Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

 I finally receive a response from a Early Childhood professional named Renee Braithwaite who live in Dubai. Renee answered all the questions with no problem. Here is the conversation Renee and I was able to have about the excellence and quality within the early childhood professional.

Hey Renee can I ask u questions about the education there in Dubai

sure.

What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work. What opportunities or requirements for professional development exist? What are some of your professional goals? What are some of your professional hopes, dreams and challenges?

Wow

It is about 4 questions I hope it is not a lot for you thanks a million

OK. Let me begin with the first. It is a developing country. U can get most of the information on the United Arab Emirates Embassy Washington dc site. That will tell you the relationship of commerce for business in the country with us

In regards to professional development, we have to cover hours. not sure or remember how many, but mostly we meet for professional development after work from 1pm -2pm. three days a week, we discuss classroom management, working in bilingual class, team work, lessons, portfolios, etc.team building.

Regarding early childhood for the past 8 years they are creating a school reform where there students are learning English at an early age Kindergarten. We are there to model how to the local teachers there.

For the past four years I have seen much progress. The country is certainly building and growing. So I am hoping this is my last year. For me I am hoping to continue in leadership within the field. I am open to opportunities abroad, as well as in the states.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

The new insight I have gain from viewing the Global Children’s Initiative organization is that their project is geared to use the science of child health and development to guide stronger policies and larger investments to benefit young children and their families in Brazil (Center on the Developing Child, 2014). It is so important to look at all children holistically, while making sure their needs at met and to ensure they are getting the best care as possible. As an educator, I believe it is essential that understand a child’s needs and try to address them much as possible. The Center’s commitment to global work acknowledges the moral responsibilityto meet the needs of all children, in an economic productivity, positive health outcomes, and strong 

civil society in all nations, from the poorest to the most affluent. One of the Center’s approaches is to 

work collaboratively across disciplines and institutions, drawing together the best and most creative

 expertise available to achieve the Initiative’s goals life (Center on the Developing Child, 2014).

Their efforts are to build an international approach to child survival, health, and development in the

 earliest years of life (Center on the Developing Child, 2014).

I like the fact that there are help and support for children and their family through Global Children’s

 Initiative organization. I have also learn there are so many children and their family has various issues

 they are facing, however there a relief effort and plan to help children and their families to receive the

 help needed. I have learned about the strategies that are put in place to improve the policy between

 children well-being and good health. The article in the February 2012 issue of Pediatrics co-authored

 by Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff posits that new knowledge in the biological and social sciences 

offers a unifying framework that can inform innovative strategies to improve the child survival and early 

development as well as adult outcomes in health, learning, and behavior. The article calls for greater 

synergy across policy sectors related to child health and well-being, schooling, and economic

 development (Center on the Developing Child, 2014).

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

The new insight I have gain from viewing the Global Children’s Initiative organization is that their project is geared to use the science of child health and development to guide stronger policies and larger investments to benefit young children and their families in Brazil (Center on the Developing Child, 2014). It is so important to look at all children holistically, while making sure their needs at met and to ensure they are getting the best care as possible. As an educator, I believe it is essential that understand a child’s needs and try to address them much as possible. The Center’s commitment to global work acknowledges the moral responsibility to meet the needs of all children, in an economic productivity, positive health outcomes, and strong civil society in all nations, from the poorest to the most affluent. One of the Center’s approaches is to work collaboratively across disciplines and institutions, drawing together the best and most creative expertise available to achieve the Initiative’s goals life (Center on the Developing Child, 2014).Their efforts are to build an international approach to child survival, health, and development in the earliest years of life (Center on the Developing Child, 2014).

I like the fact that there are help and support for children and their family through Global Children’s Initiative organization. I have also learn there are so many children and their family has various issues they are facing, however there a relief effort and plan to help children and their families to receive the help needed. I have learned about the strategies that are put in place to improve the policy between children well-being and good health. The article in the February 2012 issue of Pediatrics co-authored by Center Director Jack P. Shonkoff posits that new knowledge in the biological and social sciences offers a unifying framework that can inform innovative strategies to improve the child survival and early development as well as adult outcomes in health, learning, and behavior. The article calls for greater synergy across policy sectors related to child health and well-being, schooling, and economic development (Center on the Developing Child, 2014).

Sharing Web Resources

    Looking at the article “Assessing the Quality of Early Years Learning” I found out it was important information I feel is relevant to my current professional development. For many years I worked in a classroom where children range from 15 to 36 months in age. As an educator I understand that the first three years of a child’s life are the most critical time. The early years of a child life is where the most development is taking place. At this point the brain is also developing as well. It is important to provide children with a high quality learning environment that will support and enhance their developmental skills. Children learn best when all areas of an integrated, carefully planned, curriculum are implemented informally using methodologies that are interactive, practical and enjoyable. Children should have opportunities to experience much of their learning through well planned and challenging play. (CCEA, 2003, p.7).

