A Word of Thanks!

I want to thank all of my colleagues for their support and encouragement throughout this course. It has meant a lot to me to know that you all was willing to help in anyway. Thanks again and good luck to you all in the future courses and your career ahead. I hope we all can continue to help one another throughout the rest of our online education experience.

What is Ethics?

What is ethics? Ethics is the study of right and wrong, or duty and obligation that involves critical reflection on morality and the ability to make choices between values and the examination of the moral dimensions of relationships (NAEYC, 2005).

After reading the DEC Code of Ethics and the NAEYC COde of Ethics several ideals stoodout and were really meaningful to me.

I-1.3- To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.

I think it is important to treat each child as an individual and to recognize that they learn at different levels and in different situations. It is important to find a way to reach the child and bring out their best potential as a student and a person.

I-2.2- To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.

It is important to have the families trust and a good relationship because you can work together to develop programs that are best for their child to be successful inside and outside of the classroom. If you have a welcoming personality and trusting families will be more willing to approach you for help.

I-1.1- To be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

It is important to continue your research and education to stay up to date on new developments and research in the field, so you will be able to pass the information along to the families and children. By staying up to date on the information will help the childrens learning and development.

Core Values
1.) We shall serve as advocates for children with disabilities and their families and for the professionals who serve them by supporting both policy and programmatic decisions that enhance the quality of their lives.
I want to be their voice for change and the opportunity to be treated like everyone else and have the same opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. I want to provide the families with support and resources so they can be heard.

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved October 18,     
    2010 from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

The Division for Early Childhood (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved October 18, 2010
     from http://www.dec-sped.org/

Resources for Week 5 Assignments

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/53029/CRS-CW-4465394/educ6005_readings/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~images/pdfs/snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
  
  • World Forum Foundation
    http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
    
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
    Read about OMEP’s mission. 
    
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/about/
    Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

I chose to look at articles from YC Young Children, Childhood, Child Study Journal and Maternal & Child Health Journal.
Articles I selected to review

Pica, Rae. (2010, July). Babies on the Move. YC Young Children, p 48-50.

McAleavey, Kisten. (2010, October). Nutritional Intervention in Young Women
   with Eating Disorder. Journal of Child and Family Studies, p 669-673.

Kowaleski-Jones L., Brown B.,Fan JX; Smith KR; Zick CD. (2010, September).
    Are you what your mother weighs? Evaluating the impact of Maternal Weight   Trajectures on Youth Overweight. Maternal & Child Health Journal, 14(5), 680-6.


Additional Resources

Smith, Margaret G., & Fong, Rowena. (2004). The Children of Neglect: When No One Cares.
   New York, NY:Brunner-Routledge.

Lessing-Azzi, Lenette. Meeting the Mental Health Needs of Poor and Vulnerable Children in

   Early Care and Education Programs. Retrieved October 7, 2010 from

    http:// ecrp.uiuc.edu/vl2nl/azzi.html

Pelzer, Dave. (1995). A Child Called It. United States; Health Communications.

Engaged!

I wanted to share with everyone that I got engaged Sunday to my boyfriend of 2 years. I am very excited about it and can't wait to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams.

Words of Passion To Make A Change

Every person, regardless of whatever different abilities they may have, can contribute, can be a source of joy, can beam with pride and love. ~ Eunice Kennedy Shriver

With a crowd of fewer than 100 people and 1000 athletes from 26 states and Canda, all of them rountinely classified in those days as mentally retarded, marched in the opening ceremonies and followed Shriver as she recited what is still the
Special Olympics Oath:
Let me win,
but if I cannot win
let me brave
in the attempt.
http://www.eunicekennedyshriver.org/bios/si

Louise Derman Sparks (week 2 video)
"I had a built in passion important to make a contribution in the world and to fix all the injustices in the world."

Janet Gonzalez Mena, M.A.

Babies are peopel too. http://www.space.co.nz/downloads/SPACE_YB_programme.pdf

Pay attention. What is your child really saying? What is an appropriate response- one that will keep her on her own interest track than always trying to jump her over to yours? Sensitivity is the name of the game.
http://www.proactiveparenting.net/april_2004_newsletter

