This week we are studying the effects of poverty on children and families, both in the US and abroad. According to the Children's Defense Fund website, there are 15 million children living in poverty in the US. Ironically, they all live in a working household. In the country of Kyrgyzstan of the former Soviet Union, the poverty rates have fluctuated since they sought their independence from the union in 1991. They have gone from 32.9 percent of the population living below the poverty line in 1991 to 60 percent in the mid 1990's, to the now still shocking rate of 47 percent. Proportionately, young children are experiencing higher rates of poverty and extreme poverty. Children are entering the workforce in the areas of agriculture, selling in markets, and domestic service. "Recent research estimate that approximately 24 per cent of children work either full or part time, similarly since transition there are now homeless or 'street' children in Kyrgyzstan's cities, and some reports of child prostitution and trafficking (Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre)." I think the last portion of the quote is so alarming. While I understand that it happens more often and in many other countries, it is disturbing that one would view a child as a commodity rather than a valuable asset to society. Another insight from the information I gathered about this country is that they are experiencing lower levels of education than other countries. The use of kindergartens dropped to 6 percent (from 30 percent) in 2001, after 10 years of economic upheaval. This fact alone is a key predictor of troubling times ahead for these children as they enter adulthood. The country is working to address these issues, but as any struggling country, it is a very slow process.
I traveled to Russia and the Ukraine in 1992, just after the fall of the union, and things were bleak then. I was only 18 so I was not fully aware of the implications of the disruption of the government's systems and processes for citizens and families. What I do remember is that after a home visit in a very small town in the Ukraine, we went with the host family's daughter to the market to buy a thank you gift for her and her family. We stopped at a flower market and asked what kind of flowers her mother liked. She picked daisies so we proceeded to gather a bunch of them for her. The daughter stopped us after picking 6 or 7 and said it would be too much money if we purchased more. I don't recall what the price was in rubies, but it was equivalent to about 80 cents! That is an experience I will never forget.
I am still waiting to hear from my international contacts. In the mean time, I have been listening to World Forum Radio and have enjoyed the short stories of success and the experiences they have had. Susan Lyon shares about her journey to her work with the Innovative Teacher Project she launched in 1994 in San Francisco. As a teacher she worked with a boy on a spelling list and she was trying to help him with the word "city". She described it for him and when she eventually told him what it was, he responded with "That's a small for a big place." It was this simplicity of thinking that led her to study the Reggio Emilia approach to teaching, where there is a progressive image of the child, the child has some control over their learning, and they learn primarily through sensorial experiences. Today, she leads the Innovative Teacher Project, which is a network of schools that share environments and take part in round table discussions about processes and practices. There are both public and private schools that participate in the project and teachers come to use it for professional development. One of the greatest impacts she has found is that she can create and encourage quality, even in a public school setting.
Resources:
www.childrensdefensefund.org
www.childhoodpoverty.org
http://worldforumfoundation.org
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Professional Organization - ZERO TO THREE
I have been a subscriber to the ZERO TO THREE website for over a year. In my work with infant through preschool aged children, I have found the information and resources on this site to be so helpful. There are resources for teachers and families that I have shared in trainings and parent meetings and conversations. The organization was founded in 1977 and they are headquartered in Washington, D.C. They are a nonprofit that strives to train professionals, policy makers, and parents in their efforts to support the development of infants and toddlers. Their mission speaks to the importance of enhancing the early experiences based on the latest research and knowledge. there are newsletters, weekly downloads, and videos that support the work of professionals and families.
One issue that the website highlights is early language and literacy. They provide researched-based resources for use in the classroom and with families. There are supporting materials for use with children who speak Spanish. I would like to see them provide materials in the future that support children who speak the various other languages we are seeing increasingly in our programs. However, as we learned through one of our articles this week called "The Latino Education Crisis", there is a vital need for comprehensive services for children and families in the Latino communities. There must be a "continuum of interventions rather than discrete interventions" and preschool efforts alone will not close the learning gap for these children. (Gandara, 2010). We must treat the child as part of a whole and address the needs of the families that may or may not speak English and have access to quality community resources.
www.zerotothree.org
Gándara, P. (2010). The latino education crisis. Educational Leadership, 67(5), 24–30.
