I have had a wonderful learning experience at Walden University. All of my instructors and colleagues contributed to my professional growth throughout this program.
Deeply Felt Learnings
One of the deeply felt learnings that I have acquired from this program is to welcome and recognize diversity. People are diverse in many ways, and I have learned to respect these differences. I am willing and open to listen to the opinions of others even if I may not agree with them. I am definitely more accepting of differences since studying diversity during the program. Additionally, I have learned how to think critically and reflect over my learning. Being challenged in each course to think critically and reflect on what I have learned has helped me to grow in my professional as well as my personal life. Finally, both of these learning strategies have deepened my thinking regarding educating adults. From my own adult learning experience in the Walden program, I have learned how to promote cognitive development in adults and design an engaging adult learning experience.
Long-Term Goal
One long-term goal that I have is to develop a Christian curriculum that is developmentally appropriate and emphasizes differentiated instruction. I also want to make the curriculum easy to use for teachers. I have had experiences using several faith-based curriculums in my early childhood classroom. In my opinion, their outcomes and goals for the learners were not age-appropriate and did not address various learning styles. Furthermore, the curriculums were not user friendly. I would love to address these issues by creating a faith-based curriculum that can be easily implemented in early childhood programs and meet the needs of young children.
A Note To My Colleagues
It has truly been a pleasure to work with you and learn from you for the past couple of years. I hope to work with you again in the future. I wish you all the best as you continue to do the work that you are passionate about!
"So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable."
-Christopher Reeve
A Note To Dr. Teri
You are a tremendous example of what an adult educator should be. From you, I have learned how to pull the best out of my adult learners.
"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires."
-William Arthur Ward
Thank you for being a GREAT teacher!!!
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Sunday, April 7, 2013
Exploring Roles in the ECE Community-Internationally
This blog post consists of international
organizations that are doing work to contribute to the growth and well-being of
young children and their families. International organizations are beneficial
to the early childhood field because they help give a voice to children around the
world. They also spread awareness about the issues concerning young children
and their families globally and reach many influential people. Below I have provided a
brief summary about each of these organizations and jobs within these
organizations that interest me.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) http://www.ascd.org/Default.aspx
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) provides educators from various backgrounds with professional development opportunities. ASCD aims to empower educators through programs, products, and services (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development [ASCD], 2013). Professional development opportunities include customized training, conferences, and online learning. The organization offers on-going professional development where experts observe, evaluate, and provide feedback to improve instruction and leadership (ASCD, 2013). Not only do educators receive training, but they are also connected to a community of practice upon membership. Educators are connected with other professionals around the world who are committed to providing children with the best education. The fact that educators can be connected to a community of practice with other education professionals from around the world is what made this organization appealing to me. From my current course, I have come to realize how important and impactful a community of practice can be to education professionals.
A role within this organization that has caught my attention is an ASCD Educator Advocate. An educator advocate connects with other education professionals in the organization to influence change in the field. An educator advocate would have to know the policies that affect teachers and students every day. They would also have to be knowledgeable about how to contact lawmakers and representatives to inform decisions regarding laws and policies that would benefit the education community. This role requires that one is willing to learn about politics and stay informed about current legislation affecting the field. Additionally, one would need to be passionate about children receiving quality education no matter where they live.
World Organization For Early Childhood Education (OMEP-USA) http://www.omep-usnc.org/
OMEP is a non-profit organization concerned about young children all over the world. People from over seven countries who are passionate about serving young children are members of this organization. More specifically, they work to ensure that young children around the world receive quality education and care. They are dedicated to remaining educated about the current issues, trends, and challenges associated with the early childhood field worldwide. OMEP sponsors various projects and activities around the world that will positively affect young children and teachers in the early childhood field. This organization appealed to me because its efforts affect young children and teachers everywhere. Moreover, their main focus is on early childhood education, which is often overlooked in our society.
There are no official job positions available within this organization because it is an all-volunteer organization. Even the members of the board of directors are volunteers. However, I am still interested in the role of volunteer. To be a volunteer within this organization one would have to be able and willing to travel frequently. It would also be necessary to have effective leadership and collaboration skills to work with others on OMEP sponsored projects. Most importantly, volunteers must be knowledgeable about the needs of children around the world.
Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) http://acei.org/
ACEI’s mission is to promote the healthy development and well-being of young children worldwide. They also aim to provide teachers with professional development opportunities to improve their work. Their vision is that every child in the world will have access to the high quality care and education they need to become productive citizens. ACEI upholds the belief that all children have a right to learn. They have developed a country liaison program where individuals from different countries can share information to help others understand the needs and issues related to education in their country. I am drawn to this organization because of its belief that all children deserve a quality education and that early childhood educators should have opportunities for continuous growth and development.
