Time Well Spent

  

The scope of early childhood education is very large indeed. Over the years there have been many obstacles in the way of developing truly successful programs. The reality is that it can be overwhelming. This program has been a fantastic way of bringing into focus the complexities of early childhood education programs and then allowing me to step back so as to see the many challenges individually.

What I have learned is that before taking on the collective tasks associated with early childhood education there is a need to recognize individualize and prioritize. I learned to look at the early stages of what has today become an institution. Learning the history of early childhood education has taught me to appreciate how progress is measured and how to proceed with putting my stamp on the field.

With these things in mind one of the most important things I have learned is regarding myself and the passion I have for early childhood education. In order to keep my passion alive I must make use of many forms of motivation. I have come to realize that I can have a profound effect on the children, their parents, and the community. I learned that as a professional I have endless opportunities to influence the attitudes and outcomes for the many people I come in contact with as a result of my field.

I have in particular come to appreciate that the role of inclusion in the field of early childhood education has taken quite some time to reach the point it has; from small beginnings in the mid 1970’s up until 2015. “In the 30 years since the passage of the Education of All Handicapped Children Act (PL. 94-142) in 1975 (subsequently the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) special education in the USA as an institutionalized practice has become solidified” (Disability & Society, 2007 p.63). I have learned the importance of seeing to it that every child receives a quality education. It is their right and inclusion is the law.

Yet another thing I have learned is how to form and make use of a community of practice. “A community of practice is a group of people who share a common concern, a set of problems, or interest in a topic and who come together to fulfill both individual and group goals. CoPs often focus on sharing best practices, promoting peer learning and creating new knowledge to advance a domain of professional practice” (UNICEF, 2012). Having individuals from different professions, social statuses, businesses, and from parents to those with disabilities will offer my early childhood educational program the variety it needs to accommodate children from all types of circumstances.

    As a long-term goal I would like to be involved in changing the pay scale for early childhood education teachers. In most cases, for what they do teachers are already under paid. This is an even bigger issue for early childhood education centers. When teachers receive trainings and degrees they tend to move on to better paying jobs within the school system. I would like to take salary out of the equation. This is so very important because these very early years are the most important time to get children off to a good start.

         The early years are the most critical for neurological development, as the most significant brain growth occurs in the first six years of life. This is also the most critical time for building resiliency, and social and emotional foundations. The experiences of early childhood have a profound impact on the overall health and well-being of individuals throughout their lives. (T. A. Partnership, n.d.)

 I would like to take this opportunity to thank the instructor, Johnna Darragh Ernst, and all of my colleagues for the wonderful experience I had as a result of this course. As an instructor you made this course challenging and at the same time inviting. I even found myself looking forward to your critiquing of my papers so that I could make adjustments and become better at writing and preparing my assignments. I found myself engaged in this course. I thought I was a little more challenged as a result of having a passion for the same subject (inclusion) as you. But I believe that I came out better able to articulate what I am feeling and thinking in this regard. Again, thank you so much for challenging me to be better. I thoroughly believe I have gotten better.

For my colleagues, with whom I have shared this challenging course, I also want thank you and let you know how much I appreciated your hard work and eye-opening responses not only to my thoughts and ideas but to everyone’s. I took to heart much of what was said by all of you and found myself anticipating what you would say as I was reading your responses. I feel like I know each and every one of you to some degree through your expressions. I also felt a camaraderie between us and believe that we actually made each other better by making us review and reconsider our thoughts and expressions. Since we all share the common thread of early childhood education it would not surprise me if we crossed each other’s path in the future. No matter what road we may take to get to the other side, some of us are bound to meet somewhere along our common journey. Some of us are bound to be the movers and shakers who are in the middle of what gets done in the field of early childhood education.  Always remember, “Teaching is the profession that teaches all other professions” (Unknown). Therefore, let’s become good teachers. The staff, community, nation and the world are depending on us.  We will no doubt look back and recall this shared experience which has led us to accomplish great things on behalf of those whom we are so passionate about – the children – our future!!!

 (Parentbooks n.d.).

Publications like this are particularly helpful for us as we develop our diverse, quality early childhood education programs.

                                      (Virginia Commonwealth University, n.d.)