    I like the fact that children experience much of their learning through well planned and challenging play. Play should not be omitted from a child’s learning plan or environment, but it should very much encourage. From my own experiences I found out the best observation done on children is while they are playing. The information I found that made me think about things in a new ways was the important of play.  Dr. Grace statement “Economists, Scientists, and Politicians Supporting the Early Childhood Field” in the video segment talks about “the loss of childhood and how we're just trying to fight for childhood, because we don't let children play like we once did and all because we don't have time to play”(Laureate Education, 2011). I believe it is so important that children have an adequate amount of time to play throughout the day. As I reflect back on my younger years when I use to play or make up games to play it was the best years in my life. It seems like every child on my block had fun as we played together games such as: Mr. Freeze, rock teacher, hopscotch or hide go seek etc. Children who are living in poverty cannot enjoy playing games or even have time to play them, because there focus is to work so they can provide for their families every day.

    The information in the “Early Childhood Highlight” article helped my understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field. Even though there is a need for an increase to improve early head start and preschools programs for low low-income children who are living in poverty to receive funding for high quality education. “The federal government has also demonstrated an interest in supporting school readiness. The Obama Administration has maintained a focus on early childhood by including $5billion of new funding for childcare, Head Start, Early Head Star, and programs for young children with special needs in the American Recovery and reinvestment Act”(Child Trends, 2014).

    After exploring the websites about low income families or children living in poverty, I did not realize the vast amount of information I found. Also, I did not realize the large amount gone out to better different program in support of quality care and learning for young children.

References:

(2010). Early Childhood Highlights. Trends Child, 1(3), 1-12.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Issues and trends in the early

    Childhood field: Economists, scientists, and politicians supporting the EC field.

    Baltimore, MD: Author.

Walsh, G. & Gardner, J. (2014). Assessing the Quality of Early Years Learning Environments,     7(1). Retrieved from http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/v7n1/walsh.html

Afghanistan] Thousands of children work the streets of Kabul to sustain their families. © David Swanson/IRIN

I tried several times to with professional in different parts on the country, but could not get a response just of yet. I tried to connect with professional in both Australia and Dubai. Since I did not receive a response I decide to learn about poverty in our countries.

 Therefore, I have chosen to read about poverty in the country of AFGHANISTAN. It was interesting to learn how children both girls and boys are living in Afghanistan are forced to quit school to work, because of the affect of poverty has on their lives. After the collapse of the Taliban in 2001, there was hardship in the city of Kabul, where children had to step up to the forefront to work. Not only, were children taking care of their own needs, but the needs of their entire families. According to Edward Carwardine, a spokesman for the United Nations' Children's Fund (UNICEF), told IRIN in Kabul, "In urban areas more children work openly on the streets and approximately  40,000 children were now working on the city's streets”(IRIN, 2004).

            On this particular website “AFGHANISTAN: Poverty forces children to quit school to work”, children were sharing their story of how they love and wanted to go to school, but could not because they are the breadwinner in their family. Children did jobs such as: shoes shine boys, washing cars, porters and many more.  Children as young as 10 years old failed their classes due to the long hours spent on the street just to sale their merchandise. Some children even made a living just by begging people for money. In any case, children need our help in order to have victory over poverty.

In order to reduce poverty among children and their families living in Afghanistan, there have to be a devise plan implemented for them that will improve their way of living.
According to UNICEF, in order to better assist children who do work, or who live in vulnerable families, Afghanistan needed a strong social care system. "The fact that so many children have to work in the first place is an indication of the economic hardship and stress faced by many Afghan families," the UNICEF official said. Carwardine said the country needed more long-term support to tackle the issue of child labour in the war-affected country. "It would be naive to think that the issue of working children can be solved in a short period of time," he noted (IRIN, 2004).

I have learned there are reliefs efforts are establish all over the world, which is willing to cut the number of children and family living in poverty. Also, there are organization that cares about children living in poverty educational and health care, in which they are willing to support to needs, so they can become successful individuals. Another thing I have learn and did not realize the vast amount of children who are force to work on the street, instead of being a child who just play or go to school.

Reference:

Swanson, D (2004). Afghanistan Thousands of children work the streets of
     Kabul to sustain their families. Retrieved from http://www.irinnews.org

    /report/24406/Afghanistan-poverty-forces-children-to-quit-school-to-work