Time Well Spent

             I am super excited! Why? Because, I am four days away from completing my master’s program with Walden University!!! I started this journey in 2010 with a focus on elementary mathematics. However, my passion led me towards early childhood studies and I am glad that I listened! Through the many leaves of absence I had to take for health reasons, I am so thankful that I have made it! This has truly been a rewarding experience!

            Throughout this program I have learned so many things. I have learned more about child development, the issues and trends within the early childhood education field, the happenings around the world in the field, and how to properly conduct research. Three things stand out to me about all that was covered during this program:

 

1. Play is a vital part of a child’s development. Through play, children are able to grow academically, socially, and physically.
2. Being active in the field is more than just teaching and attending a few workshops. Part of our calling is creating positive social change. We should strive not only to help children, but also their families and their communities.
3. On a personal note, I have learned a lot about myself. I need to have more confidence in my ability to do good work. I spent hours agonizing over assignments because I did not think they were good enough. Only to end up with an outstanding score! Having more confidence will also help me be a great leader. I also need to work on my time management. I spent many long nights completing assignments because I waited until the last minute. Procrastination can no longer be my friend!

            One long term goal I have is to open and operate my own child care facility with a balanced curriculum, focused on play and academics. I would like to continue my studies and obtain my doctorate in early childhood education, but I am going to take some time off to focus on work and my son. This is a picture of Nicholas and me during our vacation in the Bahamas this summer. 

            To all of my wonderful colleagues, it has been a great pleasure learning with you and from you during our time here at Walden. I have been learning with some of you for a while now and I want to say thank you. Thank you for pushing me to greater levels and taking me out of my comfort zone. I wish you all much success in the future. Many blessings to you all. I plan on keeping my blog open. So you can keep in touch with me here on by email ryans1224@gmail.com.

 

            The following is my Wordle I created to express my experience here at Walden:

Time Well Spent Wordle

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

This assignment has been very interesting. I have never looked at international early childhood organizations before and it is amazing the things they are doing across the world. The three organizations that I found of interest were:

1. Association for Childhood Education (www.acei.org)

The members in this organization act as social change agents. They involve themselves in various critical societal issues in their efforts to ensure that children around the world are protected, supported, and educated in ways that allow them to reach their full potential. Their motto is “bright futures for every child, every nation.” They are committed to support and advocate for access to education, equity in educational settings, quality educational content, and the child’s right to education.

They accept applications to be a part of their board of directors. However, I am not qualified to fill this position, it still sounds like a great opportunity. The qualifications for candidates can be found here http://www.acei.org/qualifications-for-candidates-for-the-acei-board-of-directors  

2. International Step by Step Association (www.issa.nl)

This organization connects professionals and organizations working in the field of early childhood development and education. It promotes equal access to quality education and care for all children, especially in the early years of their lives. ISSA advocates policies that ensure that every child regardless of gender, race, religion, nationality or ability has the opportunity to develop to his or her full potential. 

3. International Child Resource Institute (www.icrichild.org)

This organization envisions a world in which all children and families are able to fulfill their greatest potential. They work towards this goal by focusing on: early childhood care and education, children’s rights, empowerment of women’s and girls, maternal and child health, and grassroots community development.

The only employment opportunity they have available is a marketing internship. I am not interested in marketing, but if anyone else is, you can find the details here http://www.icrichild.org/employment/. ICRI also offers volunteer opportunities in the US and abroad. The international opportunities allow you to work hands on with different cultures. That opportunity sounds amazing! For more information check out http://www.icrichild.org/volunteer-opportunities/.

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

I never really considered working for a national or federal organization. I enjoy working face-to-face with children and their families too much. There is no greater feeling than watching a child grow throughout the year and to have an impact on that growth. However, this assignment was very informative. I never realized how many national education associations there were. A lot of them want you to become a member, but few offer actual job opportunities. I was able to find three that stood out to me:

 Playworks (www.playworks.org)

Playworks is a national nonprofit organization that transforms schools by providing play and physical activity at recess and throughout the school day. This organization actually has job opportunities where you can work directly with children, their families, and the school. Plus, it involves incorporating play into the daily curriculum! They offer jobs during the school year. The position that I am interested in is the AmeriCorps member position or "Coach." This is a full-time position bringing healthy play and physical activity to low-income schools to create a positive environment for learning and teaching. The duties and qualifications are rather lengthy. You can check them out here http://www.playworks.org/careers/school-openings/americorps-program-coordinator.