One issue that the website highlights is early language and literacy. They provide researched-based resources for use in the classroom and with families. There are supporting materials for use with children who speak Spanish. I would like to see them provide materials in the future that support children who speak the various other languages we are seeing increasingly in our programs. However, as we learned through one of our articles this week called "The Latino Education Crisis", there is a vital need for comprehensive services for children and families in the Latino communities. There must be a "continuum of interventions rather than discrete interventions" and preschool efforts alone will not close the learning gap for these children. (Gandara, 2010). We must treat the child as part of a whole and address the needs of the families that may or may not speak English and have access to quality community resources.
www.zerotothree.org
Gándara, P. (2010). The latino education crisis. Educational Leadership, 67(5), 24–30.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
International Contacts and Networking
I am so excited about this course's blog assignment. We've been asked to establish two international contacts in the early childhood community and I have chosen to reconnect with the country of South Africa. I traveled there in 2000 to exchange information with educators and policy makers about their practices and was amazed at the culture, people, and kindness I experienced. I am looking forward to hearing about the state of things today. I think it is so important to network with other professionals in any field you work in to determine best practices and learn about difference within the field.
I attempted to connect with the Centre for Early Childhood Development and the University of South Africa online. My intent is to learn about the practices in the field and find out about the process of preparing "practitioners" (their term for educators) for the education of young children. I have not yet heard back from them.
For this course, I will be examining and exploring the website for the Zero to Three organization. I have subscribed to the various enewsletters, emails, and written communications they offer. My passion is birth to three and so I look forward to learning more about the work being done by this organization in this area of expertise.
I attempted to connect with the Centre for Early Childhood Development and the University of South Africa online. My intent is to learn about the practices in the field and find out about the process of preparing "practitioners" (their term for educators) for the education of young children. I have not yet heard back from them.
For this course, I will be examining and exploring the website for the Zero to Three organization. I have subscribed to the various enewsletters, emails, and written communications they offer. My passion is birth to three and so I look forward to learning more about the work being done by this organization in this area of expertise.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
My Supports
Support can take many forms in life. As a child, my family supported me in school, with friendships, and in the development of my character. As I grew older, I came to depend on friends for different levels of support. I never had a large group of friends, but I had a small, close-knit group that shared the experiences that childhood is made of. We watched each other struggle with studies, social strife, and family challenges like divorce and sibling rivalry. Interestingly, I one of very few children in my social group whose parents were not divorced and looking back I see that as a significant influence in my success as an individual and the way I view relationships.
Now that I am an adult, I still depend on friends and family for support in life, but there is another group that has come to mean so much to my success and that is my colleagues at work. I think when you work in a human service field, it is so important to surround yourself with individuals that share the passion that you have for the work and, fortunately, that is the case in my current environment. The teachers I work with and my peers on the administrative level view their daily work as part of a mission to serve and support children and families.
In addition, there are other, more simple supports that I take advantage of in my daily life. I am a list maker and a planner keeper, and without them I am much less productive and often feel that I am unable to then support others. I am a single woman with a house of her own. I have learned to fix and repair many things, but thankfully I have people in my life that can offer advice or help with projects that are overwhelming to me. For example, I just had a tree pruned in my yard by a professional. But a few years ago, my friend Marcy came over and helped me trim it up with her little saw. It may not have been the best, but it was nice to know she was willing and equipped for the situation!
Without all of these supports in my life, I know that it would be tough to get out of bed every day. Early education is hard work and without a strong group of colleagues and teachers to remind me of the importance of the work each day, the passion for the mission may diminish and it may become more like just a job instead of a calling. In addition, without family and friends to share it with at the end of the day, life is a series of days strung together until the end. It is all about relationships! I believe we were created as social beings, not meant to live in isolation. As an introvert, I do enjoy my alone time, but for the most part, I crave the companionship of others.