Personal Childhood Web

My Parents:  My parents has been a big influence in my life. They have also taught me and my siblings to treat people with respect and to treat them the way that we would want to be treated.
My mother has been my back bone and supporter through everything in my life and my siblings. She is  strong, independent, and hard working. She has worked her whole life to be able to give us things in life. She never missed a ball game, a school function, always helped us with homework every evening and no matter what type of day she was having she would sit down and ask us how our day went. When my brother and I both was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks apart any parent would just want to fall apart, but she stayed strong for both of us. She went to every doctors appointment and cared for us after the surgry. My brother was worse that mine and he had to stay in the hospital much longer and went through so much more. My mom keep his spirits up, cared for him and never left his side. I can't even begin to thank her for everyhting that she has taught us and done for us. I can only hope that I become half the woman that she is.
My father loves us as much as a father can. He always told me to work hard in life and to never let anyone put me down. He said, go to school and get your degree and you work hard and make something of your life. He never wanted me to depend on anyone to have things in life. He taught me to be independent and to be a caring, loving and giving person. He supported my siblings and myself in everything that we did and he never missed out ball games or anything that we was involved in. My father is a caring and loving man and I appreciate everything he has done for me. The best thing about my parents is that we never leave without saying "I love you" and that is always something you want to hear!

My siblings: I have a twin sister named Bobbi and we are like day light and dark. She is the outgoing, funny, out spoken who don't let anyone run over her or her family. I'm the quite, shy and friendly twin who would do anything to make others happy. When we were in school I never took up for myself and I let everyone take advantage of my kindness. My sister was always there to defend me and to make everything right. When we started college I began to see what my sister was trying to teach me the whole time. You can still be nice and help people when they need it, but don't let them take advantage. I began speaking up more and defending myself and my family when neccesary. She taught me to be strong and to  have confidence in myself.
My younger brother is like me in some ways. He is a great person who never has anything bad to say, friendly, outgoing and strong! My brother and I are very close and always have been. I remember everybody always thought we were the twins. When he started college, I remember he never left my side. He had never been away from home and I was his support. I took care of him. I made sure his homework was done every night, made sure he ate, clothes was washed and he had everything he needed. I was like a mother, I couldn't imagine him not having what he needed. He has went through so much in his young life. When he was diagnosed with cancer he never did let that stop him from living his life and change who he was. He was strong and upbeat throguh the whole long process. Even though I cried and prayed for him daily, he always said, "everything is going to be ok, I'm fine."  I always believed him and it all worked out.  He always see the good in everything and is positive. I have learned so much from him and I hope to learn much more.

My grandmother: I didn't get to spend that much time with my grandmother because she passed away when I was 9 with cancer, but what I do remember about her is worth a lot. My grandmother is much like my mom. She was a hard worker, put everyone in front of her own needs, strong and very independent. I remember when we would go to see her that she would hug and kiss us and have a snack already prepared for us. Also, on holidays or birthdays I remember that she didn't have a lot of money to spend on us, but she would always have a gift for us. It could have been a $2.00 dollar doy and I thought that was the best thing in the world. She taught me that money doesn't always buy the best things. What really matters is the thought and love put into buy a gift for the one that you loved. She always told us how much she loved us and how proud she was of us. I wished that I could remember more or had a picture to share with you of this wonderful woman who taught my mother and me so much about being a thoughtful, hard working person.

The Book that Inspired me to help children

In my internship I had to read the book "A Child Called "It" " by Dave Pelzer
I had never in my life realized what some children in this world goes through intil I read this book. Dave Pelzer had to overcome the servere abuse by an alcoholic mother. After reading this book it inspired me to help children and help put a stop to child abuse.

Here is a quote from the book A Child Called "It"
"My relationship with mom drastically changed from discipline to punishment that grew out of control. It became so bad at times, I had no strength to crawl away--even if it meant saving my life." Chapter 3, Bad Boy, pg. 29

My favorite childhood book

Walt Disney's Cinderella
I loved this book as a child and still today because it was about a young girl faced with many obstacles to overcome in her life. She lost her father at an young age and she was left to be raised by her stepmother. She was treated as a servant and excluded from the whole. However, through everything she had to endore in life she never gave up on dreaming and having a better life one day. This is so inspiring to read about. It gives eveybody hope that something better is waiting for you.

A sister is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.


Marion C. Garretty

 
 
 

To a New Beginning

This week is the first step to beginning something new and exciting in my life. I hope I can overcome the challenges in my future and successed.

I wanted to share a poem that I read to my residents and they enjoy it greatly because it is so true about the world today.

The Fight
The heart wants to love
yet we hate
The heart wants to understand
yet we are confused
The haert wants equality
yet we try to dominate one another
The heart wants peace
yet we fight
The heart wants to give
yet we are greddy
The heart wants to help
yet we destroy
The heart wants to care
yet we are insensitive
If only the heart
were a little stronger
~One World, One Heart. Arthuor: Susan Polis Schutz