Time Well Spent

The journey of earning a Master’s Degree has been incredible.  I have learned so much from not only my professors, but my colleagues as well.  First, I have been in this field for a long time.  Throughout this journey, my passion has been reignited with each new thing I learned.  I have gained a lot of valuable information and support during this voyage.  I have learned the necessity of staying current.  The field is like a wheel.  Issues and trends are always changing and there is new research evolving constantly. Before this program, things were feeling stale.  I am now looking at everything with a different set of eyes.  Second, I now actively strive to become more informed, engaged, reflective, culturally responsive member of the early childhood field.  I have realized it is critical to get out of my box.  There is more to the field than the community in which I work and live.  I have become an active member of several organizations.  This includes local, state, and global.  Third, I have gained the knowledge how to research issues and trends I am most passionate about.  Finally, and most importantly to me, I have found my VOICE.  I have become an advocate for children and families.  I have learned how to participate and communicate the need for positive change.  I feel strong and powerful!

I have set a long term goal for myself.  I want to become active in ensuring that all children regardless of economics, demographics, culture, background or ethnicity has access to quality care and education.  Currently I am working on the local level, but eventually I would like to make it global and travel to other countries.  Globally, I want to build and help teachers execute a quality program.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my journey of earning my Master’s Degree.  While it was quite a challenge, I have gained so much from it.  It is my hope that everyone can and will pursue their passions that will make the field of early childhood even stronger for children, their families, professionals, and colleagues.  There are several people I need to thank.  My family and friends for pushing me to keep reaching for the stars.  My professors, all of which I have learned a great deal of knowledge, and all who lent a helping hand and advice when needed.  Finally, to all of the amazing colleagues I have met along the way.  You have been a great sounding board.  A fresh set of eyes and different perspectives.  I have also learned a lot from you. Thank you for your knowledge and support!  Best of luck and happiness with all of your dreams!

 

Thank you!  Christina

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

I found three organizations that were of interest to me:

Teachers without Borders (TWB)

A world with well-trained, well-informed teachers is a world with smarter, healthier, wealthier, more peaceful individuals and societies. Support for a single teacher can foster the well-being of hundreds, even thousands, of learners and their communities.  As sources of knowledge and community leaders, teachers are influential promoters for lasting global change. However, teacher professional development is often lacking. Teachers must therefore have a support network to provide the resources, training, tools and colleagues they need to fulfill their important role.  TWB aspires to improve education globally by supporting local teacher leadership. TWB provides free resources and tools to help teachers around the world learn, connect, collaborate, and create online; in schools or community centers, in workshops and seminars. They try to remove barriers to availability, accessibility, acceptability, and adaptability, through high-teach, high-tech, and high-touch programs and platforms.  Although we use technology as an accelerator, we equally understand the power of the handshake, a well-timed conversation, face-to-face learning, mentorship, and close-knit relationships. Teachers Without Borders works to empower the voices of all educators by designing our organization around the structure of an excellent classroom in which everyone counts. We do not send teachers from the West to the East or from the North to the South; rather, we provide the space for teachers around the world to find and learn from each other.  Learning cannot be addressed through a single solution, a particular philosophy, a magic bullet, or a software program; it is a tireless process of building teacher communities.  There are a couple of opportunities currently available with the TWB organization. Internships involve unpaid, contract work for specific departments, programs or projects. Interns help to create or expand TWB programs and resources.  Some internships are bound to a specific location, while others can be undertaken remotely.  Volunteer opportunities involve short-term contributions to TWB departments, programs, projects or events. Volunteers often translate documents and curricula, or help to organize and facilitate teacher training workshops.  They require individuals to use their passion, skills and experience to help improve education in your own community, or in another country.

The World Health Organization (WHO)

The World Health Organization is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system.  It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.  In the 21^st century, health is a shared responsibility involving equitable access to essential care and collective defense against transnational threats.  From persisting problems to new and emerging public health threats, WHO needs to be flexible enough to respond to this evolving environment.  This organization recruits locally and internationally.  They require everyone to have a university degree as well as post graduate specialization in health or related management field, experience at national and international levels on their area of expertise, good analytical skills, understanding of policy, issue, and a keen interest in public health, a proficiency in English and good working knowledge of a second UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish), and have effective teamwork and communication skills.  Positions I am interested in include research and a national professional officer.

