Saturday, April 14, 2012

Final Blog Assignment

In studying international early childhood field has been very inspiring and also has challenged me to do three things. One consequence is to stay connected  to the orgaizaitons that support early childhood education. Another consequence is to evaluate my program and implement some new ways of teaching our children the new techniques that I have learned this far. Lastly, I appreciated or educational system in the U.S., despite the major deficiencies, is a lot more productive them other countries which cause the children in our communities to get an education. My major goal is to start and organization in my community that supports parents with children in school. Also this organization will keep these families aware of things that are going on throughout the globe.

Issues and Trends: Excellence and Equity of Care and Education for Children and Families (Part 3: Early Childhood Profession)

UNESCO’s Early Childhood Care and Education
UNESCO is an organization that work’s to improve education worldwide. This organization promotes peace, celebrates diversity, and defends human rights. This is achieved by providing Education for All (EFA). On this website there are four tabs that are as follows: access and equity; quality; investment and financing; and coordination and integration. These tabs are all related to internal trends in the early childhood field. In the tab access and equity they discussed how many poor countries have programs for children pertains to health and also food programs. UNESCO is concerned about how the government is not providing money for the child’s education. When they do have programs for the poor they have little quality and sustainability. Central government must ensure an equitable distribution of resources among different populations. UNESCO is the bridge that helps connect funds to children that have little to no access to proper education. Another issue that I learned about in the website is the un-proportionate standards in Early Childhood Programs worldwide. This issue causes children to not be able to learn on a common plain. This is why schools aren’t graduating children going to first grade that are prepared for this transition. This causes inequality in the classroom. This organization desires to train all professionals in the Early Childhood field to adequately meet the needs of each child regardless of the demographics. This website allowed me to view the perspectives of other professionals in my field. Forming these relationships through research helps me to better understand how I can fit into the cycle that will help equalize the early childhood field globally.

Reference:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Sharing Web Resources

Sharing Web Resources
Organization:
 Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) www.acei.org

Outside Link:
Global Campaign for Education ACEI supports The Global Campaign for Education (GCE), a civil society movement that aims to end the global education crisis. One campaign that ACEI supports is women and girls rights to be educated. GCE conducted gender discrimination in education survey. This survey showed that 1 in 5 school girls were unhappy to be girls. Some countries this survey was conducted were: Bangladesh, Bolivia, and Peru.

One main area of this website I chose to focus on is the area called “Global Gateway”. This section is focused on exploring the diversities of education systems worldwide. Some of the places of exploration are: Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East; and North America.

E-News
Some events that are going on in ACEI are:
1.      ACEI International United Nations Advocacy Forum  at the Global Summit
2.      Launch of the Decade for Childhood
One article that is in this newsletter is “The Long-Term Impact of Teacher”. This article addresses the issues of teacher values on their students’ success. One article discuses approach to professional development that has promises for closing the achievement gap. This article relates to equity and excellence pertaining to education. The title of this article is “Teaching Children Well”. This article title is worded very simply but takes a companionate worker in the field of education to really fulfill this assignment. This website has given me lots of information  that allows me to understand the diversity in other early childhood programs across the world and it simplifies it bring it to my fingertips.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

            I have enjoyed listening to the Podcast learning about Early Childhood around the world. This experience has given me new insights of how to adjust my teaching styles and also adjust the learning environment in my center to meet the needs of each child. I had not spoken to anyone from the podcast but I have enjoyed listening to them express their views about Early Childhood in their areas across the globe.

            In the podcast that I listened to today was interviewing Maysoun Chehab. She is an activist and Director of an Early Childhood Program. This program is located in the Arab Resource Collector. This building is where predicates and policy makers work. Their children attend the school that she directs. One of her major objectives is to raise awareness of children rights. Mrs. Chehab also actively trains early educators to teach effectively in the classroom. In 2005 she produced resources that helped teachers to become educated on early childhood policies. In the area where she works there are wars that go on in the outer villages. She implemented the social conference to help aid children, parents, and educators that were affected in the war. In this conference she trained parents and teachers about emotional social reactions that children deal with after a strategic event in their living environment (the local war).