Imagine if I lived in a part of the world that experiences daily violence, oppression, or poverty. I may not be allowed to pursue my chosen career path or to further my education as I am doing now. I may live in constant fear of injury or death. I may worry about where my next meal would come from, or how to secure the resources to survive. In this scenario, the most important supports would be safe shelter, financial resources, and the opportunity to be heard. It would be so important for me to have an outlet for expressing the desires and dreams that I think we are all born with. For me, those desires and dreams are related to improving the lives of young children and families locally and globally. However, without the access to a safe and secure environment, food, water, clothing, and the provisions for other basic needs, the pursuit of a dream would be nearly impossible. I think this can be applied to the increase in refugee and relocated children and families that we are seeing, not only in my area, but throughout the states. We need to be sensitive to the needs they have for basic security and resources, as well as the dreams and desires they carry with them.
Now that I am an adult, I still depend on friends and family for support in life, but there is another group that has come to mean so much to my success and that is my colleagues at work. I think when you work in a human service field, it is so important to surround yourself with individuals that share the passion that you have for the work and, fortunately, that is the case in my current environment. The teachers I work with and my peers on the administrative level view their daily work as part of a mission to serve and support children and families.
In addition, there are other, more simple supports that I take advantage of in my daily life. I am a list maker and a planner keeper, and without them I am much less productive and often feel that I am unable to then support others. I am a single woman with a house of her own. I have learned to fix and repair many things, but thankfully I have people in my life that can offer advice or help with projects that are overwhelming to me. For example, I just had a tree pruned in my yard by a professional. But a few years ago, my friend Marcy came over and helped me trim it up with her little saw. It may not have been the best, but it was nice to know she was willing and equipped for the situation!
Without all of these supports in my life, I know that it would be tough to get out of bed every day. Early education is hard work and without a strong group of colleagues and teachers to remind me of the importance of the work each day, the passion for the mission may diminish and it may become more like just a job instead of a calling. In addition, without family and friends to share it with at the end of the day, life is a series of days strung together until the end. It is all about relationships! I believe we were created as social beings, not meant to live in isolation. As an introvert, I do enjoy my alone time, but for the most part, I crave the companionship of others.
Imagine if I lived in a part of the world that experiences daily violence, oppression, or poverty. I may not be allowed to pursue my chosen career path or to further my education as I am doing now. I may live in constant fear of injury or death. I may worry about where my next meal would come from, or how to secure the resources to survive. In this scenario, the most important supports would be safe shelter, financial resources, and the opportunity to be heard. It would be so important for me to have an outlet for expressing the desires and dreams that I think we are all born with. For me, those desires and dreams are related to improving the lives of young children and families locally and globally. However, without the access to a safe and secure environment, food, water, clothing, and the provisions for other basic needs, the pursuit of a dream would be nearly impossible. I think this can be applied to the increase in refugee and relocated children and families that we are seeing, not only in my area, but throughout the states. We need to be sensitive to the needs they have for basic security and resources, as well as the dreams and desires they carry with them.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
My Connections to Play
A three year old child is a being who gets almost as much fun out of a fifty-six dollar set of swings as it does out of finding a small green worm. ~Bill Vaughan
When children pretend, they’re using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero.
Fred Rogers
This week's focus is play. In my own childhood, play was part of every day life. I grew up in a neighborhood full of children my age and we would leave our homes early in the morning with only the instruction from our parents of "Be home by dark." Even then, we would often end up having impromptu sleepovers or late night games at someones house. My family was one that played cards every time we gathered for an event. I learned Canasta and other complex card games at an early age and have the fondest memories of sitting around a table, not a television! Truth be told, our family was the last in my peer group to have a color television and our old black and white had lost its knobs so we turned the channel with a wrench! We also had the privilege of having family in Door County, WI, where nature was our playground. We would disappear into the woods behind my grandma's house for hours, building forts and throwing rocks down at the shore of Green Bay.
This is my cousin Amy. We are about 2 years apart in age and we were very close growing up. Even though she and her family lived in WI, our families made a point to visit several times a year for holidays or long weekends at a hotel. In middle school, we began the tradition of spending a month or two during the summer at each other's houses. We'd take turns and have the best time playing all day, going to the pool, the parks, and pretending the most amazing adventures. One time, we packed up our Cabbage Patch babies and some snacks and went to my mom's car that was parked in the garage. We were going to Florida and we took turns "driving". I don't know exactly how long we were in that car, but it is a memory that we talk about when we get together to this day!
