Time Well Spent

This has been a very long journey in which I have learned so much about the field of Early Childhood Education. When beginning my journey at Walden I had no idea of what to expect but as I began my courses and received the support form the professors I became confident.

In this course I learned exactly what a capstone project was. I learned how to reach back to all the concepts I had learned to develop a project that would be influential on society. I learned that just learning information does not help the field but applying those concepts to make a difference is what is important.

My long term goal in this field is to start my own early childhood development center that focuses on the special needs of children and their families. This center will educate children, support families, and promote diversity inside and outside the classroom.

To my colleagues and instructors, I would first like to say thank you! I have learned so much from each of you. I made it through these course with your support, kind words, and suggestions. I wish you the best as you continue in your journey. I hope that I have also inspired you in your work the same way you have done for me.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: International

Save the Children-www.savethechildren.org
This organization has always been interesting to me. At my daughter'a school, there is a Save the Children after school program that does great things for the students. The organization'a goal is to invest in childhood and to ensure that children have a healthy start in life. They protect children from harm while investing in their future. They are active around the world.

 Children International www.children.org
This is a non profit organization that gives assistance to children and families living in poverty across the globe. They give children the opportunity to grow healthy, educationally, and preparing them for society. I was impressed by this organization because it helps over 340,000 children.

United Nations children's Fund (UNICEF) www.unicef.org
This is also an organization that fights for children rights across the globe. It is a grassroots organization that influences policy makers. This is what made me interested in it.

Job opportunities:
I did not see many jobs I would like it if I could I would like to work for Save the Children. Requirements would b either to be a licensed teacher or employees with a school district.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: International

Save the Children- www.savethechildren.org
This organization has always been interesting to me. At my daughter's school there is a Save the Children after-school program that does great things for the children there. The organization's goal is to invest in childhood and to ensure that children have a healthy start in life. They protect children from harm while investing in their future. They are not only active in the United States but all over the world.

Children International-www.children.org
This is a non profit organization that gives assistance to children and families across the globe who are struggling in poverty. They give children the opportunity to grow healthy, educated and prepared for society. This organization appealed to me because of the things they do for over 340,00 children. They use donations from people to reach out to so many children.

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) www.unicef.org
This is also an organization that fights for children's rights across the globe. They are a grassroot organization that has great influence on policy makers. This organization appealed to me because they work hand in hand with lawmakers to make a great difference.

Job opportunities:

I would be interested in a job in the Save the Childrne organization. I researchedout that many of their jobs are volunteer. There are some in the united STates

Jobs/Role in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

At least three national/federal organizations or communities of practice that appealed to you and why you chose them

• Pacer Center is a nonprofit organization  for parents that provides information, training, and assistance to parents of children and young adults with disabilities. One of is goal is improve the quality of life for children with disabilities and their families. 
• The American College of Pediatricians is a national organization of pediatricians  other healthcare professionals. The college uses research to establish policies in caring for children with disabilities, assist parents, and influence society.
• Autism Speak is the world's leading organization dedicated to researching autism prevention, treatment, and cure for autism. It advocates for children and their families and strives to meet their needs.

Job opportunities (currently available or not) that interest you

There are many jobs that work directly with children with disabilities:

• Early Intervention Specialist
• Art Therapist
• Educational Audiologists

Skills and experience you would need to competently fulfill each of these roles

• To be an early intervention specialist I would have to have a degree in early intervention alone with a concentration in special education
• To be an art therapist I would have to have a degree in art based on the standards developed by the American Art Association and 1,000 direct clinical hours
• To be an educational audiologists I would have a master's degree in Audiology and 8 years of university training and supervised professional experience.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Three organizations that I find interesting Early Childhood Education Community are First Steps, Mississippi Head Start Association and The Hamilton-White Child Development Center. 

First Step (http://msdh.ms.gov/) is an early intervention program that connects children with developmental delays and other birth defects with the proper community resources such as speech therapist, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and special education teachers. These services are given to families for not cost and can help aid in the success of a child later in life. 

Mississippi Head Start Association (http://www.msheadstart.org/) mission is to provide the state’s children and families with a range of individualized services in the areas of education, early childhood development, medical, dental, mental health, nutrition and parent involvement. They also support families, cultures, and diversity in the community. 

