August 23, 2014

As We Take Our Different Paths

This journey has been wonderful and short with a little butterflies and anxieties started off with the unknown or expectations from the instructors and colleagues but the more I went on this journey I found it to be extremely important and successful. My journal could not have been a success without my positive, uplifting, and inputs from the most caring colleagues I have ever encountered. I found these colleagues to share the exact goal, vision, and plan I have for my professional and personal life. They brought as a collectible team new insights, informative information, and engaging knowledge to use in my preschool classroom on a daily basis. Furthermore I can utilize this information in practical ways in my everyday personal life. In addition I hope all my colleagues great success with their specialization as we complete this journey as educators with a new degree within our belt. I may see some of you all on my ending journey with the last two specialist classes but if not success with your endeavor and journey throughout your life. I hope I have made adjourning friends forever even though I may never meet any you all in person but I am a facebook or a blog away. Hope we forever keep in touch!

August 10, 2014

Working within a Group

I have worked with numerous of groups while in undergraduate and the workplace. I found some of them to be productive and unproductive. But the key to any successful teamwork is mutual trust and respect because without it will certain not going to work. Furthermore each team member should be commitment and dedicated to the group, the goal, the vision, and mission of the organization. Before reading the assigned reading for this week I had no idea that trust is the glue for making a team to succeed. I knew we had to have respect and value for each other’s opinion that is part of the group. However now I do understand that mutual trust has to be there for the group work to be done. Without trust one will assume their ideas and thoughts only will work, the person who is responsible for his or her part will complete it, and if not I will do it for the person and this will bring on conflict. Therefore conflict may arise but should not because I don’t trust each team member to complete their part and not a responsible person.

In my opinion I believe high-performing groups are the hardest to leave because they accomplished a project that designated an end date, follower through conflicts, and master the acquired task. Most of hard the team has gain mutual trust, become one, respect each other’s, value others ideas and thoughts, and found a mutual friend forever even if they don’t ever work together again. And most of all they work together as a team to complete a goal. In addition, they have successfully accomplished the five stages of development of a team forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning.

I will assume that adjourning from the colleagues of Walden University will be one of the hardest groups I have to depart from because I have met some everlasting friends,  been together from July 2013 until February 2014, I have learned and shared many knowledgably things to use in my professional and personal life. Most important it will be hard because this group of colleagues respect your thoughts, ideas, and input. They don’t demean, belittle, or discredit your way of communicating. I know that I have learned to love them forever and even hope that I will not forget any of them. I do hope we all can meet each other at the commencement exercise and congratulate each other on the accomplishment of receiving our master. Even like to meet all of our professors that had an important part of our success. I know down the years I will remember each one of you even though the adjourning will be sad, tearer eyes, makeup all of the place, joy, laughter, and excitement. I must even say now I recognized from the very beginning of this class I recognized we didn’t have Ann abroad and I emailed her to see what was the problem, also noticed Nikiesha was not responding to any assignments therefore I emailed her. When the group has such a positive impact in your life you will miss that person and have concerns therefore adjourning is tough but inevitable. Actually this group demonstrates respect, mutual trust, commitment, and value to this university, faculty, and colleagues. I will miss everyone that was part of my success. 

Effective Communication and Conflict

August 2, 2014

This week assignment deals with communicating effective with conflict. Conflict can be productive or unproductive but referrable productive. We as professional educators should always strive to communicate with a calmness and politeless with parents, children, and colleagues at all times regardless what's the situation. Furthermore I have learned how to demonstrate productive communication with conflict by utilizing the techniques Nonviolent Communication(NVC) and the 3Rs by Magda Gebger.

The conflict I am going to share this week is regarding my sister and her immediate supersvior. The conflict was trying to add more workload to my sister which she feels she has extended workload already. My sister feels the supersvior doesn't want to take responsibility as the led DON but desires a workload lite as possible for herself. There conflict is unproductive because the executive director of corporal and the corporal nurse never allow them to discuss the situation with both parties at hand to see how they can what's the conflict all about and reslove the conflict among each other; therefore the conflict never gets resolve. And through the unproductive conflict the problem just brew and brew where it has escalated with outburst and disrespect among the two ladies.

