When I Think Of Childhood Development...

            All children learn at there own pace and I understand that all children are not the same. Each student has their strengths and difficulties in certain areas, as an educator, it is important to realize our student's strengths and weaknesses and likes and dislikes. When we see some students falling behind we are able to grab their attention by using different methods and their personal interests. I believe allowing children to grow and develop at their own pace and not pushing them into new lessons without mastering the previous can be beneficial for the student. Children who hit certain milestones early on does not mean they are healthier than their peers who may still be trying to mastering the task. All children have different abilities and educators can help children expand on those skills by planning proper activities for their students. Students can make new connections, teach a friend, and create their own learning experience, which is extremely beneficial since children are natural learners.

            I wanted to thank my colleagues for the last eight weeks, and I look forward to working with you in the future. Good luck in your future classes and I wish everyone a safe and loving holiday season!

Warmly,

Nicole Severson

Testing for Intelligence?

            Standardized testing has both positive and negative features and when used effectively can play a substantial role in improving the schooling of our young learners. Some individuals look at it as a great assessment tool while other teachers, parents, and students believe it causes too much stress on the child, and an educator now teaches for an examine. I believe it can be beneficial when determining what and when to teach students certain lessons and it also gives educators and parents a chance to see how the child is responding in the classroom to their new learning’s. When all children are taking the same exam, an educator can see a gap between students and could modify individual lessons. While I am not necessarily for standardized testing, I could understand why some professionals believe it is an excellent tool to assess their students. I think teachers can become very stressed knowing their class has to take a standardized test and they begin to teach for an exam. This, to me, takes the fun out of learning, you go over the same lessons, make sure all students are on the same page, and this can become very tiring for the students. Schools are put under so much pressure to get the best scores for their county and some districts will even go as far as reducing recess. As we have learned in the past, children learn a lot through play, and this can have negative impacts on their social and emotional well-being. I believe there needs to be some balance between our student’s success and a standardized exam. I don’t think this is the only tool that should tell a parent that their child is not up to speed or a teacher is not doing their job correctly. Constant assessments and observations on the class as a whole and individual students can allow for educators to see other ways their students have succeeded in the classroom.

            “Finland has vastly improved in reading, math and science literacy over the past decade in large part because its teachers are trusted to do whatever it takes to turn young lives around” (Hancock, 2011). Teachers are held to a high respect, just as doctors are held here in the United States. Students do not take an annual standardized test but instead the Finnish government occasionally tests random grades and students to make sure the country is meeting its education goals (Zhao, 2013). Finland reviews their progress through assessments and observations and the educator creates an exam for their students and decides the time that it should be taken. They have flexibility and are able to create an exam for the individual student to assess their progress. There was a paragraph written by LynNell Hancock in her article Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful that has really changed my outlook and wish that more individuals in our country would take such an interest in our students success.

“There are no mandated standardized tests in Finland, apart from one exam at the end of students’ senior year in high school. There are no rankings, no comparisons or competition between students, schools or regions. Finland’s schools are publicly funded. The people in the government agencies running them, from national officials to local authorities, are educators, not business people, military leaders or career politicians. Every school has the same national goals and draws from the same pool of university-trained educators. The result is that a Finnish child has a good shot at getting the same quality education no matter whether he or she lives in a rural village or a university town. The differences between weakest and strongest students are the smallest in the world, according to the most recent survey by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). “Equality is the most important word in Finnish education. All political parties on the right and left agree on this,” said Olli Luukkainen, president of Finland’s powerful teachers union” (Hancock, 2011).

Reference

Hancock, L. (2011, September). Why Are Finland's Schools Successful? Retrieved from

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/why-are-finlands-schools-successful-49859555/

Zhao, E. (2013, January 16). Standardized Testing A Foreign Concept In Finland With

World's Top Students. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/16/standardized-testing-a-fo_n_2145623.html

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

October of 2012 is a month I will never forget; my cousin was going through a horrid divorce with her son’s father and was in the process of moving from that home. Her two children, ages 5 and 3, were bouncing between homes until my cousin was able to find something more permanent. They found this beautiful little cape and the kids were so thrilled to have a place to call home. As a family, we all helped them move in and get them adjusted and just to be there for my cousin in any way we could.

