Sharing Web Resources

http://www.nhsa.org/  
(Newsletter: http://www.nhsa.org/news_and_advocacy/advocacy/legislative_eupdate )

National Head Start Association (NHSA) is a service that provides many programs designated to enhancing Head Start and Early programs and augments the lives of Head Start students, parent and the staff.  NHSA’s vision is to lead and advocate. The association is dedicated to making sure that every defenseless child is provided for and has Head Start model of support for the child, family and community. This high impact organization is determined to make sure that families have what they need to succeed.

One of the current issues that caught my attention is funding for this association. NHSA may be facing a crisis, in not having enough money to fund the program. This caught my attention because of all of the cut backs that are impacting my community like many other states. Navigating through the website, there are constant links to donate, saying “Donate, Make a difference, Help support NHSA, Donate NOW.” The proposed cuts will impact children, affect jobs and the change the classroom environment. There is a break down by state how cutting head start would definitely change lives. Since I am from Texas, I was curious about the results and it was very distressing when I saw the predicted results.

Texas

Total Net Head Start and Early Head Start Spaces Lost from Current Levels if HR 1 Passes 16,907

Total Net Head Start and Early Head Start Jobs Lost from Current Levels if HR 1 Passes 4,148

Total Net Head Start and Early Head Start Classrooms Lost from Current Enrollment Levels if HR 1 Passes 1,345

Head start is a very vital program with plenty of significant qualities to help children and their families.

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

After reading the assignment I was eager to get started. Being able to have another persons insight from another part of the world is not common. Although, I'm having difficulties being able to contact childhood professionals. I have tried to contact many childhood professionals but unfortunately I have not received an email back. If I do not receive an email back I have no choice but to revert to the alternative to Part I.

I have decided to study National Head Start Association. I have decided on National Head Start because I am aware of have crucial these programs are and would love to learn more. Programs like this one is very vital; I would like to learn more information so I can inform people about associations like this one.
http://www.nhsa.org/  
(Newsletter: http://www.nhsa.org/news_and_advocacy/advocacy/legislative_eupdate )

My Supports

I feel very blessed to have a supportive environment. The two that support me most are my family and my colleagues. My family has always pushed me toward the path of education. They always instilled in me that there are endless possibilities when you possess an education. As well they are part of the reason why I decided to enroll in this program. My family has always encouraged that there is nothing that I can’t do.  In addition, my colleagues are very supportive. I feel blessed to work with such a supportive team whom at times seem more like family than coworkers. When I first started working at this Jr. High school everything was new to me. No matter what position they held everyone tried to lend a helping hand. If I didn’t have these two strong support systems I would have struggled deeply. Things would have been a lot more difficult. Furthermore, I know I would have made a lot more errors without my support system because some people were able to guide me in the right direction before I made a mistake. If something were to happen to my family, I would be impacted tremendously. Friends are great but everyone has a certain role. No matter how wonderful a friend can be and they may seem just like family but in reality, friends can never take the role of a family member. Not having my family to support me, would be like losing a part of myself. As well, not having supportive colleagues would make 8 dreadful hours of my life Monday-Friday. I'm truly appreciative for all of my support systems.

I've been thinking about making a career change. Of course I want to stay within the education field but just want to explore my options. I am a little leery because I am afraid I may not have such a supportive team of colleagues somewhere else. If I don't have a supportive work team it will give me a challenge and make things uncomfortable. I know I can't let my fear stand in the way of making a career change. I still have my family and colleagues who are true friends; so no matter where I am, I'll still have two strong support systems.

My Connections to Play

“The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst lovely things.”

Plato

 

"Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning....They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play. --Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My mother was my number one supporter during play time. I would also include two of my cousins as another huge supporter. I grew up an only child, so I was constantly looking for someone to play with. I would play with my two cousins from the moment we were together, up until the last minute before we departed. My mother, who at that time was a stay at home mom, would spend plenty of time playing with me. Although, when all else failed, I would play by myself and use imaginary play.

