Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Closing Time

It is hard to believe that 8 weeks have already come and gone. While my educational journey has just begun, I am sure that because of this foundations class, I will complete my Master's program successfully. I truly enjoyed getting to know all of my colleagues and learning about their passions regarding children. Hopefully we will all run into one another once again.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Week 7 Blog Assignment

Post three ideals contained in the NAEYC and DEC codes of ethics that are meaningful to you, and explain their significance to your professional life

NAEYC Ideals:

1.)    To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

This ideal speaks to me because I have to follow it on a daily basis in my professional career. I work at an NAEYC accredited facility so I have to follow both the NAEYC regulations and the Air Force Regulations. I find it extremely important that the staff that I work with and for (including myself) obtain the appropriate and relative knowledge regarding the early childhood field. I am always looking for ways to increase my knowledge and training and I think it makes a huge difference in my professional and personal life.

2.)    To support the right of each child to play and learn in an inclusive environment that meets the

needs of children with and without disabilities.

            This ideal is crucial in my facility and I feel that it should be everywhere. While I don’t get many children with severe disabilities in my program, we have several children with Autism and Asperger’s. Not only are these children in the same safe environments as the other children, but they are treated with respect and equality.

3.)    To create and maintain safe and healthy settings

that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and

physical development and that respect their dignity

and their contributions.

            Have safe environments is very important. It is also important that all aspects are covered. In my program, we have several different environments that meet the needs of the children. We have an art room, a computer lab, a science lab, a game room, a gymnasium, a kitchen, and I lobby and snack area.

DEC Code of Ethics:

1.)    We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all

our professional activities in order to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families

and of those with whom we work.

            This ideal speaks for itself. Integrity is a life skill that I am continuously preaching to myself and my staff. The families and children that we work with appreciate this and in turn display it as well.

2.)    We shall serve as advocates for children with disabilities and their families and for the

professionals who serve them by supporting both policy and programmatic decisions that

enhance the quality of their lives.

            Being actively involved in policy making is a new and important part of my job. I am learning a lot and I am finding great pride in knowing that I am helping make a difference.

3.)    We shall build relationships with individual children and families while individualizing the curricula and learning environments to facilitate young children’s development and learning.

Family interaction and relationships are very important to me. I put in a great deal of effort on a day to day basis insuring that I am paying the outmost attention to the children and their families that I come across. It is comforting knowing that the parents are aware of what kind of program we run and that their children are in a safe place where they are learning life skills and building relationships that will impact them for an entire lifetime.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Course Resources

Listed below are several resources that I have used and will continue to use for my Foundations of Early Childhood Studies class. The three resources that I have personally chosen can be found at the bottom of the page.

  • NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap

  • NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf

  • NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf

  • NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf

  • NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf

  • NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf

  • Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller

  • FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf


  • Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
     


  • Websites:

    • World Forum Foundation
      http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
      This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
    • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
      http://www.omep-usnc.org/
      Read about OMEP’s mission. 
    • Association for Childhood Education International
      http://acei.org/about/
      Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements. 
    •  Boys and Girls Clubs of America http://www.bgca.org
    • 4-H http://www.4-h.org
    • www.earlychildhoodnews.com