Greetings All!
It's hard to believe this course is already over! I have enjoyed reading everyone's postings and comments. I have learned a lot in my field of expertise. I had forgotten some things that go along with the history of early childhood. I had forgotten about the many people who were/are the driving force behind this profession. I have learned from the resources provided to us, as well as from my colleagues and professor.
I wish everyone a safe and relaxing holiday break! Take the knowledge gained and move forward!
Best Wishes,
Stacy McCutchen
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Examining Codes of Ethics
One ideal that was interesting to me was read on the Division of Early Childhood's Code of Ethics, about professional development and preparation. Attending professional development sessions and trainings is so important for teachers. Do we always want to attend? Of course not. But when it is something that is interesting to you and you take walk away from it and apply it in your classroom, then it makes it all the worthwhile.
Another ideal that was interesting was found on the NAEYC's Code of Ethical conduct website. It was base work on knowledge of how children develop and learn. This statement is so true. Much of the work that is planned and executed is based on how my students learn. Sometimes I have to differentiate activities or take a different approach with my students since they all do not learn the same way. Not everyone learns the same way.
The last ideal that interested me was professional practice on the DEC site. Face it, we are all human. However, there is a time and place for everything, especially when children are present. If a parent or coworker makes you upset, handle it in a professional way. Your professionalism is a reflection of yourself and your demeanor. If it is lacking, people will not respect you.
Another ideal that was interesting was found on the NAEYC's Code of Ethical conduct website. It was base work on knowledge of how children develop and learn. This statement is so true. Much of the work that is planned and executed is based on how my students learn. Sometimes I have to differentiate activities or take a different approach with my students since they all do not learn the same way. Not everyone learns the same way.
The last ideal that interested me was professional practice on the DEC site. Face it, we are all human. However, there is a time and place for everything, especially when children are present. If a parent or coworker makes you upset, handle it in a professional way. Your professionalism is a reflection of yourself and your demeanor. If it is lacking, people will not respect you.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Course Resources
Required Resources
Course Media: "The Resources for Early Childhood"
Five early childhood professionals discuss their preferred and trusted resources.
Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices
NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)
www.commoncore.org Since PreK is now using common core state standards in TN, I refer to this website when I need to stay informed. The site also has additional links that I used when my Capstone project for my Ed.S. focused on teachers' perceptions of the CCSS.
www.education.com I use this website all the time for additional hands-on support for my PreK students. It has resources for the upper grades as well.
www.preschoolrainbow.org I recently stumbled on this website that is full of ideas I can use in my classroom!
Course Media: "The Resources for Early Childhood"
Five early childhood professionals discuss their preferred and trusted resources.
Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices
NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
- 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://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases. - Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar,
K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching
Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.
Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being
- 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 media segment 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/
Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.
- World Forum Foundation
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
- 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/ - 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/ - Institute for Women's Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/ - 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.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067 - Voices for America's Children
http://www.voices.org/ - The
Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/
Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)
- YC Young Children
- Childhood
- Journal of Child & Family Studies
- Child Study Journal
- Multicultural Education
- Early Childhood Education Journal
- Journal of Early Childhood Research
- International Journal of Early Childhood
- Early Childhood Research Quarterly
- Developmental Psychology
- Social Studies
- Maternal & Child Health Journal
- International Journal of Early Years Education
www.commoncore.org Since PreK is now using common core state standards in TN, I refer to this website when I need to stay informed. The site also has additional links that I used when my Capstone project for my Ed.S. focused on teachers' perceptions of the CCSS.
www.education.com I use this website all the time for additional hands-on support for my PreK students. It has resources for the upper grades as well.
www.preschoolrainbow.org I recently stumbled on this website that is full of ideas I can use in my classroom!
