Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Consequences of learning


Consequences of learning

One of the recent pieces of information I learned was how New Zealand early childhood programs were usually ran by the Department of Social Welfare systems is now under their educational systems (Bennett, 2004, p. 1.) Another thing that I thought was very interesting was that according to Bennett (2004), New Zealand is lending towards home child care versus the center childcare.

Not because I own and operate a home child care facility, I really do believe that home care (for the most part) would naturally feel more like being at home versus a center. Not to put the centers down… like everything else there are pros and cons for both.  I have wished many times that I would have more space for my little ones.  When it comes to childhood development and the educational systems, this particular website has an overwhelming amount of data concerning what appears to be any and every kind of information on early childhood development. However what I found by way of UNESCO (http: //www.unesco.org/new/en/.) to be very helpful as well as informative and that is “The International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP)” This organization has several themes sections that provides information about educational planning, quality and excellence,  equity and access,  and financial status of the educational systems, The IIEP is equally involved and committed to providing the necessary tools needed to help all children throughout the entire world. 

This website can provide current information on just about any subject relating the needs of young children. It is most obvious that IIEP is working to ensure a greater opportunity for young children to develop into healthy and positive adults.  However, there is still much work to be done. According to Felicia Wilson (2002), “In the last ten years many advances were made to increase the awareness on the value of girls’ education and enrollment and retention has improved. While many countries have made progress toward achieving gender equality in education (Hyde 2001), girls continue to face many obstacles that impede their path to learning. Factors include discrimination on the basis of sex; unequal rates of investments by governments” (Felicia Wilson, 2002, p. 2).  Although I am not totally surprise that in young female in certain parts of Africa at this day and age are still fighting for the rights and especially for the right to attend school. 

I am deeply moved at how so many people, organizations, and groups of individuals who are working together all across the world in trying to make leaning, growing and living in our world  a better journey for our young children. It is my plan and hopes to continue to keep up with what is going on nationally in the field of early childhood, and it is also my

plan to research as to try to find out how I can help with this very important cause…

 

References:

Bennett, J., Directorate for Education OECD (2004). Early Childhood Education Policy Brief on Early Childhood: Curriculum in Early Childhood Education and Care.

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization [sic] http://www.unesco.org/new/en/./new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/access-and-equity/#topPage (nd).

Wilson, F., (2002). Gender Based Violence in South African

Schools: Working document.

Saturday, December 15, 2012

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3


 
 
 
   Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

Frist; I want to send my love; prayers, and condolences to the families whose lives have been unlawfully changed due to the Connecticut shootings.
Home-Based Early Childhood Services: The Case of New Zealand

 While reviewing the United Nations Educational

Scientific and Cultural Organisation[sic] (UNESCO) Early Childhood Care and Education website; I was particularly interested in the article concerning New Zealand’s position on early child care.  According to the information in this particular article, where the welfare program use to be in charge of early child care programs, are not under the supervision of their educational systems.

“Prior to 1986 in New Zealand, the Department of Social Welfare was mainly responsible for administration of home-based early childhood services. In 1986, responsibility for childcare (including home-based services) moved formally from the Department of Social Welfare to the Department of Education” (Valerie N. Podmore, 2002, p.1). What also caught my eye was that according to Podmore (2002) much more focus is on the “home base child care,” versus the “Play center” (we call center-base). According to Podmore’s survey chart, from 1990 to 2001 a drastic change in parent choosing home base center versus the play centers. Parents, especially parents with newborn want their child’s beginning years to be in a more home type environment setting versus a center type setting (p. 1). I believe that this particular setting is really becoming the trend for childcare… I certainly hope so.   

Curriculum in Early Childhood Education and Care

“Early childhood education and care (ECEC) poses a dilemma for curriculum designers” (John Bennett, 2004, p. 1), the information in this particular article is focusing on how to go about designing a curriculum that will be able to accomplish providing each young child with a personal educational plan, but yet not to interfere with the child’s natural flow of learning. 

A second concern is that without certain guidelines and or educational guidance could leave those who have not had the proper or current training lacking the qualification of providing quality teaching desired by the educational system (p. 1). According to Bennett (2004), those who are investing in the early childhood educational system will need to come up with a curriculum design that will provide teachers/educators with the helpful and needed educational information guidelines in teaching and planning individual educational needs to the young children without interfering with the child’s natural learning abilities (John Bennett, 2004, p. 2).  