As early childhood professionals it is up to us to gather a storehouse of information and resources to have readily available for parents, staff and stakeholders so that they can be informed and confident that our methods are tried and tested to be effective and worthy of their consideration and use with their children and the time and assets they provide. “Early intervention practitioners should be familiar with inclusive practices so that they can assist families in identifying high quality early childhood programs and services in their localities. Practitioners can also use these practices to collaborate with and support early childhood teachers and child care providers as they include children with special needs in the activities of their classrooms and home-based programs” (Virginia Commonwealth University n.d.)

(Marin County Office of Education n.d.)

The early years of a child’s life are what will ultimately have the biggest effect on the future of our children. As this course has highlighted now is the time to take what we have learned and make the world around us a better place. It has to start with the children. Years from now, 20, 30, even 40 we will reap fruitage according to what we sow in our children now.  

 “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men” Fredrick Douglass – American Social Reformer, Writer and Statesman, (Success Degrees, 2015)

Inclusion

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops” Henry Adams – Journalist, Historian and Novelist, (Bird, 2012)

  “Train a boy in the way he should go; Even when he grows old he will not depart from it” (Holy Bible).

References

Bird, Kendall, (2012). 12 Motivational Education Quotes to Inspire You, Retrieved from http://www.rasmussen.edu/degrees/education/blog/12-motivational-education-quotes-to-inspire-you/

Connor, David J. & Ferri, Beth A. (2007). Disability & Society Vol. 22. The conflict within: resistance to inclusion and other paradoxes in special education Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/261593/The_Conflict_within_Resistance_to_Inclusion_and_Other_Paradoxes_in_Special_Education

Holy Bible, Proverbs 22:6. (717 BCE) New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures 2013 Edition, Retrieved from http://www.jw.org/en/publications/bible/nwt/books/proverbs/22/

Marin County Office of Education (n.d.) Building the Future…One Student at a Time.Early Childhood Education. Retrieved from http://www.marinschools.org/ECE/Pages/default.aspx

Parentbooks, (n.d.) ECE Program Planning & Administration, Featured Books. Retrieved from http://www.parentbooks.ca/ECE_Program_Planning_&_Administration.html

Success Degrees: Online Learning That Works, (2015). Inspirational Quotes & Quotations on Early Childhood Education for Teachers, Retrieved from http://www.successdegrees.com/inspirationalquotesaboutearlychildhoodeducationandteaching.html

T. A. Partnership, (n.d.) Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health, Early Childhood Community of Practice Retrieved from http://www.tapartnership.org/COP/earlyChildhood/

UNICEF, (2012) International Step by Step Association, Unite for Children, Community of Practice: Early Childhood Education Quality Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/ceecis/Erin_Tanner_Community_of_Practice_Athens12.pdf

Virginia Commonwealth University (n.d.). Virginia Early Intervention Professional Development Center, Inclusive Practices Retrieved from http://www.veipd.org/main/sub_inclusive_practice.html

 



My Wonderful Husband who has always been very supportive.
Thank You, "Your the best"

             



Looks Like I Made It, WOW. 



The Love of My Life

 Working with children is my first passion and cruising is my second passion. (Anthem of the Sea here we come)

Katrina Bell M.S., in Early Childhood Studies with specialization on administration, management and leadership.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The first international organization I chose is Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI). ACEI's mission is to promote and support in the global community the optimal education, development, and well-being of children, from birth through early adolescence, and to influence the professional growth of educators and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children in a changing society. They promote policies and practices that support children’s healthy development, love of learning, and joy in living. Our public education campaigns bring to light both the promise and the vulnerability of childhood. They act for the sake of the children themselves and for a more just, democratic, and ecologically responsible future. In addition they believe that every child in every nation deserves a childhood full of hope, joy, freedom, and promise for the future.

I chose this organization because they are really focused on early childhood on a global scale just as I am. I am very much interested in attending the global summit they will hold at the Intercontinental Hotel in San José, Costa Rica March 31, 2016 to April 3, 2016. The 2016 Global Summit on Childhood brings together individuals from around the world and across disciplines to explore the role of childhood in ensuring a positive human future during a time of rapid change

Being a part of (ACEI) is important to me and I like the fact that they deliver education news and information to individuals, schools, and institutions worldwide. My goal is to do likewise. I love traveling around the world and learning about other organizations and their involvement in the field of early childhood education. Even though no employment opportunities exist at this time this is a wonderful organization for me to be a part of.

