about the elementary sage student.  Do we really have to wait until a child is in elementary school?  Could something have been done to help me before I was put in the low reading group?  At the library I was able to archive a few magazines and copied articles about reading.  If you know of any resources, have advice or insight that might help me with this course I would greatly appreciated it.  Warmly, Lilly B.

Final Blog Assignment

Reflecting on what I have learned from  the international community makes the world seem small.  In the end we are all working towards the same goal.  Happy, healthy children that grow up to be happy, healthy adults.  We all are   Researchers in the field and early childhood educators both view eearly childhood education as children learning through play.  That benefits for many children is a dream. Consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for my professional and personal development.

          Early childhood Education has a role in constructing a sustainable society.  No matter how depressing and scary the situation.  Agree or disagree there are three pillars of education for sustainable development economy, neuroscientist and politics each one intersecting  with the other.  The world does not view education as a foundation for a valuable life.

          Concerns in developing countries health, nutrition, and  clean water.  In developed countries a better quality of childcare, curriculum and respecting childcare providers as professionals.  Inequity for low-income families, minorities and women are a factor in both. 

Children are not invisible and deserver to have basic human rights such as an    

          My goal for the field relating to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations.  Use the resources to learn more about cultural diversity, equality and democracy

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

My contact is not available to work with me this week.  Therefore I would like to share insights I gained about issues related to international early childhood education from the UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” website.   

After exploring the site thoroughly, I found information in the sites links Access, Quality, Investment and Governance.  Fill of important reminders that having an education is still a battle in many place of the world.  

 Strengthening education systems, Early Childhood very interesting:  The link

Access, Supports the importance of early childhood.

Quality, more support on why high quality childhood education and care for all children no matter their social economics.   

 Investment, Early childhood not being a top priority is a worldwide concern.  The article about; The Jomtien Declaration on Education for All (EFA), working to get the government to understand and support the importance of early childhood in basic education as a whole.

Governance, The overall goal and mission of the organization is the importance of strengthening the education systems.  It reminds us of the prejudices women in the world still face having no right to basic education. 

The article and information about the world observes the anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the child and the differences that it has made on a child’s right to an education.

The Policies Brief, shares articles about educational debates from around the world.

The site has many interesting articles of real life educational experiences.   

 (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/)

Sharing Web Resources

The National Black Child Development Institute

The site as a whole encourages the important changes in how we need to think about educating the young child. Recognizing that different families and their children have different needs.    NBCDI calls to our attention many of the serious problems regarding the young child such as homelessness, drug addiction, incarcerated parents and being raised by grandparents are some of the .  NBCDIC links provide clear demonstrations that the care and education of children is a societal concern.   

The website contains information that adds to my understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education.  Using data, facts, figures and statics of the state of child care and family needs.   It offers many links to information that are instrumental in the progress and strength of programs for young children.    I am hopeful that I will be able to use some the information they share to continue promoting education for all children.  Looking to solve current and future needs of families the site resources are not as up to date as families might need.  But still useful, anything is better than nothing. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

Like in many countries the poverty is very high.  The children cannot attend school, learning difficulties, tooth decay, height is low, defenses and hunger.  Most children will eat once a day from their families.  If they eat anything else, a fruit, bread they have gotten it by way of themselves, steal or find mostly.  A lot of parents are alcoholic.  A child mostly will have four or five brothers and sister with no certificate of birth.  They usually live in shared facility with no running water, electricity, or toilet.  Homes are one room made of block walls, metal roofs, and soil floor rented for 100bs.  The community is malaria prone.

Poverty, domestic violence and lack of education are a way of life for the children of Bolivia.  When parents are unable to provide for their children, the idea of learning becomes a faraway thought.  For these children merely living from day to day is difficult.  Bolivia a country full of forgotten children.  

Warmly, Loreana

Sharing Web Resources

What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?

                As I continue to visit the National Black Child Development Institute web site I have found many of the sections to be interesting and bring to light many subjects I have not thought about.   The section title News Is relevant to my current professional development because it share current events happening in the Early childhood Field today. I find the web site to be encouraging my thinking in regards to my care and education of children.  It shares a common societal concern.   

Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways?

                The site is a source for helping children of color.  As a teacher I work hard not to have bias.  That doesn’t mean there not there.  The site reminds me that there are many theories about the nature of children.  To be a good teacher I will need to remember the current needs of young children are changing in many ways.

What information does the website or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

                The Initiatives Early Childhood Education section provides recent events taking place that can help or and hinder the education of our children.  This month share information on what took place at the Head Start’s Eleventh National Research Conference.  The initiatives section gives up dated information on local and national events that are having an effect on the early childhood field.

What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

                I found an article posted about the study of asthma increasing among African-American children.  Asthma is not disease I would have labeled race inherited.

