Week 2

     Last week I selected the website “Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families” (http://www.zerotothree.org). I chose this website because infant and toddler development is close to my heart. I have two sons, 3 years old and 10 months old. The mission statement and organization’s focus is one main reason I chose this website. “To ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. We know that as babies, the way we are held, talked to and cared for teaches us about who we are and how we are valued. This profoundly shapes who we will become (Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families).” I am always looking for good resources professionally and personally. While researching this website I signed up for a monthly e-newsletter called, “From Baby to Big Kid.” This “e-newsletter offers researched-based information on how children learn and grow each month from birth to age 3. The monthly

e-newsletters include:

• Age-based information about child development
• In-depth articles on common child-rearing issues and challenges
• Parent-child play activities that promote bonding and learning
• Frequently asked questions
• Research on child development and what it means for parents”

(Zero to Three, 2014)

     In the first e-newsletter that I was sent there were several topics featured. I chose to look closer at “Spotlight on: Listening Skills. Taking a closer look at how babies are now able to understand much more than ever before. These important listening (or receptive language) skills will help babies learn to use spoken language.” I chose this topic since language barriers have been a topic of discussion in this class. The website provides a developmental chart showing what babies can do and ways to connect with them. The website then discusses different listening skills a child should be performing at different months of age. In addition, the website provides ideas to help children develop strong language skills. I found this helpful because it gave specific fun activities to do with children which help promote language skills.

References

Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families (2014). Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org

Week 1

Professional Contacts and Web Resources

When establishing my two professional contacts I first thought about personal contacts that I already have. My husband works overseas and has had the pleasure of meeting many people from different areas. I met a wife of one of his co-workers who is a teacher in Thailand. I am currently in the process of establishing a professional connection with his wife. I have been texting back and forth with her husband who is in Afghanistan and am waiting to receive her e-mail address.

For my second contact I used our blog resource link for this week’s assignment. After looking at several websites I chose to contact:

Narmandakh Adiya

Mongolia
Mongolian Foundation for Open Society Step by Step Program

I chose this contact because when looking over the website I read, “The Step by Step methodology is active in 267 classrooms and in 53 kindergarten rooms. Also, 300 teachers implementing the program deliver the concepts of child-centered methodology to over 1,355 kindergarten teachers through in-service training (Mongolian Foundation for Open Society Step by Step Program). ” This is interesting to me because I have been teaching kindergarten for 5 years and would love to learn about other kindergartens! I am currently in the process of establishing this connection and am looking forward to hearing back through email.

After reviewing Early Childhood related websites in the United States I chose to further explore the website Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. I chose this website because infant and toddler development is close to my heart. The mission statement is one main reason I chose this website. “To ensure that all babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. We know that as babies, the way we are held, talked to and cared for teaches us about who we are and how we are valued. This profoundly shapes who we will become (Zero to Three National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families).” The website had a lot of great information on young children. Under each main tab (behavior & development, maltreatment, care & education, and public policy) there are several links with specialized information, which is great! There are also monthly newsletters that provide detailed information. I am excited to use this website to help further my education in early childhood studies.

Week 8

“Recognize that children and adults achieve their full potential in the context of relationships that are based on trust and respect.”

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment.

Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

I chose this quote because I firmly believe as an educator that it is our responsibility to allow children to achieve their fullest potential and have them feel successful. Through experience and research I have found that trusting and respecting children is the best way to do this. In my kindergarten class, I practice this daily and allow my students to explore and develop at their own pace to reach their fullest potential.

"To teach is to touch a life forever."

            -Anonymous Author

I have always loved this quote.  As a teacher, I touch the lives of my students every time I interact with them. It is my goal to have a positive impact on all the children in my care. By doing this, I can shape lives, which can have a lasting effect on society.

