Examining Codes of Ethics

I.1.1- To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and traning.
I think this is a very important skill to have, regardless what field of study one may work in. Every year, my job requires that each employee to obtain a minimum of 24 hours of training and workshop hours in our content area. During my quarterly evaluation, I always manage to score high in that particular area, because I try to attend all trainings and workshops that sound interesting. I love learning and also like to stay up to date with current policies, laws, rules, and practices. Once I attend those trainings, I then take bits and pieces from each presenter and incorporate it into my curriculum, lesson plans, and classroom.

I.1.0- To ensure that each child's culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.
This idea is also another very important skill to incorporate; not only within your classroom, but also in the entire program. Recently, the influx of international children have increased almost double than years previously, and it is important to instill into the children the meaning of diversity and why we recognize it. There are so many different ways in how you can incorporate diversity and different cultures into the classroom; such as, having family members come in and read a story or share something from their culture with the class, posters and pictures of children from different countries, or you can take a virtual field trip to the different countries that are represented within your class on a computer or white board. All of this can be done, to teach young children that there are different cultures that make up the world, and how to accept and appreciate difference.

I.1.2- To work with families to provide a safe and smooth transition as children and families move from one program to the next.
In my HeadStart program, it is our responsibility to ensure that all children entering the program is able to make a smooth transition into the program, not only for them but also for their families. Our policy states that two weeks prior to the school year beginning, the teachers are to go into the community and conduct an home visit to each of the children's homes that are pre-registered in each class. By doing so, the children are able to meet their new teachers, the teacher is able to see how the home life is setup and flow of how the parent and child interact, and lastly the teacher gets to sit down with the parent to learn some information and facts about the child that can be useful upon the child entering into the program; ie: if this will be the child's first time away from mommy and daddy, and to expect some crying for the first few weeks, the child's been having potty training accidents lately, or if the child only speaks their "native" language. Then the child's actual first day of school, all parents are required to attend with their child that will encourage a smooth transition for both parents and child.




Resource
NAEYC (2005 April) Code of Ethical and Statement of Commitment http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
 

Growing Your Collection of Resources

Helpful Resources:

1) National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
www.naeyc.com
- Founded in 1926 by Patty Smith Hill
- Located in Washington, DC
- NAEYC's Mission Statement is based on three main goals:
 * Bettering well-qualified practitioners and improving their working conditions.
 * Improving Early Childhood Education by working to deliver a high- quality system of  supporting  the programs.
 * Encouraging the excellence in Early Childhood for all children.

2) Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
www.zerotothree.org
Zero to Three is a non-proffit organization; that informs, trains, and supports proffessionals, policymakers, and parents, in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.
- Zero to Three's Mission Statement:
 *Is to promote the health and development in infants an toddlers.

3) Highscope
www.highscope.org
Highscope assists teachers and caregivers promote and provide young children learning experiences that will encourage their development.
-Highscope's vision is to create an evironment which all educational settings use active participatory learning so everyone has a chance to succeed in life.

4) Pre[K]Now
www.preknow.org
PreKNow which is also known as "The Pew Center", helps each state deliver better results and achieve long-term fiscal health by investigating in programs that provide the strongest returns.

Three additional resources:

1) Janet Gonzalez-Mena
2) Mari Montessori
3) Howard Gardner

Three educational quotes:

1) An educational system isn't worth a great deal if it teaches young people how to make a living but doesn't teach them how to make a life. - Author Unknown (Retrieved from www.quotegarden.com, 2010)

2) Aim for success, not for perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will loose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life. Remember that fear always lurks beind perfectionism. - Dr. David M. Burns (Retrieved from 75 Inspirational, Educational Quotes for the Classroom, 2010) (www.accreditatedonlinecolleges.com)

3) We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but an habit. -Aristotle (Retrieved from www.theteacherspot.com, 2009)


Resources

www.naeyc.com
www.zertotothree.org
www.highscope.org
www.preknow.org
www.quotegarden.com (2010)
www.accreditatedonlinecolleges.com (2010)
www.theteacherspot.com (2009)

Words of Inspirtation and Motivation

Bill Clinton:

"If you live long enough, you'll make mistakes. But if you learn from them, you'll be a better person. It's how you handle adversity, now how it affects you. The main thing is never quit, never quit, never quit." (Clinton, B. 2006)