The second international organization I chose is Save the Children. The mission of Save the Children is to inspire breakthroughs in the way the world treats children and to achieve immediate and lasting change in their lives. Their vision is in line with mine in that every child attains the right to survival, protection, development and participation.

I chose this organization because of their firm conviction, values and integrity. They see to it that all children have the opportunity to succeed and this is extremely important to me. We all know that education improves life-long health, income and prospects. Save the Children works to ensure that every child receives a good quality education and gains the skills and knowledge they need to thrive in the 21st century. They also support programs that are proven to promote learning in school and in the community. And we influence global and national policy to improve children’s access to quality education, from pre-school care through to adulthood. I would also love the opportunity to be a sponsor for a child in the USA.

One of the career opportunities that interest me with Save the Children is the Interim Internal Communications Director. The communications director is responsible for leading the change of the communications function internationally, as part of the recent communications review, working closely with stakeholders within the organization as well as across the wider membership/movement. Some of the skills and experience I would need and I feel I qualify for are:


• Proven communications leadership at a senior level, in a complex, global organization, with the demonstrable ability to work in a networked organization, influencing others through 'soft power'
• Experience in leading the creation and implementation of a strategy, demonstrating the ability to identify the necessary steps towards an ambitious goal.
•      Proven communications leadership at a senior level, in a complex, global organization, with the demonstrable ability to work in a networked organization, influencing others through 'soft power'
•      Willingness to travel overseas for up of 15% of the time
•      Ability to work in a culturally diverse setting
•      Commitment to Save the Children's values and ways of working

I think this would be a great opportunity for me to expand my horizons and do my part in saving all children. I would love the opportunity to travel overseas and see what other countries and doing when it comes to early childhood education.

The third international organization I chose is the International Child Resource Institute (ICRI).
ICRI envisions a world in which all children and families are able to fulfill their greatest potential. All children deserve access to high quality, stimulating, developmentally appropriate early childhood care and education. They believe that early intervention promotes the healthy growth and development not just of individual children, but of entire communities. I chose this organization because they are determined to reach children all around the world. Some of the places are Kenya, Chile, India, Nepal, USA, Norway and more. I would love to travel to some of these countries.

There are no employment opportunities at this time but I am very much interested in the volunteering my services. At this time the International Child Resource Institute (ICRI) have a particular need for volunteers to work on fund development, research/writing, and office administration. This would indeed be a wonderful experience for me.

                                                   ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN

                          Be the voice for children in need! Take action on these critical 

               issues  and tell our government leaders to prioritize our children and futures.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community

The three national/federal organizations that appealed to me are:

1. The Association for Early Learning Leaders, formerly known as the National Association of Child Care Professionals. The Association for Early Learning Leaders is committed to excellence in the field of early childhood care and education by promoting leadership development and enhancing program quality. In addition they are very much committed to strengthening the skills of those such as owners, directors, administrators, as well as those who are devoted to the field of early childhood education. I chose this organization because there mission is very similar to mine. As a director of an early childhood program I think it is extremely important to promote leadership while at the same time enhancing and maintaining a quality program. They offer a great deal of resources that impact the field of early childhood education. In addition I am a member of this organization. The job opportunity that interests me is Executive Director. The skills and experience is a Master’s Degree with 5-10 years experience. 

• Develop and implement CFEC’s strategic vision;

• Lead the development of state-of-the-art programming strategies that position CFEC as a regional leader for achieving community impact;

• Collaborate with the Principals of the member schools and leadership of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, to facilitate their active participation in achieving CFEC’s goals;

• Support the Principals in the planning, coordination and management of the daily operations of the schools. 

• Communicate CFEC’s plans and policies to broad audiences;

• Develop and nurture productive relationships and resources deemed essential for the attainment of CFEC’s goal and objectives.

This is a position I would love to take on. I have the necessary skills and experience for this position but it is located in North Carolina.