The International Step by Step Association (ISSA)

The International Step by Step Association’s is a group where families, communities and professionals work together to envision each child to reach her or his full potential and embrace values of social justice and equity.  ISSA's mission is to support professional communities and develop a strong civil society that impacts and helps decision makers to: provide high quality care and educational services for all children from birth through primary school (birth through 10 years old), with a focus on the poorest and most disadvantaged, ensure greater inclusion of family and community participation in children's development and learning, ensure social inclusion and respect for diversity.  ISSA promotes inclusive, quality care and education experiences that create the conditions for every child to be happy and reach his or her full potential. The organization does this through three different pillars of action: ensuring equal access for all children; promoting high-quality and professionalism in early year’s services and supporting parents and communities to take part in their children’s development and learning. I would love to be involved in the Romani Early Years Network.  The Romani Early Years Network (REYN) connects practitioners from Romani, traveler and other backgrounds working with Romani and Traveler young children, families and communities. The network is already active in 18 European countries with more and more being added. REYN serves as a leader in which Romani and other Early Childhood Development practitioners can improve their confidence and competences in their work with Romani children and their families. People involved with REYN should: Support the development of skills and good practice, share knowledge drawn from experiences of working effectively with Romani families and young children, and establish effective partnerships between Roma and other practitioners working with young Roma children, support professional development for those working with these marginalized and excluded groups.

 

 

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

The three organizations I chose were The Center Helping Obesity in Children End Successfully, Inc. (choicesforkids.org), the American Heart Association, and the Let's Move Organization.  Choices for kids aims to spread awareness and reduce the presence of childhood obesity in our communities.  Their mission is to provide parents and centers with resources that promote weight management and lifestyle changes through nutrition education, peer socialization, physical activity, and community involvement.  The American Heart Association also works to prevent childhood obesity.  Healthier Kids works to help families live heart healthy lives by providing tools and resources to teach and encourage healthier eating and physical activity.  The Let's Move Organization was an initiative founded by Michelle Obama.  They provide children with a healthier start.  They teach children best practices for nutrition, physical activity.

I chose these organizations because I feel in order to fight and prevent childhood obesity, we need to educate children, families, and the community.  All three of these organization believe in providing resources, activities, and events that educate others on making healthy food choices, budgeting for healthy food choices, and the necessity of more daily physical activity and less screen time.

I would love to work for any of these organizations.  Currently, I could not find any job openings for these organizations.  However, I think it would be necessary to have a well rounded skill set.  As an employee of these organizations, you would knowledge on the history of childhood obesity, healthy eating guidelines, and the importance of getting physical activity every day.  It would also be necessary to have strong communication, organization skills, and the ability to teach others, and build relationship with families, children, and the community.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State

I found four organizations that were of interest to me:

• FLAEYC:  Their mission is to benefit children and families by providing leadership, advocacy, and professional development.  Their vision is to provide every child and their family's access to quality education and care and to ensure every professional is highly respected, supported, and equitably compensated.
• Children's Movement of Florida:  They are a non-partisan grassroots movement that insists on an increased investment in a child's first five years of life.  It is their goal to communicate the importance and benefits of early childhood education. They work to continuously improve Florida's VPK program, to provide a high-quality parent skills development program, health screenings for all children, assessment and support for children with special needs, and high-quality mentoring programs for educators.
• The Children's Forum:  They believe that investing adequate resources in young children will result in stronger families and communities prepared to succeed in a competitive global economy and accept the responsibilities of good citizenship.  They provide leadership and advocacy to achieve high-quality and accessible early care and education and after school services for all children.
• Early Learning Coalition of Pasco/Hernando County: They believe that it is necessary to prepare each child to enter and succeed in school.  This organization empowers families to establish and control the education and become advocates for their children.  They engage the community providing opportunities or involvement, growth, and empowerment.  They advocate for innovative, responsive, and effective community-based services.  They allocate resources to maximize the effectiveness.