“Partners”

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation[sic] (UNESCO) has dedicated a full page to organizations and partners who are themselves dedicated to making the educational needs for young children are an easier at a much easier access and are of the highest quality. There are a great number of organizations the following information is about one of the many listed organizations:

International Step by Step Association (ISSA) is an innovative network of early childhood development professionals and organizations primarily in Central Eastern Europe and Central Asia, working to make quality early childhood education accessible to all children” (Para 13, 1995-2012).

ISSA is an organization of members who are working together for the purpose that all children in the world have an opportunity to receive the highest quality educational needs there are available. I highly recommend a tour of this particular website to learn what the members of this organization are doing for the betterment of young children.

 

References:

Bennett, J., Directorate for Education OECD (2004). Early Childhood Education Policy Brief on Early Childhood: Curriculum in Early Childhood Education and Care.

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation[sic]

Podmore, V., Institute for Early Childhood Studies (2002). Home-Based Early Childhood Services: The Case of New Zealand: Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation[sic]

Saturday, December 8, 2012

The Art of Playing


Interesting/Informative Website

National Association for the Education of Young Children-promoting excellence in early childhood education; 1313 L St. N. W. Suite 500, Washington DC

2005 (202) 232-8777; Webmaster@naeyc.org

I found this website very interesting for many reasons. However, for this particular assignment, I felt that the subject of “play” is not only fun, but very important.

“Big Body Play” (naeyc, 2012)

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (2012) “Big body play”—the sometimes rowdy, always very physical running, rolling, climbing, tagging, jumping, grabbing, and wrestling that most children love and many adults try to shut down—can and should be an integral part of every early childhood setting.”

This particular website offers a variety of reading material (mostly books for purchasing) of different types of healthy and necessary play for young children.

“Karen Nemeth is an author, speaker, consultant and blogger on early childhood language development. She's developed her expertise in toy selection” (2012); Karen offers ten (10) of her favorite  play activities for toddlers and preschoolers:

 

“1. Measuring cups and spoons to shake, rattle, and roll

 

2. Plastic containers to stack, fill, and empty

 

 3. Washcloth to hide a surprise, wave in the air, or help with cleanup

 

4. Ball of yarn or ball of socks that can go far and do no damage

 

5. Clean 2-liter soda bottle with label off, filled with beads, pebbles, jingle bells, etc., and safely sealed

 

 6. Blankie

 

7. Your keys (*to jingle and shake, not to give to baby)

 

 8. Disposable-diaper box turned into seat, sled, drum, hiding place

 

 9. Upside down pots and pans (best if used with metal measuring cups for really loud rhythm jam sessions)

 

 10. Your lap!” (Para 10)

 This website offers a large variety of play for young children of all ages. The website also provides excellent reading material (books of all kinds) on different play from infant to the primary age… Check it out and tell me what you think!

 

 

 National Association for the Education of Young Children (2012). Webmaster@naeyc.org

Nemeth K., R., (2012) Blog for naeyc

Interesting/Informative Website

National Association for the Education of Young Children-promoting excellence in early childhood education; 1313 L St. N. W. Suite 500, Washington DC

2005 (202) 232-8777; Webmaster@naeyc.org

I found this website very interesting for many reasons. However, for this particular assignment, I felt that the subject of “play” is not only fun, but very important.

“Big Body Play” (naeyc, 2012)

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (2012) “Big body play”—the sometimes rowdy, always very physical running, rolling, climbing, tagging, jumping, grabbing, and wrestling that most children love and many adults try to shut down—can and should be an integral part of every early childhood setting.”

This particular website offers a variety of reading material (mostly books for purchasing) of different types of healthy and necessary play for young children.

“Karen Nemeth is an author, speaker, consultant and blogger on early childhood language development. She's developed her expertise in toy selection” (2012); Karen offers ten (10) of her favorite  play activities for toddlers and preschoolers:

 

“1. Measuring cups and spoons to shake, rattle, and roll

 

2. Plastic containers to stack, fill, and empty

 

 3. Washcloth to hide a surprise, wave in the air, or help with cleanup

 

4. Ball of yarn or ball of socks that can go far and do no damage

 

5. Clean 2-liter soda bottle with label off, filled with beads, pebbles, jingle bells, etc., and safely sealed

 

 6. Blankie

 

7. Your keys (*to jingle and shake, not to give to baby)

 

 8. Disposable-diaper box turned into seat, sled, drum, hiding place

 

 9. Upside down pots and pans (best if used with metal measuring cups for really loud rhythm jam sessions)

 

 10. Your lap!” (Para 10)

 

 

 

 This website offers a large variety of play for young children of all ages. The website also provides excellent reading material (books of all kinds) on different play from infant to the primary age… Check it out and tell me what you think!

