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.
- 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
Friday, September 30, 2011
Words of Inspiration and Motivation
“If the first three years of life are deprived in terms of stimulation and interaction with warm, nurturing human beings, it's going to be real tough for the child to acquire the depth and breadth of verbal language needed to build reading abilities.” –Dr. Susan Bredekamp
“Developmentally appropriate practices are ways of teaching that vary for or adapt to the age and experience of the individual learner.” –Dr. Susan Bredekamp
“Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity.” –Lyndon B. Johnson
“Poverty must not be a bar to learning and learning must offer an escape from poverty.” –Lyndon B. Johnson
“My passion was to make sure all children were taught in environments and ways that truly develop their abilities.” –Louise Derman-Sparks
“Everything I offer to the children is for their benefit, not mine.” –Raymond Hernandez MS Ed
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Personal Childhood Web
This childhood web represents all of the layers in my childhood and the people who made a significant impact in my life.
The above photo is of me and my sisters. They are still a huge part of my life and I miss them dearly. We don't see each other as often as I'd like, but they continue to make a difference in my life everyday. Family continues to be the most important thing in my life and we all share each others gratitude for one another. We are all so proud of the other and we continue to support each other through the good and the hard times.
My Mother (Tish)
My mother is apart of my web because she loves me unconditionally. There isn't a time in my childhood that I can look back on when she wasn't there for me. She played a vital role in shaping the person that I have become and I am a better person for having her in my life. I was her third and last daughter and she proves day in and day out to be "super woman". Raising three girls is no easy feat and she did so with excellent outcomes. If I ever needed anything, my mother was there. I always had clean clothes, dinner on the table, a lunch packed when I left for school, a fan at every sporting event and school play. She always supported me in every way possible. She always (and still does) made me feel special by reassuring me that I was a strong person and that I could do anything I wanted, even if it did seem unrealistic. She always reminded me that family comes first, no matter what and that family is the most valuable and important thing that anyone could have.My Father (Rick)
I was never extremely close to my father growing up. I wasn't until I became an adult that I could look back on my childhood and truly appreciate the role that he played in my life and my upbringing. It was also in my adulthood that I realized many of my strongest and most positive characteristics were indeed a result of my father. He instilled in me a strong work ethic, something that I take a great deal of pride in to this day. He taught to me never quit and to always give everything I do 100%. My father made me feel special by treating with respect and acknowledging that I was always doing the right thing.My Sister (Colleen)
Colleen is my oldest sister. There is a 6 1/2 year age difference between the two of us which can prove to be strenuous on a child. As a child I remember wanting to do everything that my sisters were doing. Despite our sisterly arguments, my sister always did a wonderful job including me and making me feel special. She always wanted what was best for me, even when we disagreed on what was considered to be the "best". My Sister (Jessica)
Jessica is my middle sister. there is a three year age difference between the two of us, and I must say, I do not envy a middle child. Jessica definitely endured getting picked on by Colleen and I and I'm thankful she doesn't resent us for it. While we weren't as close, I do feel that Jessica and I shared a sense of comrade. I served as her protector in a sense and I still haven't lost that characteristic. I always remember Jessica being so open to sharing her things with me and that always made me feel special.My best friend (Andrew)
Andrew and I were introduced to each other in 1987. One whole year after I was born and he was three years old. Our parents met at a fitness center and began sharing stories about their families. As it turned out, both of our mother's were from Ireland and our father's shared the same interest in attempting to play racquet ball. After learning that both families also had three children, our father's set up a family get-together. I, of course, do not remember our very first meeting, but I don't have a single childhood memory that doesn't involve Andrew and his family. We were the youngest of three children, so we automatically had that in common. We also shared a love for sports and activeness. We would spend hours going through our basketball card collections and pretending to be WWF wrestlers. We were inseparable throughout our entire childhood and into high school. While we live worlds apart now, we are still very close and are the best of friends. 
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Learning from Family
"If our American way of life fails the child, it fails us all" ~Perl S. Buck
The above photo is of me and my wonderful nieces, Lexie and Caroline. I was fortunate enough to be involved in their daily lives for 4 years before they moved away. We have lived in separate states for 3 years now and I've never experienced anything more difficult. Not being able to protect them from any hardships that they may endure is frustrating and makes me feel helpless at times. There isn't a day that goes by where I don't recall a memory with them in it. The two of them remind me how it feels to be a kid again and remind me how precious one's childhood really is. They also remind me why I am as passionate about the early childhood field as I am. They keep me driven to want to impact our youth and help form outstanding citizens for our future.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Welcome to my Blog!
Hello,
My name is Amanda Randall and I currently reside in Anchorage, Alaska. I was born in Japan in 1986 and moved to Germany in 1987 where I lived until 2004. I attended Central Washington University from 2004 until 2008 where I received my Bachelor's degree in Recreation Management. I grew up near a military base, both my parents were civilian government workers. I knew at a young age that I would follow in my father's footsteps and begin a career working for the military under their Morale, Welfare and Recreation department. Specifically, working with military youth. I am now an Assistant Director at a Youth Center on Elmendorf AFB where we provide an open-recreation program for youth ages 9-13. I'm very excited to be starting the Master's program in Early Childhood Studies and look forward to sharing this blog with all of my peers.
My name is Amanda Randall and I currently reside in Anchorage, Alaska. I was born in Japan in 1986 and moved to Germany in 1987 where I lived until 2004. I attended Central Washington University from 2004 until 2008 where I received my Bachelor's degree in Recreation Management. I grew up near a military base, both my parents were civilian government workers. I knew at a young age that I would follow in my father's footsteps and begin a career working for the military under their Morale, Welfare and Recreation department. Specifically, working with military youth. I am now an Assistant Director at a Youth Center on Elmendorf AFB where we provide an open-recreation program for youth ages 9-13. I'm very excited to be starting the Master's program in Early Childhood Studies and look forward to sharing this blog with all of my peers.
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