Jumpstart (www.jstart.org)

 Jumpstart is a national early education organization that recruits and trains college students and community Corps members to serve preschool children in low-income neighborhoods. Their proven curriculum helps children develop the language and literacy skills they need to be ready for kindergarten, setting them on a path to close the achievement gap before it is too late. Within this organization, I am interested in the Site Manager position. The primary responsibility of the Jumpstart Site Manager is to manage the day-to-day operations of the campus Jumpstart program in order to ensure that Jumpstart Quality Standards, guidelines provided by Jumpstart, are met and that the program is meeting grant requirements. The rest of the job specifics and qualifications can be found at https://home2.eease.adp.com/recruit2/?id=7076282&t=1.

 National Alliance of Black School Educators (www.nabse.org)

 The National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) is the nation's premiere non-profit organization devoted to furthering the academic success for the nation's children - particularly children of African descent. NABSE is dedicated to improving both the educational experiences and accomplishments of African American youth through the development and use of instructional and motivational methods that increase levels of inspiration, attendance and overall achievement. I am not qualified for this position, but it still sounded interesting. The NABSE is looking for an Executive Director who will have overall strategic operational responsibility for NABSE’s staff, expansion, and execution of the mission of NABSE. The job requirements can be found at http://careers.nabse.org/jobs/#/detail/4878171/1,false.

Exploring Roles in the Early Childhood Education Community

There are many organizations that cater to early childhood education in Maryland. The following are the organizations that caught my attention:

 

• Maryland Association for the Education of Young Children (www.mdaeyc.org)
• This organization is an affiliate with the National Association for the Education of Young Children (www.naeyc.org). They also have local affiliates that serve the different counties in Maryland. The mission of MDAEYC is to empower those who care for and educate young children. This would be a great community of practice because I would be able to network with other professionals and even experts in the early childhood field. They provide education to help individuals grow in this profession.   
• Maryland Family Network (www.mdchildcare.org)
• This organization works with everybody that is involved in helping young children. They work with parents, child care providers, advocates, employers, and even policymakers. Their goal is to enhance the early childhood education and child care available to Maryland’s children. For parents, they help families find child care providers within the state and for child care providers they offer training and education. This organization is a major resource for anyone working with children.
• Maryland State Child Care Association (www.mscca.org)
• This organization promotes the growth and development of professional licensed child care and learning centers in Maryland. As a member of this organization individuals have the opportunity to network with other professionals in the field on a national, state, and local level. Members also have the opportunity to meet with mentors that help with accreditation, credentialing, and regulatory issues.
• Maryland Head Start Association (www.md-hsa.org)
• Lastly, this organization offers education and training opportunities for Head Start programs. They educate the community at large on the issues of low-income children and families and school readiness.

 

I researched different job opportunities on CareerBuilder.com. I found a few positions that interest me. The first position is with Bright Horizons Family Solutions as an Education Coordinator. As the education coordinator, I would guide staff in the implementation of a developmentally appropriate curriculum, partner with parents, and impact the lives of children every day. Another position I found is a Center Director for La Petite Academy. The only major requirement for this position is a degree in early childhood education. Lastly, I found a position with The Goddard School as the Preschool Education Director. However, I do not qualify for this position because I do not have any management experience in a large, licensed preschool or childcare center.

The Journey Continues!!!

Hey everybody!! I just want to say thank you to all of my colleagues! It has been such a pleasure learning with you and from you. You all have helped me grow in my profession as an educator and I am truly grateful. I will be moving into the Administration, Leadership, and Management specialization. I hope to work with some of you again as we all continue our journey with Walden. This has really been such a rewarding experience and I am looking forward to what the future holds. Many blessings to each of you!

The Adjourning Stage

             This week we learned about the five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning (check out http://www.projectsmart.co/uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html). Each group/team goes through two or more stages when working together towards a goal. Each stage moves the team towards success, but some groups can get stuck in the beginning stages depending on the situation and people involved. For this assignment we were asked to focus on the adjourning stage of team development. In this stage, the project has come to an end and group members go their separate ways.

            Personally, some groups are easier to say good-bye to than others. I think the easy groups to leave are those where there was lots of confusion, lack of communication, unclear goals, etc. These groups are frustrating and draining. There have been some meetings that I just could not wait to leave because the group I joined with was filled with confusion. Some groups also have a lack of focus. The meeting leader would assign a task and three out of 7 people would be focused on the activity. This is very challenging.

