Zero to Three Newsletter
The section that I feel is relevant to my current professional development is:
Putting Infants and Toddlers on the Path to School Readiness: An Agenda for the Administration and 113th Congress.
Since we have been discussing the importance of bridging the gap between Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education. This section gives insight on what we have been discussing in our studies pertaining to the gaps in education and offers a School Readiness Checklist for parent.
The section: Supporting Early Development is a Wise Investment raises concern with me just as it has earlier this week in our studies. The statement "Economists estimate that every dollar invested in early childhood programs, savings of $3.78 to $17.07 can be expected in future public expenditures, in part by reducing the occurrence of negative educaitonal and life outcomes (Zero to Three, 2013)". Although, I believe it is important to place emphasis on the importance of investing in Early Childhood Education, I feel as equating the investment to dollars and cents just doesn't sit well with me as a parent. I guess this is because I look at an investment as love, time and providing the best experiences possible for a child as opposed to the financial aspect. However, it did cause me to look at things from a different perspective.
I especially enjoyed the Continuing Education Podcasts offered through this website for Early Childhood Education professionals. The one thing I know is that the amazing individuals who work in the Early Childhood Education field have very little time to physically attend school so the availability of the podcasts would really help them obtain their continuing education credits which helps us stay abreast of new concepts within our field.
References:
Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families (2013). Retrieved from http://www.zerotothree.org/ .
Kingdom Kids its a place filled with Encouragment, Love, & Knowledge to promote positive learning for our future Welcome to My Kingdom
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Getting To Know My International Contacts Part II
Kaylee Robinson
Question:
Would you consider the school you work in one located in a affluent, middle class or lower income area?
Answer:
If looking at it from my United States viewpoint, I would describe it as poverty due to the overcrowding and the way children and grown-ups peddle their wares on the street and their sense of 'fashion' is not of important as mere survival however, it is a very common way of life here in Korea and not viewed as an impoverished condition. The one thing I have witnessed about the Korean society is that they are very hard workers and it is not uncommon for multiple members of families to occupy the same living spaces which is something that is uncommon in the United States. There is also a large percentage of homeless people even in a city as big as Seoul. Orphanages are also prominent in this country.
Question:
Would you consider the school you work in one located in a affluent, middle class or lower income area?
Answer:
If looking at it from my United States viewpoint, I would describe it as poverty due to the overcrowding and the way children and grown-ups peddle their wares on the street and their sense of 'fashion' is not of important as mere survival however, it is a very common way of life here in Korea and not viewed as an impoverished condition. The one thing I have witnessed about the Korean society is that they are very hard workers and it is not uncommon for multiple members of families to occupy the same living spaces which is something that is uncommon in the United States. There is also a large percentage of homeless people even in a city as big as Seoul. Orphanages are also prominent in this country.
Question:
If you are located in a lower income area, how does it affect the children
you teach?
Answer:
The children that I teach are eager to learn because not very many of them are able to attend school on a full-time basis because they have to work to help their parents earn money. I think this is because their parents have not made material possessions priority as sometimes we Americans do. Their focus is their culture and keeping their beliefs and culture intact from generation to generation. Their is a strong sense of cultural pride that is displayed by these children as well as their parents. I think I see this side of the spectrum because education is considered a privilege here. People in poverty are frowned upon and even ousted in some areas being forced to relocated to other areas in Korea.
Question:
How has working in Korea affected your view of the education system in the United States?
Answer:
I now have a greater level of appreciation for the United States. Although, I do know that there are always budget contraints and cuts concerning our school system, the caliber of education is in my opinion, leaps and bounds above that in Korea.
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Getting To Know My International Contacts Part I
I would like to introduce to you my:
KOREAN KONNECTION!!
Kaylee Robinson
Kaylee, is a United States citizen who is currently working as an English Teacher in Seoul Korea. She is a graduate of the College of William & Mary. I have known Kaylee since she was in Middle School and have enjoyed watching her become the beautiful and adventurous person she is today.
Today, Seoul is still considered a special city, or a direct controlled municipality, in that it as a city has a status equal to that of a province. This means that it has no provincial government controlling it; rather the federal government of South Korea controls it directly.
Seoul is located in the northwestern part of South Korea. The city of Seoul itself has an area of 233.7 square miles (605.2 sq km) and it is cut in half by the Han River which was previously used as a trade route to China and helped the city grow throughout its history. The Han River is no longer used for navigation however because its estuary is at the border between North and South Korea. Seoul is surrounded by several mountains but the city itself is relatively flat because it is on the Han River plain. The average elevation of Seoul is 282 feet (86 m).
In comparison to a city in the United States, Korea could be compared to New York City.
Seoul is divided into 25 administrative divisions called gu. Each gu has its own government and each is divided into several neighborhoods called a dong. Each gu in Seoul varies in both size and population and Songpa has the largest population. Seocho is the gu with the largest area in Seoul.
KOREAN KONNECTION!!
Kaylee Robinson
Kaylee, is a United States citizen who is currently working as an English Teacher in Seoul Korea. She is a graduate of the College of William & Mary. I have known Kaylee since she was in Middle School and have enjoyed watching her become the beautiful and adventurous person she is today.