First strategy I think both of them could benefit from is Nonviolent Communication (NVC). By using NVC allows each person involve be considered and compassionated towards each other. This would have allowed no screaming and yelling amongst the executive directors and themselves. They could have spoken with politeness and calmness also respect so the problem could have been resloved. Furthermore it will allow both parties at hand to listen to the other person needs versus their on selfishness needs.

The second strategy I think both of them could benefit from using the 3Rs. By using the 3Rs it will allow every person involve to be considered and compassionated so each one can communicate effectively. Furthermore both of them could learn to listen and communicate with a calmeness and respect. This allows them to build and produce a healthy relationship that would become everlasting.

How I Evaluated Myself as a Communicator

July 26, 2014

How I Evaluated Myself as a Communicator

When reading this assignment it made me to reflect truthful on my communicating abilities and qualities; which I have never exercised before. I only thought I didn't like speaking in public but to take a deep soul search had never entered my mind. 

The first two people I considered was my niece and my baby sister. These two individuals told me some things I think I already knew. My niece said when I talk to others in public for instance at church at Bible class if the people disagree with me I take it personal and my voice escalates and tremble with an angry tone. Furthermore, she says my entire expresses changes. At the end of the conservation I really end up angry and displease with the people.

My baby sister said when I am communicating most of the time I am a cool person with casual conservation but if someone is attacking my character or my children then I get very defensive because my voice escalates and there is a trembling in my voice. Therefore she knows I am upset with the person. But overall I am a cool person to communicate with. She also feels as though I interrupt too much when I should be listening to people conservation and love to give my opinions; which at the particular time I should just listen and not interject.

After listening to both parties I really surprised at their opinions of my communication and listening skills. I thought within myself I was a cool and rashly person to communicate with. Even though the scores kept me at middle but in verbal aggressiveness I scored 72. I suppose my sister says I give my opinions and interrupt too much, well that is true but I can't see or understand why would someone bring you their problems or situations if they didn't want advice. I do know I should allow the person to complete their subject and sometimes people just want to vent their frustration and don't want any advice. Furthermore my niece is correct my voice does escalates and tremble I just be trying to get my thoughts across. I don't know about me be angry with the people but I am disappointed in their beliefs or thought process. 

I believe as a preschool teacher I do listen and communicate with my children extremely well but with my colleagues I can improve my skills on listening with them. I do interrupt and give my opinions upon people when they just want a listen ear. As for the setting at church I need to improve my tone voice and work on my opinions I think towards others.

Communicate With People From Different Groups and Cultures

July 26, 2014

Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures? Explain

Yes, I do find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. It depends on what type of setting I am relating or dialoguing with. If I am communicating with my family then I don't have to be formal. But even dialoguing with my family as my siblings, nieces, and nephews I have to use correct grammar because if not they will politely interrupt you and correct your grammar usage. However when I am communicating with my colleagues at work I tend to do the exact same thing if they tend to use incorrect grammar because I believe we are educators and as educators we should always use correct grammar at the workplace and especially around children. Children are very impressionable and they model and mimic everything adults do and say, therefore I always try to communicate correctly. Furthermore when communicating with my church members I am a little more polite with them than my family because I certainly will not correct their grammar but do correct them in my mind. Also at a banquet or function of this type I tend to communicate more preserve and elegant and not as loud versus family and work colleagues. Addition when I am communicating with different cultures I shy away because I don't want to offend or insult anyone feelings because I don't know their language or environment and what is accepted and not accepted. I communicate fewer words as possible. I know when I am communicating with my Hispanic parents I basically smile and nod my head because I don't know how to speak Spanish not a little therefore it's best to communicate fewer words as possible so I can stay safe. 

In the past courses and this last four weeks I have certain learn not to judgmental because we as possible don't know if these person culture beliefs therefore we as people need to refrain from making rash opinions about others. For instance on today I am in Evansville, Indiana and I was communicating with new acquaintance and they were calling children out of their names and I stated that could be their culture or environment how they live and act therefore we shouldn't judge the book by its cover. I do know I have learned to consider the person culture beliefs even if they are my on race before this class and previous ones I didn't consider their culture of style. 

Next, I strongly agree with microagression because we as people as a whole tend to put our foot in our mouth for speaking before we think about what we are saying. I know a situation a brother of mines thought not to say something because it may insult and offend the person and his mother but no, he went right on and had to speak of the thoughts in his mind and like he thought it offended the people much, and he had to apologize. 

