Option # 2

Wow, if I could make a major positive contribution to children and families through research, I would research healthcare and childhood illnesses.  I would seek out to find a cure for leukemia and children with rare cancer diseases. I feel that children are the strongest little people in the world and they handle illnesses with a very positive attitude.  Their strength is mind blowing to me as well as heartbreaking.  Each year 22000 children die from leukemia.  Leukemia, which makes up 25% of childhood cancer, affects the bone marrow and is curable with the right type of treatment. This disease is normally diagnosed in children ages 2 to 6 years old.  Even when a proper cure is diagnosed for the child, the maintenance of this disease last a lifetime. 

I would be making a positive contribution to the children and families affected by childhood leukemia and other childhood cancers with a cure.  This disease can help families spend less time in and out of hospitals and more time enjoying life together.  Most importantly, this will save the lives of children who die each year due to these types of diseases.

References:

http://www.chop.edu/service/oncology/cancers-explained/leukemia-diagnosis-and-treatment.html

My Personal Research Journey

My chosen topic for the simulation is: How has the “No Child Left behind Act” impacted the early childhood field since its implementation?  I chose this topic because I want to uncover the effects that this policy has had on the children that attend public schools.  I have heard many different comments, ideas, and suggestions surrounding this policy and felt it would be a great topic to research more about.  I am anticipating limited information available for this subject which is why I’ve chosen to learn about the ways the policy has impacted the early childhood field as a whole versus limiting my topic to one specific area or idea.  In doing so, I am hopeful that I will have a better chance at finding enough material to complete this research topic as well as, uncover the intent and effect that this policy has had on the early childhood field.

In constructing the research chart, I have found this chart to be helpful with organizing thoughts, new found words and its meaning. I feel that this chart is one I would like to keep on hand when performing any type of research study.  The chart gave me a chance to identify words and meanings, chose a specific topic to focus on, and reflect on the outcome.

I have found that really great resources can be found within the previously taken course material.  Therefore, if anyone is looking for resources some great resources, you can revisit some of your previously studied articles.  If anyone has any advice, resources, or insight that might help me with this course and the research process, please share with me.  If I can be of help to anyone, please let me know also.  I regularly check my e-mail.

Final Blog for the Course

The first thing I’ve learned from the international podcast is that poverty affects many children all around the world and there are many educators committed to helping children who are dealing with it.  This helped to contribute to my global understanding of poverty personally and professionally.  Often times, I have looked at poverty as an isolated issue when in fact countries around the world are suffering severely from poverty.  In some countries, what I view as poverty here in my state is nothing compared to the living conditions of other children around the world.

The second thing I’ve learned from the international podcast is how the many educators and advocates such as Susan Lyon and Delfena Mitchell have devoted their life to making change in the early education field.  This has helped me to truly understand the type of commitment that is needed to embrace the EC field.  These people have encouraged me to stay devoted to the EC field and know that I too have something that I can contribute to the field professionally and personally.

The third thing that these international blogs have taught me is that the level of issues and trends in the EC field vary from state to state, country to country.  However, many of the issues and trends are related and linked from one issue to the next.  Therefore, by addressing any of the issues, I can help to improve the level of impact on children and their families.

The one goal I have for international awareness is to stay current on the issues around the world.  I would like to improve things on a more global level as my career expands.  I feel that it is easy to stay within your comfort zone which for me is my surrounding area.  Now that I am aware of the issues that are happening around the world, I have to stay current with the issues and begin to advocate for change globally.

Sharing International Contacts-Part 3

From the podcast, I have been listening to episode 2 with Deevia Bhana and her work in South Africa.  She discusses sexuality and the growing epidemic of HIV/AIDS in Africa amongst the young people.  Ms. Bhana discusses the lack of research and education about HIV/AIDS and sex as it affects very young children.  She states that the Early Childhood years are a great time to provide children with information involving gender and sexuality.  Her theory is that educators and pediatricians should work together to help educate children.

At least three new ideas or insights you gained about issues related to international early childhood education that relates to your professional goals:

1.       On the very first page, the first new insight I learned is that 10.5 million children around the world die from preventable diseases. 

2.      I learned that UNESCO has come up with two effective strategies for handling the needs in the early childhood field.  Their strategy is phasing and partnership.  Phasing suggests that over time, the education sector will respond to the early childhood needs.  Partnership suggests that recruiting family support will help the early childhood field obtain recognition of their needs.

3.      The third insight I’ve learned is that “there are no universally agreed criteria for quantifying ECCE quality but useful factors to consider include pedagogy materials, personnel training, service setting and parental education and involvement. Learning materials should be quantitatively, culturally and developmentally adequate and focus on child-centered interaction.”