               

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

Lorena, age 24,

Teacher: ages 8-13 Show Details

FROM:

• Lorena Caballero Roman

TO:

• Lillie Brumwell

Message flagged

Friday, July 15, 2011 6:27 PM

Message body

Hi Lillie, 

I'll be glad to help you because I worked for an organization that helps poor children to find an sponsor so they can study,have food and medical access. 

Poverty is a major issue in Bolivia and children are the most affected because if their parents don't have incomes to raise the family, kids have to work in order to help their parents and most of them can't go to school because of their extreme poverty. Another effects of poverty on children are illnesses, they live in places where there isn't running water, sewer, and they don't have medical insurance. Sometimes all the family has an only room to live so they use it as a kitchen and bedroom. Migration is another issue that we have to take into account as an effect of poverty, parents decide to go to other countries (Argentina, Spain and Italy) to earn money for raising their kids who are left with a relative. When children are left by their parents, they are prone to be victims of abuse or they can be gang members.

I'm sending you some files of kids that needed to be sponsored so you will see their reality.

 If you need more information just let me know :)

            The people of La Paz, Bolivia are farmers or street vendors living in poverty.  children suffer from malnutrition, illness caused from being malnourished, medication,  lack of early childhood stimulation, education and political unrest.  Farmers and/or street vendors do not have health insurance.

"On average , of the 255,00 infants born each year, 7,000 die in the first month, another 7,000 do not survive their first year." (http://www.unicef.org)

Almost half of the population in Bolivia is made up of children and adolescents.  Poverty living conditions cause a low level of physical, mental and cognitive development.  The rights of children have not yet been developed.   

There is a very high demand for child labor because it is so inexpensive.  Children work in sweatshops, vegetable fields, and mining.  For this reason children are sold to traffickers for as little as $3.00.  Without any education or form of normal childhood.  It is a form of slavery, confined, beaten and psychological wounded.  Adolescent girls are pregnant or are already mothers themselves.  Sexually transmitted deceases, including HIV/AIDS is constantly growing. 

Childcare centers are small, dark and lack supplies.  But the children are happy to make their instruments and use empty product boxes as toys.  If they are fortunate enough to attend they can be feed by one of the volunteer health and nutrition programs. 

http://www.unicef.org/bolivia

lapaz@unicef.org 

Sharing Web Resources

National Black Child Development Institute

http://nbcdi.org/

(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/)

The National Black Child Development Institute is an advocacy group developed by the Black Women’s Community Development Foundation in 1970.  The women were very concerned about the lack of resource and support available to black families who were trying to raise healthy, reliable, dependable citizens.

 Since 1970, the National Black Child Development Institute (NBCDI) has remained strong in its mission –“To improve and protect the quality of life for children of color and their families by giving every child a chance.”  With a focus on early childhood education, child welfare, elementary and secondary education, and health, the Institute accomplishes this mission. 

The current issue/trend from the newsletter and/or from the website that caught my attention is

NBCDI core programs.  To accomplish the vision and create a nationwide awareness of NBCDI .  Working on behalf of children of color, NBCDI works to sustain and expand the following core program areas:

• The Early Years and Parenting—Love to Read, The  Parent  Empowerment Program, African American Parents Project and SPARK: Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids

•The Middle Years – Entering the College Zone

•Community Mobilization – The National Affiliate Network

I would like to share something I learned from studying these resources related to the topic of this week.

This Week in Black History, This week is Black Child Development Week!

July 4^th  In 1881, Booker T. Washington opened Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

July 5^th  In 1892, Andrew Beard is issues a patent for teh rotary engine

July 6^th  In 1957, Althea Fibson won the women's single tennis championship at Wimbledon, England

July 9^th  In 1868, The 14th Amendment was ratified making Black Americans citizens

July 10^th In 1893, Dr. Daniel Hale Williams performed the world's first successful open heart surgery at Provident Hospital in Chicago

INTERNATIONAL WEBSITE

International Child Resource Institute

www.icrichild.org/

Founded in 1981, their goal is “empowering the village to raise the child”.

Their vision is a world in where all children and their families can fulfill their greatest potential.

The organizations focus is working to improve the lives of children and their families around the world.  Focusing on early childhood care and education, children’s rights, empowerment of women and girls, maternal/child health, and grassroots community development.

One current issue/trend from the newsletter and/or from the website that caught my attention is the consulting ICRI provides.  Giving expert consultation and technical support on the developing or improving of child and family programs around the world.  A two of their major projects, Central Bank of Malaysia: Designed and developed a child development center for over 400 children.

The California Consortium of child abuse:  developed a coordinated system of local child abuse prevention councils throughout the state.  

