International Contacts

Well I must say this assignment has not been easy thus far.....I have contacted over 8 individuals from the resource blog and have not heard from anyone.  I am not sure if they think it is some type of joke by me contacting them or what.  I thought I was professional in my contact and intializing some type of communication, not sure what to do now but to turn to the alterntive assisgnment.  If I do not hear anything by next week then I will be forced to do the alternative, not really what I wanted to do considering I was looking forward to hearing from at least one individual on their trends in issues in their country.  If anyone is reading this and has had any luck in a contact please enlightem me on how you got them to repsond.  I understand individuals are busy but to hear from another professional in ECE influcing another would really make my day!  I just need one contact!!!!!!!!!!!

My Supports

Ahh support, I think without it I would have quit my job a billion times this year as it has been one of the most overwhelming and stressful career changes of my life.  My support begins with my husband who listens no matter how frustrated or angry I get because administration offers no support. I think without his strong support and lending an ear I would have gone crazy by now, he is my cheerleader!  Someone I can confide in and never questions if I am right or wrong but always knows that I have my classrooms best interest at all times.  I beleive if my husband was not the strength I need to go to my job and give my very best, I would not make it.  I would be a ticking time bottom ready to explode at any minute he is my decompression chamber at the end of the day. 

As for my 4 caregivers in my classroom I cannot live without these group of ladies.  They are my strengths each providing a special gift in the classroom that makes it run smoothly.  I crinch at the thought of losing any of them and will fight to the death to keep them.  We are all so compatible and supportive of each other they take away my stress and vise versa I take away theirs.  I beleive if I were to lose one of these lovely ladies I would run!!!!!  I have worked with other coworkers when my ladies were out or on vacation and I thought I would just jump right off a bridge.  I have a very ecclatic class that needs alot of support and guidance and when the missing links are gone it impacts our world tremonsously!!!!!!!!!!!!  I thank these ladies all the time for their support and courage to show up in our crazy world everyday and I value their input and their strengths they bring so we can be the best me (S) we can.

I have two children who have severe disabilities.  One is a X who is DD and very defiant and has many behavior issues.  Without the support of these extra ladies in my classroom we could not survive.  This particular child needs alot of guidance and one on one support and I beleive without it we would just fall apart both mentally and spiritually.  X is a constant disruption and disturbance to all the children in the classroom.  We need each other to piggy back off of our strengths and continue the mind set and tone of this individual.  As for our other friend Y who is an emotional wreck and cries, throws tantrums lasting 45 minutes and longer, that individual is a constant challange everyday in the classroom. The benefits of these particular ladies is we all keep our sanity!!!!!  Adminsitration often turns a blind eye to our friends situations until recently when they had no choice but to be involved for disruptive and aggressive behaviors.  We often get little to no support but just recently we turn the tables on them by providing them with the company of our friends in the office on a 2-3 times weekly basis.  We are now getting a behavior specialist involved and the support of the trainer who often runs and criticizes the situation and how we handle it.  In the last six months we have had one of the toughest classroom at our center and now we are getting the support we need to help these two friends become successful in the classroom.  I beleive honestly none of us could go on another month with these behaviors but with the Lord's strength and the support of each other always making a pact to have each others back I feel very blessed and forunate to know they appreciate me as much as I love them. 

My Connections to Play

There are children playing in the street who could solve some of my top problems in physics, because they have modes of sensory perception that I lost long ago.

J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER,

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.--Plato, Greek philosopher 

I was so excited to write about play and the impact it had on me as a child...I grew up in the 80's what a great time too!  We played outside all day and used our imagination and came home when the streets lights came on.  My parents were a great supporter of my play they encourage it and supported my passions of my love for my Cabbage Patch Doll which I still have today including my adoption papers.   My doll is Lila Julienne and she went every where and had all the accessories I would need to be a great mom :) My mom would tell people that is her granddaughter and supported me in wanting more children by buying three more siblings.  I played for hours with my dolls and created elaborate scenarios in playing house.  I never let my friends hold any of my children but I always created ways they could join in the fun!  My second love was my big wheel, of course it was not exactly like the one pictured  because the seat was higher but I remember burning some rubber in my cul-de-sac.  My friends and I would race carry our babies on the back and be the police to the older kids because we knew that we were the fastest.  My childhood was fantastic I was always outside, never even knew what a video game was until I was in the 7th grade and then still preferred to be outside.

 I think the difference of youth today is they don't know how to play.  They prefer electronics over imagination and exercise and show no interest in interacting with friends because it is so hot outside!  I never knew what hot was and I lived in Oklahoma for 7 years as a child.  I understand that the dynamics have changed with urbanization and children missing but take them to the park for goodness sakes or go outside with them and watch them play!  We grow up as adults and I know for myself that play with and without my parents was an integral part of my childhood still today. 

