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/

Innovative Strategies for Early Learining

Innovative Strategies

     There are many strategies being used across the nation, which foster early learning. After looking at several things I decided to research more on the importance of incorporating nature into our classrooms. Nature in and of itself opens up a world of discovery. Children begin exploring and discovering from the time that they born. Teaching science to the young should be child centered. There should be more outside time for them to explore. Research has shown that kids how play outside benefit in all domains of learning: cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical. They learn how to be creative. They become inquisitive about their environment.

     Nebraska State Department of Education has partnered with the World Forum-Nature Action Collaborative for Children (NACC), the Nebraska Nature Action Collaborative for Children (NeNACC) State Leadership Team and the National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education (NAECS-SDE) and initiated the Call to Action. This forum calls for parents, educators, and community leaders to help make nature a daily part of children’s learning. To find out more you can visit: www.worldforumfoundation.org/nature.

With increasing assessment of children, we have less and less time for outside time. Outsides time has a stigma attached to it. Even where I work, I hear teachers saying that “all that class does is play!” This stigma causes teachers to not want to go outside because then it looks as if he/she is not doing their job. Principals are being forced to cut down on outside time. On days that we have P.E., classes are not allowed to go out. For my class, that means twice a week for outside time, if it doesn’t rain. Children are spending less time connected to nature and more time playing video games. This disconnect is contributing to the obesity problem that we have. Children are not getting out and exercising. The Nebraska Department of Education(2008) states some benefits of playing outside:

·         Children who have nature experiences are better informed adults and are aware of their practices

·         Children develop a positive idea of little creatures and bugs

·         Spending time in nature reduces stress

·         Children who play outside and explore are more likely to choose science as a field of study

     Playing outside are some of my favorite memories. When I really think about it, I don’t remember playing inside very much. I had to be creative and make up things to play because there was usually no one outside with me. I played spies, where I had to draw a plan of the house. I guess I could have been an architect. I used to catch roly polies and laugh when they played dead. I used to watch snails with and without their shells slide across the sidewalk. I played so many make believe things that I am glad I lived in a time that gave me the opportunity to explore my world. We need to fight to get this back for our children!

     I am friends with people who are younger than I. Their view on technology and outside play is totally different from my view. They are technology advocates. This is the way our world is going and they want their child to be up on the newest and latest programs. They want their children to do everything on an ipad, such as reading a book. I am not against technology, but we have got to get our kids moving again! What are your views and thoughts on this matter?

References

Nebraska Department of Education (2008). Reconnecting the World’s Children to Nature.

Autism: Genetics, Environmental Factor, or something else?

Through research I came across an article about autism and environmental factors. For the last three decades, autism has been blamed on genetics. There is new evidence that suggest that environmental factors play a role in autism. We have several autistic children in our school who I have gotten to know. They are all very bright students, but need a lot of structure.

I talked to my colleague who teaches inclusion and her perspective on autism was not that it was just genetics or just environmental factors that effect the behavior of an autistic child, but rather a combination. She also believes that the way caregivers respond to an autistic child can effect the behavior. If teachers allow the child to have the melt down because he doesn't want to write, then she said that is like reinforcing his fears and anxiety. If we respond differently, would this change the behavior?

Her perspective gives hope! If we entirely blame it on genetics or the environment, we may not be creating an environment where the child can reach his full potential. I have never thought about it in this way. The very first time I had inclusion, I did have that mindset that there was nothing I could really do except what the IEP told me to do. Having something that solely is to blame for autism allows a caregiver to not push those children.