My Personal Research Journey

The topic I have chosen is language development. I have chosen this topic for several reasons. 1. I work at a center where so many children are receiving services because of a speech delay. 2. I work with children and families who are second language learners. 3. reason for choosing language development is because I am using the bilingual emergent approach within my classroom in order to speak both English and Spanish language to children and their family.

Language development is a very important skill, in which a child will use to communicate in order to express their needs and thoughts. As an educator it is so important to help children enhance their language development by providing them with age appropriate activities that will allow them to learn new words and communicate well. For example: providing daily reading of short story, asking the children open-ended question, using music as a mean of communication, one on one communication between the teacher/child and supporting group discussion (peer to peer communicate). 

I remember when my daughter was about the age of two years old had to receive a tracheotomy due to a sudden illness, where she was not getting the proper oxygen to her brain. After receiving the tracheotomy my daughter was moving her lips to talk, but not one sound came from her mouth. I was told by doctor if my daughter would cover the hole of the trach with her finger then sound will come from her mouth. My daughter got smart by using her chin to communicate her needs and thoughts with a clear sound. For about three years that’s how my daughter communicated with me and others her life. At first, it was a challenging and scary experience for both my daughter and I, but over the years it got better especially when we was able to communicate again. It felt and sound good to hear her voice after weeks of silence. In school my daughter also receives speech therapy as well to enhance her language development. I am currently working in a classroom where children have an IEP and receiving speech therapy once a week. In conjunction with the speech therapy it is my duty to provide weekly lesson plan that will meet the child’s individual need. 

I am not sure just of yet where I am going with research topic on language development with the subtopics of strategies use to promote healthy language development in young children, the advantage of speaking in the child’s home language and the importance of an on-going positive communication between the teacher, children and their families.  So, if someone has any suggested resources or knowledge about the language development please feels free to share it.

Learning about the international early childhood field for your professional and personal development

It has been a real educational journey during these past eight weeks as I learned from professionals outside the United States, my colleagues and the resources about the quality education and early childhood field provided from young children. Learning about how children are living in other countries, the education they are missing due to the responsibilities of taking care of others and/or the expectation on the things they should learn during their educational journey had made me examine my professional status and the quality education I am providing to young children in my classroom.  The three things of learning about the international early childhood field are:

• ·         It is important to provide high quality education to all children regardless of the living status. In so many words children who come from low income families should also have the opportunity to receive high quality education.
• ·         Children in other countries are encourage and required to learn about who they are, their culturally background and about their family’s values. They are building character and awareness in children about themselves and others.
• ·         The issue and trends about the affect poverty has on children and families both in and outside the United States. Poverty not only affect child’s living status, but it can be a detrimental to their health, their development and learning ability.

My goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and the spirit of collegial relations is to continue to make contact with other professional internationally, to keep up with the way education is provide to young children both inside and outside the U.S. and continue to advocate and make a different in the lives of children and families I serve as a professional within the early childhood field. 

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