Saturday, November 23, 2013
Educator Quotes
"Experts generally agree that taking all opportunties to read books and other material aloud to children is the best preparation for their learning to read. The pleasures of being read to are far more likely to strengthen a child's desire to learn to read than are repetitions of sounds, alphabet drills, and deciphering uninteresting word".- Lilian Katz
I believe this to be true. I literally have seen my 4-year-old students begin emergent reading by looking at the pictures in books and making up their own story, whether it's related to the actual story or not. I do believe that reading aloud to them every day has an impact. I also try to get into the characters of the book by changing my voice or adding gestures. I love the smiles and giggles they give. To me, this is what sparks the interest in reading.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Parents don't make mistakes because they don't care, but because they care so deeply."-T. Berry Brazelton
There is no such thing as the perfect parent. Each one makes mistakes along the way, but the child will still love that parent, and the parent will still love the child.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It became my passion that all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and to develop to the their fullest ability."- Louise Derman-Sparks
I agree with this quote because children need to be nurtured in an environment in which they will be able to be successful. All children need to be nurtured and encouraged. If someone doesn't believe in them, then how do we expect them to be successful?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My passion comes from wanting to make a difference. I'm not here to save the world; I'm here to just make a difference in the community that I'm working."- Raymond Hernandez
No one can save the world, but a difference can be made. The problem is is that it takes multiple people. One person could do it on their own, but it would be a difficult task to accomplish. A team of people is more effective than just one person.
I believe this to be true. I literally have seen my 4-year-old students begin emergent reading by looking at the pictures in books and making up their own story, whether it's related to the actual story or not. I do believe that reading aloud to them every day has an impact. I also try to get into the characters of the book by changing my voice or adding gestures. I love the smiles and giggles they give. To me, this is what sparks the interest in reading.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Parents don't make mistakes because they don't care, but because they care so deeply."-T. Berry Brazelton
There is no such thing as the perfect parent. Each one makes mistakes along the way, but the child will still love that parent, and the parent will still love the child.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It became my passion that all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and to develop to the their fullest ability."- Louise Derman-Sparks
I agree with this quote because children need to be nurtured in an environment in which they will be able to be successful. All children need to be nurtured and encouraged. If someone doesn't believe in them, then how do we expect them to be successful?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"My passion comes from wanting to make a difference. I'm not here to save the world; I'm here to just make a difference in the community that I'm working."- Raymond Hernandez
No one can save the world, but a difference can be made. The problem is is that it takes multiple people. One person could do it on their own, but it would be a difficult task to accomplish. A team of people is more effective than just one person.
Saturday, November 16, 2013
Personal Childhood Web
5 people who influenced me to be the person I am today:
1. My mother: My mother was a homemaker. She took care of the house, and my sisters and I. She was a great cook. I can remember eating at home and rarely eating out at restaurants. She loved my sisters and I very much. (She passed in 1998).
2. My father: My father was the bread-winner for my family. He was (and still is) a hard-working man. Although he worked a lot, he still provided for my family. He was not very affectionate when I was growing up. But since my mother's passing, we have become close and I always enjoy spending time with him. He loves my husband and my sons, and enjoys spending time with all of us.
Growing up, my dad made sure we had what we needed. He felt family was important. We would visit his brother's family (my uncle and aunt) at least twice a year. We would also take vacations with them to other places as well.
3. The music teacher/director at my grade school and church: Her name was Mrs. Kinsey. And she always made music fun plus she was a great singer. She inspired me to become a teacher. When I was in middle school, I began helping her with the music program at our church's vacation bible school. She saw how I interacted with the smaller children, and thought I was so good at it that she suggested I become a teacher.
4. My sister, Leisa: Leisa is 7 years older than me. My parents adopted her when she was a baby because my mother had a hard time becoming pregnant. Obviously, that wasn't an issue because my mother became with me and other sister, who's 4 years older than me.
I looked up to Leisa a lot, more when I was in middle school. I used to sit and watch her get ready for her dates. We used to play with her Barbies, too. (She had them until college!) She wasn't always the best influence, but that's how sisters are. We are closer now than ever, mainly due to us having similar personalities and her adopting 2 children of her own.
