The Beginning's End

I am happy to say that I have completed the first eight week course of my masters program. I have gained a great deal of knowledge about the early childhood field, but more inportantly, I believe I've gained even more insight into myself. Through the various assignments, I have learned about myself and though that wasn't easy, it was cathartic. I have appreciated having my colleages in this course for their imput, insight and passion for the early childhood field. I especially want to thank Dr. Longo for her skill as an instructor, kind approach and for making a first class very manageable.

Important Ideals

The ideals that are important to me professionally come from NAEYC. The three ideals and their code of ethics that are meaningful to me are the following:

1. To appreciate the vulnerability of children and

their dependence on adults.

2. To recognize and respect the unique qualities,

abilities, and potential of each child.

3. To base program practices upon current knowledge

and research in the field of early childhood

education, child development, and related disciplines,

as well as on particular knowledge of each child.

The significance of the ideals I chose is to remind myself that each child is unique and that I also need to remember that they will look to me for a sense of safety each day that they come to school. I need to keep in mind that I can best serve my young learners by staying current on the latest information related to teaching them and to teach each child at the level they are at cognitively and emotionally. I have the ability to make their learning experience wonderful or miserable. I commit to making it an enriching, happy experience! The quote below sums this up for me.

“I’ve come to a frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element in the classroom. It’s my personal approach that creates the climate. It’s my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child’s life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or dehumanized.”

-Haim Ginott

This is the most important information I take with me into the classroom each day as an early childhood educator.

References

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Valuable Resources for Educators

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/72033/CRS-CW-5691428/educ6005_readings/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from 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. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from 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. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from 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). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
• World Forum Foundation
  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP’s mission. 
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.
• National Association for the Education of Young Children
• http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• 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/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
• RIE
  http://www.rie.org/
• Reggio Emilia Approach
  www.reggioemiliaapproach.net/
• Reggio Alliance
  http://www.reggioalliance.org/
• PBIS
  http://www.pbis.org/
• Learning Theories
  http://www.learning-theories.com/constructivism.html
• BG Center
  http://www.bgcenter.com/Scaffold.htm

Quotes by Early Childhood Professionals

Quotes by T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.

“A family's responses to crisis or to a new situation mirror those of a child. That is to say, the way a small child deals with a new challenge (for instance, learning to walk) has certain predictable stages: regression, anxiety, mastery, new energy, growth, and feedback for future achievement. These stages can also be seen in adults coping with new life events, whether positive or negative.”  (Brazelton, T. Berry, 1989).

“Attachment to a baby is a long-term process, not a single, magical moment. The opportunity for bonding at birth may be compared to falling in love—staying in love takes longer and demands more work.” (Brazelton, T. Berry, 1992)

Quote by Susan Bredekamp Ph.D.

"We are decision makers. As adults caring for children, it is our responsibility to seek out and intentionally plan the best opportunities for children that support their over-all well being and healthy development. Developmentally appropriate practice, commonly known as DAP, is a comprehensive educational perspective that supports optimal healthy development for every child. Understanding DAP - its meaning and intentional practices - is essential in guiding the decisions we make for young children". (NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8, 2009)

Quotes from week 2 Early Childhood Professionals:

“I had a built in passion that it was important to make a contribution to the world.”

(Derman-Sparks, Louise)

“We as professionals in the early child field have an opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better.” (Escobido, Sandy)

A_familys_responses_to_crisis_or_to_a. (n.d.). Columbia World of Quotations. Retrieved October 01, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://quotes.dictionary.com/A_familys_responses_to_crisis_or_to_a

Attachment_to_a_baby_is_a_longterm_process. (n.d.). Columbia World of Quotations. Retrieved October 01, 2011, from Dictionary.com website: http://quotes.dictionary.com/Attachment_to_a_baby_is_a_longterm_process

NAEYC, Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs Serving Children from Birth through Age 8, 2009)

Video Program: “The Passion for Early Childhood”