THANK YOU!!!!!!

Thank you to all of my colleagues in EDUC 6005! All of you have made my first online learning experience joyful.

I want to especially thank you, Dr. Longo for your positive feedback, patience, and encouragement throughout these 8 weeks.

I wish everyone the best ,

Krista

Code of Ethics

Education professionals must uphold certain standards in the early childhood field. These standards are outlined by the NAEYC and DEC Code of Ethics. Here are three that are significant to me:

1. We shall use individually appropriate assessment strategies including multiple sources of information such as observations, interviews with significant caregivers, formal and informal assessments to determine children's learning styles, strengths, and challenges.

Significance: Students need to be approached and taught as individuals. It's important that teachers use strategies that are appropriate for each child according to learning styles and abilities.

2. We shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services.

Significance: Taking on the responsibility of lead teacher can be extremely overwhelming for educators new to the field. The best way to overcome that feeling is by forming relationships with those individuals who have experience. By sharing ideas and lessons learned from previous experiences, the new teacher can gain insight from his/her mentor on how to lead a classroom effectively.

3. We shall advocate for equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and families to enhance their quality of lives.

Significance: Every child can learn. Because of this, we must make sure they are placed in the best conditions for the learning process to take place. Education professionals must also support families so that they can further the child's learning at home.

Course Resources

Resources are significant to the growth of an educator. We rely on resources for current research, ideas to improve techniques in the classroom, and to aid in the success of students and their families. Here are a list of resources that I have found to be helpful and some that I have yet to view (but I plan too).

Websites:

• World Organization for Early Childhood Education(mission is to ensure a quality education for children around the world; supports families and educators; composed International Journal of Early Childhood)  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
• National Association for the Education of Young Children(offers a wealth of information for the early childhood field through publications, conferences, and additional resources)http://www.naeyc.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce(supports well-educated workforce; seeks to give workforce a voice and better pay; offers tips for educators)  
  http://www.ccw.org/
• The Erikson Institute (Graduate school in child development; offers services for children and families; latest research ; helpful tips)http://www.erikson.edu/
• World Forum Foundation
  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/

• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
   
   
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
   
   
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
   
   
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
   
   
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/ 
   
   
• Children’s Defense Fund

             http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Articles

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf

Books:

• Teach Like a Champion: The 49 Techniques That Put Students on the Path to College     by: Doug Lemov

People:

• Dr. Aisha Ray (Research/Academia) Erikson institute; focuses most of her attention on developing teachers who are culturally aware

Techniques:

• RTI Model:  http://www.rtinetwork.org/?gclid=CPe92LbOyqsCFQLBKgodWEOC2g

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

      As an educator, there are times when I get discouraged or question if I'm in the right field. During those times, I reflect on my passion and motivation. I evaluate the following quotes and see if they still apply to me and my feelings about being an educator.  These quotes remind me of why I am in the field of education and I am inspired and motivated to persevere through the difficult days. I hope they can do the same for you.

"Passion comes from within each of us; it cannot be imposed or mandated from the outside. At the same time, it compels us to move outside, to engage within the world around us."

                                                                                              -John Hagel

"When I think of passion I think of ....what's in my heart."

-Leticia Lara

(These two quotes help me to examine my passion for early childhood education by determining if that is what's inside me. And every time my answer is overwhelmingly "Yes, every since I can remember!")

"It's my turn to be able to create opportunities for parents and their children."

-Raymond Hernandez

"It's not all about you; you got to take your ego out of it and think about what's best for the child."

-Renatta M. Cooper

(These two quotes provide motivation for me because they remind me of why I do what I do everyday; help children and their families. At the end of the day that's what's important.)

"This is why, in the end, focusing on honing and improving specific techniques is the fastest route to success, sometimes even if that practice comes at the expense of philosophy or strategy."

-Doug Lemov

"Early childhood classrooms are meeting grounds that reflect modern American society in all its complexity."

-Aisha Ray

(These two quotes motivate me to be a lifelong learner and to continue to perfect teaching strategies.  My classroom is the first taste of the "real world" that my students will encounter so I need to make sure that they have the best experiences possible. )

If these quotes have inspired or motivated you in the field of early childhood education, I encourage you to SHARE them so another educator can LEARN and GROW.   



Personal Childhood Web

  My personal childhood web consists of five people who contributed to my development as a child and influenced my adulthood. These five people are my mother, father, grandmother, uncle, and childhood pastor.  All of them made me feel special as I was growing up and they taught me valuable lessons.  I truly appreciate the time I spent with each of them and the postivite characteristics I developed while with them.  Each of them encouraged me to SHARE, LEARN, and GROW!

I dedicated a section of my page to each person mentioned above.  Please take a look at the bottom of my  page to learn more about how they all contributed to my life.   

Take Me Home, Please?

  One afternoon before dismissal a student asked me if I could take her home and babysit her over the weekend.  I responded by saying, "Do you really want to go home with your teacher?" She enthusiastically said, "Yes!"  Then she told me that she would pay me $5000 to take her home with me.  By this time the rest of my students joined the conversation, and they all began bidding for my babysitting services.  I realized how much they really liked me not just as a teacher, but as a person too.  Throughout the school year I had built a relationship with them.  That day my student decided to SHARE the desire she had to go home with me, and I LEARNED that I really did make an impact on my students' lives.  And, from that experience I GREW.

Share Learn Grow

Being an educator has taught me that the more I share my experiences with colleagues, the more I learn from them and I learn about myself.  After that learning takes place I grow.  It is my hope that once you read this blog you too will share, learn, and grow.