 

 

 National Association for the Education of Young Children (2012). Webmaster@naeyc.org

Nemeth K., R., (2012) Blog for naeyc

Interesting/Informative Website

National Association for the Education of Young Children-promoting excellence in early childhood education; 1313 L St. N. W. Suite 500, Washington DC

2005 (202) 232-8777; Webmaster@naeyc.org

I found this website very interesting for many reasons. However, for this particular assignment, I felt that the subject of “play” is not only fun, but very important.

“Big Body Play” (naeyc, 2012)

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (2012) “Big body play”—the sometimes rowdy, always very physical running, rolling, climbing, tagging, jumping, grabbing, and wrestling that most children love and many adults try to shut down—can and should be an integral part of every early childhood setting.”

This particular website offers a variety of reading material (mostly books for purchasing) of different types of healthy and necessary play for young children. Not only does this website offer valuable information about play, it also offers excellence reading material concerning the holistic development of the young child.  I highly recommend a visit to this site, and if you do decide to visit this site, please tell me what you think…

 


According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (2012) “Big body play”—the sometimes rowdy, always very physical running, rolling, climbing, tagging, jumping, grabbing, and wrestling that most children love and many adults try to shut down—can and should be an integral part of every early childhood

 


According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (2012) “Big body play”—the sometimes rowdy, always very physical running, rolling, climbing, tagging, jumping, grabbing, and wrestling that most children love and many adults try to shut down—can and should be an integral part of every early childhood setting.”

This particular website offers a variety of reading material (mostly books for purchasing) of different types of healthy and necessary play for young children. Not only does this website offer valuable information about play, it also offers excellence reading material concerning the holistic development of the young child.  I highly recommend a visit to this site, and if you do decide to visit this site, please tell me what you think…

 

Interesting/Informative Website

National Association for the Education of Young Children-promoting excellence in early childhood education; 1313 L St. N. W. Suite 500, Washington DC

2005 (202) 232-8777; Webmaster@naeyc.org

I found this website very interesting for many reasons. However, for this particular assignment, I felt that the subject of “play” is not only fun, but very important.

“Big Body Play” (naeyc, 2012)

According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children, (2012) “Big body play”—the sometimes rowdy, always very physical running, rolling, climbing, tagging, jumping, grabbing, and wrestling that most children love and many adults try to shut down—can and should be an integral part of every early childhood setting.”

This particular website offers a variety of reading material (mostly books for purchasing) of different types of healthy and necessary play for young children. Not only does this website offer valuable information about play, it also offers excellence reading material concerning the holistic development of the young child.  I highly recommend a visit to this site, and if you do decide to visit this site, please tell me what you think…

 

Friday, November 30, 2012


Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University:

GLOBAL CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE

 

I am pleased to say that one of my personal dreams for the betterment of early childhood development is to have a stronger research team. I my reviewing the “Harvard University’s ‘Global Children’s Initiative’ website, I truly believe that the university is headed in the right direction. For example, The Center’s mission clearly states: “

“Drawing on the full breadth of intellectual resources available across Harvard University’s graduate schools and affiliated hospitals, the Center generates, translates, and applies knowledge in the service of improving life outcomes for children in the United States and throughout the world. Specifically, the Center is committed to:

·        Building a unified science of health, learning, and behavior to explain the early roots of lifelong

         impairments;

·        Leading the design, implementation, and evaluation of innovative program and practice models

        that reduce preventable disparities in well-being;

·        Catalyzing the implementation of effective, science-based public policies through strategic relationships

         and knowledge transfer; and

·        Preparing future and current leaders to build and leverage knowledge that promotes the healthy

        development of children and families and brings high  

        returns to all of society (The Center on the Developing  

       Child at Harvard University” (2006, p. 1).