Kaylee's Motivation for Teaching Abroad
One of the primary reasons for teaching in South Korea, is to familiarize myself with another culture and explore a nation besides my own. What better way to learn about a culture than by observing the unfiltered and unadulterated interactions of its children? Additionally, I love to travel and share knowledge with those that are willing to learn. As a teacher, I wish to also impart some of my own culture through teaching of the English language while creating long-lasting fond memories.Korean Demographics
In 1945, Korea gained its independence from Japan and the city was renamed Seoul. In 1949, the city separated from Gyeonggi Province and it became a "special city." In 1950 however, North Korean troops occupied the city during the Korean War and the entire city was nearly destroyed. On March 14, 1951, United Nations forces took control of Seoul and since then, the city has rebuilt and grown considerably.Today, Seoul is still considered a special city, or a direct controlled municipality, in that it as a city has a status equal to that of a province. This means that it has no provincial government controlling it; rather the federal government of South Korea controls it directly.
Seoul is located in the northwestern part of South Korea. The city of Seoul itself has an area of 233.7 square miles (605.2 sq km) and it is cut in half by the Han River which was previously used as a trade route to China and helped the city grow throughout its history. The Han River is no longer used for navigation however because its estuary is at the border between North and South Korea. Seoul is surrounded by several mountains but the city itself is relatively flat because it is on the Han River plain. The average elevation of Seoul is 282 feet (86 m).
In comparison to a city in the United States, Korea could be compared to New York City.
Seoul is divided into 25 administrative divisions called gu. Each gu has its own government and each is divided into several neighborhoods called a dong. Each gu in Seoul varies in both size and population and Songpa has the largest population. Seocho is the gu with the largest area in Seoul.
Kaylee's responses to questions about Poverty in South Korea coming soon.....
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Sharing Resources
One of the websites I chose prescribed to was:
Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.
Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers.
I particularly appreciate the new distribution of their newsletter written is Spanish. It is so necessary to have capabilities to share in multiple languages so that information can be received by all.
The other website I chose to prescribe to was:
National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org/
I chose this website because it focuses on initiatives and programs that benefit families in low socio-economic areas and because I am an advocate for children in low-income areas, this website has been a very good source of information.
When I read the newsletter this week, I was excited to see that T.E.A.C.H. DC has received funding for Early Childhood Teachers to receive scholarships to continue their education. I am so thankful for this program because this is how I funded my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and I helped my employees receive scholarships as well for their education. I am happy to see that so many more people who probably wouldn't be able to afford to go to school will also benefit from this program.
I am also excited to see that other countries are taking the field of Early Childhood Education more seriously. Dr. DeHaney joined hundreds of early childhood educators, as well as the Governor and First Lady of American Samoa, as the keynote speaker at their first-ever Early Childhood Education (ECE) Summit. What an exciting time in the field.
Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/
ZERO TO THREE is a national, nonprofit organization that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers.
Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers.
I particularly appreciate the new distribution of their newsletter written is Spanish. It is so necessary to have capabilities to share in multiple languages so that information can be received by all.
The other website I chose to prescribe to was:
National Black Child Development Institute http://nbcdi.org/
I chose this website because it focuses on initiatives and programs that benefit families in low socio-economic areas and because I am an advocate for children in low-income areas, this website has been a very good source of information.
When I read the newsletter this week, I was excited to see that T.E.A.C.H. DC has received funding for Early Childhood Teachers to receive scholarships to continue their education. I am so thankful for this program because this is how I funded my Associates Degree in Early Childhood Education and I helped my employees receive scholarships as well for their education. I am happy to see that so many more people who probably wouldn't be able to afford to go to school will also benefit from this program.
I am also excited to see that other countries are taking the field of Early Childhood Education more seriously. Dr. DeHaney joined hundreds of early childhood educators, as well as the Governor and First Lady of American Samoa, as the keynote speaker at their first-ever Early Childhood Education (ECE) Summit. What an exciting time in the field.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Establishing Professional Contacts & Expanding Resources
Establishing Professional Contacts
This adventure has been so exciting thus far and I am super excited to take it to a new level by meeting and collaborating with early childhood professionals outside of the United States. When I read the assignment initially I was a little apprehensive, then I became very excited because I love an adventure so HERE WE GO!I remembered a young lady who is a world traveler and is currently working in Korea teaching English in a Korean school. Allow me to introduce Kaylee Robinson to you. She is a very adventurous young lady and I am excited to learn more about her adventures in Korea. Kaylee is one of my friends on Facebook so, I sent her a message asking if she would be willing to walk this journey with me. She responded and we will be communicating via e-mail and Facebook messaging. I hope to share photos of her adventures as well.
For my second professional, I went out to the website: http://www.naeyc.org/resources/partnership/globalalliance
Being that my dream is to one day own and operate a Child Development Center & Christian Academy, I was immediately drawn to the following professional in Ghana:
Rev Charles Arko-Nunoo
P.O. Box MK 157
Mankessim
C/R Ghana
Tel: + 233 42 34180
Email: 2kdotcom@ghana.com
I emailed him and I hope to hear from him soon.
Expanding Resources
I have been a subscriber of Zero To Three for a while now and receive their newsletters regularly so I will continue to do so. I have also subscribed to National Black Child Development Institute in order to receive their newsletters as well because I am very involved with low income families and I want to receive information in order to assist them as best I can and provide parents with as much information as I can pertaining to new research as well as programs.
Zero To Three: National Center
for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/ (May have to use http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ )
(Newsletters:
http://zttcfn.pub30.convio.net/child-development/from-baby-to-big-kid/ and
http://capwiz.com/zerotothree/mlm/signup/ )
National Black Child Development Institute
http://nbcdi.org/
(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ )
http://www.zerotothree.org/ (May have to use http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/ )
(Newsletters:
http://zttcfn.pub30.convio.net/child-development/from-baby-to-big-kid/ and
http://capwiz.com/zerotothree/mlm/signup/ )
National Black Child Development Institute
http://nbcdi.org/
(Newsletter: http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ )
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