Time Well Spent

Throughout this course and the program overall, I have learned so much informative information that will help me throughout my professional career. Learning about diversity and equity was very important to me because there is such diverse classrooms in today’s society. It is so important to be aware of different cultures in our classrooms and understand and incorporate those cultures into the curriculum. This allows the children to feel comfortable, respected and included.

I have learned that embracing diversity is a very important part of working in the early childhood field and realizing that there are many different ways to be a family has helped me to do this. As long as there is love children can be from any sort of family. We need to be respectful and accepting of this.

I also learned an abundance of information about the different learning and teaching strategies and styles. Being able to recognize the different learning styles within my classroom will allow me to adequately meet the learning needs of my children.

Learning about Community of Practice (COP) and leadership styles was one of the most informative objectives in this program because it allowed me to envision the goals that could be accomplished through a COP and the resources all members bring to the table. Knowing what characteristics to look for in a leader will help ensure that the right leader will be selected to run my COP in the future.

One of my long term goals is to create or be a part of a COP that will provide the necessary educational resources for children in the foster care program who struggle with behavioral, educational, or developmental issues in school. My goal is to avoid allowing these children to fall through the educational cracks of a dysfunctional foster care system. I would like to continue to educate myself on issues relating to work I do which will mean keeping up to date with the latest research regarding abilities in young children.

I cannot express into words how much this experience has changed my life. I am forever grateful to all of you for the many comments, suggestions, and words of encouragement and hope that you all have given me. This has been a journey of learning new strategies and most of all learning about myself so that I can better serve the children and families I encounter. My professors have all contributed to my success throughout this program. Through the feedback you have provided, I have gained much knowledge and skills that I will contribute to my success within the field of early childhood. I wish you all the best of luck in your journey in accomplishing your goals and know that we will all contribute to the field of early childhood! God Bless! -Porsche Dalton

Job/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Working internationally would be a dream. I would love to work in a different country and be immersed within a foreign culture. I always wanted to go to Africa and work with the families and children.

Aid for Africa

http://www.aidforafrica.org

Address: 6909 Ridgewood Ave.

Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815

Mission:

Aid for Africa is a unique alliance of the United States based charities and their African partners dedicated to helping children, families and communities in and around Africa. Their grassroots program focus on health, education and economic development.

Employment:

Aid for Africa has positions in their member organizations. Invisible children (San Diego, CA), H2O for Life, Books for Africa (Atlanta, GA). They are looking for internships and volunteers.

Skills and Experience:

Some lifting

Accept students as interns all over the US and some require only one year of college

Care 2 Make a Difference

http://www.care2.com

Address: Redwood California

Care 2 is the largest social network for people who want to make a difference. The team empowers members to take action with action-oriented tools and content on Care2.com, enabling members to rapidly pool their resources and produce lasting changes. Care 2 powers its members activism via cause driven education, activism and fundraising campaigns that benefit more than 1,000 of the world’s non-profit organizations.

Employment:

Support the Care2 campaign team’s effort to provide fast and high-quality advocacy, membership recruitment and fundraising campaigns for non-profit clients. Research progressive legislation in Congress and urgent advocacy topics, monitoring breaking news, blogs and content partner sites daily for compelling campaigns, write and copy edit Care2 action alerts, blog posts and success stories; monitor social media outlets to better understand how users are talking about and using Care2 and for which issues people are passionate about; Communicate with Care2 activist petition authors to help them promote their petitions.

Skills and Experience:

Student actively enrolled in coursework and seeking to complete school internships credit in a relevant field (such as journalism, marketing, political science, women’s studies, environmental studies, public policy). Recent graduates are also invited to apply.

Planet Aid, Inc.

http://www.planetaid.org

Address: 6730 Santa Barbara Court

Elkridge, Maryland 21075

Mission:

Planet Aid is a 501 © 3 nonprofit organization that collects and recycles used clothing and shoes to protect the environment and support sustainable development in impoverished communities around the world. Planet Aid’s mission is to inform, mobilize and inspire individuals and communities to work together to bring about worldwide environmental and social progress. They work to strengthen and organize communities, reduce poverty and promote small enterprise development, support sustainable local food production, improve access to training and quality education and increase health awareness and encourage healthy lifestyles.

Employment:

The Manager in Training (MIT) system offers individuals an opportunity to obtain training, gain work experience, and broaden their outlook through international service work. Upon completion the manager in training may obtain a position with Planet Aid on the path to become a future manager with Planet Aid.

Job Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Save the Children:

This Organization is committed to helping children in the U.S. and around the world. I choose this organization because every child deserves a future. Save the Children Fund was established in the United Kingdom in 1919 to improve the lives of children through better education health care and economic opportunities. Children need a strong voice to stand up for them, work for the behalf and make their lives better. "Save the children is the voice for vulnerable children” (Save the Children). What I like about this organization is the many ways that people can help can help and donate to this organization.