I would like to share something anything else I learned from studying these resources related to the topic of this week.

It is the ICRI involvement in a program named HOMEY.  Homies Organizing the Mission to Empower Youth.  The organization serves youth of color from low income neighborhoods of San Francisco.  

Getting Ready—Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

The Global Alliance of NAEYC has e-mail addresses for early childhood professionals worldwide:

http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance

Unicef, United for children, are working in every country you can think of to help improve the lives of children.  You can research what they are doing by country or as a whole.  The site offers many resources.  You can register with most any social media you are familiar with to keep involved with what they are doing. I registered to become a fan on Face book.  They have a link titled “The State of the World’s Children”, It features videos, panels article from real people sharing information about children rights, policy, health etc...from world.  

UNICEF has local organizations and representatives worldwide. Check out the country specific links and contact a local representative:

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

I am familiar with NAEYC however, I did not know about their contacts outside of the U.S.  I joined TORCH, The Online Resource Center Headquarters.  The online community resources to help you better understand and implement the NAEYC accreditation criteria.  Most of the questions I read came from professionals living in the States.  I find many of the question and answers to actually be useful to me.

 

After exploring many of the sites and registering for a few of the newsletters I chose the following to full engulf myself in.   

National Black Child Development Institute

http://nbcdi.org/

(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ )

Totally personal reasons.  As an African American mother and teacher it is important for me to state informed and connected.

National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators

http://www.naecte.org/

(Newsletter: http://www.naecte.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14&Itemid=29 )

I have been a Early Childhood Professional for ten years.

Summer letter from the president, Discussing the Summer Conference taken place in RI, It has a nice write up about teacher research explaining who performs  the research and the purpose for the research.

International Child Resource Institute

http://www.icrichild.org/

(Review also the international projects at: http://www.icrichild.org/kenya ) Click on the International Projects tab at the top to see a list of the available projects.

I truly believe “it takes a village”.  And when I open up this site the front page of the website reads “Empowering the Village to Raise The Child”.

State it’s mission is to improve live of children and families around the world.  In a world where so many children do not have basic human rights.

"Without You..."

"My Support"

          Being born into a large family of sisters I grow up surrounded by others who always having someone around to help me with one thing or another.  Helping me with my homework to French braiding my hair.  I didn’t realize how important that support was until I moved from the East coast to the west coast with my husband and four year old daughter.  It was a very exciting and adventures time for us.  Leaving behind the home, family and friends that was my life for half of my life.  No longer having the support I had come to expect was shocking.  Having one of my sisters stop in so that I could go to the market while my daughter was napping was a thing of the past.  No more dropping her off at my older sister’s house for Friday night date night.  No more calling one of my sisters every morning to see whos house we were having coffee at.  No more stopping by my Aunt's house after church for dinner or dessert.  To make matters more tring my husband's work schedule requires him to be away from home 24-72 hours at a time, and often requires him to work on holidays.  We quickly learned to depend on each other.  I would never have been able to make it with out my husband constant support.  Setting up my morning coffee, leaving for work a little earlier on Sundays so that he can surprise me with a copy of the local news paper.  Keeping me company on the phone while I wait for my teenager to get home.  And always tell me I can do whatever I set out to do. 

I had to decide what to do now that I didn't have a all ready made supportive environment around me.  I had to decide it didn't matter where I am, I can create a supportive environment. Understanding that a supportive environment can be people, or it can be things that I surround myself with making my living or work environment supportive.

Creating a supportive environment to assist me in my journey of personal growth.  I also learned that I needed to create a supportive environment by being selective about the things that I feed my mind with like books I read, television I watch and web sites I visit.

24 years after that first move I have several factors within my daily environment that supports me and gives me strength each day.

“My Connections to Play.”

The quotes that I feel summarized what play represented to me in childhood.

Childhood is the most beautiful of all life's seasons.  ~Author Unknown

The older I grow the more earnestly I feel that the few joys of childhood are the best that life has to give.  ~Ellen Glasgow

There comes a time in every rightly constructed boy's life that he has a raging desire to go somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.  ~Mark Twain

I am from a family of seven children.  Being from a large family we spent a lot of ours play outdoors.  Growing up on the east coast we had the pleasure of celebrating seasons.  No matter the weather we had a game that we could play.

 Winter meant sledding until our clothes were wet and our mother was threaten us to come in or else. 

Spring finally I can ride my bike.  And ride I do to the park, to the school yard and home before the street lights come on.   

Summer finally “schools out for summer.”  I still wake up at 7:00am as if I have to go to school.  And I play from sun up too sunset.  And then I get to play some more.  I just can’t leave the front of the house and that’s when the real fun beings.  Kick the can, hide and seek, and he Ouji board. 

Fall the trees are beautiful.  Raking leave turns into a wonderful adventure.   