What I am understanding in the teams’ commitment is that all areas of development is extremely important starting from the top of the child’s head (interior as well as exterior) to the bottom of the child’s feet.  In other words,  making sure that the child is able to do math, recognize and apply the proper English, to become fluent in  reading, and attain  and sustain the proper social skills is all good , However,  (Harvard University, 2009) many situations (some positive some negative) will occur during childhood development.  According to reports of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University’s studies (2009; media coverage video), “toxic stress” is the most serious type of stress for all developing children.  It appears that this particular type of stress is most harmful because the young child is exposed to repeatedly to certain type of crisis without any or very little relief.  

For example, if a child experiences repeated child abuse; family violence and so on will definitely create a negative effect the developmental growth of the young child. According to the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2009), research and early intervention program may provide the necessary tools to intervene situations as such. What I find encouraging is that this particular organization is working for the betterment of “all children of the world” (2009, p. 1). I highly recommend reviewing the Center on the Developing Child: Global, Children’s Initiative, there is so much information it is almost overwhelming. However, the data, in  my opinion, is very enlightening.  

 

Reference:

The Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University: Global, Children’s Initiative (2006).(http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/ ;WWW. DEVELOPINGCHILD.HARVARD.EDU

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Sharing Web Resources


Sharing Web Resources

Greetings follow colleagues; I am really impressed with the website http://www.waece.org/index.php.  This particular website is full of so much information, I honestly believe that to cover all the material this website offers would take at least six months to a year (either that or I am just plain slow). What I also love about this website is that no matter what blog assignment we are given, I have been able to find very interesting up-to-date data concerning early childhood development, for example, the article " Invertir en mejorar la infancia tiene una rentabilidad del 10% anual ". "Investing in improving child has a 10% annual return." James Heckman, Premio Nobel de Economía James Heckman, Nobel Laureate in Economics.  

This particular article is in line with week 4 discussions, as well the blog assignment. In this particular article Dr. Heckman was interviewed by, “Workshop organized by MOVE Research Center, a consortium of the Generalist de Cataclunya and the UAB, directed by Professor Salvador Barbara.” (MOVE, Reach Center, Para 1), the panel directed five of the most hot-topic questions concerning childhood development.  Mr. Hackman was asked his professional opinions on the following: “inequality”; the “influenced by genetics?” what is the contribution of the family in the future the capabilities and behavior of; “How, if any, will the economy affect the young child’s future?” and “Are there any gains for those who invest in early childhood?”(Para 1-6).

According to Mr. Hackman,   

1.    “Research shows that the family plays a very important role in the origins of poverty, and inequality has a huge family component.  We are beginning to understand what is the contribution of the family in the future the capabilities and behavior of children and through what mechanisms influence plays.” (Hackman, Para 2).

2.    According to Hackman (nd, Para 3) a child has a 50% chance of inheriting his or her parent’s gene, however, the other 50% comes from a variety of non-related parental genes.”  ( (Hackman nd, Para 3) 

3.    Mr. Hackman’s response to weather economics make a big difference in the success of the family union, is that the most important part of a family union is parenting, not economics” (nd, Para 4)

4.   “The status of the economy can affect the development of young children; the lack of; whatever the lack may be;  will oftentimes create a great deal of stress within a family union.” According to Hackman, (nd, Para 5) certain stressors that could, and oftentimes does cause early childhood developmental interference.” (Hackman, nd, Para 5).

5.    According to Hackman (nd, Para 6) those who invest in early childhood development are sure to have a gainful outcome? (Nd, Para 6).

I found Mr. Hackman’s responses acceptable, I agree with him, however, I was somewhat surprise to know that in his professional opinion that being poor was not an automatic pathway to failure, and nor is being rich a guarantee to a successful outcome. I totally agree.

 

References:

Heckman, J., (2012) Investing in improving child has a 10% annual return."  Nobel Laureate in Economics

http://www.waece.org/index.php

Spain

 OMEP Comité Nacional Español

 World Association of Early Childhood Educators

 Juan Sanchez

 Email: jsm@waece.orgex.php. 

Saturday, November 17, 2012


Getting to know your international contacts

Well so far I have not heard from any of the contacts, However, I have to admit that at this point I am happy because the situation has given me the opportunity to re the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s page: http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/.

The country in which I decided to read about is Saharan –Africa.  Before reading about the hardship; (with no disrespect to this country), I use word hardship loosely and think because I still am having a hard time grasping what this country is going through. We were to share at least three insights or ideas in which we have gained from studying the website. Frist of all, even though I know that many counties suffer from poverty, and I also am fully aware of the word and the meaning of poverty. In fact my mother told me that when my sibling and I were growing up that we were poor, which was to my surprise because I never felt the distresses of being poor. (I realized that my mother was so good at making do until we never knew that we were going without).