The job that interests me within this organization is an executive board member. An executive board member of the ACEI makes decisions regarding the goals of the organization and distributing resources. The requirements for this position are demonstrating a commitment to the mission and vision of ACEI and the education of children globally. One must also demonstrate an inclusive attitude and appreciate diversity. Individuals on the board must have sound leadership skills, and it is desired that he/she has experience living or working in another country.
Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) http://www.ascd.org/Default.aspx
The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) provides educators from various backgrounds with professional development opportunities. ASCD aims to empower educators through programs, products, and services (Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development [ASCD], 2013). Professional development opportunities include customized training, conferences, and online learning. The organization offers on-going professional development where experts observe, evaluate, and provide feedback to improve instruction and leadership (ASCD, 2013). Not only do educators receive training, but they are also connected to a community of practice upon membership. Educators are connected with other professionals around the world who are committed to providing children with the best education. The fact that educators can be connected to a community of practice with other education professionals from around the world is what made this organization appealing to me. From my current course, I have come to realize how important and impactful a community of practice can be to education professionals.
A role within this organization that has caught my attention is an ASCD Educator Advocate. An educator advocate connects with other education professionals in the organization to influence change in the field. An educator advocate would have to know the policies that affect teachers and students every day. They would also have to be knowledgeable about how to contact lawmakers and representatives to inform decisions regarding laws and policies that would benefit the education community. This role requires that one is willing to learn about politics and stay informed about current legislation affecting the field. Additionally, one would need to be passionate about children receiving quality education no matter where they live.
World Organization For Early Childhood Education (OMEP-USA) http://www.omep-usnc.org/
OMEP is a non-profit organization concerned about young children all over the world. People from over seven countries who are passionate about serving young children are members of this organization. More specifically, they work to ensure that young children around the world receive quality education and care. They are dedicated to remaining educated about the current issues, trends, and challenges associated with the early childhood field worldwide. OMEP sponsors various projects and activities around the world that will positively affect young children and teachers in the early childhood field. This organization appealed to me because its efforts affect young children and teachers everywhere. Moreover, their main focus is on early childhood education, which is often overlooked in our society.
There are no official job positions available within this organization because it is an all-volunteer organization. Even the members of the board of directors are volunteers. However, I am still interested in the role of volunteer. To be a volunteer within this organization one would have to be able and willing to travel frequently. It would also be necessary to have effective leadership and collaboration skills to work with others on OMEP sponsored projects. Most importantly, volunteers must be knowledgeable about the needs of children around the world.
Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI) http://acei.org/
ACEI’s mission is to promote the healthy development and well-being of young children worldwide. They also aim to provide teachers with professional development opportunities to improve their work. Their vision is that every child in the world will have access to the high quality care and education they need to become productive citizens. ACEI upholds the belief that all children have a right to learn. They have developed a country liaison program where individuals from different countries can share information to help others understand the needs and issues related to education in their country. I am drawn to this organization because of its belief that all children deserve a quality education and that early childhood educators should have opportunities for continuous growth and development.
The job that interests me within this organization is an executive board member. An executive board member of the ACEI makes decisions regarding the goals of the organization and distributing resources. The requirements for this position are demonstrating a commitment to the mission and vision of ACEI and the education of children globally. One must also demonstrate an inclusive attitude and appreciate diversity. Individuals on the board must have sound leadership skills, and it is desired that he/she has experience living or working in another country.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Exploring Roles in the ECE Community- National and Federal Level
This week I have chosen to highlight three organizations that are dedicated to providing early childhood educators with professional development opportunities. They have created innovative teacher training programs that are convenient and affordable. These organizations are doing the work that I believe in, which is ensuring that all children are taught by highly qualified, well-trained, and well-educated early childhood professionals.
National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies ( NACCRRA) http://www.naccrra.org/
This organization is devoted to making sure that quality care is available to all young children in every local community in the United States. They train child care professionals regarding the best practices in early childhood education. Specifically, they have a training academy that makes available affordable training to child care professionals online. Furthermore, their conferences and publications equip educators with the information they need to improve their work and the education that young children receive.
