Children Learn What They Live

The quote below was actually given to me on a pink piece of paper by one of my student's parents at the end of the year two years ago. The boy had struggled prior to coming into my classroom, and had been in a mental health institute many times throughout the past few years. He was only 6. His mother handed this to me, and told me that she was so glad that he was in my class. She was thankful that I believed in him, made a great connection and relationship with him, and didn't treat him like there was "something wrong" with him. I just saw the true, whole child. I think about him often and wonder how he's doing, and I'm so glad I was able to share in his First Grade experience with him.



I believe this quote speaks volumes.... if you want children to live a certain way... then you yourself need to live that way also. This will always be one of my favorite quotes/poems.

Testing and Assessment

In my opinion, testing has become something that is overkill, especially in the state of MD. I believe children should be assessed… but in a way that is low key and not stressful. At my school, we have to assess children on their reading, writing, and math levels. This past year instead of benchmark assessments (which were given at the end of the marking period or specific points in the year) we had to place students in front of a computer for the MAPS test. This computerized test assessed students for over an hour. Luckily, they did split up the math and ELA, however some students spent an hour or more on the computer answering questions. The student’s scores were then ranked, and as they answered more questions correctly, they received more difficult questions. Some of my students ended up in tears because they were receiving multiplication and division questions and they were on in the first grade! I think that some assessing is beneficial. I like to assess students every so often to see how they are progressing and what they have learned or need more practice on; however I do not think that constantly assessing tells us much of anything. I also believe that because every child learns in a different way and at a different pace, we need to find a way of assessing that focuses on and shows their progress, and what they’ve learned, and not completely about what they don’t know. Or, find a way of assessing that doesn’t make students feel like failures or feel like they’re behind.

Testing and assessing in England is much like the United States. England is known for its student’s being the “most tested in the world” (Hargreaves, Shirley 2008).  Educators are held accountable for the students’ scores on the standardized tests.  In the United States, when curriculum is not clear, the tests become the curriculum and you see more “teaching to the test” rather than teaching what is in the curriculum. England, on the other hand, has a national curriculum that “serves as the basis for its tests” (Rotberg, 2006). These tests are given at various points throughout the students’ schooling and are used to rank the schools. It was interesting to read that England is similar in some aspects to the United States educational system. I would like to learn more about what is being done to change the testing and make education better in England.

References

Hargreaves, A., & Shirley, D. (2008). The Fourth Way of Change. Educational Leadership, 66(2), 56-61.

Rotberg, I. (2006). Educational leadership. Assessment Around the World, 3(64), pp. 58-63. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/portal/site/ascd/template.MAXIMIZE/menuitem.459dee008f99653f

Stressors and Child Development

Throughout this past school year I had a 6-7 year old student whose caregivers struggled with poverty and grief, as well as the child. The boy came to school each day somewhat dirty and some days worse than others. His shoes were falling apart and sometimes he would wear the same shirts a few days in a row. You could tell he rarely, if ever, bathed and brushed his teeth. He would constantly complain about belly aches, tooth aches, head aches, etc. His mother passed away when he was about 3 and at the beginning of the school year his primary caregiver was his paternal grandmother and his father came in and out of the picture. By the end of the school year his father was the primary caregiver, however they lived at grandma and grandpa’s house. This little boy coped as best he could. He talked to me a lot about his mom, but I got the impression that there was not much talk about her at home. Some times he would just blurt out, "I miss my mom" or "I wish my mom was here", or "You know my mom's in heaven right?". Most times when he’d talk with me he’d cry. He visited the counselor a few times but in my opinion he still needed some grief counseling and ways to cope. I tried to help the process by listening when he would talk about her, not asking too many questions, but just letting him talk. When he would cry and wrap his arms around me I would pat his back and tell him nice things like, “I bet your mom is watching over you” or “I’m sure you miss her, but you’ll be ok”. I think about him often and hope as he grows he is able to cope and the pain of losing her becomes less each day.

