Farewell Issues and Trends

Learning about the international early childhood field really was a great experience. It helps my mind think in a broader way.  It is good for people to see the world from another perspective.  Different countries view and solve problems differently and thus we can learn from one another.  

These past weeks I have felt much gratitude not only for my life but for the United States in general. There are problems but we are still way ahead of other countries.   Having international contacts is another way to build solidarity among early childhood professionals.  We could build a global network of our own. 

I hope that international awareness provides exactly that – awareness of the larger world. I would like us to develop empathy towards others and realize there is more than one way to live and that is ok. We can help one another. Also we can give this perspective to our children. Imagine if we taught our kids about children from around the world. Introduce them to the idea they are a part of a global community. It could have awesome repercussions.

I guess I sound a little childish with my “it’s a small world” dream but oh well. 

week 7

Well my time with Shay is drawing to to a close....

While we discuss quality and professionals in the field of early childhood, where Shay is people are mostly concerned with children surviving. She was telling me about the basics like health and money. Many children in Mozambique have to help the family by working in some way. The lives of children there are very different then the lives of children in the western world.

As of now she is in the Peace Corps and we were talking about how good it feels to know that you don't have to stay in one place forever. I have been going through some life changes and it's been freaking me out. But she was a source of comfort knowing that life can always change and be ok.

Week 6

First off I would like to say YAY for online school!  it is awesome that I am at Myrtle Beach staring at the ocean while doing schoolwork.

Ok so I am exploring the NIEER website and receiving their newsletter. I used the assignment Q's to guide this post. ...

·         Follow some of the outside links that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead?  one leads to Rutgers University. I am guessing NIEER has a partnership with them. I went to school in PA – my initial thought was if only there was such a thing as life do overs or time travel I would go back in time and go to Rutgers and I would direct my life towards working with NIEER.

·         

·         If you receive an e-newsletter, follow a link related to one of the issues you have been studying. What new information is available?  There were links to articles about re directing funds to pre K from K – 12. The first guy said that funding of K-12 needs to be going to removing lead from the world and investing in Pre K. Then another guy responded to how ridiculous that idea is. the second guy made a very good point when he says most of the thoughts about Pre K programs and the efficacy are based on the BEST programs whereas the thoughts on K – 12 are based on typical, average programs. So its hard to compare them and draw up clear ideas because the research/ thoughts behind it are different.

·        Does the website or the e-newsletter contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education? Yes it does. When I first clicked, it was a bit overwhelming the amount of information. My instinct was to sit down and read it all but then I realized that would take an obscene amount of time. Instead I just read a few of the articles. The funding articles go way over my head. My brain is not wired for that. The access articles were amazing. There was one about how private centers are helping transform preschool. I have been trying to make up my mind about private centers because in my experience I feel like private centers have more leeway to get away with stuff like low balling teachers but also allowing for more play based learning. *shrug*

·         What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or the e-newsletter?

One article focuses on why math is important in early childhood classrooms. Literacy is often the focus of early childhood but he explains math skills are important and are often better predictors of school success.  I personally understand this struggle because I hate math. It has never been something I am confident in. Because of my own issues with math I tend to shy away from it with my kids, believing it’ll happen later.  I must focus on this bias i have and work to correct it. 


I am loving this website. I am such a research geek.