The position that interests me within this organization is the chief of member relations and services. The responsibilities of this job include creating a valuable and engaging experience for members. One must maintain communication with local and state staff and members. The skills and qualifications for this job are at least ten years of experience as a manager and five years as a member of the organization. In addition, this position requires one to have knowledge about the NACCRRA and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The educational requirement is a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, family studies, or business and public administration. However, a master's is preferred.
HighScope Educational Research Foundation http://www.highscope.org/
This nonprofit organization conducts early childhood research and provides training to early childhood educators. They believe that they can promote high quality education by developing early childhood curriculum, publishing materials, presenting conferences, operating a demonstration preschool, and a training program. They pride themselves on offering training that caters to the diverse learning styles and interests of adult learners. No matter what curriculum teachers use, this training program can be useful to their practice.
The job that is of interest to me within this organization is the center for early education evaluation research assistant. The responsibilities of this job title include processing data for researching projects, conducting child assessments, classroom observations, and staff and family interviews. This job requires individuals to have a four year degree in education. They must also have experience with data entry and 1- 2 years experience in a child care setting.
Child Care Services Association http://www.childcareservices.org/
Child Care Services Association is a nonprofit organization that is working to ensure that all young children have access to high quality early childhood education and care. They offer technical assistance to early childhood programs and provide educational scholarships and salary supplements to education professionals. They provide workshops throughout the year for early childhood professionals to improve their quality. Their annual Advancing Skills and Knowledge conference is an all day event that offers over 100 training and workshop sessions for educators to choose from.
The job that is of interest to me within this organization is specialist-infant, toddler. The specialist works with quality improvement staff and early childhood providers to improve quality of care available to infants and toddlers in a specific region. Some other responsibilities are collecting data on availability of quality care in the region, disbursing needed materials to programs and families, and attending local, state, and agency meetings. The requirements for this job are a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and three years experience working with infants and toddlers OR a master's degree with two years experience. One must also have effective communication skills, the ability to handle many tasks at once, and the ability to work with diverse individuals.
National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies ( NACCRRA) http://www.naccrra.org/
This organization is devoted to making sure that quality care is available to all young children in every local community in the United States. They train child care professionals regarding the best practices in early childhood education. Specifically, they have a training academy that makes available affordable training to child care professionals online. Furthermore, their conferences and publications equip educators with the information they need to improve their work and the education that young children receive.
The position that interests me within this organization is the chief of member relations and services. The responsibilities of this job include creating a valuable and engaging experience for members. One must maintain communication with local and state staff and members. The skills and qualifications for this job are at least ten years of experience as a manager and five years as a member of the organization. In addition, this position requires one to have knowledge about the NACCRRA and excellent written and verbal communication skills. The educational requirement is a bachelor's degree in early childhood education, child development, family studies, or business and public administration. However, a master's is preferred.
HighScope Educational Research Foundation http://www.highscope.org/
This nonprofit organization conducts early childhood research and provides training to early childhood educators. They believe that they can promote high quality education by developing early childhood curriculum, publishing materials, presenting conferences, operating a demonstration preschool, and a training program. They pride themselves on offering training that caters to the diverse learning styles and interests of adult learners. No matter what curriculum teachers use, this training program can be useful to their practice.
The job that is of interest to me within this organization is the center for early education evaluation research assistant. The responsibilities of this job title include processing data for researching projects, conducting child assessments, classroom observations, and staff and family interviews. This job requires individuals to have a four year degree in education. They must also have experience with data entry and 1- 2 years experience in a child care setting.
Child Care Services Association http://www.childcareservices.org/
Child Care Services Association is a nonprofit organization that is working to ensure that all young children have access to high quality early childhood education and care. They offer technical assistance to early childhood programs and provide educational scholarships and salary supplements to education professionals. They provide workshops throughout the year for early childhood professionals to improve their quality. Their annual Advancing Skills and Knowledge conference is an all day event that offers over 100 training and workshop sessions for educators to choose from.
The job that is of interest to me within this organization is specialist-infant, toddler. The specialist works with quality improvement staff and early childhood providers to improve quality of care available to infants and toddlers in a specific region. Some other responsibilities are collecting data on availability of quality care in the region, disbursing needed materials to programs and families, and attending local, state, and agency meetings. The requirements for this job are a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and three years experience working with infants and toddlers OR a master's degree with two years experience. One must also have effective communication skills, the ability to handle many tasks at once, and the ability to work with diverse individuals.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels
This week I have put much thought into organizations that I would like to be a part of my ideal community of practice. Below is a list of those organizations and why I chose them. I have also included job opportunities that I would like to explore in each of these organizations.
