Sharing Web Resources

·       What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development? Specific sections or information particularly relevant to my current professional development is to keep early childhood relevant in the minds of legislation. “On November 19, 2014, President Obama signed bipartisan legislation that comprehensively updated the ChildCare and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) Act for the first time in nearly twenty years. The law made many important statutory changes focused on strengthening childcare to better support the success of both parents and children, while also providing a new emphasis on the importance of providing high-quality early education and care for our youngest learners”. (Administration of Children and Families, Office of Child Care (2016). It’s been almost 20yrs since the concerns of early childhood education was revisited. In that time technology has developed significantly, quality and advancements for better health, fitness, and nutrition which promotes longevity. The more active we are with the legislation in reference to early childhood the more our voice will be heard.

·       Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways? When now have The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan which, “provides an important opportunity to help the United States get back on its feet by creating new jobs and supporting programs which provide essential services to young children and their families while contributing to the economy of the country” (Lombardi, 2009). I would like to see the system expound on early childhood programs and make it better.  

·       What information does the website, or the e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support positive social change through the early childhood field? “There is an opportunity for what you call, future payback! Part of it is the jargon of economist, they look at things in units or commodities and educationalist don’t have a mindset to look at our children as a unit like an assembly line where you're putting lids on coca colas. The loss of innocence in childhood. We lost innocence a long time ago now we’re just trying to fight for childhood. We don’t let children play like we once did because we don’t have time to play. We have to learn things in ways that people don’t see can be learned through play. Do we have people in our profession that are smart enough to teach the skills that are going to be expected of  children in developmentally appropriate ways through engagement or are we going to use very one dimensional passing standards to help them have a joyful childhood because we have been told we don’t have time to do it that way” (Laureate Education, Inc. 2011).

            In reading this reminds me of how ECE has to be extremely creative with minimal resources and help. This is where educators encourage family members and or Parent's teacher's association to help and assist with bringing ideas to fruition. Today, my daughter's second-grade teachers had a field trip to Duke's campus and the children were to spot different shapes, buildings and it’s materials through a scavenger hunt. How profound this trip was for me because not only did it have children talking about all shapes and types of buildings, they spoke of what type of house they would buy when they grow up and why. They discussed what college they would attend if they’re going to stay on or off-campus etc. This stimulates the minds of youth to look at things from a bigger perspective. As I listened to them speak, they were unknowingly creating a prosperous future for themselves. These are great examples of showing how to play is directly linked to creative expression opportunities in early childhood care and the educational environment.

·       What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter? TEACH FOR AMERICA is a website I learned about which helps teachers apply and acquire teaching jobs of your desire. They, “believe that a great teacher can come from any background to make a lifelong impact on students while growing your own leadership skills” (teachforamerica.org). It’s encouraging to know additional resources are available to help with creative jobs, ideas, and how to implement them.

References

Administration of Children and Families, Office of Child Care (2016). Child Care and Development Fund Reauthorization. Available at: https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/occ/ccdf_final_rule_fact_sheet.pdf

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Issues and trends in the early childhood field: Economists, scientists, and politicians supporting the EC field. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Lombardi, 2009. The dawn of a new era. Exchange, (188), 8-9.