Communicating Within Myself

July 19, 2104

As I communicate with my fellow colleagues on my job we aren't diverse regarding race. Everyone of us are Black Americans and all female teachers. Ages range from mid 20s through 80 years old. Furthermore we all are mothers except one teacher and majority are grandmothers, also all are wives. The staff as a whole gets along as a big happy family except with the manger. In addition the remainding staff members consist of some males. However we do have Hispanic and White support staff workers. But I do dialogue differently with them because it's rarely I see them. Furthermore on my job we do discuss politics, religion, sexual orentation, and race because it is really nothing we don't communicate amongst each others. I think the only thing we will not discuss is pay or pay raises but that's a very sensitive subject to all parties at hand.

First strategy I would incorporate concerning my communication skill would be listening more effective to all people. I am known around my family as blonde because they say I don't get anything right but that's not true but some reason of another my mind wonder off. Therefore  since I started this class I have been working on my listening skills. For one of the things I read in the articles was make a list of five things you would to do to improve your listening skills and the first basically said go there to get something out of the speaker.

Second strategy I would incorporate concerning my communication skill would be applying the Platinum Rule because sometimes I say things to insult people and then I feel horrible. I recall I day especially I thought I was commenting a co-worker but instead I insulted her tremedously. And this last for weeks and weeks whereas she finally forgave me-I was very relieved when she stopped mention it to me or insinuated it. Therefore by using the rule it will help me to think before I speak. There is a saying in the Bible "Shift to hear and Slow to speak" James 1:19.)

Third strategy I would incorporate concerning my communication skill would be by recognizing my own bias toward things within my own personality. So often we may not know their is something inside of us that's keeping us from been objective toward others. I think at this particular time I am not prejudice but I am going to do a soul search within to check if my there are  not no deep feelings because I don't want anything to be hiding deep down inside and I don't treat all people fair. I find people showing others favor while one may be treated isolated and I never want to do make someone feel left out. I do need to work on my relationship with my manger but it is hard, but I am going to strive to communicate with her in a positive manner. I have learn new ways to accomplish this goal.

July 12, 2014

Communicating and Collaborating

               This week’s assignment deals with watching a television sitcom nonverbally and assuming what is happening on the show. Later, watching the same show with sound to determine how well I interpreted what was happening. The title of the sitcom is “Liv and Maddie.” The show is about a family of six people, including a dad, mom, two brothers and two sisters. It started off with daddy coming down the stairs to the kitchen talking to the wife asking her for breakfast but the mother is faking as though she is sick. She has her head hanging over the sink with a towel on top, because she is tired of cooking for the father; therefore, she makes a fuss about it. He turns around looking very disappointed with the wife’s comments. He then moves to the kitchen dining room table and talks to the daughter and begins to fuss at her about always waiting until the last minute to do homework for school because it is time to go to school.

I assumed this because all of the children have their book bags out. Next the daddy goes into the living room and starts talking to the eldest son about playing a computer game and talking on the phone at the same time. He also tells the son it is time to go to school; therefore, he tells him to stop playing the game and hang the phone up. But he doesn't; therefore, the dad walks over and turns the television off. He then takes the headphones off his son’s ears. He also tells him that he needs to get out more and meet friends.

              Eventually, the son tells his dad that he has friends and gets up to go to school. But when the son opens the door a girl with a crush on him is standing there with her book bag ready to go to school with him. Before, she can turn around the eldest son walks out of the door. She then went up stairs to the youngest sister’s bedroom. Next the show takes us back to the kitchen with the mom and the oldest daughter and they are laughing. It appears that they are laughing about how they tricked the father. The mom has a Kleenex cover pretending that she needs them to wipe her nose or to sneeze; therefore, she has a cough but actually it is décor because under it is ice cream.

The dad carries the eldest son to school, but while on the way in the car the son begins texting on his phone and the dad is irritated. He then snatches the cell phone out of the son’s hand. As soon as the dad does that blue lights appear behind him and it's a cop. He throws his hands up in the air. The policeman gets out of his car with his ticket book and begins to write the dad a ticket. I assumed that the policeman is writing him a ticket for texting and driving. I can't tell what the policeman is saying because he is not facing the dad but the dad recognized the policeman and they start talking and laughing. Next the dad and the son get in the car with the policeman. I don't have any idea why they did that. At the end of the show the dad and son have enjoyed themselves greatly. As for the mom she smiles and telling the oldest daughter what great fun she had also. 