War in Africa - Uganda and Sierra Leone

Many children in Africa are involved in child warfare; some willingly, some forced, some because they yearn to protect themselves and their family and some because they feel it will give them the structure they need to survive. Unfortunately many child soldiers end up living out their childhood through the wars, facing all kinds of threats and violence, poverty and despair, some even die. “Figures from UNICEF in 2000 show that in the last decade some 2 million children died, 6 million wounded or disabled, 12 million homeless, and another million orphaned or separated from their parents as a result of war” (Yina, 2008). Many studies have found that war can affect a child’s emotional, cognitive, social functioning and development. Children involved in war can experience depression, anxiety, changes in school performance, and other personal changes. One of the main stressors of children who experience warfare is post-traumatic stress disorder. Children who experience this may have troubles sleeping, relating to others, abuse alcohol and/or drugs, and possibly commit suicide (Yina, 2008).  Some will suffer from a lifetime of poverty and deprivation, especially those whom are refugees or displaced from their families. The attitudes and values of children whom experience war are also affected. Some feel lose hope for the future, some become aggressive, some even feeling guilty because they’ve been forced to grow up quickly and take on an adult role. “Children who are denied basic necessities for their physical and emotional welfare, and natural expressive outlets, are often at risk of ending up as soldiers for lack of something meaningful to do. And, for child soldiers in particular, exposure to war eventually alters the framework they use in making sense of danger, interrupts their moral development, and even makes them identify with the aggressor, thereby modeling their behavior on powerful, aggressive individuals” (Yina, 2008).

While there are many strategies to protecting children from warfare, one of the main protection pieces put into place is the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child which if recognized and applied and ensure the protection and safe development of children across the world. Another way that children of war can be protected is through the response of the international community, including creating effective safe areas where civilians and children can be removed from the conflict zones, providing security and support.

References:

Plunkett, Southall, M. D. (1998). War and children. 78(1), pp.72-77. doi: 10.1136/adc.78.1.72

Yina, M. (2008). Child soldiers in africa: The role of development communications. 20(1/2), pp.120-134.

Importance of Breastfeeding

Throughout my reading and research during this course and the last, I have gained a better understanding of the importance of breastfeeding for mom and baby. Breastfeeding allows the infant to receive the nutrition needed to grow and develop. It is especially important  for the newborn to breastfeed immediately after birth to ensure that he/she gets the colostrum. It is proven that babies who are breast fed are less often sick and have a lesser chance of developing things such as allergies, asthma, ear infections, stomach aches, etc. This is because breast milk provides antibodies against diseases. Breast fed babies are also less likely to become obese as adults. Breastfeeding also helps mother and baby bond and can help reduce the risk of breast cancer and osteoporosis for the mother. In my opinion, breast feeding has a positive influence on everyone in the family, including the father as well. It not only has short-term positive impacts but long term as well. Breast fed babies are more likely to attend college and less likely to become obese over age 12. They are also likely to develop less cavities and stronger jaws (Berger, 2012).

After researching I found that President Arroyo of the Philippines in 2009, focused on the importance of breastfeeding in the battle against hunger and malnutrition in kids. The goal was to promote breastfeeding through a campaign using role models who had been breast fed from birth. They were also planning to integrate optimal infant and young child feeding practices into the education system. They were also working together with teachers to provide instructional materials in order to support their advocacy of breastfeeding. In the Philippines, not breastfeeding was highly prevalent in the deaths among children under five years old. "Breastfeeding is the most far-reaching and cheapest poverty alleviation strategy" ("Philippines: President arroyo," 2009).

I think it is important to advocate breastfeeding to young mothers because of the positive influence it has short term and long term for mother and baby. Research proves that breast milk ensures healthy growth and development in all aspects and promotes life-long health. It will be my goal from now on to ensure that I advocate also for breastfeeding and the impacts it can have on babies and mothers.

References:

Berger, K. (2012). The developing person through childhood. (6th ed.,pp.127-159). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Philippines: President arroyo sets focus on importance of breastfeeding in battle against hunger, malnutrition among kids. (2009, Mar 13). Asia News Monitor. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1017948352?accountid=14872

Birthing Experience and Birthing Customs in Germany

I have not yet given birth to a child, as my husband and I are waiting to start a family after I complete my Master's; however I was able to watch my sister give birth to my niece. In my eyes, it was such a wonderful experience that my sister allowed me to have with her. I feel like I have a special connection with my sister and my niece because of this experience. My sister was in a lot of pain and had contractions the day before my niece was born. She actually went to the hospital once and they sent her back home with Ambien to help her sleep. It had the reverse effects and she was wide awake, crying from the pain. When she went to the hospital the next day, she gave birth to my niece after being there for only a few hours. I remember the nurse, who was actually my husband's cousin, checking on my sister, say, "we're having a baby!" and she called for the doctor. When the doctor came in, she said "wow, she is moving pretty quickly, let's take our time, no need to rush". My niece's head was starting to show and my sister had an epidural by this point. She pushed about 3 times, and Halle (pronounced like Halle Berry the actress) was here! She was beautiful, healthy, and ready for us to love her unconditionally! I feel extremely blessed to have been able to watch the birth of my niece, seeing her enter this world, so much love and happiness! I remember telling my sister she did a great job. The whole experience for my sister was good, positive, and definitely life changing, as it was for me as well. Everything went smoothly. I think this had a positive influence on my sister and niece from the start because everything went so well.