"People are more impressed by the power of our example than the example of our power." (Clinton, B. 2008)


Janet Gonzalez-Mena:

"Part of being who you are has to do with feelingns, which means you have a wide range of emotions- not just constant sunshiny happiness." (Gonzalez-Mena, J. 2008)

"For the individualist the goal of child rearing individuation. For the collectivist the goal is integration-become part of rather than seperate from." (Gonzalez-Mena, J. 2005)


From Week 2's Media Video

"We as professionals in the Early Childhood field have the opportunity to shape a child's life for the better." Escobido, S. (2012)

"That young children from young african american families do not succeed in school not because they could not, but because they did not have the tools that were needed to succeed."
Derman-Sparks, D. (2012)


References
Clinton, B. (2006) Former President Bill Clinton interviewed by Fox News- Sept. 24, 2006
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=2fc_1178502567

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008) Child, Family, and Community: Family Centered Early Care Education
http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/568473.Janet_Gonzalez_Mena

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2005) The Program from Infant Toddler Caregivers
http://www.pitc.org/cs/pitclib/download/pitc_res/726/Culture%20Quotes_JGM.pdf?x-r=pcfile_d

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010) The passion for early childhood [Video webcast].
           In Foundations of early childhood studies. Retrieved from http://www.courseurl.com

Personal Childhood Web

The five people that nurtured and cared about me when I was a child were: my mother, 2 aunts, home economics teacher, and fifth grade teacher.

My mother was and has always been there for me through thick and thin. She is  a good nurturer and very caring. She always put her children first, even before herself. She rasied all of her children to have good values, love God, and to never settle for less.

My two aunts were there for me when my mom was either at work or other engagements. Neither one of them had children, so my siblings and I have always been treated as their children. On the weekends I would always talk my mom into allowing me to spend the night over one or the other aunts house. They always remembered us on Christmas and our birthdays.

My home economics teacher treated everybody in the class the same. She was a caring person and went out of her way to cheer me up if I came to class sad. During a special school ceremony, my mother couldn't afford to buy me a dress, so my teacher took me down to one of the local stores and purchased one for me. I always thought of her as a God Sent.

Mr. Agresta was my fifth grade teacher, whom I enjoyed going to his class each day. He taught me how to make a camera out of a oatmeal box, in which we then took actual pictures. When I got to highschool, he remembered me and was able to get me a job in his office.

The only person who still influences me to this day, is my mother. My mother has and always is there for me. She encourages me to; try until I succeed, be patient, honest, and stay focused on God, and all things will work out for me. I love my mother and will literally do anything in the world for her. She is my motivation to strive to do better. As much as she's capable of doing; she has always tried to provide me with a better life than she experienced.

This is a picture of my mother, from our cruise this past summer.

My two aunts are both deceesed and I no longer have contact with them.

Children's Book

 The Book I selected was: Olivia Helps With Christmas
Author: Ian Falconer

This book can be enjoyed by children between the ages of three and five years old. At this age, children are normally excited about the coming of christmas, as was Olivia. Olivia wanted to help decorate the house and the christmas tree to produce some christmas spirit internally.The literature and illustrations can both be used to tell the story, if thee other were not available.

I can relate to this book, because I love the christmas season. It seems that society as a whole takes part in awaiting such a wonderful holiday; by the christmas tunes that grace the radio, the decorations and gifts in the stores, christmas trees and other decorations in the neighbors house and on the front lawn, as well as sending holiday greetings to family, friends, and loved ones.

Resources:
Falconer, I., 2007, Olivia Helps With Christmas

Inspirational Quote

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.- Chinese Proverb

I selected this quote because it has a lot of meaning to it. No matter how many lessons, resources, or tools that we provide children with, it is up to the child to apply what they have learned.



Resources:
Inspirational Quote (Chinese Proverb)

My Birthday Cruise 2012

This picture was taken 8/10/12, aboard the ship of Royal Carribean's Explorer of the Seas. My lovely wait staff surprised me with the delicious Chocolate Cake, and a beautiful rendition of "Happy Birthday". Staff members from Left to Right: Tasha, Phillipe, Head Waiter Patrick, and Edgar.