Getting to Know Our International Contacts - Part 2

The first thing that stands out for me when reading this article is that “the great need of early childhood care and education programs should not overshadow the method used” (Lee & Hayden, 2009).  When implementing an early childhood education program the culture of the country needs to be taken into account.  The article on Zambia was very interesting.  This country may not be ready to implement an early childhood program due to the already poor conditions of its primary schools.  It appears that this country needs to take a closer look at better funding and other issues that are affecting its current education system before adding an early childhood program.  

The next article focused most of its attention on using indigenous knowledge and practice in the early childhood programs.  The Gambia uses a community’s mother tongue in the early childhood classrooms because they know that this helps with literacy rates.  By using the mother tongue, they also help to preserve the culture and pass on stories and dances to the children and families.  Mali has strong community support for their early childhood programs.  The community comes together to talk about curriculum and to choose the teachers and children.  There is training and communication about how children spend their days to aid in planning.  What a great way to get the community involved and another way to bring in the families culture. 

The article on Brazil, particularly the PIM was very interesting.  This reminded me of the home based services that are provided through Head Start.  Home visitors make visits on a weekly basis and spend time educating the family and implementing an activity.  They provide resources to parents and assess their activities and the children.  This helps parents understand the importance of their participation in their child’s education and also gives them ideas and activities to do with their children.  It appears that this program has made a big impact in Brazil and is being studied by other organizations. 

The last article made me think of something that my mother always told me, to remember my own childhood and what I liked and didn’t like, what made me think and made me happy and to think about that when I am raising my own children.  This is one of the first things this article starts out saying, that we need to remember our own childhoods.  We have to remember that we are working with children, not a set of numbers.  This article focuses on staff training and the lack of it in Brazil.  They are working on ways to strengthen the qualifications of teachers and have implemented an Educational Board where teachers come together and share their stories and are provided with training.  Wouldn’t this be great for all early childhood educators…to come together to share ideas and work out difficulties? 

My contact, Gayle, mentioned that teacher training is highly needed where she works.  She stated that the children need more hands-on activities.  Perhaps that is why she is a Montessori teacher.  She also told me that some public schools are very much accepted but not because of the core curriculum, but because of the facilities.  She also talked about the importance of parental awareness and information dissemination being the key to an educated decision for the parents to think that a school’s program is more than enough. 

Sharing Web Resources

I have been following the National Head Start Association web site.  This week the information that seemed particularly relevant to my current professional development was the upcoming conference.  I took a closer look at what training sessions were offered throughout the week long conference.  There are sessions about connecting children to nature, lots of literacy based sessions as well as math and science based.  There are sessions that are geared for teachers and some that are geared for management.  One of the keynote speakers this year will be Stedman Graham, he is the chairman and CEO of a management and marketing consulting company that specializes in the corporate and educational markets.  I believe that his session will have an impact on what we have been talking about this week as he is a businessman.  There are also sessions that will explore brain development and add to our understanding of how neuroscientists support the early childhood field.  Another keynote speaker will be the Director of the Office of Head Start, Yvette Sanchez Fuentes.  I believe her address will give more insight into the politicians view of early childhood.  There are so many sessions each day to choose from that it can be very hard to decide on which ones to attend.  I know this because I was able to attend last year in Kansas City.  Each year there is something new to think about a new presenters along with ones that have presented in the past.  I also know from my own personal experience that you may attend a session and find that you don't agree with what is being presented and have very different opinions.  As with any new idea, you have to decide for yourself if the information is something you can use or not and either give it a try in your classroom or leave it back at the conference.  There is also an exhibit hall at the conference with lots of vendors and many university's including Walden University.  It was so nice to meet representatives from Walden at last year's conference! 

Something in the newsletter that made me think was the legal advisory service trainings that are being offered to Head Start agencies.  There are webinars for establishing a culture of compliance and conducting internal investigations as well as other topics.  These webinars are geared toward upper management personnel, but they made me think. 

By exploring this website I gained insights about what topics are hot in early childhood.  We are still talking a lot about early literacy.  There was also several sessions at the conference that talked about assessment, not only of the children, but of the effectiveness of teachers and different ways to do that assessment.  There were sessions that focused on coaching strategies as well.  I think that anyone that attends this conference, they will come away with a lot of good, useful information that they will be able to take back to their own classroom or agency and put into practice. 

Getting to Know Our International Contacts

I finally received a response through my yahoo group!  I was so excited to finally talk to someone from another part of the world that works in the early childhood profession.  Her name is Maria Gayla Escanillas, and she goes by Gayle.  She is a Filipino living, working and a part owner of a Montessori school for ECE in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.  I have sent her a couple more notes but I have not received a response as of yet.  I am hopeful that she will get back to me soon.  I did do some research about where she lives and works.  Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia is a primary port and airline hub.  It is the gateway to the rest of South Sulawesi.  There are palm trees, wide sidewalks and colorful shophouses.  The people seem to enjoy walking along the sidewalks enjoying the various teashops and roving food stalls.  They also enjoy watching the sunsets and viewing the many boats.  Because of this town being a port, you can hear many languages being spoken from the various travelers and business people.  It also have first class hotels for travelers to stay.

Sharing Web Resources

I choose to take a closer look at the National Head Start Association's website or http://www.nhsa.org/.  They send out a newsletter bi-weekly with lots of information about events, trainings, and other resources.  I have worked for Head Start for over 10 years and I love the program, but I have not taken a close look at the website during that time.  I have always depended on management staff to keep me informed.  Having worked for Head Start, I have been familiar with the vision statement of each agency, but not with NHSA's. 

Our vision is
 

To lead.

To be the untiring voice that will not be quiet until every vulnerable child is served with the Head Start model of support for the whole child, the family and the community.

