When I think of research...

This class has been a challenge at times and a lot of work.  I have gained new knowledge, however, and found that research isn't as bad as I had initally thought.  I learned that there is a process to research and it takes a lot of work to get started.  Research can be as detailed or as broad as you would like.  I also learned a lot about ethics and how it plays a role in research. 

I have enjoyed this class and everything that I have learned.  I enjoyed reading my classmates posts and blogs each week.  I learned a lot from each of them and gained new perspectives.  One of the challenges that I encountered was not knowing much about research.  I had to overcome this by studying and reading the topics.  Sometimes I would have to read the chapter several times before I understood it.  It was very difficult at times.

Week 5

The website that I decided to look at was http://www.ecdvu.org in Africa.  You always hear things about Africa and how poor of a country it is so that me curious and wanting to explore early childhood education there. 

It shocked me to learn that they have some of the same research topics as we do in America.  Some of their research topics include quality childcare for their children, quality childcare services, parent collaboration, school readiness, and developmentally appropriate practices. 

Something that caught my eye was grandparents caring for young children affected by HIV/AIDS.  That is something that we do not have to worry too much about in the United States.  However, it is still of concern because it involves children. 

Week 3

I decided to conduct my research on how child abuse affects the social and emotional development of teenagers.  The teen years are so important socially with peers.  My personal experience with this area is my cousin.  She was an only child and her dad was abusive towards her when she was younger.  From ages 10-13, she was emotionally and physically abused by her dad and watched him abuse her mom as well.  Her mom finally got her out of the situation, but the effects were long-lasting.  I watched her suffer through her teenage years as she struggled to deal with the emotional and social issues.  She would not let herself get close to anyone, did not have many friends, refused to date and just do normal teenage things like hanging out with friends and going places.  She withdrew socially and her grades suffered.  She barely finished high school.  It was sad to watch her go through all of that.  I want to learn more about how to help teenagers like my cousin.  It makes me sad that physical abuse affects their social and emotional development like it does.  If anyone can offer advice or research materials to help me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Research Simulation

For my research simulation project, I decided to research child abuse and neglect.  The topic that I want to focus on within this area is how child abuse and neglect affects children's social-emotional development.  Healthy Social-Emotional development is so important for children and abuse plays a major role in this developmental milestone for children.  I plan to read articles and journals, as well as take feedback from classmates, to get a better understanding of how their development is affected by abuse. 

The reasont that I picked child abuse is because I work closely with young children and I must be aware of the all of the signs of abuse and be prepared for it.  By law, I must report anything that I suspect as being abuse or neglect.  I want to become more familiar with these signs.  As a teacher, I want to know how the abuse will affect my student's behavior and academic success. 

I am finding it easier to fill in the research charts.  I think that will be a big help to me.  I am still a little nervous about doing a research project, but I feel a little more comfortable now than when I first started.  I hope my classmates can share advice to help me along the way and I hope that I can help them whenever they need some help. 

Consquences of Internation contacts

There are so many things that I can take away from having an international contact.  I have really enjoyed learning about the education in another country.  I would love to visit Romania one day and experience it for myself, but I know that will never happen anytime soon, so I have to reply on others to learn about it. 

The top 3 conquences of learning about the international early childhood field are:

1.  I have a broader understanding of early childhood education from other parts of the world.  I can compare how we do things to how they do things and see what works and what doesn't work.  I feel this gives me a huge advantage while teaching.

2.  I learned that people from around the world share some of the same hopes and dreams for young children as I do.  My international contact wants all children to recieve a quality education and have the same advantages.  I want that for this country as well.

3.  I learned that change takes time.  Our educational system has undergone a lot of change in the last few years and it has been slow to take place.  Some teachers are on board and some are not.  The same is true in Romania.  Their educational system has recently been through a lot of change, but a lot of their teachers are still doing things the old way.

My goal is for an organization worldwide where educators from all over the world can come together to share ideas, insights, professional development, and discuss current issues and trends.  I believe this would be a benefit to every educator in every country.  It would be a way to discuss things that work, things that don't work, and get new ideas to share and try. 

I want to wish all of my classmates good luck for the future and hope success comes to all of you!