I believe what separates us from our childhood is the ability to play....if  recent studies can be found that taking a 30 minute nap improves our thinking abilities at work, than why not study the measure of play and how an imagination can improve your overall abstract thinking.  I bet if we asked a 4 year-old the best way to build a bridge they would come up with a better solution than a 28 year old who has a masters in engineering.  Its all about the ability to think beyond the problem in the box but to explore the problem beyond its realms.   

Relationship Reflection

I will begin by stating that relationships are a key component of who we are and what we become later in life.  It is a known fact that our parents and environment influence us beyond our years before we even realize it is happening.  Relationships are the glue that holds us together and defines who we are on the inside.  I grew up with great relationships stemming from my mother, siblings, and aunts to now a wife and mother. 

I cannot recall the events that took place with those wonderful relationships but I have not spoken to my mother, siblings, and aunts in over three years now....instead I fill my days with caring for my three children, and being a teacher, and a wife.  My positive relationships begin with my three beautiful children whom I love with all my heart.  Each of my children are unique and different, a relationship I cherish as I spend quality time with each of them understanding why they are so special.  My oldest son is 15 and I must say there is something about your first born because we have a bond that is tight like glue.  He tells me his dreams and aspirations, looks to me for support and comfort and always willing to share his special moments with me.  In return I empathize, laugh, and celebrate his life.  We are so alike and yet so different.....My middle child is 12 going on 13 and though he reminds me allot of myself, he such a polar opposite of what I envision for him too.  Smart and witty he makes me laugh and smile but his teenage perceptions of the world make me want to scream!  I am not sure if he is going through a phase right now or I am just seeing more of his dad in his personality, but I long for my sweet child's affection and  kisses.  My son use to love to sit in my lap and read and now I have to compete with his IPOD and phone.  I miss my little man but i look forward to the man he will become.  My youngest is 4 and a princess, I hope she never grows up!  She is such a joy so warm and giving and always thinking of her brothers.  She loves giving kisses and telling me how much she missed me...a word  I don't take for granted for I know as a mother there will be an absence of time before she remembers to say it again in her adult years.

 Here is a picture of my family and our nephew...my greatest joys and achievements!

Although, my children are a true blessing I learned how to love and be patient from my husband. Marcus is my rock and salvation, the only person who has been true and loved me unconditionally. We are complete opposites yet he makes me whole in every way. We have been married for 13 years and although we have been through some tough times we always made a promise to work through it together. I know there is no one I would rather argue, love, or want to make me happy then my husband who commits himself to me everyday of our lives.

I know that my positive relationships come from the love and joy of my family, but I do understand as a parent and mother the perspectives of my parents and children I interact with every day. I know what it is to empathize and have concerns about your child and be a military spouse, and that is why I keep the lines of communication open. I know sometimes that I maybe the person they need to vent to or give him or her support. Being a teacher is not just about sharing the love of learning but I am also a counselor, mentor, and advocate. Parents need to know they have a partner in their child's learning and I do my best to rest assure they can count on me. I am the beginning of the education system. I determine the positive and the negative of children's lifelong learning success. I am the first impression.

Continued Thanks and Inspiration of Early Childhood Education

"No one has yet fully realized the wealth of sympathy, kindness and generosity hidden in the soul of a child. The effort of every true education should be to unlock that treasure." Emma Goldman

"An aware parent loves all children he or she interacts with - for you are a caretaker for those moments in time." Doc Childre

I want to thank my colleagues for your guidance and inspiration these last 8 weeks in class.  It has been a pleasure reading your responses and receiving your comments.  I have truly been exposed to different insights and the way other educators view the world of early childhood education. I believe we are all on a great path and will continue to make a difference in the world of young children.  May you continue to reach for the stars and find success in your dreams.  Best wishes to you all!!!!!

Intelligent Testing

Is intelligent testing necessary or is about accountability for federal dollars?  In my experience of working in elemetary ed. and early childhood education I have seen the pros and cons of intelligent testing.  Children are not being testing for intelligence.  They are being tested to see if their teachers are doing their job so the school can recieve money.  I mean really lets be honest here, children cannot recive modifications in fomal testing unless it is specifically in their IEP and that can have some catch 22 in it.  I beleive intelligent testing does have a purpose but it should serve the purpose of the child.  If the federal government wants to really test the intelligence of children then lets put our money into individualizing the testing like we are taught to teach the individual child.  Every child would have a test that best suits their style of learning and multiple intelligence. 