As I think back to my childhood play years.  I can’t help but feel sorry for what children today consider play.  When I think of early childhood, happy or unhappy, chaotic or relaxed, the imagined childhoods we might have had or wish for my children.  Children are missing out on a world of experience.  Some that represents a quality of life.  I want to give my students great experiences and establish a good rapport with them. 

Relationship Reflection

Relationships, it is deepest of all bonds humans develop. Yet we neglect to value and nurture.  Nonetheless, we feel the most painful emotions when we lose someone close to us and remorseful that we did not spend enough time with them.

I am the fifth daughter.  My parents were blessed with seven daughters.  We were realized in neighbourhoods where people didn’t quite understand how my father became the boss at the largest plant in town.  After all we didn’t look like them.  Therefore we spend most of our time with each other.  Reading, playing school and planning our further.  As adults we moved to different parts of the country promising to meet at least once a year to reconnect.  Not a Sunday goes by that we don’t speak to one another.  To this day my relationship with each of them is important.    This assignment makes me wonder if we were that important to one another then why did we move away?

My spouse, He makes me feel good about me.  He builds me up all the while keeping it real with me.  He is truly the only person that I can open up about anything.  He does not judge me.  He know this is who I am and he’s good with that.  My sisters were not happy for me.  They were honestly rude and hurtful towards me about my getting married.  He encourages me to forgive.  We celebrated 20 of marriage last week.  

My girls, I have two wonderful daughters.  I can say that now.  We are almost threw our teen years!  The dreams and plans I had and still have for them are bigger then I knew I could dream.  They have taught me lessons only children have the power to teach.  Is it really so bad that I see them as a reflection of me?

My co-worker Miss. Stacie, her classroom is diagonally across from mine.  We share tales of challenging students, lesson plans, the best words use when speaking with a parent.  We share our lunch, recipes, issues that have come up at home and district frustrations.  But the most important thing we share everyday is laughter!     

I share a partnership within each of these relationships because they are apart of whom I am and who I can.   They touch me in someway everyday. 

What else could a girl ask for?  At almost 48 years of age I still crave to have a "Bestie".  You know the girlfriend bond that so many books and movies talk about.  It's never to late.

“Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future”

 John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Here's Too You!

A Big note of thanks for sharing your knowledge and yourself with me.  I hope to be continuing this journey with you.  Best of luck in all of your endeavors.

Testing for Intelligence?

Holistic development is based on the premise that we are to see a child as a whole person, emotionally, socially, intellectually, physically, healthily, culturally and spiritually.

Each area of development influences the others and is interconnected.  For example: Physical development goes into cognitive and social.

Holistic development values the many forms of learning.  The art of holistic education lies in its responsiveness to the diverse learning styles and needs of evolving human beings.  What is appropriate for some children and adults may not be for others. 

 Test fall under many categories.  a standardized test is an exmination that's administered and scored in a predetermined, standar manner.  There are two major kinds of standardized test: aptitude tests and achievement tests.  The intelligence tests avaiable are supposed to be a guide to measure one's general level of intellignce.  Different test measure different skills.  Usually standardized tests are said to be the single best predicto of one's level of intellectual capacity.

They are an attempt to measure how well you know a certain subject, or ones intelligence, cognitive functioning, interest, and personality are a few that come to mind.  I think the goal is generally all interconnected. 

Based on that information, I do not believe the formal approach is the best way to study what the young child.  I do not approve this type of assessment testing should be administered to children.  Every child has their own style of learning.   Of tools and techniques that can be helpful in a standardized test will not allow all children to share what they know and have learned?  There are many other items to be considered.  I know adults who do not test well.  There are a variety of tools and techniques that can be used.

After learning that one of my students would be returning to Korea for his elementary school years, I decided to take a look at assessment testing  at schools in Korea.  In Korea education his very important and expected of all citizens.  A fee is charged to attend school.  The school researched uses  The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC), it is designed to measure intelligence.  It is a standardized achievement test designed to provide achievement scores that are valid for most types of educational decision-making. Areas that are assessed are Reading/Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. It is often used for placement evaluations in programs for gifted children.  

A child’s feeling and emotions have an effect on what they learn.  In elemtery school my  I felt that I felt that I was not as smart as the other children when it cam to spelling or math.  My teachers responds effected my emotional response.  If they cheered telling me I could do it or did they stare at me in complete silents.  As educators it is crucial that we remember that no experience fails to evoke an emotional response.  Understanding this fosters the whole being.   

http://www.infed.org/biblio/holisticeducation.htm

http://www.davidjcarey.com/Wechsler_Intelligence_Scale_for_Children.ht

http://www.dulwich-seoul.kr

http://www.jstor.org/stable/1130621