Research around the world.

    The international research topic that caught my interest was:The Status of Coordination and Supervision of Early Childhood Education in Ghana and identifing the factors that have engendered the current problems militating against the successful implementation of early childhood education.

   Some surprising facts that I gathered from this international research was in the 1990s the term "care" took on a new meaning. UNICEF began using the term in relation to nutrition programs to emphasize that good nutrition requires more than simply providing children with food. Child development involves both gradual unfolding of biologically determined characteristics and traits that arise as the child learns from experiences. Both physical growth and mental and emotional growth are crucial in a child’s overall development (Myers, 1995). However from the actually website I found that : The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) is an innovative and multifaceted approach to addressing ECD capacity building and leadership development in Africa. The ECDVU is supported by a range of international, regional and local organizations, including the employers of participants.

    To meet the ECDVU’s child and social development objectives, it employs a number of approaches to post-secondary education that are ‘non-traditional’ in nature. These include: recognizing the strengths and expertise that exist locally and regionally; incorporating these ‘voices’ and experiences into the learning process; promoting sustainable, interactive networks that reach rural as well as urban populations; and using computer technology as a means for developing strong information and communication systems within Africa.

    Other information I found on this site is that there is something being done to aid the assistance of poverty in Africa. What we see on the news or being on the outside looking in is that Africa is poor and they need " our " help like there is nothing being done so that they are able to help their own natives and it is. They have this ECDVU program that is available for the children and their families. If I wouldn't have open this site I wouldn't have never known about this program or what is being done by the natives of Ghana to help their country.

Reference
http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php ,

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

Uplifting Story

I can remember when I was a collegiate coach and it was summertime. Track season was over and recruiting season for unsigned prospects or future prospects was open, however it wasn't mandatory. As I was at my office one day I was talking to my head coach and we were discussing the amount of summer track meets we were going to host this upcoming summer. As we sat in the office and ponder I began to ask him about the tpye of programs that are actually offered for the inner city youth in Arkansas especially those that are into track and field. What made me think of this discussion was because of the research I was doing over the internet about the success level in Jonesboro compared to Little Rock, Arkansas and how involved the parents where in there children success.


Months passed and it took my interpersonal communication skills to be at the upmost high. I began to ask around the community to families I had previous met with children that was into track and field and they range from the ages of 5 to 18. Now I know it was a very wide range to deal with and to inquire about, but I was very amazed of the corporation I received. After to my face to face conversations I began to find an interest in the library and used my perks with being a collegiate coach and made a few visits to the school board. One thing I found out that was in common from all my parents I talked to was that they wanted something positive to involve their children in for the summer to keep them out of trouble and to also allow them to keep their brain working.

By the follwing summer I developed an inner city youth tutorial and track program. Alot of my athletes that stayed at the school for the summer assisted with the tutorial programs as well as with the fundamentals of track and field. I had a 6 week camp and it was free. I got so many great responses from that camp that 25 out of 40 students that attended that camp grades gotten better, they had more positive interaction with their parents, the little babies began to come out of their shell and more sociable and attentive in class and my juniros and seniors graduated and some received athletic scholarships.

I have to say my time in Arkansas wasn't the best, but when I began to work with them kids it was the highlight of my "summer" coaching career.

My personal research

         For my personal research I decided to gather information on poverty( or low-income families) and the cognitive, biosocial, and psychosocial effects it has on early childhood children and their families. The reason I chose this topic is for one I am in the early childhood field now so I am personally experiencing the effects from the children because I am with them all day. I am working with a range of families for high-income to low-income and the odd part is that I have a 3 month cousin at my childcare and her mother is in the percentile of low income so its at great interest how the state assists her with the needs of her and her child. I feel that if it wasn't for the state and their assistance 85% of our students wouldn't be enrolled in the daycare. I never thought about any of this until I actually got in the field and began working one on one. 
          So far I am learning how to gather the information from my research and it seems like I find myself having to find  a stopping point because it is so much information that is presented its hard to decide which to use as well as the information I gather on my own. I know there will always be some grayish areas when it comes to research and I am always opened for suggestions and assistance. So if anyone knows of good site, journals, and etc please feel free to share the wealth.
      Another reason I an interested in poverty is because I have a close friend that is from Africa and it touches me everytime she states how good it is to finally be an american citizen. She believes there are so much more opportunites here for her and her family and if she was still in Africa she wouldn't have dreamed to be doing the things she is doing now because of the poverty and the lack of opportunities.
          

Final Blog Assignment

I must say that it has truly been a pleasure to be a student of this class of Issues and Trends of Early Childhood and I feel as a future Early Childhood developer I have gained a lot of insight from this program that will aid me in the direction I need to go. As I reach the end of my international connection I must say that it has open my eyes to alot more than what I was expecting.....

