Sharing Web Resources

I have been continuing my venture through the Office of Head start website and found that it does add to my understanding of equity and excellence in early childhood education.  As I browsed the site, I noticed how it provides opportunities for staff to continue to increase their knowledge through scheduled professional learning opportunities.  I, myself, am interested in attending a Head Start weekly training that will be held in Nashville, Tennessee.  I am always feeling that urge to learn something new.

Not only does the site offer professional learning through trainings, but there is a vast amount of information located throughout for employees to increase their overall knowledge of the Head Start program.  There is information in relation to health, safety, school readiness, nutrition, etc.  This information is used to assist early childhood educators with increasing their learning in order to assist young children in learning, as well.

FInal Blog Assignment

During the time that I spent in this course, I had the opportunity to explore the website for the Office of Head Start.  I, first of all, decided to explore this site because I spend a great deal of my time providing special needs services to students within my local center.  Throughout the time spent on the website, I gained much valuable information.

Even though there was a vast amount of insightful information, I learned a great deal of what exactly Head Start has to offer.  They focus not only on the children, but the families, as well.  They provide services that meet the needs of children socially, emotionally, nutritionally and cognitively. 

I was able to increase my knowledge in order to better serve my students.  They offer complete layout of school readiness goals, which serves as a guide for teachers to plan lessons.  By following these guidelines, teachers are assisting children in their preparation to be successful as they enter into kindergarten.

One goal that I have set for myself is to continue to make myself available to students and their families.  I want to make sure that I increase my knowledge of the early childhood field in order to reach my students through the use of different techniques and instructional strategies.  

Sharing Web Resources

In continuing my review on the Office of Headstart website,  I decided to pay close attention to information regarding classroom teachers.  Recently, there were provisions put into action stating that Head Start classrooms were to have more qualified teachers.  I found this to be quite interesting because this has not been the case for so many years.  I do think it is a safe idea.  I believe it definitely shows the interest in investments pertaining to early childhood.  This is such a critical point in a child's life and it needs the proper nurturing of qualified teachers.  How is it that you can have someone working with children that have little to no training, at all?

What I found to be controversial about this is the fact that this stipulation was not put into action long ago, that is if so many people were truly concerned about young children and making the investments in early childhood education.  If we are to produce strong individuals of the future, then we must provide qualified teachers to help them reach that point. I totally agree with the action and feel that it will produce positive results over time.

One new insight that I gained from this site is how the Office of Head Start is working to assist low income families who live in low income households and limited economic resources. They are working to assist them with improving their financial stability.  Through this, they want parents to understand that they can achieve economic stability for themselves as well as their families by building their skills in budgeting and planning for day to day expenses, emergencies, and long term goals.  I think this is a great way to help families as they gain support with the health of their children as well as ongoing learning within the years to come.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts- Part 1

I still have yet to get a response from international contacts. However, I decided to view the website http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/.

After viewing the website, I decided to report on the country of India.  In relation to early childhood education, this is a country where life is extremely difficult for children. At least half of the children  under age five are malnourished and a great number of infants appear to be significantly underweight. I find that it would be hard for these children to progress developmentally and physically having these problems this early in their lives.

Three insights regrading this wensite include:

- I find it hard to believe that such a large percentage of children below the age of sixteen would be working.

- The enrollment of primary school children rose over a two year span. This is good to see an increase.  This means more children are being educated ast an early age and gaining the needed foundation for years to come.

- It is good to know that achievements have been made in health and education.  This lets me know that children are becomming healthier and more physically fit.

Sharing Web Resources

I had originally attempted to view an episode from the World Forum Foundation; however, I experienced some technical difficulties.  Instead,  I decided to research the Office of Head Start website at http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hs/c/sr/new . The article was titled, "How do Preschool Programs Support School Readiness?"  I found this information to be quite valuable as I work with preschool age children.  This information is very valuable as it allows me to better know what goals children need to accomplish in order to be school ready.  By me familiarizing myself with these goals, I can better work in collaboration with my parents.  My sharing these goals, along with strategies and techniques, families can assist their children at home. Since we have been dicussing ways of working in collaboration with families, this is definitely one way to include them.

Establishing Professional Contacts

I am patiently awaiting response from contacts in Africa and Asia as I am excited to hear from Early Childhood professionals.

As a backup, I am considering following the World Forum Radio.

I also continue to follow the website for the Office of Headstart due to the fact that i work closely with the Headstart program in the  county where I live and I like to keep my self up to date on new issues and trends.

I look forward to learning many new things in relation to the field of Early Childhood.

My Supports

When you pause and think for a minute, you really begin to realize that we all need supports. In my everyday living, I am quite thankful for the supports that I receive. One support that does me well is the moral support that I receive from my wonderful husband.  There are some days when I feel as if my world is about to fall apart and he always knows just what to say and when to say it.  Also, on those days when I am rushing out to get to work, it is difficult for me to feed myself, even though I have prepared breakfast and made sure that everyone else has eaten.  Just as I open my mouth to ask him to fix me something, he just patiently says,"I fixed it already." I receive that type of physical support from him, as well.  Even though he does not cook, he always keeps the laundry done and the house clean.  I am ever so thankful for the much needed support he provides.

Also, with moral support, I receive a great deal from my sisters and my mom.  We are a close family that consists of seven girls and three boys. With our busy schedules, we always mange to talk at some point during the day. We discuss our daily problems as well as offer encouragement and advice to one another.  I feel my sisters and my mom are the best friends I could ever have.

Just as the supports I have mentioned above, they are much needed within the world of early childhood. Parents, students, and teachers all need the support of each other.  That is why we much work with each other to help each other. When we help each other, success will always be that end result.  We, as educators, need to strive to provide more support to each other, to our students, and to our families and parents.