When I turned the sound on, I realized that I had not done a poor job of making assumptions. What I had watched on television without sound really didn’t happen. Actually, the mom was pretending to be sick but not for the reason I thought. She was pretending to be sick because she didn't want to go out to dinner with the dad to an old childhood restaurant called Pastrime Place, which was closing down. They had previously been there four times already. She really wanted to stay home and watch a love movie on television that particular night. When the dad was talking to the daughter he was asking her to join him but she turned his invitation down as well. Next he went into the living room and invited the oldest son but in the beginning he rejected also by saying "nothing will make me go to that restaurant with you in this world." And, yes I was right the son was playing a game and on the phone at the same time.

Also, the dad was talking to him about not going out and making friends but it was not a school day as I stated early. Actually it was in the evening time. The son does get up and answer the door and it is the want-to-be girlfriend to see him but not to escort him to school. He then changes his mind about going out with the daddy and tells the young lady that I have plans tonight with my dad. She then goes upstairs to see the youngest sister in her bedroom. Next the daddy and son get in the car on their way to the restaurant. Then the show moves to the kitchen with the mom and daughter laughing how mom out smarted the dad because the daughter actually knows it because she’s a former actress.

Then the show goes back to the dad and son and the son is texting, then the dad snatches the cell phone out of his hand and once he does that the policeman thinks the man is texting and starts writing him a ticket. I was right about that and that the dad knows the police officer. They start talking about old times and the father tells the policeman that they were headed to their childhood restaurant. Next the policeman invited them to ride in the police car and yes they all had a marvelous time. Also, the mother enjoyed her stay at home watching the movie along.

Communicating and Collaborating

July 5, 2014

When I think about someone techniques that exhibit great communicating skills would be my son. Michquel exemplify extra ordinary strengths in speaking to the public and his speaking ability. I often find myself asking him where he gets his speaking ability from, and he always answers it comes from God. I tend to agree with him because no one could perform the way he does without power from above. I have observed him speak and listen as he read his speech to me; something goes through me that I cannot explain. His voice articulates superior, his pitch knows just when to go up and down. It has the right timing. Furthermore he communicates with motions such as his hands moves in a flow. He walks as he elaborates most of the time; I am at awe with his speaking ability. He says I am nerves when I speak but one could not and cannot tell. Have you ever seen someone speak as though they turn the audience on and off with their communicating skills, well that describes his speaking and listening skills. He also listens excellent as well as he speaks, I suppose they go hand and hand. Michquel is a great storyteller which always capsules the audience attention. His sons love to hear him talk and the youngest son admires so much that he tries to be just like his dad. Nevertheless when he tells a story it makes you listen for hours and on hours you do not want to get up out of your seat for nothing. I suppose what's great about his storytelling his plot starts off interesting and it is like one of Alfred Hitchcock mystery short stories. He also has the confidence that he knows what he's talking about and don't need your reassurance for satisfaction. 

Professional Hopes and Goals

June 28, 2014

Reflecting on my professional hopes and goals in my preschool concerning my students and families...



My first hope in my preschool classroom that my school will provide a full time translator.
My second hope is to make sure all my children will understand diversity.
My third hope is to be able to speak fluent Spanish with my diverse students and their families.
My fourth hope is I am a very pleasant teacher to my diverse parents and demonstrates kindness, respect, and dignity to all.

My first goal is to practice speaking Spanish everyday.
My second goal is to include in my lesson plan weekly to teach all my numbers 0 through 10 in Spanish.
My third goal is to implement a program that the diverse families and Black families will learn to mingle together as one because now they are separate-by doing this it will show all families what they have in common or interest.
My fourth goal is help my school to offer classes all parents can learn to speak English and Spanish.



I enjoyed this class more and more weekly and I hate to see this class end so soon. Furthermore I learned much information from my colleagues that I can use daily in my personal and professional life.