Then October 29, 2012, came, and we were all back to square one. My cousin just lost her brand new home, all of their belongings and her children only had the clothes on their backs. Hurricane Sandy flooded their home, put a tree through the roof, and EVERYTHING was destroyed! This hurricane not only left behind significant physical destruction but also emotional damage for this family. Her five-year-old son would burst into tears for no reason, became extremely clingy to his mom and had night terrors for weeks. Children tend to act out when their lives are disrupted, and throughout this month he was no different. He became aggressive in school, at home, and even with family members. My cousin sought help in any way, shape, or form and found a family therapist to help. After a few weeks, my cousin finally saw a light at the end of the tunnel, the less stress she carried, carried over to her son. They were rebuilding their lives, and he finally had that youthful glow back. Now being almost ten-years-old, Hurricane Sandy does get brought up sometimes, and he is much more understanding and always says, “Well good things always come back.”

This year we also saw the devastating affects that occurred in Haiti from Hurricane Matthew. These natives, who essentially don’t have much lost everything and many, had paid the ultimate sacrifice. Children lost their lives, children lost their parents, and adults lost relatives and friends. The food supply was scarce, fruit trees were destroyed and crops were washed away, mixing with sewage also tainted the water. They had nothing to help them survive. These young children were malnourished, did not have homes, and were also no longer going to school. Over that weekend I got a phone call from my cousins son saying how it reminded him of Sandy and he wanted to get the family together to help in any way we could. Coming from an almost ten-year-old I was completely and utterly shocked, the boy who too lost everything wanted to help other children. He ran around his house grabbing clothes, old stuffed animals he didn’t play with, and asked to go to the store to pay for water from his allowance. I was so thrilled to take part in helping and got into contact with UNICEF (United Nations Children’s Funds) to see how we could help. I understood money could help but I also wanted to give more, along with my younger cousin. These children’s lives were rattled and while money could help rebuild homes and allow for immunizations, clothes, toys, and food could also put a smile on these youngsters’ faces. The stress that these young children have endured was sickening and I am just glad I was able to do my civic duty to help repair in any way I could.

Child Development and Public Health

I recently just took a professional development class on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and learned about the many ways to help reduce the risks that can cause such heartache. During the first several months it is important to keep the child in the same room as the parents but on a separate surface to reduce the possibility of strangulation, suffocation and even entrapment. I also found out the connection between breastfed babies and how that also reduces the risks of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It can fight against infection, reduces respiratory infections, reduces reflux and even promotes safer sleep, along with many other benefits.

I also found it extremely odd that the United States and New Zealand have the highest SIDS rates compared to all other countries. For such developed countries I figured it would have been the lowest rates. Also the age of inclusion for SIDS is different across all countries. “Some countries (Canada, England and Wales, Germany, and Scotland) define SIDS as occurring from one week to one year. Other countries include infants from birth to one year (Argentina, Australia, Austria, France, Ireland, Japan, Sweden, and the U.S.) or birth to over one year (the Netherlands and New Zealand). This may account for at most a small difference in SIDS rates since the number of SIDS deaths occurring in the first week of life and after one year are very small” (Hauck & Tanabe). Throughout the years there has been a significant reduction in SIDS deaths around the world but still have some shocking rates due to some countries not getting proper risk reduction activites.

Reference

Hauck, F. R., & Tanabe, K. (n.d.). International Trends in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and ... Retrieved from https://www.ispid.org/fileadmin/user_upload/textfiles/articles/CPR17_Hauck_SIDS_Trends.pdf

Childbirth In Your Life & Around The World

            Unfortunately, I have never been apart of a birthing experience but I did have the pleasure of talking with a very good friend about her water birth. I was able to see the baby and new mom a few days after the birth and was very interested in the how’s and what’s of a water birth. The midwife has been a life long friend of the families and actually delivered my friend. First, my question was why do you choose a water birth, as she explained that it is typically less stressful on the newborn considering the child is in amniotic fluid sac for their first nine months and also gentler on the mother. I was unaware that some mom’s will get out of the bath to deliver the baby while others will remain in it. I was able to understand that it is easier for the mother to get new positioning during labor, it can help lower blood pressure, and can also increase a women’s energy. I was just in awe about all of this information since most of it was all so surprising and new. However, I also wanted to know what kind of disadvantages a water birth can cause, some children can get caught in the birth canal and if they gasp for air the possibility of inhaling water is extremely high. The reason I chose this example was because I still have so many unanswered questions about a water birth and to be honest this could possibly be my choice on my first birth.