            On the other hand, I have been in groups where all members were focused on the task at hand. We would challenge each other in order to complete the task at hand. These groups were exciting and there would be a constant flow of information. Before separating from these group members, everyone would exchange email addresses and other contact info to stay in touch. These group members make great networking buddies.

            I think that is why the adjourning stage is so important. When meeting with people for the first time, it is always a good thing to establish a networking relationship. It is also a good thing to have resources in other areas to use when needed. At the end of this program with Walden, I hope to have gained some new networking buddies in order to share successes and lessons with. You can never have too many resources.

Conflict Strategies

            I am the type of person that avoids conflict and confrontations, even though I know they are inevitable. I think well on my feet and I am conscious of my responses and the other person’s feelings (sometimes a little too empathetic), but I have a slick tongue and can be very sarcastic. My sarcasm is not always appreciated. Lol.

            This past week I participated in a heated discussion with my son’s father. We do not see eye-to-eye on many things. I called him with a suggestion and he quickly jumped on the defensive. I felt attacked so I became very sarcastic. Transparent moment: I do not understand why I (as the mother) have to jump through hoops or bend over backwards for him to see and spend time with his son. This makes no sense to me. The ‘discussion’ ended with me saying “Ok, whatever.” Clearly, nothing was solved and no one’s needs were met.

            This week, I have been learning how it is important to be empathetic and understand the other person and their feelings. So I reflected on our discussion and thought of two things I could do differently next time.

1.      Focus on the matter at hand and not make any personal attacks. Be mindful of my sarcastic thoughts so that they do not become my words.

2.      Really listen to the words of the speaker. Repeat back their words to make sure I have understood them correctly. By doing this I will be able to focus on their needs and how I will be able to meet them.

Communication Styles

             The task this week was rather interesting to me. I am not a fan of survey’s that has options so closely related and repeated questions that are formed differently. I like for things to be black and white for the most part and those survey’s had many gray areas. Nevertheless, I completed the survey along with my mom and close friend. It was also interesting to know that my mom and friend see my communication style differently than I see myself.

            One thing that surprised me the most was how well my family knew me, even a little more than I know myself. For listening styles we all agreed: group one – people oriented. They agree that I am empathetic and concerned with the emotions of others and that I can tend to be very trusting. The differences came about during the communication anxiety and verbal aggressiveness tests.

            For communication anxiety, they scored me at a 63 which is elevated. This means that I am uncomfortable in several communication contexts. I scored myself a 56 which means I have situational communication anxiety. My family thinks I am more nervous speaking in public. In the past I would say that this is true, but I believe I have grown a bit. Unfortunately, they have not seen me speak in a public forum in a long time. I am still nervous about speaking in public, but it does greatly depend on the situation.

            Lastly, they rated me moderate for verbal aggressiveness, while I rated myself significant. I guess that is a good thing. They believe I have a great balance between respect and consideration for others. It is nice that they have this view of me. I need to do some more self-reflecting. But, maybe the score would be different on a different day. I took the test twice and my score was slightly different each time.

            These results inform my professional and my personal life in many ways. It is important when working with children and their families that I am empathetic and understanding about their situations and circumstances. It is also important to have the ability to balance respect and consideration for others and their needs. In the field, we must always keep an open mind and a level head.

Communicating with Others

On a daily basis we speak multiple languages with the different people we interact with. Personally, I communicate differently with my family and friends than with my colleagues at work. I use a more professional language at work and at home I use a more informal language and style. I believe it all boils down to our comfort levels. When I am around people of a different culture I notice that I use more formal language and style until I am comfortable. Along with speaking a different language with different people in my life, I tend to wear a different mask as well. My family may see one side of me, while my coworkers and my students see another side. Honestly, sometimes it can get so tiresome and overwhelming. But everyone has different expectations. Such is life.

            Three strategies I can use to help me communicate more effectively with others from different groups are:

 

1. Placing myself in their shoes. Everyone has a different perspective. To be an effective communicator, I should have an understanding of the other person and how they view life in general.
2. In situations where I am not so comfortable, I can tend to be vague. I need to improve on getting to the point and being clear about my expectations and my goals of the conversation. Vagueness leads to uncertainty and confusion. Two things that I definitely want to steer clear of.
3. Lastly, I need to ask my effective questions. I am known for being very inquisitive but I do not always seem to ask the right question to get the answer I am looking for. I need to improve on my questioning skills.