5. My fourth grade teacher: Sister Finn (yes, I went to Catholic school). I had a lot of test anxiety, especially in this grade. I guess because I remember to this day. I used to cry when looking at tests that were given. Sister Finn, who wasn't the most affectionate nor very attractive, would have to calm me down. One thing I do remember is what she wrote in my yearbook at the end of the school year: "I was sweet and kind, and always willing to help. Take a deep breathe when it comes taking those tests, and you'll do fine". I don't many paper and pencil tests anymore, but my life is my test. I still have to take a deep breathe at times to stay level-headed.
1. My mother: My mother was a homemaker. She took care of the house, and my sisters and I. She was a great cook. I can remember eating at home and rarely eating out at restaurants. She loved my sisters and I very much. (She passed in 1998).
2. My father: My father was the bread-winner for my family. He was (and still is) a hard-working man. Although he worked a lot, he still provided for my family. He was not very affectionate when I was growing up. But since my mother's passing, we have become close and I always enjoy spending time with him. He loves my husband and my sons, and enjoys spending time with all of us.
Growing up, my dad made sure we had what we needed. He felt family was important. We would visit his brother's family (my uncle and aunt) at least twice a year. We would also take vacations with them to other places as well.
3. The music teacher/director at my grade school and church: Her name was Mrs. Kinsey. And she always made music fun plus she was a great singer. She inspired me to become a teacher. When I was in middle school, I began helping her with the music program at our church's vacation bible school. She saw how I interacted with the smaller children, and thought I was so good at it that she suggested I become a teacher.
4. My sister, Leisa: Leisa is 7 years older than me. My parents adopted her when she was a baby because my mother had a hard time becoming pregnant. Obviously, that wasn't an issue because my mother became with me and other sister, who's 4 years older than me.
I looked up to Leisa a lot, more when I was in middle school. I used to sit and watch her get ready for her dates. We used to play with her Barbies, too. (She had them until college!) She wasn't always the best influence, but that's how sisters are. We are closer now than ever, mainly due to us having similar personalities and her adopting 2 children of her own.
5. My fourth grade teacher: Sister Finn (yes, I went to Catholic school). I had a lot of test anxiety, especially in this grade. I guess because I remember to this day. I used to cry when looking at tests that were given. Sister Finn, who wasn't the most affectionate nor very attractive, would have to calm me down. One thing I do remember is what she wrote in my yearbook at the end of the school year: "I was sweet and kind, and always willing to help. Take a deep breathe when it comes taking those tests, and you'll do fine". I don't many paper and pencil tests anymore, but my life is my test. I still have to take a deep breathe at times to stay level-headed.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
I knew I always wanted to be a teacher since I was old enough to babysit. The music teacher at my grade school was my inspiration. She would have me help her with vacation bible school at my church, and was always amazed at how I interacted with small children.
I have one student and his parents in particular that really touched my heart. To this day I still think of him and how he is doing in school. Actually, I think he has already graduated from high school or will this year. This child was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome when I was teaching third grade. I expressed my concerns to his mother when we were a month into the school year. She had expressed concerns to his teachers in the past, but was always told he was "just being a boy". I noticed a drastic change in him when his football season ended, and he began acting differently than before. The mother immediately had him tested. Neither of us expected his diagnosis to be a form of autism. Both his parents and I fought for his services to be provided in the school since all of it was being overlooked by administration. Luckily, I had a SPED teacher next door to me to help me become trained and adapted to the changes for this boy. The remainder of the year was no picnic. There were many days where the boy had meltdowns, and his mother was able to leave her work to come up to the school. By the end of the school year, he was receiving the services he righteously deserved. His parents showed their appreciation by giving me a gift certificate to an expensive local restaurant, and a page long letter expressing her and her husband's gratitude in working with their son during that school year. I still have her letter to this day, tucked away in a folder to remind me from time to time on why I continue to teach.
This is me in Capri, Italy in March 2013. Luckily, my principal was understanding enough to let me miss 6 work days to experience a trip of a lifetime! Of course, I showed my gratitude with a bottle of red Italian wine! ; )
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