            For the second part of this assignment, I found a very interesting article about Japanese women who live in New Zealand in maintaining their birth traditions. They are many unique birth traditions that Japanese women follow which are religion-based. If the mother is unable to make it back to Japan their parents will practice these rituals on their behalf. “For example, her parents would go to shrines in Japan and send omamori (charms for a good birth) and haraobi (traditional maternity girdles) to her. The women highly valued these customary visits and items and the support from their families. They always kept the charms or amulets sent from Japan with them or in their bedroom during pregnancy. Also, most of the women had visited the shrines with their babies whenever they returned to Japan for omiya-mairi (a ceremony praying for the baby's healthy growth at a shrine 1 month after birth)” (Doreing, Patterson & Griffiths, 2016). Hearing these women’s stories was extremely interesting and not something that is very common in the United States. Dealing with cultural differences when you are not in your homeland can cause conflict; many Japanese women believe they should not move around after the first month of their pregnancy. Many of their parents would come visit to be sure they are fully resting and would help maintain a household. It is amazing to hear other stories about the birthing process and the difficulties they may face when others do not understand their cultural birth traditions.

Reference

Doering, K., Patterson, J., & Griffiths, C. (2016). Negotiating wa (harmony): A qualitative study about the challenges japanese women who live in new zealand have in maintaining their birth traditions. International Journal of Childbirth, 6(1), 27-36. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1891/2156-5287.6.1.27

Examining Codes of Ethics

            The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) and Division for Early Childhood (DEC) have created a code of ethics that has encompassed the upmost of values when caring for children and working with families and colleagues. This is to allow for early childhood educators to practice and promote high standards of conduct for the early childhood field. After reviewing the numerous principles, I have found three ideals that are extremely meaningful which are:

·      We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity, truthfulness, and honesty in all our professional activities in order to inspire the trust and confidence of the children and families and of those with whom we work.

·      We shall honor and respect the rights, knowledge, and skills of the multidisciplinary colleagues with whom we work recognizing their unique contributions to children, families, and the field of early childhood special education.

·      We shall use every resource, including referral when appropriate, to ensure high quality services are accessible and are provided to children and families.

By holding myself to such a high standard in my career will ensure that I give the upmost care and respect for everyone who enters my classroom. I strive to be the best I can and am willing to listen to others who surround me. By creating lesson plans that can give my students the confidence in my program will allow them to trust within themselves and give families the reassurance that their child is receiving the best care and education.

Working with other professionals we must respect the advice that is given. Someone who may have been in the field for 10 years or 10 days can still share advice and ideas that can be beneficial for my classroom. I do not want a colleague to feel that they are not being heard or valued. I believe everyone has a right to their opinion and we must keep our ears open and respond properly, even if we may not agree.

With the many resources that surround the early childhood field I feel that any referral is helpful. If you see a student struggling with a lesson, take a step back and see how you can modify the lesson, if you are still unsure ask a colleague and the parents. If we notice a learning delay or disability we must be sure to give the families the information and resources they need that will benefit their child. Every child is different and learns in different ways by providing family members with specialists (if needed) we can ensure that their child will receive a high-quality education.

Reference

Code Of Ethics. (2009, August). Retrieved from

https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201720_02/MS_MECS/EDUC_6005/Week 7/Resources/Resources/embedded/dec_codeofethics.pdf

Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment. (2005, April). Retrieved from

https://class.waldenu.edu/bbcswebdav/institution/USW1/201720_02/MS_MECS/EDUC_6005/Week 7/Resources/Resources/embedded/naeyc_codeofethicspdf.pdf

Words of Inspiration & Motivation

Dr. Lilian Katz Quotes

Curriculum should help children make deeper and fuller understanding of their own experience. Going outside the classroom – and observing what is right there – that is where meaningful learning happens.