Communication Skills in Actions

            This week our task was very interesting. We were asked to watch a TV show on mute and then watch it with volume. I felt as though I was watching something in a completely different language. I had to rely on the nonverbal cues of the actors which was difficult when there were none that were noticeable. I chose to watch a NBC primetime show titled “Guys with Kids.” I have seen previews for this show, but I never watched a full episode.

            The show is about three married men with children and their day-to-day situations. Watching the show without the volume was difficult but slightly entertaining. I was able to understand when they were talking about their children because of their hand gestures and facial expressions. The three men are clearly best friends and they all live in the same apartment building. Throughout the show, I could understand emotions of happiness, frustration, and apologetic.

            When I turned the volume back up and watched the show for the second time, I noticed my assumptions were spot on. In this episode, two of the fathers were trying to get their children out of a locked bathroom. This situation put a strain on their friendship, which led to an argument, which ended with them apologizing at the end of the show. This sequence was easily understood from their nonverbal cues and better understood when the volume was up and verbal communication was added. The other guy was organizing his apartment to remove all of the clutter. That proved to be difficult for them, but all was well by the end.

            Overall, the show was ok. However, I probably will not watch another episode. If I do, I prefer to watch it without sound and infer what is happening; especially with the storyline being so basic and predictable (in my opinion).

A Competent Communicator

            When I think of someone who demonstrates competent communication, the first person that comes to mind is my 81-year-old Auntie. Auntie always knows what to say, when to say, and how to say just about anything. Even when she gets upset (which is rare) she is able to express herself calmly while still making her frustration known. She is a retired Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force and is in outstanding health.

            When talking with her, she actively listens and just does not wait to jump in and have her turn to speak. Auntie keeps eye contact with you the entire time. She actually makes you a better communicator when talking with her because she means business. She weighs the pros and cons of each situation and then communicates based on all of the facts. At 81, you can only imagine how much wisdom she has and she is always open to giving advice.

            I would definitely want to model her communication behaviors in every aspect of my life. She is knowledgeable about many things and uses this knowledge combined with experience to effectively communicate with anyone. She remains calm and professional when handling household matters and any other important matters. I respect her and look up to her dearly. I hope that I will continue to learn from her.

Communication & Collaboration in the Early Childhood Field

Hello all!! This is now the beginning of a  new class on my journey with Walden University. This class focuses on communication and collaboration within the early childhood field. I'm looking forward to learning with and from my colleagues during these eight weeks. Each week in previous courses I have learned tons of valuable information and I believe this course will be the same. Looking forward to continuing this  journey with you all. Much success and many blessings during these next 8 weeks!!

Professional Hopes and Goals

·        Hope

o   One hope that I have when thinking about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that people stop creating and believing stereotypes. Whether we believe them or not, we still are aware of them and that awareness can unintentionally offend someone some day. It is best to check all biases before working with children and their families. All children and their families should get the same care and education.

·         Goal

o   One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field relating to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to develop a curriculum that is inclusive for all.

·        Thanks

o   I would like to thank all of my colleagues for your posts and comments throughout this course. It has been a pleasure learning with and from each and every one of you. I wish you all much success and many blessings for the future!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Let’s say a new family from Ethiopia has moved into our community. Their two-year-old son will be joining my child care facility in two weeks. I went to school with other Ethiopian children but do not really know much about the country and their culture. How can I prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this child and his family?

 

1. I will first research the country to learn the basic “surface” facts. It is always nice to know the general information about a country.
2. Then I will research to learn more about the traditions, values, and customs of the people, particularly the region where my family is coming from.
3. I will then ask my friends who are from the country to provide me insight on their beliefs. I will ask for information relating to holidays and common family traditions.
4. I will also reach out to the new family so I can see what traditions and values are important and specific to them. I will do this so I can see how to include their traditions into the classroom. I want the child to feel welcome and comfortable because it is a new environment.
5. Lastly, I will invite the family into the classroom. I want them to become familiar with the environment as well. Maybe they would like to share with the class something about themselves so the other students can learn more about them.

