Getting to Know your Contacts-Part 3

While browsing through the UNESCO website this week I noticed that many of the same issues that we have talked about in my current class is also global issues.  I read information on Access and equity.  The site talked about countries that vowed to expand and improve early care and education for disadvantage children to allow for equitable access to care.  It also addresses quality for early childhood care and education.  It states that there are no universal criterial for quality but uses certain factors such as personal training, parent education and involvement and developmentally appropriate materials and practices.  And finally it addresses problems with governments investing and financing in early care and education.

Sharing Web Resources

Recently I had a chance to visit the Zero to Three web site, http://www.zerotothree.org
I really enjoyed browsing the site, it was actually very informative.  Its mission is to promote health and development of infants and toddlers and their families.  It informs, trains and support professionals, policy makers and parents in their efforts to improve the lives of infants and toddlers. I found so much information on brain development, which is going to help me in an up coming training session.  One of the featured topics is one of classroom featured topics.  The article is about expanding access to early head start.  Because of so many babies being born in economic stress, it has been recommended that the program expand its reach to provide services to more children.  Research show that Early Head Start positively impacts, children's development.

Getting to Know Contacts- Part 2

Getting to Know Your Contacts #2

As I began to search the naeyc’s website on new topics, there were three articles that really stood out.  Early childhood educators are really concerned about the future of our children.  We seem to be slowly raising children who are limited to creativity and basic social skills. 

The first article of discussion was that of Developmentally Appropriate Practice or (DAP).  It discusses the process by which children should be taught.  It is the foundation for NAEYC’s work.  It believes that teachers should meet children where they are by stage of development, both by individual and a part of a group and help each child meet challenging and achievable learning goals. (naeyc, 2009)

The next article of discussion has to do with the importance of Play.  The article focused on building play leadership and advocacy.  It allowed teachers, parents, administrators, policy makers and college faculty to revisit the power of hands on play designed to promote and strengthen play-based learning’s as part of developmentally appropriate practices in the early childhood field.  (YC, 2009)

The third article of discussion deals with Recess and how it is slowly disappearing in the elementary schools.  It is interesting to see how such an important part of childhood is being snatched away from our children.  In turn, we are seeing and increase in childhood obesity and diseases.  Teachers often conplain that we are raising a generation of children who can’t entertain themselves, have social difficulties and are fidgety and off task in class. (Jarrett, 2009)

The sad part about this issue is the fact that with so much scientific research, it seems as if no one is listening.  Top administrators and policy makers still insist on limiting play and creativity by adding more classroom time.  Don’t they realize that children are not having problems preforming well in school because they are not spending enough time in the classroom, but because they are jus simply burned out. 

Reference:

Taken from the www.naeyc.org/ website