In Finland here is the criteria for the school system.

The Finnish school system uses the same curriculum for all students (which may be one reason why Finnish scores varied so little from school to school).

Students have light homework loads.

Finnish schools do not have classes for gifted students.

Finland uses very little standardized testing.

Children do not start school until age 7.

Finland has a comprehensive preschool program that emphasizes "self-reflection" and socializing, not academics.

Grades are not given until high school, and even then, class rankings are not compiled.

Teachers must have master's degrees.

Becoming a teacher in Finland is highly competitive. Just 10% of Finnish college graduates are accepted into the teacher training program; as a result, teaching is a high-status profession. (Teacher salaries are similar to teacher salaries in the U.S., however.)

Students are separated into academic and vocational tracks during the last three years of high school. About 50% go into each track.

Diagnostic testing of students is used early and frequently. If a student is in need of extra help, intensive intervention is provided.

Groups of teachers visit each others' classes to observe their colleagues at work. Teachers also get one afternoon per week for professional development.

School funding is higher for the middle school years, the years when children are most in danger of dropping out.

College is free in Finland.

In Finland, students are not sorted into different groups or schools but different types of learners are learning together. In this kind of setting high achieving students seem to serve as positive models for their less advanced classmates. The curriculum differs from that applied in systems characterized by tracking and streaming. Efforts are made to provide instruction to cater to the needs of different learners in terms of their skills and interests.

Preschool education — a relatively new addition has been part of their educational system for the past 10 years.  Preschools are nonacademic in the sense that no clear academic targets are set. Socialization into school culture and learning to work together with children is the central role. Preschool is not compulsory in Finland, but 96-97% of the children go to it.

http://www.greatschools.org/students/academic-skills/1075-u-s-students-compare.gs

Stress on Children's Development

In August 2005, a major disaster happened in New Orleans, Loiusiana it was called Hurricane Katrina.  My husband is a native of Louisana born and raised with many family members spread throughout the state including New Orleans.  In August 2005 his family was devastated by the hurricane that destroyed New Orleans and their home.  His sister Tonya and her three children ages 4-12 were sent to to the Superdome to ride out the storm, and were changed forever.  The devastation and the facts of assults ans sexual battery were true and all around.  She states their was no security in the building that could really help anyone and that once the storm actually approached land the lights went out and all hell broke loose.  Fortunately she stayed in a nearby opening in the hall but she said she could hear the cries and screaming of women being dragged and men fighting and children cying.  Somthing that was very hard to hear and hard for her to say.  My nieces and my one nephew do not talk about the devastation they experienced, losing their home and all their belongings, walking along the streets that were once familiar but now flooded with dead bodies.  Stranded for a day with no food or water helpless with my sister not being able to reassure them of anything but that they will be okay.  Our dad and their grandpa could not get to New Orleans for two days because of road damage and flooding but he was able to locate my sister on the third day and he stated he will never forget the frightening looks on all their faces as they cried and cried.  My nieces and nephew are not the same anymore.  Instead of their love for watersports and New Orleans they told my sister in law they wanted to stay in Alexandria where their was no large bodies of water to surround them.  The effects of that hurricane have taken everything that is "normal" to my nieces and nephew. The months of nightmares and anxirty they experienced even with family around was overwhelming for them.  They continue to experience nightmares every once in awhile waking up screaming in cold sweats, but they do not talk about their experience to anyone not even my sister in law.  My nieces and nephew are victims of a tragedy in which their innocence was taken away and the reality of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder has set in..... In a survey of 2,362 children effected by Hurricane Katrina by LSU health systems that survey stated that children that were exposed to Hurricane Katrina, experienced severe symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress. In fact, this study found that about half of the children experienced high levels of depression and posttraumatic stress symptoms.  Once you take away the childlike elements of being a child and put real life trauma and situatations of adult like stress it takes away a part of the soul of the child no matter how resilant we think they are in the world.


I think after seeing my nieces and nephew and my fear of tornadoes that I experience as a child, the curiosity of the children of Japan and the tsunami also wanted me to find out more information on the stress they developed because of a natural disaster.  In reading the Japan earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear reaction the major concern for many parents was the psychological and emotional scars.  Since the events in Japan many doctors have seen more children for high rates of anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts, depression, and PTSD.  Many young children fear the causes of nuclear exposure and watching loved one die because of it.  I cannot imagine a young child thinking the only way to survive is potential death. 

My nieces and nephew are older now 11 all the way to their first year in college but the magnitude of that day and the events their after have not changed their quiet whispers among each other to letting the world know how they really are changed forever.