I really feel there are a few consequences but not many when it comes to my personal and professional development of early childhood development internationally. I learned that.....
1. When it comes to my personal and professional development internationally there is a lot of opportunities for the teachers on as they continue their education.
2. I am promoting  new things within my own life as a teacher.
3. I  must be dedicated to a plan of constantly developing yourself so that you will be the best teacher that you can be.
4. Being able to participate in on-going and sustained professional development classes and endeavors.

A professional international awareness goal is get more involved with organizations and professionals from around the world and continue to discuss and advocate for all children, and to be more concerned of the poverty issue and what is being done so that it's not affecting a child's education, and finally the health and awareness of our early childhood students.

Sharing Connections Pt.3

I must say that I have really enjoyed making my international connections this semester with my friends that are over in Korea. They have really influenced me to inquire about going over there to actually see if I receive the same experience as they did or better. As we were talking I did however ask them a few questions and this were their responses.......

• What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work? Well the issues are really not being discussed they main thing they are focused on is the success of the of the child and bringing over the most qualified professionals that fit this purpose.
• What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist? Over in Koreawhat alot of people fell to realize is that there is more the enough opportunities that one can imagine that is presented. The feel the more you further your education the more doors will open for you.
• What are some of your professional goals? Some of my professional goals that I am focused on at this moment is to obtain my doctoral degree in  Education and to obtain a special education endorsement. I feel that once I return home it want be that hard for me to obtain an educational position and to work on becoming an administrator with the school board.  
• What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges? My hopes and dreams and challenges as of now is when I come home to work on becoming a childcare director and hope of opening my own childcare center . Some of my challenges is that while I am over here in Korea it is hard to get the connections I need to point me into the right direction so I am having to do a lot of internet networking rather than face to face . Another professional hope  I have is the priviledge to stay another year and teach in Korea for this has really been a good experience.

Sharing The Resources

                A link that I decided to follow was the National Association of the Education of Young we know it as the NAEYC website.  As I was exploring this particular site it lead me into many directions. Some areas that caught my attention was the public policy, the accreditation of the organizaiton, conferences,  and publications just to name a few.
             Example, I found that the NAEYC conferences bring together early childhood educators representing many roles teaching staff, program administrators, students, researchers and teacher educators to discuss the latest ideas and learn from one another. The NAEYC Annual Conference & Expo is the largest early childhood education conference in the world, where tens of thousands of educators choose from hundreds of presentations and exhibits. The 2011 NAEYC Annual Conference & Expo will be in Orlando, FL on November 2-5. With this information provided it enlighten me on what I needed to do if I wanted to participate and gather new ideals from the organization.
               Another example with the publications NAEYC offers a large selection of educational resources for early childhood professionals and others, including books, brochures, videos, posters, and periodicals. All members receive a subscription to the NAEYC print publication of their choice: Young Children or Teaching Young Children. These are just some examples on the direction these particular links lead me to.
             I found that these links did lead me to information on the understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education and the different types of programs that are offered for the assistance for the families.

Sharing Connections

          During this week I was able to talk to my international connection that was once in Japan. While he was over there he shared with me that he was over the physical education class grades Pre-k and Kindergarten as well as teaching english.. As we were talking about his students I asked him to enlighten me on the on the issues of equity and excellence.
      
                      Some of the issues he talked about was the equity and excellence that is in the program and how the district stands behind their standards and education especially early childhood. They have a strong belief of academics and attempting to close acheivement gaps.  He stated that the Japanese school district works hard to get their students academically ready and they believe more into hands on education rather than drilling the students. The is no big issue with educational values in the system ( well he hasn't experience any yet).  He began to tell me how well structure the districts are and how they have a strict curriculm ( compared to the U.S.) to excell with excellence. There schools make sure that the educator has all they need to ensure this ecxellence with the students. The parents are very active in their children education as well as active with the school especially when it comes to volunterring. 
     

              Ryan stated that he hasn't experience any money issues in the school districts and education is one of their top priorties. He also showed interest on how the students are very attentive even though he has a physical education class  and english the students were very intriged with american sports and the simple rules to the games. He shared how he realize that each moment is a teaching moment it how he gets full of joy when he here his students attempt to explain the game of kickball or t-ball which is one of their favorite games in english. He feels that the determination that the kids has when it comes to kickball they are developing good biosocial, pychosocial, and cognitive skills.


       Talking to him really made me want to inquire about teaching english over there because how he described how the teachers are valued over there and how supportive the staff and parents are. It also let me know that your are appreciated for your hard work. Now why isn't our school systems like that????