          While researching these organizations, I looked to see if they had any employment opportunities.  The only posting I found was for a Curriculum Specialist for the Early Learning Coalition.  This person would provide trainings for providers who accept School Readiness scholarships.  School Readiness scholarships are funding awarded to families based on income qualifications.  In order for a provider to accept these scholarships, they must first apply, use one of the state approved curriculums, and then get approved by the state of Florida.  The trainings given would include training on the specific state approved curriculum and how to execute these curriculums at the centers.  There  would be specific skills needed to competently perform these duties.  The candidate must have knowledge of the School Readiness program, confidence in working with ages and stages, and knowledge regarding all of the state approved curriculums.  This person should also be computer and technology literate with an understanding of how individuals learn.

          These organizations were of interest to me for a couple of reasons.  First, I think it is important to communicate the importance and the benefits of early childhood education to anyone who will listen.  Second, we need to ensure that our educators are kept up to date on the most current research and trends regarding the field.  Finally, I am also passionate with my feelings regarding access of education to everyone.  Every child should have the right to attend high-quality early care and education programs.  Because of economics, locations, and unawareness of these programs, we need to think creatively to solve these challenges.

www.flaeyc.org
www.childrensmovementflorida.org
www.thechildrensforum.com
www.phelc.org

         

Words of Thanks!

I would thank everyone for their support and encouragement with pursuing my dreams!  I have learned a tremendous amount from each of you during the past 8 weeks.  I hope to hear from you all in the future.  I wish you love, luck, and happiness for you as you continue your journey!

 

If you can imagine it,

You can achieve it;

If you can dream it,

You can becomie it!

-William Arthur Ward

 

 

 

Adjourning

Adjourning is when a project is coming to the end and team members are moving on.  After thinking about this phase, I believe that when the members of a group are close, it is harder to say goodbye.  I have been part of groups that have gone through the adjourning phase and some that have not.  In the groups that have not experienced it, you accomplish the task, and you are left hanging.  How was the task completed?  What changes would you make if the group was to do it again.  I think this phase is important because it helps create closure.

A week ago, my company transferred me to another center, and I had to leave the center I had directed for three years.  So many emotions came over me.  I am a little nervous, but I am looking forward to creating a new strong, connected team that will create a welcoming and educational center that meets the needs of all the children and families.  However, I was sad to be leaving my teaching staff.  I know and trust them completely.  We all had the same passion.  My final day was filled with recollections of our experiences together, tears and food.  My old team will be fine and continue with their passions, and I will become a pro at using the five stages of team development.

Even though I may not know my colleagues in the master's program personally, I feel a strong connection with them.  We are all focused on accomplishing the same goals, and because of this we are learning from one and other and sharing our life experiences.  I have gained so much over the past year.  It is my hope that once the program is complete, I will continue to share and look for knowledge from my colleagues.

Communication Conflict

During the past couple of weeks I have noticed one of the classrooms in my center having more incident/boo-boo reports than other rooms.  I went in and did a classroom observation.  I observed the children continually having free choice time (Center time).  The teacher and I then met to see if we could make a plan for her classroom.  I told her I noticed she was stressed out from the behaviors occurring in her class.  I asked if there was anything I could do to help.  She said no it was just the children.  I explained what I had seen during my observation.  I told her that I believed the more activities planned throughout the course of the day would help get rid of any challenging behaviors she was experiencing.  I could see by her body language how resistant to my ideas she was.  I then explained the benefits of actually planning her week ahead of time, being prepared ahead of time,  not having the children sitting and waiting, and planning several activities during the day.  I asked for her thoughts.  She told me she believed that children learn through exploration of the environment and should be free to make their own choices.  I agreed with her, however, I did explain that it was ok for us to enhance our room so the children would have even more choices.  She was a bit hesitant, but she agreed to try it for 2 weeks and then sit down with me to reevaluate.  We have just finished week 1.  There have been less reports.  I hope she realizes this is working.  I look forward to hearing her thoughts after the two week period is up. 

I think that expressing why I felt a certain way is important.  Would anyone have done anything differently?  Thoughts?