Career Opportunities:

Senior Coordinator, Monitoring and Evaluation- US Programs- this coordinator helps children in low-income communities become kindergarten ready. The coordinator does home visits, play groups, in school tutoring, out of school time programming, summer enrichment, family engagement and community events. The Senior Coordinator, Monitor and Evaluation will help them collect data and analyze the data that lets us know if we’re achieving our ambitious goals for children.

Qualifications:

3-4 years’ experience in managing

High School Diploma

Excellent Time Management Skills

Preferred Qualifications

A Bachelor Degree

Monitoring & Evaluation Experience

Retrieved from www.savethechildren.org

UNESCO

UNESCO is an international organization that seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education, the Sciences and Culture. UNESCO believes that education is a human right for all throughout life and that access must be matched by quality (UNESCO). I share these same beliefs and feel that all children regardless of anything else deserve high quality education. UNESCO also believes that both heritage and creativity lay the foundations for vibrant, innovative and prosperous knowledge societies (UNESCO). 

Career Opportunities:

Program Specialist:

Coordinate the education programs and projects planning, development, implementation, operation and follow-up.

Qualifications:

Advanced University degree (equivalent to Masters Level) in Education, Social Sciences or other related fields.

A minimum of 4 years of professional experience in the field of education, of which preferably 2 years in international level.

Proven experience in developing, operating and monitoring Education programs.

Retrieved from http://www.en.unesco.org

Unicef

UNICEF is a great organization that “works for a more equitable world by fighting for the rights of its future: children.” They work around the globe for health, safety, policies, communication, and research for children. UNICEF employs committed professionals “to work in our five focus areas: Child Survival and Development, Basic Education and Gender Equality, HIV/AIDS, Child Protection and Policy Advocacy and Partnerships. We also employ staff with expertise in administration and finance, human resources, information technology, supply and logistics as well as external relations and communication” (Unicef.com). 

Career Opportunities:

Nutrition Specialist:

Provide technical support to UNICEF Country Offices and National Governments to strengthen nutrition information systems in their countries. In particular, they help carry out regular assessments of the nutritional situation and to use this information for early warning, program planning and advocacy. They also dedicate time to present this information to regional partners, to collaborate with UNICEF HQ on developing nutrition information guidance and tools and to assist research institutes on different studies.

Qualifications:

Experience with NGOs but also with other sector agencies. 

Retrieved from: https://www.unicef.org

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

This week’s blog assignment was very interesting but also difficult. I found many incredible agencies that address issues in the early childhood field.


My first choice I would like to be a participant in the COP with is the office of Head Start. I can be a voice within the organization in updating the Head Start performance standards. After I have read some of the standards and they don’t seem to match what is going on in the real world of the classroom. Participants who make the rules should have some experience working with kids instead of taking decisions behind a desk. It would be best for someone to work with children who is an expert. I agree with most of the standards, but there are some that make no sense at all. One of the standard does not recognize teachers need planning time and that late pick up of children conflicts with it. Children are allowed to arrive at school at any time, according to the standard and can be picked up late everyday of that is the case. Furthermore, we are supposed to prepare children and families for kindergarten in order to set them up for failure because in the school system constant lateness on either end is not appropriate.


My second choice is the Head Start Association. The Head Start Association is an organization that is dedicated to high quality care for children. NCHSA serves as a catalyst for change in support of parents, children and programs on behalf of Head Start programs across the state of North Carolina. “NCHSA is the only state organization dedicated exclusively to the concerns of the Head Start community” (National Head Start Association, 2019)


My last choice is The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). “This organization is coming together to discuss issues related to policy and/or professional development of early childhood education” (Naeyc.org, 2019) I want to be part of an organization that is doing so much for the well-being of the children, families and professionals.


I am very comfortable with my job as an onsite administrator. With my job I still have the opportunity to go into the classrooms and I can educate my staff in the classroom on best practices.







Reference:

Naeyc.org. (2019). NAEYC. [online] Available at: https://www.naeyc.org/ [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].


National Head Start Association. (2019). National Head Start Association. [online] Available at: https://www.nhsa.org/ [Accessed 10 Nov. 2019].

Hopes, Goals and Thank You

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)

As a teacher, I always want to create a warm, welcoming, and respectful environment to all children and their families. I want them to feel comfortable, safe, and being accepted no matter where they come from. We are role models for our children and the community in upholding respect for diversity and acting for social justice and equality.  We can be the sources of inspiration if we stand firm to our beliefs and implement them into our daily teaching practices.  Teachers are one of the most “external parties” of children. The teacher’s interaction and responses with children have profound impact on shaping student’s self-esteem and self-image.

