WK2 My Personal Research Journey

Writing and researching about a topics has always been a struggle for me for as long as I can remember.  I have two things I would like to write about but have to narrow it down to one topic along with three subtopics. 

The first is learning more about my local Quality Rating Improvement Systems.  I would love to be able to provide information to child care centers (1) benefits in participating in a Quality Rating System, (2) ways to foster early childhood development, and (3) how others are or can invest in the quality care and education. I believe in a Quality Rating System and wish that my local child care centers would participate in which would provide the children quality care and education. 

The second big issue is, I thought about researching was about working with families to improve infants and toddlers developmental progress using every days's life experiences.  My subtopics for this topic was; (2) benefits in participating in an early intervention program like First Steps, (2) ways to involve families in the developmental process, and (3) how your daily routines can foster child development.

I feel both topics and subtopics are still to broad and not sure which topic to choose.  WHAT DO YOU THINK?

EDUC 6163 Wk 1 Hello

Hello to All in EDUC 6163.  For the next 8 weeks I look forward to reading everyone's blogs.

WK 8 International Early Childhood Education

The past eight weeks has been great experience learning about how others around the world feel the same way we do about early childhood education.  I have really enjoyed reading my classmates blogs and all the information they have given has been helpful. 

 

Here is what I see, 3 Consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for my professional and personal development…

Ø  Establishing International Connections because I had the hardest time trying to connect with someone around the world internationally and still was not able to contact anyone.
Ø  Increasing awareness because the US struggles to provide early childhood education so does other countries around the world and with poverty being the first signs that a child will struggle in their education if they don’t start getting the education or interventions early on.
Ø   Expanding our knowledge or interest in the early childhood field not only in our back yard but around the world.  International children are in a bigger need for early childhood education due to higher poverty.

My goal is to learn more about early childhood around the world and still continue trying to get in contact with someone around the around the world. 

Week 7: Alternative Part 3

All early childhood programs that are in a public school or child care centers should put the child’s holistic development and go beyond in assisting a child in their developmental progress.  Having high quality programs also will promote motivation, confidence, cognitive and linguistic development along with school readiness. 

Therefore, I decided to research the site and look more into the Early Childhood tab.  After reading the access and equity, it shows that we are not alone as in trying to provide the best early childhood education for all children.  We all have agreed that learning starts at birth and we also know that the underprivileged children need the benefits to early childhood care and education. 

The site stated……

“Participating countries committed themselves to “expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.” Governments were particularly urged to expand equitable access to quality early childhood services underscoring the importance of instituting policy in favor of the poor……….Countries often promote alternative services for poor children with limited or no access to mainstream early childhood services which can be cost-effective and pedagogically innovative, but often raise concerns about sustainability and quality. In cases where the government has limited resources, a pro-poor policy can redistribute resources by reducing state support for the more privileged……Central governments must ensure an equitable distribution of resources among different populations and especially those who live in the most disadvantaged regions. This approach aims to expand access without creating serious regional inequities. However, where there is universal provision for a certain age group while the overall enrolment in other age groups is low, this policy can create inequity…..Privileged children of the target age group benefit from state investment, while poor children of non-target ages receive scant government attention. A policy of universalising with targeting can minimize inequity where governments aim for universal access among the target age group, but simultaneously priorities the poor.”

 It amazed me how many others actually believe in early childhood care and education and the benefits it brings for all children and their future. I look forwarding to seeing the day Kentucky finally sets in place the :Universal Preschool" that they have talked about doing for years. 

 

Sharing Web Resources: Zero to Three

Looking more into the Zero to Three website...

Clicking on a link Early Head Start at the bottom of the page; it took me to the Early Head Start National Resource Center ( http://www.ehsnrc.org/ ).  This link provides resources, journals, Webcasts, and tips to working with children birth to three years of age.  Looking further into the Tip Sheets they provided information on three different categories....