All children, are born with the disposition to make sense of their experiences. 

Edward Zigler Quotes

You win what you can win when you can win it, and keep pushing – all the time. And that’s how this game is played. And I’ll play it till I can’t play it anymore 

A kid’s emotions and personality are just as important as I.Q.

Louis Derman-Sparks Quote

The passion to make sure that all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and to develop to their fullest ability. 

Sandy Escobido Quote

      We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better, and so that’s what makes me passionate about this field.    

   

Personal Childhood Web

            There have been so many special individuals in my life that it was hard to choose whom I would write about. As I sit and think about who has surrounded my life to give me the life and outlooks I have today, I first have to thank my parents. Doreen Magri, my mother, was always there for my brother and I. She was always there to lend a helping hand and always put others first, my mom was always willing to give back to others. As soon as I could run I was placed into sports and my mom was always actively involved in all of my passions. She was my biggest cheerleader and has showed me how to be the best mom I can be in the future. She showed her children love in so many ways, whether it was shuffling us off to sporting events, helping us move in to our first apartment or even cooking a nice dinner. These are the memories I cherish and couldn’t thank her enough for all that she has done. By being so selfless and kind to everyone she meets on her path, Mom has shown me the meaning of life; to never judge a book by its cover and to be the pillar for a family.

            My father, Gene Magri, is an extremely hard worker and a very driven man. He began working in construction when he was 18 and now has owned his own business for 45 years. When I was younger I remember my dad always working crazy hours, being on estimates over the weekends but would still come home with a smile on his face to always play with my brother and I. He gave my brother and I a life that we could have never dreamed about because of all of his hard work. My dad was never an emotional man, he always kept his feelings to himself, but on early Sunday morning he would be with us downstairs watching our cartoons. Making the funny voices, running around the house and getting breakfast together, this is how my father showed us love. He showed us the meaning of hard work, honesty, and how to stay clam when situations arise. His work ethic is what inspires me that hard work does not go unnoticed and if you love your job the unimaginable can happen. My dad is my biggest fan and being a daddy’s girl I could only hope that my hard work and dedication in the Early Childhood field shows him that he did a wonderful job raising his daughter.

            John Geekie is one of my longest and dearest friends, our mothers met when they moved to our neighborhood both pregnant for the first time and a due date that put days between us. John has always been a very honest man, I could always ask him for advice and get the hard truth. Was it something that I always wanted to hear, no, but in the end I rather be hurt by the truth than comforted by a lie. Him and I had a very mischievous childhood, if one was doing something stupid the other was trying to “out stupid” them. Without the mistakes we have made in our past, John and I, would not be who we are today. We both went into the education field and are constantly pushing one another. John knows who I can be, he never gets in the way of the important things in my life, and he is one of the most compassionate individuals I know. He is supportive of my decisions and he is always willing to listen. Without a childhood friend like John, I can honestly say I don’t know where I would be. There may have been some distance put between us during college but as soon as that phone rang or one of us were home it was like nothing has changed. This is a true friend, someone who is loyal even when we are miles apart.

My Mother & Father who have given me the world and love I needed to be the best person I can be.

A friendship of 27 years and I could not be more blessed to have you still by my side!

"It's not how big the house is, it's how happy the home is" -Unknown

When I chose to enter the Early Childhood Field I knew that my future students would always hold a place in my heart. I have been working with children for about seven years and have been inspired by so many. It is fascinating that I am able to watch students grow in such short period of time and hit so many developmental milestones. The first five years of a child's life are critical for long-term success and that is why it is so important that us educators have the resources and knowledge to help all students. The relationships I have built with families and their children are unique in there own way. Each child and family has a different dynamic and parents also play a key role in their child's success. Teaching our parents about bridging the gap between school and home can really improve a student’s success in the classroom. I look forward to getting back in a classroom and getting to know new children who I am able to help during the time spent in my classroom. Early childhood is my passion and by going for my M.S. gives me the skills, knowledge, and expertise to truly make a difference in my future student's lives.