Effective Communication

When communicating an idea to politicians or the public, Mindset Tools (n.d.) states that there are 7 C’s that one should follow in order to effectively communicate. They are to be clear, concise, coherent, concrete, correct, courteous and complete. All though each of these is important, I believe that clear and correct are two very important communication skills to possess when leading policy change.  Being clear can minimize misunderstandings and misconceptions. It would be better to get your point across the first time and not have to readdress misunderstood issues later. When communicating to policy leaders and the public, the information presented must be correct, as well. Misinformation leads to distrust and convincing will be difficult.

I completed the Communication Anxiety Inventory and scored a 72. This score indicates that I have elevated anxiety when speaking in public and my ability to effectively communicate, which is not news to me. I recall a time in college when I had to give a speech and I was so scared that I took an F for my grade. I have gotten better with age as my confidence has grown, but I know that I still have weaknesses that need to be addressed. When I have ever had to speak in front of a crowd, I feel as though being clear is a problem. I become so nervous that I think I ramble on and I cannot even remember what I have said. I have to ask someone if I did O.K. In order to make your stance and be convincing, effective communication is essential.

Social Media Platforms

To communicate my policy issue, the two social media platforms that I would choose would be facebook and youtube. I would choose facebook because it will reach many people at the local level. Facebook would include a large audience, but not as large as some. It would be directed towards people I know and are associated with one way or another. I feel that mental health care and particularly children’s mental healthcare is a topic that would catch the interest of people locally quicker by using facebook. Disseminating information through facebook would help me reach other teachers, principals, and others in the district, as well as other districts. I would be about to reach the mayor of my town, as well as a local newspaper writer because I am friends with them directly on facebook.  

The use of youtube would allow me to reach people in mass with this problem that I am sure many schools and teachers face. You tube will reach many more people than facebook. Anyone from around the world can search any subject that interests them. If people like the youtube video that I present, it could possibly go viral. The audience that I could reach with youtube could be on a local level, as well as getting attention at the national level.

Obviously there are benefits, as well as challenges to using social media to communicate. One benefit is that it can reach mass levels with the click of a button. Auer (2011) mentions a challenge that when the majority of participants in social media are young adults, aging from 18-29. This could possibly eliminate the intended audience.

References

Auer, M. R. (2011). The policy sciences of social media. Policy Studies Journal, 39(4), 709–736.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases

Systems and Policies

Taking a class dealing with policies and systems is daunting to me. It is true. I have little knowledge of policies that shape early childhood. I have some, but not enough to feel confident in this class right now. If I am totally honest, I could not wrap my head around systems. I read and reread our assigned reading. I could not determine if a system was simply the early childhood education programs or vision as a whole or if or if they were the Early Learning, Health, Family Nutrition, or Special Needs layed in fig. 2.1 in the text. I examined the layout of the text to help me make sense out of systems and subsystems. I am on this journey to learn as much as can about early childhood education, so I may have to work harder in grasping these concepts. Three goals that I would have for myself in this class would be 1) to become familiar with ECE policies and how to get involved with policy making  2) Have more clarity about Systems and how to assess/evaluate one 3) learn ways to ensure professional development for teachers.

I look forward to delving into this topic that I am so unfamiliar with. When I was several years younger, I actually wanted to start my own program and I had no idea where to begin. I think this class will give  a lot of clarity on this. A look at the history of policies will be interesting. I hope that I learn more about budgeting and equality. Why is there never enough money in education? Aren't we doing one of the most important jobs in the world???

Wow!!! I have gained so much insight from this class. Accepting the biases that I have and learning how to be more aware and not let those biases effect my teaching. That is probably the biggest thing that I am taking away from this experience. I did not realize the I had biases until I was force to take a long hard look inside of myself. Reading "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" was an incredible story that followed the life of a little girl and her family. It told of the ways that biases from all, had an impact on the care that she received. That story, along with Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, has helped me realize that we all have biases. The resources gave me strategies to deal with these challenges.