 

Getting to know others is important for all parties involved. By researching the country I am showing the family that I am taking an interest in their lives. They are not just another number or family enrolled in the program. I want them to feel welcomed and important. Too often new families and children join programs and become another figure. I do not want any of my families to feel that way.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

             This week we were asked to speak on an incident when experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression. This was a difficult assignment for me because although I am sure I have experienced these at some point or another in my life, nothing really stood out for me. Maybe I am fortunate that none of the events left a permanent emotional scar.

            The one event that comes to mind took place during my senior year of undergraduate studies in college. I was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 19. At the age of 21 I suffered from multiple blood clots and had to be hospitalized. After my stay at the hospital, I needed to be on crutches for a while. My doctor suggested getting handicap license plates for my car and keeping them permanent being that the lupus could flare at any time. I agreed. Well, one morning I was running late to class and was looking for a parking space. My university is in the heart of a city so parking was very limited. I was lucky and found a handicap space in front of the building where my class was held. As I set my alarm on my car, an owner of one of the many food trucks lined up across the street, started yelling at me. He told me I should be ashamed of myself for taking that spot because I was not handicap. (I was off of the crutches by this time.)

            He said I was taking the spot away from a real handicap individual. He called me a few other unpleasant names as well. I tried to explain to him that I was handicap, but he did not believe me because I did not “look” the part. I felt horrible, embarrassed, and offended all at the same time. I brushed him off (praying he would not deface my car) and went on to class. Unfortunately, that is something I will never forget.

            Obviously, the food truck owner would have to change in this situation. Every handicap individual does not “look” handicap. I think that is a horrible stereotype that so many people have. There are plenty of reasons an individual may have handicap license plates. People need to get that stereotype of their minds and just accept people for who they are.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggressions take place every day but mostly go unnoticed by the aggressor, but not the target. Microaggressions are described as brief everyday indignities that may be verbal, behavioral, or environmental, communicated intentionally or unintentionally, and contain an insulting message (Laureate Education, Inc., 2012). I was fortunate this week not to notice any microassaults, which are intentional, overt discriminations. I am sure there were some minor microaggressions that took place; however, I am still training my brain to pick up on them. Being more mindful and observing things more closely this week has helped me notice when hidden biases come out towards others who are different than me. This week was such an eye-opener.

I can share about an experience I had during my undergraduate studies. I took a class on teaching English while at Temple University. We were studying different dialects and phrases around the United States. I answered a question correctly regarding another name for a creek, and one of my peers was shocked that I knew the answer. Her remark was, “How did you even know that?” I explained to her and the rest of the class that in Maryland, we have other names for the creeks in our area. At the time she made me feel like I was not smart enough, or capable to answer that question because no one else in the class knew. I was one of five minorities in a class of about twenty-five students. The moment was very uncomfortable, and I believe she did not intentionally mean to offend me, but she did. I brushed off the microinsult and just laughed, but I was definitely uncomfortable.

 

Reference

 Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2012).Microaggressions in everyday life. [DVD]. Perspectives in Diversity & Equity. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Perspectives on Culture & Diversity

            For this assignment, we were tasked with asking at least three people their definitions of culture and diversity. I asked my Mom (age 59, a businesswoman in a university setting), my Auntie (age 81, retired USAA), and my cousin (age 21, college student). It was not surprising that I received three totally different answers. My Mom gave her answers from a personal point of view, while my Auntie gave a more general answer. My cousin’s answer was very vague and was a sad representation of today’s generation. Educating the youth and young adult population is so important, but unfortunately it is lacking.

            So far in this course, I have understood culture to be every aspect of an individual’s world. Culture is more than just a person’s race and ethnicity. My Auntie seemed to understand that as well. She defined culture as “a combination of skills and knowledge that enables a person to traverse through life and basically exist in society.” She also added that a person who lacks culture also lacks an understanding of how to get along in the world. Culture is very complex and encompasses everything that we do every day. Without it, we would probably live sheltered lives.

            From my Mom’s personal point of view, she viewed culture as being part of one’s heritage. As an African American, she believes that her culture stems from people who paved the way before her so she can be exposed to what other African Americans have done and how other races helped them to get to that point. To her, culture involves what you experience as part of your environment. Unfortunately, my cousin has a very narrow view of culture and believes it to be a person’s ethnic background. Needless to say, she received a mini-lesson on culture this evening.