To advocate.

To work diligently for policy and institutional changes that ensure all vulnerable children and families have what they need to succeed.


The most recent newsletters share a lot of information about the upcoming National Head Start conference in Nashville, TN.  I was able to attend last year's conference in Kansas City, MO.  I had a great time and met a lot of people from so many different places.  It was interesting to hear about different job positions and titles around the country.  This year's conference is sure to have more interesting sessions to attend and many amazing keynote speakers.  I'm sure there will be information for the many agency's that are having to reapply for their grants available at the conference as well.  I am looking forward to learning more about the agency I love and have worked for for so long. 

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Part 1 - Establishing Professional Contacts
This has been challenging for me.  I have sent out several e-mails with the list of resources that were provided.  I have also sent an e-mail through a yahoo group that I am part of in hopes of getting a response as there are early childhood professionals from other countries that are part of that group.  I am keeping my hopes up that I will get some responses from that e-mail!

Part 2 - Expanding Resources
I have chosen to take a closer look at The National Head Start Association's website.  I worked for Head Start since the fall of 2000 but I have not taken the time to explore the website and find out more about the resources that are available online.  I have spent a bit of time this week looking around and have found that there is a lot of information.  I am excited to see what else is out there! 

My Supports

My biggest daily support is my family.  My youngest daughter currently lives with me full time and there have been many times when I don't know what I would have done without her.  It has been a year full of changes with a lot of ups and downs along the way.  My other children are in college themselves and trying to figure out their own lives.  My son has been another great support that I can't imagine not having.  He makes me feel capable and worthy of so much.  I am so proud of how my children are growing and the adults they are becoming.  My parents have also been a big source of support for me throughout my life.  I wouldn't be where I am today without them.  I also have the support of friends that guide me and give me advice and lift me up when I'm feeling down.  Other supports would be reminders to pay bills with e-mails and lists.  My daughter and I work together to make grocery lists that help to remind me when we run out of milk!  My job is another support.  I love what I do and it provides an income to help me have the things I need.  I also think that my job gives a purpose to my life.  Not only does my family provide emotional support, but they also help with household chores and repairs as well as helping out financially when I need it.  These supports help get through my daily life and also help me see a little ways down the road.  I know that I would be alright without all of these supports, but I can't imagine my life without all of the people that are in it.  I think it would be very difficult to not have anyone to call on for support!  I believe my life would be very empty...

I chose to imagine the challenge of not having employment.  This would be a big challenge for me as I am also a single parent and I need a job to support my daughter and myself.  I also realize that in this economy it can be quite difficult to find employment.  I believe that again, my family would be a big support if I lost my job.  I am fortunate that I have a land contract on my home with my parents and I believe that would work with me until I was able to find a new job or if necessary my daughter and I could move in with them to save money.  I also have a best friend that would be there in any way she could.  I could also apply for assistance to help until new employment was secured.  Without these supports I would probably lose everything and be very lonely and depressed!  I am so blessed to have the people in my life. 

I think some additional supports would be my vehicle to get me where I need to go each day, internet access for school and other important information, and my home for a place for me and my family to reside and make memories. 

My Connections to Play

The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful.  Author:  E.E. Cummings

There are no blueprints for couch cushion forts.  Author:  Dee Ann Stewart from "What Spock Forgot"  

Those two quotes definitely tell a lot about what play represented in my childhood.  When I was very little we lived near the railroad tracks and people had dumped a lot of old things.  I spent a good deal of time back there playing on an old couch and making couch cusion forts.  I also used them inside, but my fondest memories are of the ones I found out back.  And what child doesn't like mud pies and splashing in puddles?!  I played with mud and splashed in puddles when I was a child, and I encouraged my own children to do the same! 

Here are some photos of essential play items for my younger self:

These are just like the hay bales I played with in our barn! 

Baby dolls were always a favorite!

This old couch reminds me of playing near the railroad tracks when I was a little girl.

Play was a big part of my childhood.  I am an only child, but I had cousins that were the same age.  My parents encouraged me to be friends with those cousins and when I entered school, I was encouraged to make friends and have them over or go to their house to play.  My mom would play with me when I was really little and my dad always played outside with me, especially in the winter.  I remember gathering up all my stuffed animals and several dolls and taking them across the street to "play" with our neighbor.  He was always kind to me and allowed me to take up his time.  He was probably in his 70's or 80's when I knew him.  When I was eight, we moved to where my parents still live.  There were several outbuildings and a large barn full of hay.  It was a great place to grow up and play.  I also remember having at least three recess's each day at school.  Boy, has that changed.  Our children are lucky to get outside time once a day and that is during their lunch period.  I also think that more parents are focused on the "learning" toys and videos instead of allowing their children to engage in free play.  There is also a greater focus on organized sports and children are getting involved with those at earlier and earlier ages.  My own children were encouraged to play and I joined in as much as I could and as much as they would have me.  They were also engaged in dance class, gymnastics, and soccer.  When we signed up, they were told that they had to complete the committment, but if they didn't want to do it again, they didn't have to.  I think more parents today focus on their child excelling and making money doing some of these activities.  I would like to see more children playing outside in neighborhoods and engaging in creative play.  I would also like to see schools providing more time for play, both outside and inside.  We worry about children being obese, but we've taken away their physical activity. 

Play was always important to me.  I am happy that I still get to play.  I also get to be creative in the art area and build amazing towers with blocks.  I get to run races and ride tricycles.  I love seeing the children enjoy the time they spend with me in the classroom and hearing them laugh and watching them play is amazing.  I believe that even as adults, we need to make time to play.  Have a pillow fight or dance in the rain, splash in those puddles and make mud pies.  My children are almost grown, and I am looking forward to being a grandma someday and doing all that stuff with my grandchildren!