The Hamilton-White Child Development Center (http://www.deltastate.edu/) is a early education center located at the local university, Delta State. Their goal is to target the developmental areas of every unique child by organizing classes and activities aimed to reach the learner in every child. 

Job opportunities that interest me:

Early intervention teacher- This position would require a masters in early childhood development alone with certification in special education (degree or 21 hours). I would have to have collaboration and communication skills because it would be imperative to form a bond with parents and other therapists during the early intervention process in order to plan the best education program for the child.

Head Start Director- This is a leadership position that would require a degree in education (21 hour concentration in early childhood or special education), experience in teaching and also some experience in a leadership position. As a leader it would also be important for me to be continually trained on early education trends alone with being able to make decision for what is best for the children and teachers I lead. 

Preschool teacher- I would have to have a degree in early education alone with license for the State of MS (passing of praxis scores). 

References
First Step http://msdh.ms.gov/ 
Mississippi Head Start Association http://www.msheadstart.org/
The Hamilton-White Child Development Center http://www.deltastate.edu/

Reflecting on Learning

   I can't believe that we are at the end of this course! Time goes by fast when you are learning. I have really enjoyed this course and all the information shared between students and professors. I have learned so much more about antibias education and how important it will be in my future as an educator. As I move forward in my career I hope to be an positive influence not only on the children I teach but the parents I work with. I think that teaching the importance of an anti-bias education does not just stop at the students but the parents should be taught these things also. As we learned in this week's module, you are never to old to learn!
I want to say thanks to all my class mates who read my posts and gave great insights on their own knowledge of the different subjects. I wish you the best as you move forward in your career.

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

I researched Eastern and Southern Africa and read on their culture and how it may affect a child's emotional development. I choose this region because I have always had an interest in the things that happen here. There is a great health crisis in this region of Africa. People are daily fighting against the spread of HIV/AIDS and now ebola. A campaign called AIDS Free Generation has begun in this part of Africa. Pregnant moms are encouraged to get tested and know their status. Doctors are working to ensure that AIDS is not spread to the next generation of children in Africa.

I read an interesting article that directly talked about school and how children had the desire to attend school but schooling was not always an option for them. I think that this would not only directly affect their emotional development but the entire development as a child. Formal education is important in the lives of all children. It is through education that we are able to learn about the world around us. The article talked about about UNICEF helped with the "Go To School" campaign. The school teaches many different subjects and has gained support from various organizations across the globe.

After reading these articles, I started to think about the struggles that some children here in the United States have. Often they are malnutrition and I do not believe that our society does an effective job in ensuring the welfare of our own children. We have some of the same problems Africa has but we are supposed to be a leading nation.

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

In an ideal world, young children would not be exposed to sexualization at a early age, but we live in a society in which sex is on every channel, in every magazine, in every commercial, and on every radio station. On one hand , I think it should not be exposed at an early age but on the other hand it is important for young children to know what is acceptable and not. We live in a world where young children are being molested and killed by adults and it sickens me.

I talk to my girls about appropriate behavior constantly. They are growing up and beginning to have questions about things sexually related. We discuss clothing, actions, music videos and movies. My girls love fashion and love dressing like their favorite television star. Sometimes I do not agree with their choice of clothing and I have to remind them of their age and what I expect from them. I can recall watching television with them one night and they were looking at a video by Beyonce'. The video was very disturbing and from that day on I began to monitor what they watched on television and what music they listen to. I have come to the conclusion that "sex sales" and people in the entertainment business have no concern for children and the impression they make on them. It is the parents' jobs to monitor and sensor their children.

Sexualization at such an early age can affect what children think and believe about themselves. Girls may think that dressing half naked is what they should do to get attention and be popular. I worry about this with my girls and strive to teach them different from what they see and hear from the media. As an educator, we can promote positive role models and encourage children to love themselves for who they are and not compare to what they may see on television. We can also encourage parents to monitor what they allow their children to view.

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Children learn from their environment. This includes how they view others in terms of race, gender, socioeconomic status. As a educator it is important to be aware of the differences among children and respond to their actions concerning different -isms. I also have to be aware and prepared to face my own personal challenges as a educator. I come from a racially divided town that is still separated by an invisible "track". Within the black sections, their are subsections that have their own unique characteristics. I was raised in "eastgate." It is known for poverty, crime, dropouts, and high birth rates. As an educator, I must be ready to face those predetermined stereotypes about my community and show how not all people fit the mold that society placed on that section of the town. I have to be prepared to handle my personal issues and not let them affect the way I interact with my students or parents. some parents may have questions or concerns that htey feel they could not address with me. I have to keep the lines of communication open so that they are able to talk to me and see me as an educator. This may not always be easy but I think educating not only the children but even the parents about the effects of discrimination and stereotyping could help with some of the assumptions of my neighborhood.