Play today is grounded in the same principles, but because times have changed, play has changed. There is a greater fear of the environments in which children play, so often parents are not willing to allow them to go out on their own. The presence of technology and video games has changed the way children interact with one another. There is less imaginative play and more competitive play. There is a greater focus on academics early in life and so children are losing the opportunity to apply knowledge they are gathering in school to real life situation. It breaks my heart to hear of 4 and 5 year old children that are over scheduled and go from school to dance or soccer, instead of home to play with their family or to the park. Those activities have their place in a child's life, but I feel that parents think it is a better use of their time to be in an organized event instead of simply hanging out in the backyard looking for bugs or going to the park after dinner. In an article by Kenneth Ginsburg, he discusses the pressures parents feel to make sure their child is prepared for school and life and that the concept of "building a resume" for the college admissions process through both academic and other activities is starting at younger ages (Ginsburg, 2007). My hope for young children today is that they find joy in what they choose to play and that families realize that it is the time they spend together, not necessarily the activities they choose that makes the greatest impact. A secure, empty car, two dolls and some snacks were all Amy and I needed for hours of imagination and fun. The other piece that I hope parents begin to realize is the they do not always need to facilitate their child's play. Children are so capable of creating worlds of play on their own or with a close peer that will make lasting memories.
As you can see, play has been part of my life because my family saw the value in it. As much as we protested about that old black and white television, the fact that my dad refused to change and often required us to go outside and play or help with a project has made a great impact in my life. As an adult, my family still sees the importance of play and relaxing. We go on a vacation at least once per year and my cousin Amy and I still get together often (though we do not go to Florida with our dolls anymore)!
Reference:
Ginsburg, Kenneth R. (2007). The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds. American Academy of Pediatrics, 119, 182-191. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-2697.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Relationship Reflection
This week we have been exploring and discussing the importance of relationships and partnerships in the field of early education. We know that building a relationship with the child is only part of the equation that makes the time spent in the classroom successful. When we partner with families we gain a better understanding of where the child comes from and how best to tailor their learning.
In my own life, I have several significant relationships. Some have shaped who I am as a person and some have influenced who I am as a professional. All of them have their own significant meaning and as I reflect on a few of them here, I am reminded of the ways in which each of them came in to my life or how I entered theirs.
My family has played a significant part in who I am, both as a person and a professional. My older sister and I were not close growing up. We are four years apart and to say that we had a rivalry as children would be an understatement. It was only after we had both been to college and back that we became close. She is extremely bright and I go to her for advice or answers for most everything I encounter. We have had to work on our relationship as I believe the rivalry we had scarred us. We are very different in many ways and disagree about many things, however we have learned that we can disagree and still continue the conversation. We spend time on vacations together, with my mom. The three of us are very close as it has been just the three of us since my dad passed away almost 17 years ago. That was a difficult time that I believe brought my mom and I closer together. My dad and I were always close, but when he died I relied on my mom for so many more things. It is interesting to look back and think about the ways you are influenced by your family and that you will never have that time back. The relationships within a family are often complex and you are tied together forever so it is important to reflect on where you have come from to see where you are going.
I was never the girl that had a large group of friends. I have always had a small group of close friends and, to this day, I wouldn't trade that for anything. I think it is because I invest time in each relationship that I value so I only end up with a few! My best friend from high school and I are still so close. She is still single (like me) and we feel bonded in that way. She and I have not always seen eye to eye on things and have taken time away from one another, but we always seem to come back and pick up where we left off. She is one person that I can say anything to and has been there for me through so many things. She knows when I need space and I know when she does. This has occurred over a long period of time and so I think that it has been those challenges that we have worked through and not given up the relationship over that has allowed us to remain such close friends.
My best friend from college and I have had a similar journey. We were never roommates in college, but when I bought a house after college she moved up to Minneapolis from her small town. It was difficult for both of us to be on our own, but we figured it out together. We met new people and had fun living our post-college lives. After several years, I was ready to live on my own and so she moved out. It was not easy for me to talk to her about it, but she understood. It was awkward and uncomfortable and after she moved out we didn't talk or see each other for over a year. Finally we reconnected and began spending more time together. We traveled to New York and California together and established our post-living together friendship. She has a degree in the early childhood field and, though she is not using it, she supports my work and asks about the master's program I have started. She has always been someone that I can go to about challenges I am having at work and she offers sound advice because she understands. This is another example of a relationship that went through its challenges, but was not left behind.