            Diversity was a tricky topic for all three of my volunteers. Diversity is basically what makes us different. Auntie said it is a multitude of things, and she is right. She believes that “the more diverse a person is, the better off everyone will be.” It is important to have knowledge of the differences around you in order to live and get along with others. Being diverse enriches and enlightens people and society. On the other hand, my Mom sees the negative side of diversity. In her line of work, she believes there is no such thing. “People preach it, but you don’t actually see it.” For her, diversity means an equal opportunity for all and unfortunately, America (mainly the dominant culture) has not embraced this idea fully.

            Listening to their thoughts on culture and diversity confirmed how important it is to understand the differences around us. For the younger generation, we need to teach them to embrace differences and uniqueness and stop being afraid of the challenging topics. My cousin is a prime example of what happens when a person does not step out of their comfort zone. She is so sheltered and does not even realize it. I try to teach her new things and provide her with new experiences but I am hit with resistance because it is so different. This younger generation is our future. We need to change how we and what we teach them, consciously and unconsciously.

My Family Culture

Imagine the following:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

The three items I would take with me are

1. My Bible
1. I would need my Bible because it would give me the strength and guidance to keep going. It is my solid foundation. Having to be uprooted from everything I know would be overwhelming, but being reminded daily to have faith in my Provider would give me strength.

2. My Simpsons lunchbox
1. This is where I keep all of my movie stubs, concert stubs, etc. I also keep other mementos from trips and events. I would take this because it represents my culture and what I love to do.

3. Family photo album
1. Even though my family would be with me, I would still like to keep photos from past shared experiences. I would let them know that we would somehow be able to add new experiences to our album, just like we add new experiences to my lunchbox.

 

Week 8 - When I Think of Research...

            Before this class, when I thought about research, I thought about long hours reading countless documents, conducting experiments, long hours analyzing the data from the experiments, and finally bringing it all together in a report about 10+ pages long! Whew! After eight weeks of learning about research, my previous thoughts about it were…right! However, this time, I do not look at the process as being so daunting.

            Thanks to this class, I have learned how to conduct a research study step-by-step. I have learned about the different types of research; quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method. I have learned about the different ways to collect data; surveys, interviews, observation, etc. Most importantly, in my opinion, I have learned how to keep my research valid, through a process known as triangulation. If my research is not valid, what is the point?

            Research in the early childhood field is important because there is so much we do not know about children. With the world changing daily, the behaviors and temperaments of children are changing too.  The theories that used to hold true in the past are now becoming obsolete. It is crucial that current and future researchers narrow their studies enough to find out whatever they can about children in order to help them have successful futures, because they are our future.

            I did not experience many notable challenges during this course regarding the workload or information. I did however, experience health challenges throughout the course that prevented me from completing a few assignments in a timely manner. Thankfully, our professor was very understanding.

            I would like to thank Professor Kien and the rest of my colleagues for allowing me to learn and grow with you during this course. Your posts and feedback have helped me learn more about research in the early childhood field. I wish you much success in your future classes and careers in the education field. Be blessed and continue to be a blessing to others.

~Ryan~

Early Childhood in Australia

            I explored Early Childhood in Australia (http://www.earlychildaustralia.org.au/). This organization is the equivalent to the United States organization, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The website provides early childhood professionals with a Code of Ethics which reads like a pledge. The Code of Ethics values respect, democracy, honesty, integrity, justice, courage, inclusivity, social and cultural responsiveness, and education.

Early Childhood Australia also provides it members with journals, magazines, and newsletters. The Australasian Journal of Early Childhood (AJEC) focuses on early childhood research, innovation, and development. Some of the current research topics were moral and social development; attachment theory; play based learning; and the physical environment and early learning. Their main early childhood magazine, Every Child, spotlights issues on health, education, and social trends in the early childhood field.

I found their Research in Practice Series to be very interesting. This publication focuses on the “hands-on” aspects of early childhood. It offers its readers new approaches to challenging issues within the care and education of young children. Some of the research topics include assessment; resilience; learning and teaching through play; engaging families; and the Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF). The Everyday Learning Series provides its readers with suggestions on how to create positive learning environments for young children. This resource is geared towards parents, grandparents, and caregivers. Some of its topics include feelings; promoting positive behavior; managing change; storytelling; and confidence and coping skills.

I enjoyed exploring this organization. It would have been nice if some of the resources were not so costly. One of the books in the Everyday Learning Series cost around $16. I think that such a valuable resource should be more accessible and less costly to families.