Observing Communication

This week's topic discusses observing communication. I observed the communication between my sister and her daughter. My niece and sister have a great relationship. They talk about everything and are very open about their feelings. During this observation, my niece was telling my sister about an incident that occurred at school. They were very open with each other about their feelings and my sister allowed my niece to express how she felt about the incident. My sister asked her probing questions so that my niece was able to think about her thinking and why she felt a certain way about the topic being discussed.
    My sister did a great job in communicating with her daughter. She supported her daughter's opinions and gave her the opportunity to express her ideas. This is very important when communicating with children (Laureate Education, 2011). My niece is a very outspoken child and this can be contributed to the encouragement my sister gives her to be herself and be proud of who she is and how she feels. My sister is an educator and she understands the importance of communication in young children. My observation of my niece and sister made me reflect on how I communicate with my own children. I often don't do a good job of supporting their opinions and allowing them to freely express themeself. I no realize how important that is after this week's lesson.

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children:Communicating

            with young children. Baltimore, MD: Author

Creating Affirming Environments

When setting up the learning environment of an early education program it is very important for teachers to choose the toys, material, and equipment that ill invite exploration and discovery. I will choose things in which the child is able to see himself in the learning environment. My center itself (welcoming stations and offices) will have posters of different types of families including those from different ethical backgrounds. The way in which parents view the center is very important. The video in this week's resources showed how important it is to support and welcome families inside the program. They should be aware of the things that are going on in the center including the antibias curriculum. Parents and children will be able to relate to the families depicted. These visuals will also depict things such as stereotypes, disabilities, and other nontraditional families.

The materials I will use in my class will follow the same guidelines. My materials will be anti-bias and will include things such as books, music, puzzles, dolls, and drawing materials. I will encourage all children to participate daily in activities and to openly express their thoughts and feelings about different subjects. The timeout/quiet room was also a good idea for a center. When children get frustrated it is important as a teacher to support their feelings and allow theme to express them comfortably.

What I Have Learned

      When working with children of diverse backgrounds, I hope that I am able to make them feel comfortable in the classroom. I hope that they are able to accept their diversity and open to sharing with others in the class about their families.

      In the field of early education, I hope that curriculum inside the class will focus not only on intellectual growth but on social issues that are faced daily. Children must be taught how to live in the world together with respect and love for all. 

    I would like to thank all my colleagues who supported commented on my post, left thoughtful insights, and shared their thoughts on the different subjects throughout the course. I also wish the best of luck to you all as we end this class and start the next!

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

These pictures represent the way I see cultural diversity. 

We Don't Say Those Words in Class

   I can recall a trip that my children and I took to Washington, D. C. This was the first trip I had taken them on outside of the south. They were so excited about going. Before we left, we discussed the different things that we would see including the buildings and historical places. It never crossed my mind to discuss the culture differences that they would experience. On our first day there, I had to go to the mall to get some items that I had forgotten to pack. As I hurried through the store, my youngest as mesmerized at how big the mall was and more amazed at the people. She began to say things like "O Mama! What language are they speaking?" and "O Lord! That black man is kissing that white woman." Quickly, I cupped my hand over her mouth because she speaking loud enough for everyone to hear her. I scolded her and was very upset with her.
  I now realize that she was simply not accustomed to the diversity that can be seen in bigger cities. She had never really heard different languages and experienced interracial dating. My reaction made her feel as if she had done something wrong by merely pointing out some differences. An anti-bias educator would have used this moment to teach diversity and how different areas of the country have different characteristics. This was also a chance to discuss interracial dating and the diversity of some students in the class.

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

I am torn between my opinion of including books dealing with sexual orientation in early childhood centers. One side of me feels that sexual orientation is a natural occurrence that most children that young have not considered and that including books like that would only confuse them more. On the other hand, there are many children who live in homes that may have two moms or two dads. Because of this, I think that it is important to educate all children about society and how families come in different ways. Including books like this will also help a child who live in a homosexual household. They will feel accepted and not different because of the sexual orientation of their parents. I compare this also to children who come from single parent homes. These children are embraced and this type of family unit is taught in early childhood curriculum.; therefore families that have two moms/dad should be shown as a type of family in today's society. 