In my own life, I have several significant relationships. Some have shaped who I am as a person and some have influenced who I am as a professional. All of them have their own significant meaning and as I reflect on a few of them here, I am reminded of the ways in which each of them came in to my life or how I entered theirs.
My family has played a significant part in who I am, both as a person and a professional. My older sister and I were not close growing up. We are four years apart and to say that we had a rivalry as children would be an understatement. It was only after we had both been to college and back that we became close. She is extremely bright and I go to her for advice or answers for most everything I encounter. We have had to work on our relationship as I believe the rivalry we had scarred us. We are very different in many ways and disagree about many things, however we have learned that we can disagree and still continue the conversation. We spend time on vacations together, with my mom. The three of us are very close as it has been just the three of us since my dad passed away almost 17 years ago. That was a difficult time that I believe brought my mom and I closer together. My dad and I were always close, but when he died I relied on my mom for so many more things. It is interesting to look back and think about the ways you are influenced by your family and that you will never have that time back. The relationships within a family are often complex and you are tied together forever so it is important to reflect on where you have come from to see where you are going.
(From left to right: me, sister Jen, mom Linda)
I was never the girl that had a large group of friends. I have always had a small group of close friends and, to this day, I wouldn't trade that for anything. I think it is because I invest time in each relationship that I value so I only end up with a few! My best friend from high school and I are still so close. She is still single (like me) and we feel bonded in that way. She and I have not always seen eye to eye on things and have taken time away from one another, but we always seem to come back and pick up where we left off. She is one person that I can say anything to and has been there for me through so many things. She knows when I need space and I know when she does. This has occurred over a long period of time and so I think that it has been those challenges that we have worked through and not given up the relationship over that has allowed us to remain such close friends.
My best friend from college and I have had a similar journey. We were never roommates in college, but when I bought a house after college she moved up to Minneapolis from her small town. It was difficult for both of us to be on our own, but we figured it out together. We met new people and had fun living our post-college lives. After several years, I was ready to live on my own and so she moved out. It was not easy for me to talk to her about it, but she understood. It was awkward and uncomfortable and after she moved out we didn't talk or see each other for over a year. Finally we reconnected and began spending more time together. We traveled to New York and California together and established our post-living together friendship. She has a degree in the early childhood field and, though she is not using it, she supports my work and asks about the master's program I have started. She has always been someone that I can go to about challenges I am having at work and she offers sound advice because she understands. This is another example of a relationship that went through its challenges, but was not left behind.
(From left to right: Cheri (college best friend), me, Colleen (high school best friend))
In each of these relationships, there were times that things were difficult and it was through these experiences that I learned that these individuals were people that I could rely on. In my professional life, I can see this process happening frequently, whether it be with an employee that does not agree with a policy or practice or a family that is unhappy with the service they are receiving. Investing time and space allows each side to think carefully about the best interest of the child and, through further discussion, a common ground can often be found. There will be times that disagreements occur and may not be reconciled, but that does not mean that the relationships should be abandoned. When partnering with families, there is most often always a way to meet in the middle and act in the best interest of the child. As with personal relationships, partnering with families takes time and effort and the construction of the relationship does not happen quickly. It must be cultivated slowly and with sensitive guidance.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Final thoughts
"Play is the work of childhood."
This past eight weeks, we have been asked to chart the development of young children, conduct observations, and reflect on the various factors that influence young children in this generation. Technology, assessments, and other expectations are changing the face of education, but one thing remains: Play is the work of childhood. Whether you agree with the use of technology, media, and computer games, you cannot deny the importance of play and social interactions in early childhood education. As educators, we need to be mindful of these various influences and provide children and families with the support they need.
This past eight weeks, we have been asked to chart the development of young children, conduct observations, and reflect on the various factors that influence young children in this generation. Technology, assessments, and other expectations are changing the face of education, but one thing remains: Play is the work of childhood. Whether you agree with the use of technology, media, and computer games, you cannot deny the importance of play and social interactions in early childhood education. As educators, we need to be mindful of these various influences and provide children and families with the support they need.
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