After reading about Saharan, I have come to believe that (with all due respect, and not to minimize the condition of being poor) families living under the condition of being poor, is not a match for those families living in poverty. This particular article proved an overwhelming amount of information so much so until I found myself highlighting almost every sentence. However, I think what impacted me the most is how much we take for *granted (I know this is not a unfamiliar phrase). I am a die-hard for children staying in school and making seeking higher education a lifelong commitment. However, according to the researchers:

·        Most of the children are doing well if they are able to stay in school until the third grade. Many of the children as young as five years of age will take on a job just to help put food on their places.

·        Sometimes girls are married off at a young age just to help bring in money.

·        Many children are not able to be seen by a doctor for healthy checkups, let alone when they are ill and need to see a doctor. Many children die before their fifth birthday.

·       Many of the children’s death were curable if the children were able to have received medical attention.

I think what thoroughly impacted almost to tears is that many times there is not clear water… (Harper, Marcus, Wordofa, Rebelo, Nang’Wale Oulanyah, et al, 1998, pp 6, 14, & 47).

I know that I have to find out how I can help stamp out poverty if not all over the world at least from in my own town, community and or neighborhood.

 

 

Reference:

(Harper, Marcus, Wordofa, Rebelo, Nang’Wale Oulanyah, et l,

1998, pp. 6, 14, 47). CHILD POVERTY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA (pp.1-56).

Friday, November 9, 2012

current issue/trend


Changing Demographics and Diversity

 

There are so many websites concerning early childhood and the subject of changing demographics and diversity, and it appears to me that no matter which I should chose to discuss and share with my colleagues, I am sure that I will peak every now and then on the progress of some of the sites I did not keep. However in the meantime I would like to share with the website in which I have chosen and in which I hope to become very familiar as well as take part of. Although I am anticipating  to hear from at least one of the sites in which I attempted to contact, I have not yet heard from any, and that includes me signing up for those site were offering newsletters. I have chosen the website:


Juan Sanchez

Email: jsm@waece.org

Since I have not yet received any responses I think that the above website will be a great place to explore. This website has so much information until it is somewhat overwhelming, the website information can be translated into several different languages. Since I am trying to keep up with my Spanish for me it works out perfectly. Although there are tons of subtitles to have chosen from, I chose one concerning early childhood education. This is an example of this particular information: 
Los primeros años de la infancia constituyen un periodo de notable transformación y gran vulnerabilidad del niño."The early childhood years are a time of remarkable transformation and extreme vulnerability. Los programas que contribuyen a la atención y educación de los pequeños antes de su ingreso en la escuela primaria, permiten sentar bases sólidas para su aprendizaje y desarrollo ulteriores. Programs that contribute to the care and education of young before they enter primary school, allow a solid foundation for further learning and development. Esos programas, además, contribuyen a mitigar las desventajas y la exclusión, ofreciendo así un medio para salir de la pobreza. These programs also help to mitigate the disadvantages and exclusion, thus providing a way out of poverty.

Este Informe se centra en el Objetivo 1 de la Educación para Todos, cuya consecución exige de los países que desarrollen y mejoren la atención y educación de la primera infanci (AEPI), esto es, el conjunto de servicios en materia de salud, nutrición y cuidados que se proporcionan a los niños pequeños, además de la educación.This report focuses on the Objective 1 of the Education for All, which calls for countries to develop and improve the care and education of the first infanci (ECCE), that is, the set of services in health, nutrition and care provided to young children, in addition to education.

Aunque son los niños de medios desfavorecidos los que mayores beneficios obtienen de la AEPI, son pocos los países en desarrollo y los organismos donantes que le dan prioridad. Although children from disadvantaged backgrounds who obtained greater benefits of ECCE, few developing countries and donor agencies that prioritize."

Report 2007

Bases sólidas: atención y educación de la primera infancia Strong foundations: care and early childhood education

I tried to follow the link on for the “full report” but was not able

Full report

Descargue el informe completo o por secciones: Download the full report or sections:

·         Panorámica Panorama


·         Capítulos Chapters










 

References:

Monitoring Report of the EFA Global

Original Spanish text:

UNESCO » Educación » Informe de Seguimiento de la Educación para Todos en el Mundo » Informes


Juan Sanchez

Email: jsm@waece.org