I have experienced a situation in which an adult called a small child "gay." This irritated me and I automatically went into defense mode for the child. I asked the adult what made him say these things and how he would have felt if he was in that child's position. The things that the child was doing were inappropriate (playing with baby dolls, putting on girl jewelry, and women shoes) for a little boy; but instead of insulting him with name calling, I told the adult that it would be more effective to tell him/teach him  what little boys should do. I think that this situation itself did not effect the young boy because he had no idea what "gay" meant. From that point on, I began to teach gender specific things such as women wear high heels, and little girls wear costume jewelry. 

Collaboration Appreciation

This has truly been a great 8 weeks! I have enjoyed reading the posts and personal experience of each of my classmates. I am very appreciative of the feedback that I have gotten on my blog and in the discussions. I have learned so much about communication and the need for effective communication.

 I hope that I have said something that will inspire each of my classmates to continue of the this journey of education. I know that I have learned things about myself that will help me as I aspire to be a educator in this field.

I hope that your journey here continues to be successful and that we get the opportunity to EFFECTIVELY communicate again in the future.

Adjourning

Sometimes we become members of groups that are effective and efficient. These groups are often hard to say goodbye and are very rare in life. I have had the privilege of being parts of groups that I wish I did not have to say goodbye to. The adjourning part of team development was emotional. I was a volunteer at a soup kitchen. During this time I worked with a team to provide meals to less fortunate people. I enjoyed every minute of it. We faced some difficult times during the summer but the team I was working with made it worth while. At the close of the program, I was recognized as a shining star. This made me feel so special and made it even harder to say goodbye.
Leaving a team can be just as hard as being part of a team. I think as I finish my courses here at Walden leaving my team will not be as hard but will always be apart of me as I continue my career and education and as professional educator.

Resolving Conflict

I recently had a conflict with a close friend of mine. I asked her to help with a church program that I was unable to attend. I did all the behind the scene work and communicated with her throughout the process. She never said that she had a problem with helping but when it was time for to print the programs she came up with every excuse. This really made me mad and I have not really talked to her since. After this week's lesson I hope that the skills I have learned in conflict resolution will help me mend my friendship. The skills taught in the Third Side article may be effective her because I may need to look at it in a different way and hope to find a resolution so that our friendship can be saved.

Who Am I as a Communicator?

I took three different surveys to evaluate who I am as a communicator. The results did not surprise me, in fact, I knew exactly what things I need to change in order to improve my communication skills. The three surveys indicated that I was a good listener (too good sometimes), too aggressive at time, and show little levels of anxiety. I also let two other people evaluate my communication style and their results were very close to mine. The fact that the survey showed that i had a level of aggression was surprising because I only show aggression toward people are know on a personal level. I have never become aggressive in my professional job settings. These surveys showed that there are more elements to communication other than simply talking. 

After taking the surveys I plan to improve my style by being more aware of my aggression towards others and not becoming emotionally involved to quick. I think that this will overall improve my professional abilities as a future early childhood teacher. 

Communication and Culture Diversity

Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?

Yes, I often find myself communicating different with people depending on the group and culture. When I communicate with my family and friends I use informal language and different voice tones. My family is very loud and opinionated and to some looking in you would think that we just argue and holler. It is quite funny if you did not know us but that is the way we communicate. We crack jokes, laugh, and sometimes get mad! My communication, of course, changes when I am at work. My tone changes and the words I use change. I become the active listener that was discussed in earlier lessons. I take in consideration of all people involved and do my best to relate to their feelings and ideas.  Communication with my friends is also very informal. We have known each other since elementary and we usually crack jokes and sometimes say inappropriate things that would not be acceptable any place else. 

In this week's lesson I have learned more things about communication. To improve my communication with others I will strive to be more empathetic toward others and how they feel about things. I learned that it is not always important to get my message across but to understand the message that others are trying to get across. After reading the article about nonverbal communication, I have become more conscious of my body and facial movements. Many of my friends have said that they could tell what I was thinking by the look on my face. When working with families, this is something that I need to be more aware of in the future.