2. The Early Care and Education Consortium is a voice for child care providers in Congress. They work to be a provider voice to shape public policy in support of high-quality care and education for young children and families. This organization played a major part in getting the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) signed into law. The purpose of this grant is to improve child care safety and quality. The Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) also help low-income families, families receiving public assistance and those families transitioning from public assistance in obtaining child care. (PACCA) The Pennsylvania Child Care Association is a member of ECEC which my center has a membership with.

I chose this organization because of their devotion and willingness to partner with other organizations to be a voice for providers, connecting capitols and classrooms in Pennsylvania and across the country. They offer a great deal of information and resources on the national and federal level. The one job opportunity that interests me very much is the State Policy Senior Associate. The applicant applying for this position must have a positive, upbeat attitude, the ability to handle multiple tasks under time-sensitive deadlines, the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment, and to remain flexible and resourceful as part of a small staff while maintaining a high level of professionalism are key requirements of the job. Even though I meet the majority of the skills necessary I have very little experience at the state and or federal level. The position requires that you have the following skills and experience.

• A  Bachelor’s degree ( Master’s preferred) plus five to eight  years of progressive experience at the state and/or federal level in issue advocacy, policy development or analysis, and strong knowledge of early childhood issues

• Excellent written, oral and public presentation skills including the ability to translate technical concepts succinctly to diverse stakeholders and audiences.  Demonstrated ability to prioritize, organize and complete work independently and as part of a team

• Availability for travel within United States

• Ability to use e-advocacy and e-communication tools

• Strong computer skills, including advanced knowledge of MS Word, MS Excel , MS PowerPoint and other office programs

• Effective interpersonal communication skills including the ability to develop relationships and coordinate the work of virtual teams and committees 

• Desire to work with others to strengthen community early care and education  programs and services  thru advocacy in support of independent community providers of high quality early learning programs, children and their families

This position sounds very interesting but I have no experience at the state or federal level.

3. The third organization I chose was the National Child Care Association (NCCA). NCCA has been the voice of the licensed, private early childhood care and education community. Many of their members include individual owners and multi-state companies, who all have the same goal in mind and that is to provide all young children & their families with quality care and education. As the National Voice of Private Early Childhood Care and Education Providers, NCCA is working to make your voice heard on the state and federal level on a wide range of issues impacting your business. Today these issues include State and Federal Funding, Unionization and Labor Issues, Regulatory Issues, and Pre-K and Quality issues.

I chose this organization because I am very much interested in the issues they deal with as it relates to funding, quality and Pre-K and how they advocate for state regulations that make sense and which is of great interest to me. In addition like me, NCCA’s top priority is providing comprehensive quality early education and care to the children and families in our communities. I also agree with the fact the just like NCCA many of its members and licensed child care providers believe in appropriate oversight; however we believe that the focus of inspections should be improvement, not punishment. Licensed providers want to provide the highest quality of care, and many do so without regard for financial gain. This is so true and I firmly believe that. It is very clear to me that the state governments have been and continue to be in the forefront of regulatory compliance and oversight. The federal government’s role should be to assist the states in their implementation of programs and regulations, not create an additional laws and regulation which only serves to create more bureaucracy, confusion, and expense. The NCCA did not have any job opportunities available.

Reference

Association for Early Learning Leaders. (1984). Retrieved on May 22, 2015 from: http://www.earlylearningleaders.org/

Early Care and Education Consortium. (2015). Retrieved on May 24, 2015 from: http://www.ececonsortium.org/

National Child Care Association (NCCA). (n.d.). Retrieved on May 24, 2015 from: http://www.nccanet.org/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

                                                               Community

The first state organization I chose is PennAEYC.  PennAEYC is the voice of early childhood in Pennsylvania. PennAEYC is a State Affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). PennAEYC represents all NAEYC members in Pennsylvania, (which I am a member of) including those in local affiliate groups as well as those unaffiliated with any local affiliate.  I chose them because they offer professional development, advocacy support, networking, leadership, and other opportunities for early childhood professionals like myself. They build, participate, collaborate and connect across the state level. I have used them in providing networking. PennAEYC's vision is that every child in Pennsylvania has the equal opportunity to be a successful, responsible, and productive members of society as a result of their early childhood experiences which is something I totally agree with. There are currently no job opportunities available.