Halle as a new born. 

Me holding Halle at about 4 or 5 months old.

Halle and I on her 1st Birthday, May 15th 2013!

I chose to research birthing in Germany because my ancestors are originally from Germany, and my husband's as well. Interestingly enough, things are a little different when giving birth there. As in the United States, there is a midwife, however in Germany it is a must, where as here in the U.S. it is optional. Midwives in Germany are actually very well respected and by law must be present at a birth and doctor's are optional. A woman who has a C-Section in Germany is looked upon as a possible failure because they look at the actual event of the birth and not the outcome. One very positive piece of information, in my opinion, is the fact that in Germany, if you are pregnant, your employer cannot fire you. Women also have to stop working 6 weeks before their due date and can not work for 8 weeks after giving birth, all with full pay! Here in the United States, it all depends on your employer. For example, my employer, the board of education, does not  give full pay. We have to save our sick/personal days for maternity/paternity leave. We can apply to the sick bank for days, however it is primarily used for people who are battling cancer, surgeries, etc. Also, if a teacher decides to take a leave of absence for a year or so, and come back after, he/she is not guaranteed the position that they left. Ex: If I teach Kindergarten and leave for 1 year, I am not guaranteed that same position. If I leave for 2 or 3 years, I am not guaranteed to come back to a position at all. In Germany, mothers can take up to 3 years of unpaid leave and the third year can be taken at any time and by the mother or father. One custom in Germany that I feel I would not like is that the government provides a list of "acceptable names" that you can choose from to name your child. It is supposed to prevent parents from choosing names that are too unique and could cause the child to be made fun of and ridiculed. If you decide to choose a unique name you have to give a compelling reason as to why the exception should be made. In the United States, you can name your child whatever you would like. I can understand the German point of view, but I also love that you can choose any name for your child here in the United States. After all, we are all different and unique! I find the differences between Germany and the United States very interesting, but understandable because we are "the land of the free". We have many choices that we can make on our own, and although we have rules and laws to follow, we have a little more flexibility and a different kind of care than Germany when it comes to child birth. Although in the United States, some women may feel inadequate or feel like they have failed if they can not have a child naturally, it is not looked down upon by others in the way that it is in Germany.While there are such differences and some similarities, it is all a part of following customs and the way of life in that area of the world.

References:
http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/vaginal/birth-customs-around-the-world/?page=3

Course 1 Complete! 9 more to go?

SO excited that I have completed my first course! Anxious to continue this journey of professional growth and development and can't wait to come out on the other side with a Master's in EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION!

NAEYC and DEC Ideals

The following ideals under the code of ethics for the National Association of Education for Young Children and the Division for Early Childhood are important to me in many ways. In my opinion, one of the most important responsibilities as an early childhood professional is to continue to stay informed on the changes, research and new ideas in the field in order to improve and be a well rounded educator. Another responsibility as an early childhood professional is to advocate for the field and the early childhood development, for the children. It is important for others to understand and know the significance of early childhood education for all young children and the policies that are in place. The more knowledgeable others are, the better off we are in terms of succeeding and making growth for early childhood education and development as a whole. Finally, it is our responsibility to make trustworthy and meaningful relationships with the children, families and communities with which we work.

NAEYC -
Ethical Responsibilities to Children - 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.

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

Ethical Responsibilities to Community and Society - I-4.6 To promote knowledge and understanding of young children and their needs. To work toward greater societal acknowledgement of children's rights and great social acceptance of responsibility for the well-being of all children.

DEC -
Professional and Interpersonal Behavior - We shall strive for the highest level of personal and professional competence by seeking and using new evidence based information to improve our practices while also responding openly to the suggestions of others.

Enhancement of Children's and Families' Quality of Lives - We shall advocate for equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and families to enhance their quality of lives.

Responsive Family Centered Practices - We shall demonstrate our respect and appreciation for all families' beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture relative to their nurturance and support of their children toward achieving meaningful and relevant priorities and outcomes families' desire for themselves and their children.