·         Child Development & Early Learning
       o   Tip Sheet #27: Screening Infants’/Toddlers’ Behavioral Skills… Link below…
   §  http://www.ehsnrc.org/Publications/English%20Tip%20Sheets/TIP_SHEET_27.PDF

·         Family Engagement & Relationships
   o   Tip Sheet #34: Working with Teen Parents…Link below…
   §  http://www.ehsnrc.org/Publications/English%20Tip%20Sheets/TIP_SHEET_34.PDF

·         Health, Safety & Nutrition
   o   Tip Sheet #28: Secondhand Smoke and Early Head Start…link below…
   §  http://www.ehsnrc.org/Publications/English%20Tip%20Sheets/TIP_SHEET_28.PDF

This site also appreciates our feedback on the information and/or resources they offer to the public.  I enjoyed reading about Tip sheet #34: Working with Teen Parents because I was a teen mom.  It was nice to read that they offer classes and/or training to employees to help understanding teen parents and help teen parents by providing information on juggling school and baby.  This give the staff the abilities to help and deal with sensitive issues and concerns with teen parents.   

 

WK 5 Alternative "Center on the Developing Child - Harvard University"

Last week was my final attempt to reach someone in another country had failed therefore I am doing the alternative assignment.
The Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University has just launched the Global Children’s Initiative and is focused on three strategic objectives:
         * To reframe public discourse about the early childhood period by educating high-level decision makers about the common underlying science of learning, behavior, and health
        
         * To support innovative, multidisciplinary research and demonstration projects in selected countries or regions to expand global understanding of how healthy development happens, how it can be derailed, and how to get it back on track
         
          * To build leadership capacity in child development research and policy among individuals and institutions in low and middle income countries in order to increase the number and influence of diverse perspectives that are contributing to the global movement on behalf of young children

The Global Children’s Initiative is building a portfolio of activities in three domains:

Early Childhood Development

* Assessing quality in early childhood environments and programs in diverse global contexts

* Piloting assessments to measure child development outcomes linked to malaria control strategies in Zambia

            * Expanding effective interventions to improve preschool quality in Chile

Mental Health
            * Assessing the state of child mental health services in China

* Developing and evaluating family-based strategies to prevent mental health problems in children affected by HIV/AIDS in Rwanda

            * Addressing child maltreatment and mental health outcomes in three Caribbean nations (Barbados, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname

Children in Crisis and Conflict Situations

* Exploring comparable approaches to surveying child status in post-earthquake Haiti and Chile

           * Bringing the science of child development into strategies for addressing acute malnutrition

Sharing Web Resources: Early Childhood Australia

Early Childhood Australia  www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au

This week I explored the Early Childhood Australia web page to see if things are different from what I know.  I found that the Early Childhood Australia follows a QRIS and it’s called National Quality Standards.  I have been learning about the what other states where participating in a QRIS system and I was excited that Australia is following a similar system.  They have videos you can watch with topics like, Environments for learning, Partnerships with families, and Cultural competency just to list a few.

The site also offers e-newsletters, e-learning videos, information on environment makeover, and other information from forums, social media and a resource page.

I have put up their recent media release on Ratings show children already seeing childcare improvements.

Children are already starting to experience the benefits of new national standards for early childhood education and care services according to the peak children’s body Early Childhood Australia.

ECA CEO Samantha Page today visited Coco’s Early Learning Centre in Melbourne, one of the services that have received a first National Quality Standard rating of their progress in implementing the new standards since they were introduced a year ago.

“The ratings show that where centres have shown a commitment to the new standards, they are making progress in improving their ability to deliver a quality early learning and care experience for children.”

Ms Page said a child’s experience during their first five years shapes their ability to go on and do well at school, and throughout their life.
“The standards, once fully implemented, will see long-term benefits for Australian children.

“Education begins from birth; we know that the experience of children in the first five years of life is crucial for their future success.

“The new national standards will ensure all children have access to good quality learning experiences early on in life.”

Ms Page said the full implementation of the standards would take time but the ratings were a great way for families to see if progress was being made by their child’s service.

“We know these changes can’t happen over night but the first ratings show that we are on our way to achieving them.”