The second organization is the Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC). They focus on empowering early childhood educators in the Delaware Valley with vast resources, support and motivation. So every child from birth to age 8, may receive the best care and education possible. Since our child’s future depends on us. I too am committed to creating a path that allows them, and their teachers, to reach their full potential. As a director and leader I am very much interested in their Leadership Empowerment Action Project (LEAP). They also offer assistance with career advising, professional development and Keystone Stars which my agency is a part of. There are currently no job opportunities available for me.

The third organization I chose is PACCA. The Pennsylvania Child Care Association (PACCA) is a statewide non-profit organization.  PACCA exists to be a strong and effective advocate for quality early care and education programs which is of great importance to me. I like the fact that they strive to give leadership and support to those organizations that assist the Early Childhood Education community, families, and children. I am a firm believer and advocate for early childhood education. My entire staff and I are members of PACCA. I like the information that is available if you want to start your own childcare center. In addition they have a great deal of resource information for parents. They can assist you in finding quality child care. There are no employment opportunities available that would interest me.

 

Reference:

PennAEYC (n.d.). Retrieved on May 15, 2015 from: http://www.pennaeyc.com/Pages/default.aspx

Delaware Valley Association for the Education of Young Children (DVAEYC), (2015).  Retrieved on May 15, 2015 from: http://www.dvaeyc.org/

Pennsylvania Child Care Association, (2012). Retrieved on May 15, 2015 from: http://www.pacca.org/

 

 

Capstone Project

Hello everyone and welcome to the capstone project. I look forward to working and learning something new from each and everyone of you. 


      "student effort should be at its peak during                             capstone experiences"

Collaborative Learning Community

The last 8 weeks was a wonderful experience and I have learned great deal on what it means to be effective in our communication and listening skills. I say all the time you learn something new each day. All my colleagues have been supportive in responding to information as well as giving suggestions and advice on how they effectively communicate or have learned new skills as a result of this class. I like the honesty displayed by all and they were not afraid to say how they feel. I am been supportive by offering any advice asked by others or administering some of the knowledge I have on some issues. I too still learned information that I have already begun to incorporate in my day to day dealings with each and every person I come in contact with. I would like to wish each and every one of you much success as you continue your progress at Walden University.  Please feel free to email me at childrens4802@gmail.com and I will give you my contact information to keep in touch.

Thanks Again from the bottom of my heart

ADJOURNING PHASE

The adjourning stage of the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) food program is winding down and even though pressure was put on a few of us to complete the paperwork that others claimed they did we really felt good. It was a real challenge for us but we survived. This bought the team closer together and it enabled all of us to be more helpful and supportive of one another. Even though the high performing didn’t begin until we were in a jam it was really hard to say good bye. We set aside a day and we all went out to dinner after getting word that the audit went very well. Some of the individuals that never worked together became close and starting working on other projects together and relying on each other more. Many of us keep in contact with each other and we provide support to one another no matter at what cost. 

The group of us that worked together was very clear about what had to be one and the time frame involve. There are many closing rituals I have experienced but the one that I feel is important was to address those who worked on the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) project. I let them know that the project we worked on required leadership, planning and cooperation. This project is something we will have to go through again. What we went through was only the beginning. Each of us here played a major part in getting this work done however we will still need to keep abreast and make sure the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program)  is being done daily and properly. It is our mission to make sure that continues.

In closing, I look forward to standing here and working with each and every one of you upon successful completion of this project. I would like to extend my thanks to each and every one of you. As a token of my appreciation the center will be giving each of you a paid day off on us. Thank You Again.

While working on my master’s degree I imagine that I will adjourn from the groups, colleagues and instructor just about the same. I don’t know about the paid day off but I will show my appreciation for all the help and support I received from everyone.

Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork. At this stage I find that it is important to achieve closure for the group doing so on a positive note. Group members may begin to feel a sense of loss and their motivation may decline when the group's work comes to an end. With that being said I find it is very important to recognize the group members for their accomplishments and celebrate the group's overall success. As a director and leader of my team this is important to the future success of all members.

Reference:

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html