Sharing Web Resources

I have been studying the website National Black Child Development Institute(NBCDI although i have yet to receive a newsletter in the mail. I have learned so many things from the website about this organization and how it relates to me and my career. As a educator for Early Head Start we both promote school readiness, as a teacher i track my students success through their assessments, and progression throughout the year so that we can work closely with the parents. The NBCDI with support from the foundation of child development they lead a campaign to improve children's chances for school success. I really enjoy reading about how other states are preparing children for their future.

One thing that caught my eye in which i think would be great think to discuss with others is the child obesity rate as many of us know childhood obesity is on the rise, but one thing i did not know was that childhood obesity is only a big concern for African Americans and Latino Children and that is something that i would like to research more about. First Lady Michelle Obama is campaigning all over the country about childhood obesity and the issues with the school lunches, one of the things that my center is doing is the I'm Moving I'm Learning exercise by promoting 60 minutes of exercise each day for our children rather is outside play,indoor play or gross motor in the classroom.

Another insight that i had while learning about the organization was that, as it is hard to believe the politicians some politicians agree and support the early childhood field. The NBCDI held their 11th annual head start conference in which policy makers,politicians and researchers were there to come up with and promote positive child development in young children.

I believe this organization is doing a great job of reaching out to the community although they mostly try to relate to the African American community because of so many factors that this group may or may not have. And for over 40 years, the National Black Child Development Institute its mission to improve and  advance the lives of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education.

Reference
National Black Child Development Institute. (2012, January 22). Home,About,Initiatives. Retrieved from http://nbcdi.org/

Getting to know your International Contacts-Part 1

Unfortunately i was unable to find a second international contact so with that saying i have to do the alternate assignment in which i listened to a podcast as well learned about poverty in China. Listening to Susan Lyon from the Podcast i have learned how her passion started for the field of education  when she was just 22-years old. She stated that she saw a window in children's mind and Susan wanted to find outlets and inspiration for these children to continue to grow. Susan initiated the Innovated Teacher project which was held in both public and private schools in Northern California, which provided an in depth approach inspired by Reggio Emilio . She was inspired about how she wanted children to progress and learn, and Susan always wanted to be an advocate for children. I applaud Susan for all her hard work and dedication to young children.

I researched China from The Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre’s page http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/).

Three insights that i gained from studying this website is that:

1. 4.2 million Chinese children live in absolute poverty and 8.7 million live in disadvantaged conditions

2. Not enough new jobs in the non-state sector have yet been created and an estimated 14.6 million are without a full-time job - an unemployment rate of 12.3 per cent.

^{3. The Urban Social Security reform has had to adapt to protect people from different forms of poverty.}
http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

4.  life expectancy at birth is 71 years, and 85 per cent of the population aged over 15 are literate.

Sharing Web Resources

The organization that i choice to receive a newsletterfrom was The National Black Child development institute. The website is as follows http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/. I thought that this would be an interesting newsletter as well website to look into because i have never heard of this organization before.

As i began to research there information i learned that their mission is to improve the lives of black children and families through education and advocacy. This organization only works with children from birth to the age of fourteen, over the years this organization has had several accomplishments and here are some:

 Working to gain public support to provide access to universal early care and education which has become a priority for governors in more than half of the states;

 Promoting publicly supported quality child care programs for mothers who were entering the work force in increased numbers, resulting in the enactment and special allocation of funds by a substantial number of states for child care; 

 Implementing and expanding a community based nationwide intervention/prevention program entitled Entering the College Zone from five to twenty five cities to get more disadvantage middle school students on the college track.

One of the task that this organization does that hit home for me was that they promote a literacy program called Love to read in which they communicate with children and families and share the importance of early literacy. This hit home for me because at my center we have a current program called Raising a Reader in which we allow children to check out books like the library system which allows parents to read with their children which promotes cuddling time. I can't wait to  learn more about this organization when i receive my newsletters.

Establishing Professional Contacts

Like most of my classmates, i too was very nervous after reading the assignment i very overwhelmed and confused for a while. Then i began to get over my nervousness and gather my thoughts. I tried to get in contact with three international early childhood professionals but no one responded to my emails, in which left me to have a slight panic attack. But then i remembered that one of my college friends who was a teacher in St. Louis left her job as an kindergarten teacher to move to Moroccoo to teach school there. I began to communicate with her over face book and she is open to communicating with me about the school systems there. She stated that the school system is similar to the states the only difference is that the kids are Moroccan and European and Spanish. But throughout this course i will communicate with her but also do the alternate assignment on expanding my resources.