International Contact

This week Ms. Carmen told me a little more about the educational system in Romania and her hopes for the fture.  The educational system in Romania has undergone several changes in the last few years.  The future of Romanian education looks quite bright, but the process is bound to be slow and the achievements will take time.  Change has been slow and a lot of teachers are not willing to change so there is a teacher shortage.  Textbooks are old and outdated and will take time to update. 

Teachers have opportunties for professional development by attending different workshops, online trainings, and opportunties to continue their education through college classes.  There is a need to continue growing through professional development opportunties.

Some of Ms. Carmen's hopes and dreams are to continue working with children and to improve the education in her country.  She wants each child to receieve a quality education and help those in need.  She wants to continue her work with the Step by Step program.

Sharing Web Resources

The outside website that I decided to explore was the Early Childhood Council in New Zealand.  I carefully looked over the resources page to see what resources are available to teachers, parents, and students.  On the parent's page, there are links to all types of resources including how to tell if your child is ready for preschool, how to tell if the center is effective, and coping strategies after a traumatic event.  There is also a link for the online store.  By reading their newsletter, they try to help all families and make sure that children are treated equally and fairly.  Each child is entitled to a quality education.

The National Head Start association tries to treat each child equally and not discriminate against anyone.  Head Start offers services to children from low-income families and children with disabilites.  Children from middle-income families, however, are not able to attend and it is inequity against them.

References
National Head Start Associationhttp://www.nhsa.org/
Early Childhood Council New Zealand (EEC) http://www.ecc.org.nz/MainMenu

Romanian Kindergarten

When speaking with Carmen this week, she explained a little bit more about the Romanian kindergarten program.   Parents can enroll a child in kindergarten at the age of three, though all children leave kindergarten at the age of six. Since this portion of the educational system is not mandatory, this phase of the educational system is relatively short. Most kindergartens are split into three or four different groups depending on a child’s age.  Children who attend kindergarten in Romanian are often taught foreign languages, physical fitness, and some computer skills and the children are served a meal each day.  The food is usually cooked inside of the kindergarten classroom.  Parents have a choice to send their children to a short kindergarten, which usually ends around 1pm or they can stay as late as 6pm.  This is because so many parents work and this is to accomadate their schedules.  Most of the kindergarten schools are privately ran and some families that can't afford to send their children to school.  These children will not begin school until they are six or seven years old.  The transition is often difficult for these young children.


I would say that the early education field in Romania is not equal to everyone.  Not everyone can afford to send their children to kindergarten programs at the age of 3.  These children do not begin formal school until they are six or seven years old.  They begin formal school already behind their peers and it is hard to catch up.  They are from poor families that don't have the means to buy extra materials to help at home.  This was the only issue of equity that Ms. Carmen emailed me back with. 

Sharing Web Resources

I am researching the National Head Start Assocation. This website is full of useful information involving the topics that we have discussed this week.  There is a section that has information about disaster reflief funds, scholarships and awards, and training sessions for early educators.  Funding a big issue with Head Start.  Every year the politians want to cut funding for Head Start.  They need to look and see what a good program it is and how it helps so many children. 

After reading some of the statements from parents on the blog, it made me look at Head Start in a different way.  All of these parents are so supportive of the program and each one had a special story of how Head Start helped their child and their family.  It makes me feel good to be part of something so special. 

I believe neuroscientists supports Head Start by helping to develop the curriculum.  Head Start focuses on the whole child and involves a lot of free-choice play.  Neuroscientists study the development of children and Head Start goes along with child development.

My Conversation Partner

My conversation partner is Carmen Lica from Romania.  She works for the Step by Step Center for Education and Professional Development.  The Centre for Education and Professional Development is a non-governmental organization that was formed in 1998 to continue operating the Step by Step program, which was first implemented in Romania in 1994.  Mrs. Lica says that her organization provides training on early childhood education, protection of children, and care of infants and toddlers. 

Mrs. Lica said this organization helps children and families of poverty by giving trainings to their teachers and families and donating money to help support programs to benefit these families and children.  The Step by Step Center is doing a lot of good for children and their families.  I have learned that there is more poverty around the world than I realized.  I want to help as many families in this situation as I can.  Romania is home to a large population of people living in poverty.  Mrs. Lica told me that almost half of the population living in rural areas are poor people living in poverty.  If we all work together, maybe we can make a difference one child at a time.