Looking at the consequences of learning about international early childhood field for my professional and personal development are:
#1: Finding people to communicate with. I only heard back from one of my contacts, and when I responded back asking more questions I didn't get any. I was disappointed by this because I was really excited to learn more about how early childhood education was different from the United States.
#2: The language barrier. I think this could complicate communication and learning about the international early childhood field because there is no direct translation of a language, and thus making contacts difficult between two people.
#3: Realizing that every country has different policies. I find this a consequence because if we are trying to advocate for all the children in our world, we have to realize that early childhood policies are different in every country. This could make advocating difficult because we will have to be aware of all the different policies.
Through all the blog posts I read throughout this class, I think a goal for the field related to international awareness and trends is to be supportive, not for our country's children, but for children all over the world. All children should be given the chance to be successful, not just certain countries. We have to realize that some countries have better programs than others, and we have to be supportive to all of them, no matter what.
I want to thank my colleagues for everything I have learned throughout this class. I really enjoyed reading about what your international contacts had to say about early childhood education in their country, and how it is similar and different compared to the United States program. Best of luck as we continue on this journey!
Friday, February 27, 2015
Friday, February 20, 2015
International Contacts-Part 3
I haven't heard from my international contacts in the past couple of weeks, so I chose to look at the UNESCO's Early Childhood Care and Education website. One insight I gain this week that is governments that participate in UNESCO are committing themselves to expanding childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantage children. Governments are being urged to expand equitable access to quality early childhood services to help the poo (UNESCO, 2014)r. Another insight I gained from the website is that they support early childhood care and education programs should emphasis the child's development and extend beyond assisting the child's transitions to formal schooling. By advocating for high quality childcare it is going to promote motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness (UNESCO, 2014). The last insight I gained from the UNESCO is that many governments are partnering with private sectors in order to help fund early childhood care and education for those who are at risk are disadvantaged (UNESCO, 20014).
This insights relate to my professional goals because one of my goals is to advocate for the importance of early childhood education. The information I learned from the UNESCO website showed me that we need to advocate for our children not just in the United States, but worldwide. The website also showed me that there are many organizations out there that support early childhood education, and advocate for our children so they can get high-quality education to help their development and succeed.
Resources:
UNESCO, (2014). Early childhood care and education. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/
This insights relate to my professional goals because one of my goals is to advocate for the importance of early childhood education. The information I learned from the UNESCO website showed me that we need to advocate for our children not just in the United States, but worldwide. The website also showed me that there are many organizations out there that support early childhood education, and advocate for our children so they can get high-quality education to help their development and succeed.
Resources:
UNESCO, (2014). Early childhood care and education. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Sharing Web Resources #3
When explore the Save our Children website, one of the outside links I explored was to the giving page of the organization. I found this very interesting because you can choose what gift you want to donate. You aren't just donating money and the organization decides what to do with it, you get to decide what you want to with it. For example, for $30 you can choose to donate/sponsor art and music supplies and for $120 you can donate/sponsor 2 goats. You could also sponsor a child for only $28 a month, and the child can be someone in the United States or in another country.
While searching the site, I came across one of the Save the Children's initiative to advocate for better funding for our children and early childhood program. Something new I found was the letter below that people can send to our government in order to address the concerns of lack of high-quality programs for low-income families (one of our big topics this week).
Subject: Support the Strong Start for America's Children Act
As a citizen concerned about the well-being of our nation’s children, I ask for your support of H.R. 3461 / S. 1697, the Strong Start for America's Children Act.
Every child deserves a strong start in life -- and that includes quality early education. Yet many babies and young children lack the early opportunities they need to support their development from birth to kindergarten. In the United States, nearly one in four children live in poverty, and millions of low-income families lack access to high-quality, affordable preschool programs. Research shows that four-year-olds from poor families are an average of 18 months behind other children their age -- the developmental equivalent of middle-income two-and-a-half year-olds.
Studies have found that high-quality preschool leads to a wide range of short- and long-term benefits, including better educational outcomes, stronger job earnings, and lower levels of crime and delinquency. In fact, a Brookings Institution study found that a comprehensive national early childhood education program would add $2 trillion to the country’ annual GDP within a generation.
That is why I support the Strong Start for America's Children Act. It is a bold, 10-year innovative federal-state partnership to expand and improve early learning opportunities for children from birth to five. The legislation would also create a new Early Head Start partnership with child care to improve the quality of care for infants and toddlers.
I urge you to cosponsor this commonsense bill. I look forward to your response on this important issue.
While searching the site, I came across one of the Save the Children's initiative to advocate for better funding for our children and early childhood program. Something new I found was the letter below that people can send to our government in order to address the concerns of lack of high-quality programs for low-income families (one of our big topics this week).
Subject: Support the Strong Start for America's Children Act
As a citizen concerned about the well-being of our nation’s children, I ask for your support of H.R. 3461 / S. 1697, the Strong Start for America's Children Act.
Every child deserves a strong start in life -- and that includes quality early education. Yet many babies and young children lack the early opportunities they need to support their development from birth to kindergarten. In the United States, nearly one in four children live in poverty, and millions of low-income families lack access to high-quality, affordable preschool programs. Research shows that four-year-olds from poor families are an average of 18 months behind other children their age -- the developmental equivalent of middle-income two-and-a-half year-olds.
Studies have found that high-quality preschool leads to a wide range of short- and long-term benefits, including better educational outcomes, stronger job earnings, and lower levels of crime and delinquency. In fact, a Brookings Institution study found that a comprehensive national early childhood education program would add $2 trillion to the country’ annual GDP within a generation.
That is why I support the Strong Start for America's Children Act. It is a bold, 10-year innovative federal-state partnership to expand and improve early learning opportunities for children from birth to five. The legislation would also create a new Early Head Start partnership with child care to improve the quality of care for infants and toddlers.
I urge you to cosponsor this commonsense bill. I look forward to your response on this important issue.
This helped add to my understand that there is a professional organization that is lobbying and advocating for our children and their right of having equal opportunities to attend a high quality early childhood program regardless of the income. this initiative will also have a long term plan in helping our children expand early learning opportunities for our children. It also gave me the insight of that as early childhood professionals, we aren't alone in this field, and that there are organizations out there that are in this fight with us to improve the quality of early childhood education.
Save the Children. (2015). Advocate for our Children. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/
Save the Children. (2015). Advocate for our Children. Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/
Friday, February 6, 2015
International Contacts Part 2
Since this week I focused my discussion board topic on the changes of kindergarten, I decided to ask my contact Mia how kindergarten was in Australia. The biggest difference is that their kindergarten is what we consider preschool. Children are allowed to enter kindergarten if they are 4 by April 30 of the year they are starting kindergarten (school years run for January to December). Another difference was that families have to pay for kindergarten, although those who can't financially afford it, can receive government assistance. In the United States, as long as children are attending a public school, kindergarten is free. Although, we do have to pay for preschool. After students complete kindergarten they then advance to Year/Grade 1. I also learned that each territory in Australia has their own set of rules as far as when students can enter kindergarten and such.
After talking to Mia, I realized that our preschool programs are very similar to their kindergarten, and they offer many of the same benefits our preschool programs offer our children. The children are given time to play, develop social skills, but also learn what they need to be learning. Although I found it interesting that in Australia each territory has their own set requirements, where as in the United States is pretty uniformed throughout the country. I was also aware of the fact that the school went year round. When I was in Australia, I remember talking to my host family about this, and how they the just have longer breaks throughout the year. Overall, I enjoyed learning form my contact, and look forward to when we can talk again.
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