After looking at the various resources for the blog assignment i thought  it would be interesting to learn more about the National Black child development institute because i have never heard of it as well as the Global fund for children.

After reading about the National Black child ddevelopment institute i learned that this institute focuses on the improvement of black children through social services, and technology.There inittiatives focus on child welfare,literacy, education, and childrens health just to name a few. http://nbcdi.org/about/.

I also resourced the Global Fund for children which is a program that helps children around the world. This program believes that all children deserve a chance and have rights in life and they make this happen through various donations. I hope that i can get in contact with them about learning more about there program.

My supports

"Support" to me means someone that believes in you, and someone that loves and cares for you deeply not only are they their physically but emotionally.

With that saying my immediate family is my biggest support system these people include: My mother,father,sister and Fiance and daughter, as well, as myself. I am a firm believer that if you don't believe in yourself no one will. My family has had my back through thick and thin, especially when i decided to go back to school while trying to balance a household, work full-time,entertain a four year old and be a great mother, plus plan a wedding for this June.

My co-workers are my support system when i feel like being a teacher is not for me sometimes, but then they  remind me that i am making a difference and to take a deep breath and remember that the children need us. Then i remember i do love children, and its a blessing to work with a great team of women who have the same passion and inspiration as i do.

When i think about the challenges that i may face it would be if i could not talk to these people everyday. It is not a day when i do not call my parents house a Million times a day it seems.I truly adore my parents and love them alot. I talk with my Fiance a million times a day as well, and it will be a challenge to me if i could not see or talk with them. I also think it would be a challenge for me if i could not see my daughter smile and tell me, "mommy i love you, when are you going be done with your homework, so that we can play".

My connections to play

Quotes that i feel relate to play:

 "Play is our brain's favorite way of learning" Diane Ackerman

"Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning" Fred Rogers

Essential Play items as a child







As a child growing up with one sibling my parents were very supportive of play as long as my sister was by my side since i was the oldest. After-school i had to make sure that my homework and chores were completed before i could ask if i could go outside and play. My parents allowed me to be involved with extracurricular activities but it was never forced. My parents allowed me to have friends and to go outside and play as long as i came home before the street lights came on.  As a child i enjoyed going to the local park district with my friends and playing at the playground and making up games such as house, IT(tag). On the weekends i enjoyed swimming at the local park district  with my friends.As a child i was a great swimming and enjoyed using my swim pass to go swimming everyday during the summer. Growing up as a child and  being involved with my peers allowed me to gain socio-emotional skills and bonds that would last a life time, since i still hangout with my peers from grammar school.

Play is very much different now than how play was when i was a child. I feel that children are more into video games and technogolgy now than going outside and playing. As a child, obesity wasn't a big concern as it is now, as a child we enjoyed playing and running around. As a child i remember making up games with my cousins and using our imaginations. Now children seem to be into TV and dangerous activiteis such as gangs, bullying and etc.

Relationship Reflection

Relationships to me are very important not only are they building blocks but its a support system. Not everyone has the same support as others, but i feel that all support is better than nothing. I consider myself has being very close with my parents, and my immediate family. I am trying harder to have a more close knit relationship with other people in my family, but that is work in progress.

Some of the people that i feel i have a close knit relationship with is my mother and father,and my sister. I am also very close with my fiance and building a continuous relationship with my 4 year old daughter(the love of my life).  And i am currently building a relationship with my coworkers.

My mother and father are significant people in my life, they have been a true blessing to me. They support me with everything that i put my mind to. We have a bond that is unbreakable. I hope that this bond will never be broken.

My sister, has been a support person to me every since we were little kids. We have gotten into a lot of trouble as kids; but as we have grown up, we have a bond that only sisters can have. She has a listening ear, and she respects me for who i am.

My immediate family which consistent of my future husband and my daughter; these people have my back no matter what. My fiance Tyrus has a listening ear, he is passionate about the goals i have set for myself and he will not let me settle for less than the BEST. My daughter who is only four cares so much about her mommy everyday she ask,"how was work mommy, and were the kids good".