Sharing Web Resources

National Black Child Development Institute

Dr. DeHaney is the CEO of the national black child development institute (NBCDI).  She and other leaders in early childhood education field joined in a podcast to discuss poverty due to the economic downturn this past decade.  The discussion also included how schools and communities need to come together in new ways to combat the affects of poverty in their communities.  Realizing that schools are a pivotal part of helping families is an important part of addressing issues such as poverty.  Economic recovery is the main issue highlighted on the http://www.nbcdi.org/news/early-childhood-education-takes-center-stage-clinton-global-initiative website. This project is called the Global Clinton Initiative. 

As a whole the organization provides scholarships to children and works with black children from ages birth to age 8.  They are also involved with preparing teachers for teaching and students for college.  They are a country wide organization but have local branches all over the US.

The success of low income children is the primary goal for the organization. 

References: http://www.nbcdi.org/

"It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men."

- Frederick Douglass 

 

Establishing and Expanding Resources

Establishing Professional Contacts

Trying to contact correspondence with the provided resources was sure a challenge!  I, like some of my colleagues, used social media as an alternative to contacting others around the world.  Through facebook, I found an old friend from college that teaches in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates and is willing to participate in this journey with me!  I must say after hours of searching I am grateful for her willingness to help and her co-workers as well.

Expanding Resources

The organizations that I have chosen to subscribe to are NAEYC and NBCDI (National Black Child Development Institiute).  I chose these two because NAEYC has contributed some great articles to the research I have put into assignments for this program.  NBCDI is an organization that I am just getting familiar with and most of my students are black and many of the issues and trends of today affect black children.  I thought it would be an appropriate organization and applicable to my classroom now. The also have a facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/nbcdi

My Supports!!!!

My Supports

The supports in my daily environment include my parents, my boyfriend and the two friends I confide in Vanessa and Jenn.  Along with the people that support me, I do pray.  When I’m feeling stressed or I’m happy or I just need to talk, I pray.  It is something that centers me and allows me to sleep at night.   My family and religion are some of the most important things in my life, I would not be able to live without them.  If either were ever to leave me, I would be a lost depressed soul.  Good thing for me God says “I will never leave you nor forsake you”!!!!

A Challenge I might have in the near future will be buying a new car.  I’m sure everyone knows that buying a new car comes with negotiations, dealing with a salesman who probably is not that trustworthy, figuring out down payments and getting a loan but also trying to get a good deal.  For this challenge I would need someone to be with me that is knowledgeable about cars and buying them, someone I can trust and someone that can lend me their perspective.  For support for this decision, I would go to my father and boyfriend.  My dad has taught me many things about cars, nonetheless it is important to have a man with you when you buy a car just to keep salesman on their toes.  My father or boyfriend would lend support towards making a definite decision, figuring out how much to spend and helping me to maintain the keep of the car.  If these two were not in my life I may make the wrong decision or even begin to feel overwhelmed with the facts while making a secure decision on a car. 

Relationship Reflection

 Relationship Reflection

I am blessed to have many many meaningful positive relationships in my life.  My parents have always been supportive, loving and excellent role models for my brother and me.  My grandparents have always been there to show support as well but also to spoil me and give me great advice.  I have cousins who I have grown up with that I can talk to and enjoy life with.  I have a brother who most of the time is bothering me, but I know it is because he looks up to me.  I work with 3 wonderful Pre-k teachers who are excellent collaborators, teachers and friends.  And last but not least a great boyfriend who is there for me to lean on and enjoy the rest of my life with. 

Because my parents are my parents and they I have the utmost respect and love for them, I can say that our relationship is filled with heated discussions, lots of hilarious moments and the sharing of great advice.  My parents are always looking out for me and I am at the age where i can significantly look out for them.  The key to maintaining such a great relationship is maturity on my part and unconditional love.  The love and support of my parents has gotten me through so many difficult times in life that there is no way I could ever repay them.  This gratitude and respect has been a large part of the positive and long lasting relationship that we have developed.

Having a normal mature relationship with my brother is still in question.  He is still in college and thinks he knows everything.  But when he makes a wrong choice or needs anything, I seem to be the first call he makes.  I can remember in primary school when he would be bullied because of how he looked, I would always come to him rescue.  I know that if he is ever in a position to do the same for me, he will.  This type of give and take relationship is what, I think, keeps us close and connected. 

There is not a time that my family leaves that we do not exchange hugs, kisses, and an I Love You!

 

Maintaining and developing a collaborative relationship between my co-workers and I seemed to be seamless.  We all respect each other's talents and roles.  We share a common goal.  To be the best teacher possible and to make an impact on young children and their families.  This goal, keeps us together and on the same track.  Maintaining a relationship like this requires some humility, reflection and respect.  I can proudly say that we look out for each other and are always supporting each other!

 

It is important for me, everyday, to show my children what a good person act like because I am not only facilitating learning; I am teaching the WHOLE child!  In an early childhood setting, children may not always understand what you are trying to explain to them but your actions will always convey a message.  Actions Speak Louder than Words.