It was especially informative to discuss issues and challenges with others in the class. Being able to get points of views other than your own helped me see differences and grow as a scholar practitioner. I definitely feel as though I am a different educator than when I began this journey.

I have enjoyed this course and I am very thankful to Dr. B. for her positive, constructive criticism. This has been one of my favorite classes!!!

The interview Process

Hello Class mates! I hope everyone is doing well and coming along with their studies! The interview process is progressing. I reached to my two contacts and such great responses. One proceeded to share several things with me before I actually conducted a formal interview. He is thrilled to be helping me and is so full of knowledge about my particular topic, which is chronic absences. Both of the contacts that I have chosen will be done face to face, as they are both local. I work with one of them full time and the other one visits my school once a week. We have emailed and texted several times already.

Mr. Snell makes home visits to assist families with challenges. As our interview progressed, he told me of an incident where he visited the home of a family whose child is chronically absent from school. Upon visiting the home, he found that alcoholism was a part of this family. The child had an older brother who dropped out of school in the 10^th grade. Mr. Snell helped the family connect with a local rehabilitation center. The child of that family is now a senior in high school and is planning on attending college.

It is stories like these that make you realize how important we are to a child’s life and sometimes their family. We have the power to help kids and their families by connecting them with the resources needed to overcome challenges that they otherwise would be unable to do. I am looking forward to conducting my formal interviews with both contacts. The interviews will be an interesting way to gather information needed for my project. It will be fun to ask a question and see where it goes! Reading articles is definitely informative, but getting perspectives and be able to actually talk to someone will be a different avenue to explore!!

Challenge in Education

Teachers, families, and students face many challenges today. I have chosen absenteeism as my topic as the challenge that we all face sometime or another. Last year, I watched a little boy strolling down the hall way around mid-morning. Backpack in tow with papers falling out. His clothes and hair are disheveled.  His eyes are barely open and he certainly doesn't seem alert enough for learning.

I chose this challenge because my heart went out to this kid. I developed a trusting relationship with him and found out that he did not like missing school. He knew he was way behind his classmates and he was embarrassed about it. In another class, there was a teacher who was so frustrated with a student who was checked out early every day. My colleague said that even though it only 15-20 minutes before dismissal, it was very disruptive to the entire class and the student was falling behind.

As educators, we encounter so many challenges. If we can understand these families and their dynamics, hopefully we can gain a better understanding and will be able to work with them to solve these problems that I have mentioned. I feel that this may not be just a teacher's problem, but it is a community problem, as well. If the kids are not educated, and cannot work, it will directly effect the community. As an educator, I feel that it is my responsibility to work with the community, the school counselor,  and the families to find ways to improve attendance.

Through researching this topic, I hope to find strategies to working with these families that I, too, my encounter. I want to be prepared. I can also help my colleagues if they need it. These challenges are across populations. Does anyone have any suggestions on strategies you have used? How should this subject be broached with the family? Should families who attend my school on a hardship be kicked out?

Reflection and Inspiring Quotes

  Poverty is everywhere. It is a serious problem that needs to be addressed in our country and across the world. Children are our future and we adults, not just educators, are responsible for making sure that children grow up as productive members of society. 

  

   The past 4 months has been such an insightful, learning experience. I have learned so much about global perspectives and the importance of culture. The children we teach come from all over the world and are very diverse. Many educators are in their rooms with their doors closed(and I mean in every sense). I was that teacher until this class opened my eyes to the world outside of my classroom. It is a beautiful world. I hope to continue my education so that I can continue to learn about the diversity in my classroom. My goal is to reach every child in my classroom and better understand how he or she learns.

  

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
― Mark Twain

“You can never be overdressed or overeducated.”
― Oscar Wilde

“You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.”
― Brigham Young

Websites

http://www.shanahanonliteracy.com/

http://www.interventioncentral.org/

http://hoagiesgifted.org/