One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length)

One goal is to respect and cope with a great understanding of diversity, equity, and justice.  I truly will want the different families, young children and any of the staff that work in a public school.  I would want them to have feel very comfortable with me just as well as me working with many staff members on an everyday work hour and parents feel that their children are safe with me. Plus I would like to reach to the goal of having my parents trust by being involved in seeing that their children succeeding in learning academically not in non-threatening environment.

A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

Time really flies. The assignments in this course are much more challenging that I originally think of.  Some of the issues are very uncomfortable to me but the experience was eye-opening.  Many thanks to my colleagues who leave inspiring words and support in my blog and discussion posts. I am eagerly looking forward to meet again!

   

The name of “your” family’s country of origin

Japan

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family

 1. I would research the different languages that are spoken in the Japanese family and then I will try to learn a few words or phrases just as well as the meaning of their writing because it’s so different from American writing. Plus I would try to find a translator who can speak every type of the different languages in their cultural may speak so that the translator can be able to help me communicate with the Japanese family.

 2.Next I would also learn about the economic conditions of the country and the area of the country that my family is from with the problem that they may be facing.  I would try to find out what type of work the family may have been involved in before they left just as well as knowing what good work ethics they can do. I know that I would have to provide the family with support in their change to the job or job’s in America.  I know that I will explain to the family how different the life style is in America from how it is in their country.

3.  I also would do some research on the education systems in both areas so that I can compare their education to how it is in the new location with a listing of best to the lease. So that the family can have the right to determine rather or not the family has any type of knowledge. Then with any type of early childhood education program have the family ever had involvements of being a immigrating to America for help for children/families as well. By meeting with the family discussing their understanding with educational experiences with many great expectations in how I would give my very best support with my great ideals and good benefit goals for their children/child and family.

4. I would gather the entire family together to sit down and discuss with the family relationships with how their family relationships can work.  I would bring up to discussion with the family intergenerational relationships just as well as the understanding of the role of the children/child in their culture. I would also make sure that I would give them the understanding that everyone do things way different from how they may be use too because people have different beliefs about things some may be the same.

5.  I think I would reflect on any of the biases that I would strongly hinder my relationship with the family just as well as work on many ways to overcome the different biases in helping the Japanese family.

  

A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family

     I think by me trying to strength my understanding of many different families culture by trying to find many different ways to communicate with them. The main thing I would mainly do is learn about the families goals, values, beliefs, and plans on what great ideals the family are looking forward of doing.  I truly believe that I could accommodate the family which I would also tell the family that I could be I great help for their family in supporting the best for their family.  I think that it would be a two way of the both of us learning about each other cultural. Plus I would say how it is very intriguing for me to learn so much about them that most ways. How their different beliefs about things may also be a great impact to me and how knowledge would be a great impact to them about the two countries.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

I few years ago I was getting my Associate degree at the local community college. I watched and listen to a lady talk to her child like she was worthless because he had a learning disability. She was upset because she had no one to watch her. The lady had no daycare or family to keep her. Another thing that made me upset was she assumed that people belittled the child and told her she was stupid and no one wanted to keep her. I really wanted to tell the lady that this was her child and how could she talk to her own child that way. Looking back today I think about my grandson with his disability and how he needs all the love and care he can get. Children are helpless and they look for the adult to protect and care for them. She made it like it was the child’s fault that she didn’t have anyone to watch her while she attended school. How can a parent belittle their own child when you are the one to protect them from that.

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

I’m not a doctor but from years of experience and studying child development it seems the little girl may have autism. I say this because of how the mom was yelling at the child and his reaction. The mom said things to her like you don’t know anything, your dumb, you’re a waste of space and while she was saying these things the little girl was having a break down because of the noise and extra attention. She was rocking back and forth humming to herself. I was sitting in the courtyard of the school at a table reading some assignments and the lady and child was at the table in front of me. I was hoping someone besides me was listening to and would say something. I end up saying how can you talk to your own child this way. Your child deserves to be loved. This poor child had endured more than anyone should ever have to and no one thought she was worth the time because as her mother had told her she was disabled and she had no idea what was going on. I just knew this child needed someone to stand up for her.

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

This incident made me feel like people are ignorant and people that have a disability are rejected by their own family at times. It also made me think that children need people in this world that want to take time with them even if their own parents don’t.

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

I was already going to school to work with small children but this really was my point where I wanted to work with children with disabilities. This is what made my decision to work for a Head Start program where 10% of children have a disability. It also was my choice to work for Head Start because I wanted to offer children an opportunity to learn. Head Start is also free for low income families so this would give them the opportunity to work or go to school. Also the children with disabilities will receive free services that will help with their education. This also may be the only time the child gets the love and attention they need.  This one small helpless child had to deal with bias, prejudice and oppression by her own mother. Amazing to look back and see that changing point in your life was a moment in time.