I often compare my childhood to my younger cousins. I feel play is a lot different now and it is constantly changing. When I was growing up video games were becoming very popular, although, I was never a true fan. However, video games didn’t consume children like they do presently. To me, there was nothing like going outside playing soccer or riding my bike in the park. It seems that more parents encouraged children to go outside and play games and get some exercise when I was growing up. Currently, it seems that everything has to be electronic. Children are getting cells phones in the 2^nd and 3^rd grade, which provide some of them with internet access in their hands. Children prefer to stay on social websites for consecutive hours instead of going outside and experiencing nature. My hope for children now, is that they enjoy old-fashion play. I feel there should be a happy median between going outside playing a game and staying inside playing video games. Indeed, I can't fault the children. I think sometimes parents becomes caught up in the mindset of giving their children everything they didn't have and more. In saying that, parents forget about the small things like encouraging their child to go out and play and simple activities.

Play was a very important role in my life. As I think back it appears how you play, sets part of your character for how you act when you become an adult. At one point in time, I had turned into a tomboy. Although, when I think about the sports and activities I take part in, I still have my tomboy tendencies. Play gives the opportunity to find ourselves and our personality. If I hadn’t been exposed to the different variations of play, I think I would be missing a part of myself.  

 

 

http://thinkexist.com/quotes/with/keyword/child%27s_play/

http://www.scribd.com/doc/22929/play-quotes

Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is important because it was part of my life when I was a baby. I had a discussion with my mom and she told me that I was breastfed for roughly 12 months. Due to the fact that I don’t have any children I at times bypass things that I have never had the opportunity of experiencing. However, in doing research over breastfeeding, I understand it is much more than a source of food for a baby. Breastfeeding a baby gives another means of bonding between mother and baby. Breastfeeding can also prevent many types of illnesses in a baby. Also, the mother can benefit from breastfeeding; it has been proven to lower type 2 diabetes. One thing that I found fascinating is that breastfeeding is common around the world. In so many topics certain countries differ and have completely different methods. However, places such as Ghana, Egypt, Kenya, Asia and Jordan all highly recommend breastfeeding. Islam promotes mothers to breastfeed for approximately two years. In the Philippines the mother will normally nurse her child for two to three years. In Asian families it is very common that they breastfeed until the child is three years old. In doing my research, I realized that there is not an exact age where you must stop breastfeeding; this is more of a personal decision depending on the family. My outlook on breastfeeding has definitely changed and blossomed.


http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/457485_2
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4587404_how-long-nurse-child.html
http://www.womenshealth.gov/breastfeeding/index.cfm?page=227
http://www.007b.com/public-breastfeeding-world.php

Quote

"Children are one third of our population and all of our future." 


~Select Panel for the Promotion of Child Health, 1981




http://www.quotegarden.com/children.html

Testing for Intelligence?

Testing seems to be the number one tool used to measure children’s knowledge. I understand the purpose of testing; however, I don’t feel that a child’s faith should rely only on one test. For instance the TAKS test, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills. In certain grades and especially during the senior year in high school, students are required to pass all subjects. If a student doesn’t receive a passing score, they are not allowed to go on or graduate until a passing score is met. Although, TPRI which is Texas Primary Reading Inventory is used in early grades such as K-2 which is an assessment that measures reading and language arts development. I feel that test such as the TPRI are very essential to pinpoint and show a child’s weakness if there is a weakness. This test does not hold a child back from going to the next grade but is simple used to gauge development.

 In many ways schools all over the world are similar. All have their own forms of testing but one thing that is shared in common is the focus on reading, math and science. For instance, in Australia the assessment used is NAPLAN which is also known as National Assessment Program-Literacy and Numeracy. NAPLAN is an assessment that measures a student’s reading, writing, language conventions and numeracy.

Lastly, I feel too much testing puts pressure on a child. Some people are simply not good test taker but are perfectly adequate in all of their academic subjects. I feel testing should be used for depicting strengths and weaknesses but not used to put unnecessary stress on a child.

http://www.garlandisd.net/departments/pre/glossary_assessment.asp 
http://www.naplan.edu.au/home_page.html