1. Vision for Children at Risk http://visionforchildren.org/
This nonprofit organization informs the community about the needs of children in the St. Louis area. They govern over the St. Louis Metropolitan Children's Agenda, which is composed of children's agencies that work to meet the needs of at risk children in the area. The VCR's mission is to serve economically disadvantaged young people and ensure their well-being. Specifically, they research the needs of St. Louis children at risk, collaborate with others, and advocate on their behalf. The reason I chose to highlight this organization is because they state that they are committed to being an agent for positive social change in St. Louis. Being a part of the Walden community, I also share this same passion. Children who are at risk benefit most from quality education and care. This organization recognizes this and aims to address this issue in my community.
The job that interests me within this organization is project coordinator. The project coordinator works closely with the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership to plan initiatives and strategies to address issues related to children and their families. A person in this position would need to know the needs and issues related to children and their families in the St. Louis area. One should have experience working with children and families and collaborating with other organizations.
2. Association for the Education of Young Children- Missouri (AEYC-MO) http://www.aeyc-mo.org/
AEYC-MO is an affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This organization focuses on educating the community and policymakers about issues related to the early childhood field. They develop policy briefs that focus on topics of interest in the state of Missouri. Along with developing policies, this organization provides access to professional development for those who work with young children. I chose this organization because it was created for early childhood professionals who want to foster the healthy development and well-being of young children through quality education and other services. Like me, their vision is to ensure that all young children are well-prepared for school.
The job that is of interest to me in this organization is the quality: outreach, support, and accreditation committee chair. This person helps early childhood programs through the NAEYC accreditation process. The position requires that one know the accreditation process thoroughly and understands what represents quality in early childhood education and care. In addition, one would have to have good organizational and communication skills in order to assist early childhood programs effectively. All documents would have to be organized and explained clearly so that program directors will know exactly what to do to improve the quality of their program and receive accreditation from the NAEYC.
3. YMCA of Greater St. Louis (Y) http://www.ymcastlouis.org/
I have chosen to include The YMCA of Greater St. Louis because they are involved with several other organizations that advocate for young children. The Y believes in using developmentally appropriate practices to educate and foster the healthy development of young children. Their early childhood education centers and preschools provide a safe atmosphere and emphasize the development of social skills. They offer quality services to young children from low income families.
The job that interests me the most is early childhood education center director. The director is responsible for overseeing the staff and making sure that the children and their families are receiving quality care. The director should have several years of experience in the early childhood field and have knowledge about young children's growth and development. Also, this position requires that one works well with adults. The center director should be able to train the staff and willingly offer their support on a regular basis. I am interested in this position because I am eager to share the knowledge that I have received from Walden and my years in the field with others to improve early childhood care and education in my community.
1. Vision for Children at Risk http://visionforchildren.org/
This nonprofit organization informs the community about the needs of children in the St. Louis area. They govern over the St. Louis Metropolitan Children's Agenda, which is composed of children's agencies that work to meet the needs of at risk children in the area. The VCR's mission is to serve economically disadvantaged young people and ensure their well-being. Specifically, they research the needs of St. Louis children at risk, collaborate with others, and advocate on their behalf. The reason I chose to highlight this organization is because they state that they are committed to being an agent for positive social change in St. Louis. Being a part of the Walden community, I also share this same passion. Children who are at risk benefit most from quality education and care. This organization recognizes this and aims to address this issue in my community.
The job that interests me within this organization is project coordinator. The project coordinator works closely with the St. Louis Family and Community Partnership to plan initiatives and strategies to address issues related to children and their families. A person in this position would need to know the needs and issues related to children and their families in the St. Louis area. One should have experience working with children and families and collaborating with other organizations.
2. Association for the Education of Young Children- Missouri (AEYC-MO) http://www.aeyc-mo.org/
AEYC-MO is an affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children. This organization focuses on educating the community and policymakers about issues related to the early childhood field. They develop policy briefs that focus on topics of interest in the state of Missouri. Along with developing policies, this organization provides access to professional development for those who work with young children. I chose this organization because it was created for early childhood professionals who want to foster the healthy development and well-being of young children through quality education and other services. Like me, their vision is to ensure that all young children are well-prepared for school.
The job that is of interest to me in this organization is the quality: outreach, support, and accreditation committee chair. This person helps early childhood programs through the NAEYC accreditation process. The position requires that one know the accreditation process thoroughly and understands what represents quality in early childhood education and care. In addition, one would have to have good organizational and communication skills in order to assist early childhood programs effectively. All documents would have to be organized and explained clearly so that program directors will know exactly what to do to improve the quality of their program and receive accreditation from the NAEYC.