Testing for Intelligence?

As a preschool teacher one of my jobs is to instill school readiness in my children.  This includes (but is not limited to), self-regulation skills, development of gross and fine motor skills (physical development), teaching my students basic skills to taking care of themselves, giving students individualized and group instruction based on academic needs and their interests, and to help properly develop the students’ personal and social skills.  As far as measuring a child’s progress in all of these areas, there is some debate to the validity and to what standards they are being measured by.  I feel that through play interaction, small group instruction, and other informal notes it is possible to assess the whole child.

In later grades there are formal tests along with concrete evidence from classwork based on state standards.  The difference for kindergarten and preschool is that children are still developing in areas that are not included in standardized tests such as social/emotional skills and self-regulation.  A kindergarten entrance assessment has been suggested to really identify the child’s learning level and cognitive abilities (Jones, 2011).

 

The Italian education system is standardized, meaning curriculum and exam materials are set by two bodies, the Ministry of Education and the National Education Council. The aim of this standardization is to ensure that all students receive an equal education. There are annual tests to make sure that students know the material and that they can advance to the next grade. There is less of an emphasis on written exams.  Oral exams are emphasized.
 

While school is required starting at age five or six, younger children sometimes attend nurseries (starting at three months) or scuola materna (three to five years). The education system is free to all and every child is ensured a spot.  Though parents do have a private school option for their children.

Compulsory education goes until age 14 (which they are trying to raise).  After that they reach upper secondary school where they must choose a college prep approach to schooling or a vocational route.

Whichever route they choose to take there are written and oral exams that determine if they pass or fail.

 Resources

Jones, J. (2011). Assessing Young Children's Learning and Development. Principal, 90(5), 12-15. 

http://www.ehow.com/about_5313137_education-system-italy.html

Youth and Racism

Racism is not something that I really even think about in my everyday life.  But I am very aware that it still exists.  My parents, specifically my father, have experienced Racism throughout their lives.  My father is from South Carolina, so he has seen and experienced way worse cases than my mother.  My mother is from New Jersey and can only recall a few situations of outright Racism against her.

My father went to school in South Carolina until he was nine.  When he came to New Jersey he said that in a sense the affect of Racism was worse because he was starting to become more aware of it.  He told me about his 5th grade teacher who was white.  He said that throughout the year she would always tell her African-American and Latino students that they were going to amount to nothing because they did not look like their white classmates.  She did not expect very much from him and some of his classmates took it to heart and never tried to achieve high.  He on the other hand knew that he needed an education.

Racism can be a touchy subject.  Minority groups can become enraged by the topic and white people cringe at the awkward conversation that may ensue.  The truth is that racism is still alive and because of its long history it has been unconsciously embedded in the practices of many people.  Even the minority groups themselves.  The feeling that even when you achieve something great, that there is an even bigger battle to fight can be discouraging to minority youth.  An article I read explains this concept better:

"For Whites, education can be a clear and straight path on which they will be more likely to achieve the goals they and their parents set.  For too many racial minority young people, education represents a crooked path, and the odds of reaching its end are stacked against them."

In 2005 and again in 2012 there were riots from French Muslim Youth due to the discrimination of the French government.  Though these youth are rightful citizens of France, they are not being given the same liberties and equalities that white French citizens are receiving.  There is racial segregation, socio-economic injustices, a lack of adequate schooling, and are living in urban slums.  These riots are not viewed as the jihad trying to infiltrate the government, these can be compared to the the LA and Harlem riots in the US.  Youth trying make themselves better!

Resources

http://media.proquest.com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/media/pq/classic/doc/2271123791/fmt/pi/rep/NONE?hl=racism%2Cas%2Ca%2Cstressors%2Cstressor%2Cfor%2Cchild%2Cchildren&cit%3Aauth=Hughes%2C+Carolyn%3BNewkirk%2C+Reginald%3BStenhjem%2C+Pamela+H&cit%3Atitle=Addressing+the+Challenge+of+Disenfranchisement+of+Youth%3A+Poverty+and+Racism+in+the+Schools&cit%3Apub=Reclaiming+Children+and+Youth&cit%3Avol=19&cit%3Aiss=1&cit%3Apg=22&cit%3Adate=Spring+2010&ic=true&cit%3Aprod=ProQuest+Central&_a=20130601151354121%253A463755-95102-ONE_SEARCH-74.116.157.210-33810-852771224-DocumentImage-null-null-Online-FT-PFT-2010%252F04%252F01-2010%252F06%252F30---Online--------Scholarly%2BJournals---------PrePaid--T1M6RU1TLVBkZkRvY1ZpZXdCYXNlLWdldE1lZGlhVXJsRm9ySXRlbQ%3D%3D-%257BP-1007025-14872-CUSTOMER-10000039%252F10000147-1168523%257D&_s=STrAVN5idt9gl75fX%2FUjOoCRYqw%3D 

 http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1127429,00.html