Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field Final Post

·         Post at least three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your professional and personal development.  (Consequence sounds so negative, I’ll choose the word “outcome” instead)

For a person that has a huge heart for International Education, communicating with so many educators around the world has been very rewarding!  One outcome has been a major encouragement, knowing that my husband and I will one day live overseas and listening to the many professionals that are in love with their jobs in other countries with their huge support systems gives me great encouragement for similar supports while overseas. Another outcome after communicating with the International contacts was to understand additional resources that they use online; while I work in the states I work in an area that has a HUGE international transfer location and families from many cultures and backgrounds attend our schools.  Using these online resources has assisted in understanding some of our families on a new level.  The third outcome after connecting with International professionals is the ability to remain in contact with them and bounce ideas with them.  This summer we are anticipating the birth of our second child, therefore limited on the summer travels we can accomplish, but next year I can anticipate traveling to meet some of these contacts in person and see their schools hands on.

·         Post one goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations

One goal for international awareness and collegial relations is to help students and educators understand how important it is to have connections and support from many different arenas in a person’s life.  Encouraging this spirit among international educators would supply an awareness of international issues and trends while also offering helpful advice and ideas that have worked for others in the past.  Being up to date on international issues and trends will help one’s professional life as the United States is a hub for many different cultures; your classroom is bound to have a similar issue, with the communication already started understanding how to best handle it will come easier.

Thank you to each of my International contacts and the friends that have helped connect me with them!  I look forward to the many more conversations and encouragement that we will be able to offer each other!

Also to the classmates within the courses this semester, thank you for the communication, encouragement, and challenges during this time together.  I’m sure we will all see each other in another course, if not, I wish you luck and stay in touch!

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

These last few weeks have been crazy with communicating with the contacts overseas.  Seems "holiday" time is upon us and everyone is taking time away.  I have loved speaking with my contacts, and have done so far beyond everything I've shared on here.  Beyond the support in the class, I've also communicated with them on a personal level.  Being almost 9 months pregnant (and spending a lot of these last few weeks in and out of the hospital), seeing how they deal with the same situations overseas makes me SO HAPPY to live here in the states during this time! 

What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?
What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?
What are some of your professional goals?
What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?

Kathryn from Ireland, updated Sunday 06.17.12:
Our principal feels that out of all the areas of curriculum, personal,social and emotional is most important; being able to have a conversation with adults and peers, being able to listen and sit for a period of time, having an awareness of self imagine and feelings and being able to express how they feel. And being able to cope with routine changes and new situations. I enjoying seeing 3 year olds develop opinions and ideas and become confidant expressive 4 year olds.

At the minute our education body would like us to be able to train staff to be able to manage more special needs difficulties ourselves with in our setting, we have had staff trained on parenting skills and speech difficulties. I am always up for new ideas and chances to learn something new:) I would be more than happy to continue to work where and how I'm working:)

I asked Kathryn if the teacher renew contracts each year or are they hired until retirement or their choice of leaving?  She said that she has a permanent contract and will remain at the school she is at until she decides she may want to venture elsewhere.  But she seems very happy where she is!

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Crystal from Korea:
As far as private hakwons (their term for students in their school), not much... there is preference now, however, to only hire persons with certification (only receivable in Korea), and/ or an MA degree for public schools. The truth is, however, that within the next 20 years the need for foreign teachers will probably be void, because most schools find the cultural differences rough, and are training up Korean staff to take foreigners positions ie all English teachers will be Korean natives, and it will save a lot of people money, as well. My personal professional goals are not to teach English at all.. I am merely here, because the cost of living in Korea is very cheap, so I can save up well and move to a more impoverished country, and learn more about sustainabble living, and how to meet peoples social needs. From there, I would like to find a mate, start my own non-profit, and church planting team, and raise support for ministry oriented self-sustaining micro/macro financing businesses (which will probably also have an emphasis on education.) I am merely taking this season of my life to dabble in a bunch of options, and to learn a lot about the inner workinigs of business and the eductaional system in foreign settings to prepare myself so that when I am in my 40s-50s, I will be able to head an organization, which is well-rounded smart, and efficient for the sake of the needs of a community. Honestly, I have been thinking about heading to Thailand next to try to learn about women's needs...

I'm not able to connect with my other contacts this week.

Sharing Web Resources

www.NACCRRA.org

·         Follow some of the outside links that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead?

On the home page of this website, on the bottom right there is an area to locate child care in our local area.  You simply put your zip code in, and hit the “search” button.  I found that after searching, local child care facilities are not listed instead something called “CCR&R” locations are available.  After searching on the NACCRRA site, I was unable to find out what CCR&R means.  (I ended up googling it and found that it means “Child Care Resource and Referral,” how in the many years I’ve worked in this business did I not know this acronym?).