Week 6

“Standardized tests have been a part of American education since the mid-1800s. Their use skyrocketed after 2002's No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) mandated annual testing in all 50 states.” (Procon.org, 2013).  The big question among so many educators is, are standardized tests benefiting American children? I believe it is important to do a multitude of assessments. It is important to do authentic and formal/standardized assessments. Some students may not show what they have learned through a standardized test. I know growing up that I had a lot of anxiety when tested formally and never showed my true potential. I was very lucky to have teachers that used authentic assessments; observed me in the classroom, looked at projects and homework, and did teacher created assessments. Assessments are needed in classrooms for teachers to know if students have mastered what is being taught. Sometimes a teacher thinks he/she is teaching content the best way possible but in reality the students do not understand and he/she needs to change the approach. The move to pay teachers based on standardized test scores is concerning to me. I do not believe teachers’ pay should be a reflection of this. I do understand some of the thought process to having standardized testing, but is important that all areas are being assessed on the same level and the same information.

I chose to research standardized testing in China. I chose China due to their known high scores on tests. In my research I found that China puts a lot of emphasis on standardized testing. A great example of this is the Gaokao standardized test. This test is taken very seriously. It determines whether or not a student will attend college. If a student does not do well on this test he/she will not be attending college. “Chinese teenagers spend 8-10 hours a day for four years in preparation. High School in China has one purpose: test prep. There is no curriculum outside of the test (which tests math, English, Chinese, as well as a chosen subject like chemistry or political correctness). There is no life outside of the test. It is a high stakes, No Child Left Behind dream” (Levy, 2011). I found that in China schools put a lot of emphasis on memorization and standardized testing. Teaching just to a test…is this really helping the Chinese culture?

Procon.org. (2013). Is the Use of Standardized Tests Improving Education in

America? Retrieved from http://standardizedtests.procon.org/#background

Levy, M. (2011). What I learned from China’s Schools. Retrieved from

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-levy/what-i-learned-from-china_b_872126.html

Week 4

Stressors and the Effects on Child Development 

There are many types of stressors that can impact a child’s development and identity. From the list, (war, poverty, racism, natural disaster, isolation, hunger, noise, chaos, disease, environmental pollution, and violence) I chose to focus on isolation. I chose isolation because of my grandma’s childhood. My grandmother and her siblings were put into an orphanage when she was a young child. She is the youngest of five and was separated from her siblings. This was very hard on my grandmother and while trying to deal with her separation with shyness and sadness she was isolated from others in the orphanage. Being isolated brought so much stress on my grandmother it affected her in many ways. One story that breaks my heart is her bed-wetting story. She was very stressed about the isolation from others that she would wet the bed at night. When doing so she was abused by the adults and made to change her own sheets in the middle of the night, crying. As she grew older she knew she had to compensate for the isolation that was brought upon by her shyness. She began breaking out of her shell and became very nice and kind to everyone. She was eventually adopted and continued to be kind and compassionate. To this day my grandmother is one of the nicest and giving people I know. Unfortunately, my grandmother did not have a resources or support while her isolation took place or while she was compensating for the isolation, she did it all on her own. She is an amazing lady!

I chose the country Mexico to research child stressors. I found that a big stressor for children living in Mexico is poverty. “More than 20 million children and adolescents in Mexico are estimated to live in poverty, and five million of them in extreme poverty” (UN News Centre, 2013). Poverty impacts children by limiting resources available, such as quality health care, nutritious food, adequate shelter, and education. “The study highlights how child poverty is very damaging to the individuals and the country overall. “When children live in poverty it can have an irreversible impact on their development, and increases the probability of being passed on to future generations,” UNICEF said in a news release” (UN News Centre, 2013). UNICEF is an organization trying to help minimize the harm of poverty on children in Mexico. “UNICEF is working to more fully understand how and where children are experiencing poverty, to allow a more nuanced set of policy responses in national mechanisms such as poverty-reduction strategies. UNICEF has various on-going projects and tools related to child poverty measurement and influencing policies and programming that address child poverty” (UNICEF, 2013). 

