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!