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

Sharing Web Sources-Week 6

I clicked on the link Early Head Start.  This link leads to another website called http://www.ehsnrc.org/ also known as the Early Head Start National Resource Center.   I research the section entitled what’s new.  In this area, I found information about a newly developed manual that is based off research concerning the quality of care for early learning programs.  I also found news about webinars on various child care topics.  I also discovered other research based programs that are working to help low-income families in different states.

  I followed the e-newsletter for March 2011.  This newsletter discussed the issues of poverty early on in a child’s life.  The new information I found out was” Economic models of child development focus on what money can buy. They view families with greater economic resources as being better able to purchase or produce important “inputs” into their young children’s development (e.g., nutritious meals; enriched home learning environments and child care settings outside the home; and safe and stimulating neighborhood environments), and higher-quality schools and post-secondary education for older children. The cost of the inputs and family income constraints are therefore the key considerations for understanding poverty’s effects on children.” (http://www.zerotothree.org/, 2010)

Yes this website continues to work on the issues of equity and issues within the early childcare field through research based programs and webinars.  What I like most about this website is that it understands and is committed to constantly finding ways to improve the early childcare field.  The additional insights I’ve learned about this blog assignment is that money or the lack thereof effects and determines the majority of people’s life from birth through adult hood.  Without early intervention for families and children who suffer from poverty, the world will continue to suffer from crime, mental health issues, and lack of nutrition.

Part 2-Getting to Know Your International Contacts

From the podcast, I have been listening to Delfena Mitchell this week.  Delfena Mitchell is the director of the Liberty Children’s Home in Belize City.  She discusses the issue of child abuse in her country.  In her unique program, she handles rebuilding the lives of children who have been abused physically, mentally, and emotionally.  This issue is one that is heartbreaking to me as an EC professional.  The issue of child abuse should never be overlooked or undermined which is why I applaud Delfena Mitchell’s strive toward equity and excellence in tackling this issue.

Globally, I have learned that the Children’s Global Initiative Program at Harvard University is working on planning, fundraising, and implementation of three areas that affect the Early Childhood field globally.  They are assessing quality in ECE programs in diversity around the world. They are assessing child development outcomes related to malaria in Zambia. The third thing they are doing globally is to improve effective early intervention in Chile. These issues ultimately affect equity and excellence because educators need to be able to determine which areas of their programs need improvement, how malaria disrupts a child development, and the benefits of improving early intervention for children.  I found some of these issues to affect certain areas of the world more than others.  However, these issues are the same issues being tackled here in the U.S. locally.

Additionally, I am learning that the issue of equity and excellence is not always in the form of educational standards around the globe.  I feel that each Early Childhood program in the various states and countries have many different but similar standards of equity and/or excellence that they are fighting to improve.  Healthcare, child development, education, support systems, and early intervention help are just some of the related issues that global educators are striving to achieve excellence in.  With each lesson, I am affirming my reason’s for becoming an Early Childhood educator which is to make a difference in each of these issues.

Sharing Web Resources-www.zerotothree.org

At www.zerotothree.com, all of the information is relevant to my current profession as a daycare owner/childcare provider.   What stand out the most for me is the early care and education section.  I feel that in order for me to provide quality care, I have to understand the parent’s needs, the children’s needs, and seek out ways to improve the quality of care that I offer.   This section discusses the need for fostering positive social, intellectual, and emotional support for all children including high risk children.

I thought that the section on improving the lives of children in foster care was very interesting.  I have recently begun working with a child and her family from foster care.  This made me think about foster care in a new way.  I can already see that this child has some emotional issues that she and her family are tackling.  As her childcare provider, this newsletter is giving me some new approaches to helping her and her family.  It also makes me feel a little disturbed because apparently, the foster care system understands the need for addressing her and her families need early on.  However, as I speak with her grandmother/foster care mother, the family tells a different story.  They express that unfortunately they aren’t able to receive the intervention and support they need. What I am finding relief in as that at the zero to three web-site, the executive director has presented a challenge to policy makers to improve their services so that they reflect the need and support of foster care families.

The website emphasize on economists and politicians being in position to create policies that reflect children needs.  They also stress the ways the congress have already made steps toward improving the lives of children and families.  The web-site has several links on how the budget is split to help children as well as links to websites that can offer support directly to families.

This website has given me new insight on how everything affects children and their families.  The website and newsletters not only discuss the many issues and trends but ways that I can help to advocate for our youth.