3. YMCA of Greater St. Louis (Y) http://www.ymcastlouis.org/
I have chosen to include The YMCA of Greater St. Louis because they are involved with several other organizations that advocate for young children. The Y believes in using developmentally appropriate practices to educate and foster the healthy development of young children. Their early childhood education centers and preschools provide a safe atmosphere and emphasize the development of social skills. They offer quality services to young children from low income families.
The job that interests me the most is early childhood education center director. The director is responsible for overseeing the staff and making sure that the children and their families are receiving quality care. The director should have several years of experience in the early childhood field and have knowledge about young children's growth and development. Also, this position requires that one works well with adults. The center director should be able to train the staff and willingly offer their support on a regular basis. I am interested in this position because I am eager to share the knowledge that I have received from Walden and my years in the field with others to improve early childhood care and education in my community.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Week 1: Mission Almost Accomplished!!!
Hello to all of my colleagues in EDUC 6990!
Can you believe that we are almost finished with our goal of completing the M.S. Program? I am so glad that I once again have the opportunity to communicate and learn from you through our blogs. (I did not have blog assignments in my last two classes.) I wish you much success as we complete this last course and feel free to ask me questions along the way (f.krista83@yahoo.com).
Can you believe that we are almost finished with our goal of completing the M.S. Program? I am so glad that I once again have the opportunity to communicate and learn from you through our blogs. (I did not have blog assignments in my last two classes.) I wish you much success as we complete this last course and feel free to ask me questions along the way (f.krista83@yahoo.com).
Sunday, October 21, 2012
Thank You!!!!!
I just want to take the time to acknowledge all of my colleagues in EDUC 6165. Thank you for sharing your ideas, insights, and personal experiences. Because of all of you, this course was informative and I have learned a lot about communication. My communication skills have improved tremendously and I plan to use them in my professional and personal life.
Congratulations on being one step closer to completing the program and I wish all of you the best!
Thanks again,
Krista
Congratulations on being one step closer to completing the program and I wish all of you the best!
Thanks again,
Krista
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Group Development (Adjourning)
Before reading about the stages of development, I did not give much thought to the adjourning stage. In most of my group experiences, the adjourning stage consisted of simply saying good-bye. We never really discussed the success of the group or how well we accomplished our goal/s.
However looking back, the groups that are the hardest for me to leave are the ones that are high performing. In these types of groups everyone is committed to the group and completes the tasks assigned to them. These groups are hardest to leave because all of its members function well, making the goal/s easier to accomplish. When a group functions well, everyone benefits from the diversity of ideas, and it decreases the individual work load of its members. During the adjourning stage of one of my high performing groups, the closing ritual consisted of me and another member exchanging numbers and becoming friends. In fact, we are still best friends today. Although that was a good experience for me, I wish that more of my closing rituals consisted of the group discussing how well we thought we accomplished the goal/s of the group. Reflecting over our performance would be a great way to see what improvements our group could make for the next time we have to work together. This is one reason why the adjourning stage is essential to teamwork. It is also essential to teamwork because it gives closure to the group and allows others to express their thanks and appreciation to other members of the group.
I imagine that I will adjourn from my colleagues in this program by thanking them for offering their diverse ideas, opinions, and suggestions that enhanced my learning experience. Finally, I plan to congratulate and wish them the best as they continue to serve young children and their families.
However looking back, the groups that are the hardest for me to leave are the ones that are high performing. In these types of groups everyone is committed to the group and completes the tasks assigned to them. These groups are hardest to leave because all of its members function well, making the goal/s easier to accomplish. When a group functions well, everyone benefits from the diversity of ideas, and it decreases the individual work load of its members. During the adjourning stage of one of my high performing groups, the closing ritual consisted of me and another member exchanging numbers and becoming friends. In fact, we are still best friends today. Although that was a good experience for me, I wish that more of my closing rituals consisted of the group discussing how well we thought we accomplished the goal/s of the group. Reflecting over our performance would be a great way to see what improvements our group could make for the next time we have to work together. This is one reason why the adjourning stage is essential to teamwork. It is also essential to teamwork because it gives closure to the group and allows others to express their thanks and appreciation to other members of the group.
I imagine that I will adjourn from my colleagues in this program by thanking them for offering their diverse ideas, opinions, and suggestions that enhanced my learning experience. Finally, I plan to congratulate and wish them the best as they continue to serve young children and their families.
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