 

References:

UN News Centre. (2013). The Majority of Poor in Mexico are Children. Retrieved

from http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=44549#.UpFzxI3HSM8

UNICEF. (2013). Child Poverty and Social Protection. Retrieved from

http://www.unicef.org/socialpolicy/index_childpoverty.html

Week 2

 Breastfeeding

     This week’s readings focused on public health topics that affect children’s development in different areas around the world. I chose the public heath topic of breastfeeding. I chose breastfeeding because I know the many benefits it provides a child’s development, and I am currently breastfeeding my 8 week old son. I also breastfed my toddler until he was 17 months and feel this is a significant reason why he is so healthy. I researched breastfeeding in Australia to study their recommendations and rates of occurrence over the years. The Australian Breastfeeding Association recommends women exclusively breastfeed for 6 months, then continue to breastfeed along with food until 2 years and beyond. Australians are unfortunately seeing a decrease in breastfeeding.  “Statistics from the 2010 Australian National Infant Feeding Survey indicate that 96% of mothers initiate breastfeeding. Thereafter, exclusive breastfeeding rates drop off. Less than half (39%) of babies are still being exclusively breastfed to 3 months (less than 4 months) and less than one quarter (15%) to 5 months (less than 6 months)” (Australian Breastfeeding Association, 2013). The Australian Breastfeeding Association explains all of the benefits to the child when breastfeeding takes place such as infection rate decrease, antibodies increased, more efficient immune system, along with benefits for the mother (less risk of breast cancer). My research on breastfeeding in other countries may not impact my future work as a public kindergarten teacher but it reinforces my strong belief and desire to nurse my own children.

 

Australian Breastfeeding Association. (2013). Breastfeeding Rates in Australia.

Retrieved from https://www.breastfeeding.asn.au/bf-info/general-breastfeeding-information/breastfeeding-rates-australia

Week 1

A home birth versus a controlled and/or clinical setting birth for expecting mothers can be a hard decision. It did surprise me that 100% of births in the United States do take place in a controlled setting where as outside of the United States the majority of births occur at home. The more I read during my last pregnancy I felt as if many more moms began talking as if they wanted a home birth. I think this would be a nice experience but I believe hospitals have made it a great experience for families also. I have had good experiences at hospitals and for me it was critical to be in that controlled environment each time due to complications.

            Thinking about a personal birthing experience, I think about my three deliveries. I have had two c-sections with my two boys and one vaginal stillbirth with my daughter. My first son was born two and half years ago and I feel as if I remember it like it was yesterday. A specific memory I have from this event was when I turned to my husband said we need to do what the doctors says and do a c-section. I remember feeling scared and unsure but knowing we needed to do it for the health of our son. Everything during surgery went well yet my son ended up in the NICU. I choose this event because it was my first personal experience with birth and it was an amazing life altering experience. A child’s development begins at birth. I believe a bond between a mother and child is the start for this development and is very important.

            I chose to research birthing in the country of Chile. I learned that there has been a rise in caesarean births over the years. The majority of these c-sections are taking place in public settings. It is believed that cultural factors have pushed the increasing rate. “A very hierarchical health system where users have no higher incidence, the idea that using more intervention is synonymous of better health care, the idea that birth is dangerous and must be controlled by specialists, and a great fear of childbirth in general (hazardous event) and pain during treatment, among others” (womendeliver.org). Chile is rated 4^th globally for c-section rates. Relating Chile’s preferred birth methods to my own personal experience there are some similarities and differences. I had two c-sections as many of the women in Chile do but I did not consent to the c-sections due to cultural beliefs. It was medically necessary for me.  I did find it interesting that the article states, “frequently in our caesareans: after birth the newborn child is almost immediately taken outside the pavilion” (womendeliver.org). This is different than my experience. My doctor and hospital are big believers in the mother and child bond. My first son due to medical reasons was not with me the entire time but my second son was with me and my husband the entire time with skin to skin and nursing as soon as I was able. I think this critical bonding time is important in a child’s development yet not damaging if it doesn’t happen.

http://www.womendeliver.org/updates/entry/voices-of-advocates-part-2-caesarean-births-chile