NACCRRA has changed its name, no longer named NACCRRA, now being called Child Care Aware of America.  Don’t follow the link that says “Click here for more information,” as the link leads you to a page not found.  There is a mailing address listed if you want more information though.

On the bottom of the page, right corner, there is an area entitled “Take Action”.  Here you can find the “Legislative Action Center” with loads of information on current legal issues as well as updates on previous ones discussed.  Click on “send an email to your elected officials” will offer current issues that your state is involved in that you could email an official in support or to voice your opinion on your lack of support.

·         Thoroughly search one area of the site. What do you find?

Following the “Parents” tab on the home page, you will find  an area that helps you find a child care facility.  When you follow that link, it brings you to the new website www.childcareaware.org (the new NACCRRA name and I’m guessing new site).  There are two links you can follow, one for child care providers and one for parents and guardians.  The child care provider’s link will take you to additional resources with helpful tools to “begin your career as a child care provider”.  On this main page there is also a link to “Alex the Bear”.  Alex the Bear is a video that can be used to help children and parents with the transition into a child care setting.  Such a cute video!  If this is the new site, I like where its going!

·         Does the website or the e-newsletter contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education?

The website offers a great deal of updated information on current issues and trends within the Early Childhood field either through news articles, journals, or public service announcements.  Excellence is a reason NACCRRA exists, to promote excellence in all child care facilities.  Interested in hearing broadcasts on popular topics that assist in promoting excellence, there is an area entitled “tune into NACCRRA radio” http://childcareaware.org/naccrra-radio that has great information.

·         What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or the e-newsletter?

One area that I really enjoyed reviewing this week was entitled “Stay at home or return to work?”  This is area is a step by step process that enables you to both think through the process and decision of staying at home or returning to work by reading and considering different factors.  You can even type in comments concerning each topic and save your comments to print or return to finish if you’re not able to complete the entire topic.  I love it!  I love the support that this topic brings as it’s a decision that isn’t taken lightly and many parents go back and forth over, some with regrets later on.  (I found this link by following a “Quick Links” lead on the main page of the newer website www.childcareaware.org  

More from the International Contacts

This week communicating with my International contacts was a slight challenge, possibly end of year and a lot of “holiday” time for some.  Upon receiving information regarding these questions, I will update the post accurately.  Although the continual information from resources available and how each handles them within their classrooms was great information too!

Questions that began our discussions:

What types of readiness does your region offer for entering into primary school?

What do you enjoy most about teaching in this field?

·         Kathryn Wonnacott – Belfast, Ireland, Nursery Asst. in a preschool of 3’s – 4’s with 52 children within the school.

o   More information regarding resources from last week:  Resource wise we are very lucky, we have a store full of toys, construction, small imaginative, math toys, books, art equipment sand and water toys. Our budget from our governing body allows us to purchase whatever small pieces of equipment we need when we need it. In relation to special needs we have gathered resources from all over, we use the welcome and comet programs with speech difficulties, these provide tests and games to assess the specific need of the child and then how to help, any other needs are met by the agencies we involve such as the CIDS team provide occupational therapy, physio therapy, behavior therapy.

·         Lina Vasquez – Pre School teacher in Colombia

o   More information regarding resources from last week:  If we try to create new things, that children feel a part of their learning, preschool here works as well: cognitive dimension, communicative, aesthetics, spiritual, body. the projects include research from learning, mine is about explorers, through the concept of ecosystem children learn. And I have my group project that seeks to create an adequate environment for learning in the classroom, I chose it while I was having unequivocal support, I teach them healthy life habits, norms, we share how they feel, they speak of their family life, is very human and focused on values

·         Melanie Buckley – Germany Dodds school system (Department of Defense schools usual locations are on military bases both state side and overseas)

o   Upon returning to Germany from visiting her father, Melanie will return communication as she catches up on her obligations.  If she answers before this week is over I will update the blog.

·         Crystal Trigaux – Incheon, South Korea,2^nd level teacher (In American terms equivalent to 2^nd grade)

o   Resources from last week as she was away on “holiday”.  They offer science tools/ Art Village curriculum and Art Science for projects, if you mean actual non-written, but supplemental art materials... Some of my fave textbooks which I wished they used here are: Listening and Dctation (self titled), Stephen Vaughns Phonics, and I also supplement by having my older kids read Goosebuumps books for fun...mostly fot comprehension, presentation, and new vocabulary words. Its incredibly hard reading material for them, but they like when I paraphrase re-tell the stories they dont understand, and it helps them stay engaged/ makes the learning more fun. We spent 2 months going through "Dead House," and now we are reading, "Night of the Living Dummy." There is a print shop downstairs, and these books are also online, so I printed them and had them bound for the students

o    

·         Katie Meyler – Monrovia, Liberia (founder of “More than me foundation”, an organization that assists girls in West Africa to get off of the streets and gain an education)

o   Due to lack of communication, I will remove Katie from an International Contact.