            I also visited the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. In 2006 this center was founded.  There center is committed to:

1.      Building a unified science of health, learning, and behavior.

2.      Leading the design, implementation and evaluation of innovative practice models.

3.       Catalyzing the implementation of effective science- based public policies.

4.      Preparing future and current leaders to build and leverage knowledge.





Reference:

Global Children’s Initiative” website (http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative/)

World Forum Foundation Radio. Includes links to podcasts of conversations with early childhood professionals.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Association for Childhood Educational International (www.acei.org)

Association for Childhood Educational International (www.acei.org)



Since class has started I have enjoyed gaining new information about ACEI. This organization has so many attributes. Also on their website it has so many sectors that give so much vital information. One of my favorite sections that are relevant to my profession as a daycare provider was the Global Gateway. In this section you can explore childhood education, preschool, and primary school around the world. There are six tabs that are listed within this section which list six places are: Africa; Asia and the Pacific; Europe; Latin America and the Caribbean; Middle East; and North America. One article that I enjoyed reading was entitled “Fostering Social Competence”. This article talked about different ways to promote team work in the classroom. In this article the teacher conducted a study that would help foster social competence. At the end of the study students learned how to work together without disruptive behavior. Some affiliations that contribute to ACEI are: NCATE; World Forum Alliance; and Global Campaign for Education. One major thing that I learned from this website is the “One Child per Family Policy” in China. This policy causes children to be abandoned on these streets. This issue in growing and causing many children to become orphans, especially the ones with disabilities. The Chinese government is working toward providing medical care, rehabilitation, and education to more than 65 million people with disabilities. This website keeps me updated on important information about Early Childhood programs and issues globally.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Getting to Know My International Partner- Part One

Getting to Know My International Partners- Part 1
While reading about Mongolia the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre website I was amazed and sadden at the same time. Mongolia is located in North-East Asia bordering China. In 1990 Mongolia transitioned from socialistic to multi-party democratic state. This transition caused local families to be hit hard. Unemployment rose and social service benefits were cut causing families to struggle. Despite a positive increase in the macro-economy stability and growth, many Mongolians did not see or reap the benefits. There was a gap that was created causing some people to benefit from the changes and also others to not see the benefits. This state was once growing and equally striving.
In another part of this website there are case studies that were conducted with children that live in the place. These children, because of the transition, were forced to work and also quit school to help take care of their families. Some of their remarks in this study caused me to really appreciate God’s hand on my life. One of the children’s responsibilities was to collect dung to burn at home for eat. Another one fetches water and collects firewood. All these children do not attend school because of financial lack. We should be glad as Americans to have a public school system that gives everyone a chance to go to school. One of the ways the children spend their money is to give it to his mother who is a single parent another sends it on necessities for his home. One thing that caught my attention was one child stated that when they were in school they had no electricity and to watch they could not see to do their homework. The little girl said that she wanted to go to school but she could not afford the materials needed for class. These children represent a lot of children around the world. The Childhood Poverty Research Policy Centre has formed different ways to deal with this issue to change education around the world.

Reference:
Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (CHIP). (n.d.). Knowledge for tackling childhood poverty. Retrieved from http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Associationn for Childhood education International

Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
ACEI is an organization whose mission is to promote and support the development of children by promoting optimal education for children from birth to early adolescence. Also ACEI strives to influence professional growth of educators. Their vision is: Every child in every nation will have access to a quality education. This education will prepare children to become responsible and engaged citizens and ready them for life in a changing world. This vision is so important to me because some many times we are only concerned about the school we teach in or the community we live in. If you don’t see these people you are not concerned. This organization is addressing the issues of all schools globally and is striving to have all children on one accord. This prepares each child to be able to grow academically and socially. One of the main issues discussed on this website was peace and social development in relation to education. They discussed the importance of education around the world. In the article “Education is key to peace and social development” they stated that “1.5 billion people live in fragile and conflict-affected states” (Vojvoda, 2012, p.1). When most children are in schools in these communities it causes them to avoid the conflict around them in result creating peace.

Reference
Vojvoda, R. (2012). Education is key to peace and social development. http://www.educaitonaltransition.org/