June 21, 2014

• The name of “your” family’s country of origin

My family country of orgin is Portugese

• At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family

1. I will research the internet to find out the history of the country.

2. I will find history on the family.

3. I will find out the family native language.

4. I will discover the family religion.

5. I will discover out the family festivals and celebrates.

• A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family

By researching the internet to find out the history of the country will help me to treat every fair, dignity, and respect without offending them and their culture. Also relating with the family regardless their interesting heritage. 

I will need to know if the family speak English or bilanguage or only speak their native language. Therefore if they only speak their native language then I will need a translator to help me speak with the family.

I need to know if the family celebrates Christmas and other holidays without offending them. I don't want to forced them to participate with us.

Furthermore I don't want to say or do anything to offend them in any way by being microaggression. 

Also I want to celebrate their native country with music and in all centers with their dolls and pictures on the wall and around the classroom of their culture.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

June 14, 2014

What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

I recall many incidents of prejudice towards me and my dad, however, I recall one particular incident concerning one of my brother. I recall once going to the store with my brother James and the store owner. The store owner told my brother the cost of the items he had purchased and put out his hand for his money, therefore my brother gave him a $20.00 bill which call for change. The store owner placed the money in my brother hand and the next thing I noticed my brother slapped the store owner in the face. I could not believe my eyes then later my brother tells the store by catching him in his collar "The next time you feel by hands I will kill you". I later asked him why did you slapped and grab David in the collar? James said "Because his prejudice and faggot self got fresh with me; I don't play that stuff". 

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

I felt the incident oppressed the David the store owner by humilitan, belittle, and disrespect him in front of the all the witnesses in the store. The situation had to embarrassed him and make him ashamed. 

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?
I felt horrible and scared for the store owner, and thought for sure my brother was going to kill him, and if not he was going to go to jail. However, the owner did not call the police. Evidently this situation must had to take place but David was prejudice but not deserved to be treated so shaggy in front of all the people presence. 

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

I feel my brother would have to change for better greater equity because he is a muslin, hate white people, and mental disturb from vietnam war. Furthermore he has a kind and sweet spirit but telling him is wrong and even showing him is not enough, therefore only God has to come in and change his thoughts and beliefs. 

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

May 31, 2014

 

                     Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

 

• Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?
  I recall in the past detecting microagressions when I was at Subway on my lunch break but while I was there the owner and I were dialoguing in a conservation that left me feeling like that all black people were nothing and regardless what we had or will accomplishment in life we as a group of people still were at the bottom pole. As the conservation progress I would never had thought he felt this way about another race. We were talking respectful and politely as the conservation shifted he stated "You people are always trying to beat the system". And he even thought only Black people stole and White people did not. Regarding this thought the owner business was failing because a worker(s) was stealing from him. Another gentleman wanted to help save his business and only thing he asked him to let his manager and a worker go but he didn't want to because he believed a Black person stealing from him. However the man insisted on it and believe it or not those two White ladies were robbing him dead. He had this mentality that White people didn't steal only Black people. 
   

• In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people
  This week assignment allows me to look at life with caution, think, careful, and sensitive to other people before I speak. Most of time people talk before they think about what they are about to say. I know I have spoken and said the wrong things and ended up regretting what came out of my mouth. In doing this assignment it came to my mind how I had hurt a coworker feelings by saying you are a Black Mexican and the other present laughed and laughed until tears ran down her cheeks. I knew without a shadow of doubt I had don't a terrible thing to someone else expense. The gentlemen thought for a moment and they replied "Yes, you have never seen a Black Hispanic not Mexican"? He went to explain how was a Hispanic and the ethnicity of races and how you can hurt others feelings without knowing the correct terminology. I never knew there were a scientific name other than being ignorant or insensitive to others feelings. It is good to know the scientific name "microaggressions"

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 

May 24, 2014

Their definition of culture

I interviewed my sister Jackie, daughter Michelle, and grandson Micah. 

Combination of the three of them defined cultural beliefs, the way of life, life style, the way you talk, live, where you from, family, eat, dress, sleep, and religion.

 

Their definition of diversity 

Diversity is culture, difference, music, relationship, affection, emotions, social, divergent, diverse, ethnicity, and age.

 

• Then reflect on the answers you received and ask yourself:
   
  • Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples?
    Some of the culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received and examples.  I think the beliefs, family, religion, live, style, ethnicity, age, family, diverse, social, relationship, and age.
     

• Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?
  I believe there were no characteristics omitted because it was each interviewed person opinion.
•  
• In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?
  It has made me appreciate the difference in every person despite a person background, lifestyle, and beliefs. We as a society live in a world that makes a difference and that’s the uniqueness of every individual person.
   
   
   

My Family Culture

May 17, 2014


A description of the three items you would choose

(1) the Bible

(2) the Family Photos

(3) a Radio

How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you

I would choose the three because the Bible is my life line and need it to continue my faith and walk with God. My family photos are dear to me because I need to carry and cherishes the members that were close to me. And the reason I chose a radio is because I can have the means of communication and listen to the news and music.

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you

Once upon arrival and told I could only keep one personal item I would choose the Bible. Choosing the Bible because I may be in a country or family who do not believe in true, real, and only God, therefore I need to continue to have something to read and memorize scriptures. Furthermore since I am a missionary to the Lord I also can witness to diverse of people.

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise,

I am learned that every family serves some type of God but not exact same God I believe in and worship. Even if the person is atheism he serves some type of God because when we put any thing before him that's your God. Here in the state I live in now most diverse families do not go to church or serve idol gods. Also many culture differences may live a different way I do when serving God. Many cultures serve God in different stages and don't read nor study their Bible on a daily base.

When I Think of Research

April 26, 2014

I have learned that research is very imperative because it assist you by helping you become more “research knowledgeable”, it expands your critical thinking skills and it also allows you to become skilled at how to actually carry out a research in case the need arises one day.   In addition to this I learned that in order to plan, design and conduct research it’s important to select a topic that you are more familiar with to write about.  The more you know about what you are researching the more likely you will cut down on research time.  If you select a topic that you are not so familiar with it will increase the time you spend researching the topic.  Additionally, when you are researching your topic and you come to a stand still it is a good gesture to seek out assistant.  You should not spend excessive time trying to figure out something that is difficult for you to comprehend on your own.  Also other helpful hints that can assist you in researching are to make certain you keep detailed notes, research only one topic and approach it from different perspectives and compose numerous articles on the same topic.  Any time you encounter an assignment of this magnitude you will clearly run into difficulties.  But if you heed to the helpful hints below it will help you to remain sane during the research process.

• Choose your area of research carefully.
• Create a schedule (time line) for completions do not wait until the last minute.
• Seek assistance and take criticism.
• Take breaks and breath.
• Remain focused
• CELEBRATE!!!!!!!! When you are done.

 

Research Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

Option 1:
Share a positive example of the effects of research on children and/or families: Perhaps you can provide real-life examples of research benefits to children and/or families; maybe you are familiar with stories of people who have been positively affected by research; or you came across a published research article concerning children or families which you find exciting and would like to share with your colleagues. I decided to elaborate on Option 1 because I have had close family members and close friends both have been diagnosed with cancer. When I was a little girl in 1972 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and with research they found a way to cure her and it has been 42 years which never resurface. Had not been for research I don't want to think what could have happened to my mom and family.

Next, a good friend of the family was having excruciating pain in her back and not knowing what was going on, went to the doctor and with research they determined she had cancer. What type of cancer I don't remember but they knew how to cure her and advised her with the right materials. She has been cured for the last five years of more.

All cases where not as successful as the ones above because several friends died. Especially a good friend and past hair styles. There much research conducted but remission even a short time but none of information helped save life. But research doesn’t always have positive outputs.

March 15, 2014

I encourage my colleagues to relate information regarding themselves or even knows someone that experience shyness and social phobia which prevented them from having a normal and fulfilled life.

My Personal Research Journal

March 15, 2014

I have chosen this week's simulation for my subtopic Overcoming shyness and social phobia in early childhood children. As I reflect on my life as a child I chose this topic only because it is dear to my heart because I am that particular child that encountered shyness and social phobia which eventually led me to encounter many disappointing situations and experienced a sad life. Furthermore it led me to have low self-esteem, not to make friends, or just to be sociable, which prevented me from just walking into a room along without been suspicious of other people. This shyness prevented me from pursuing my education, which I eventually dropped out of college and could not accomplished any thing in life I wanted. This shyness and social phobia also makes me the teacher I am today. Unless one has experienced this type of phobia one does not understand or cannot comprehend the barriers that prevent one to do the small things in life.

I find it interesting to set goals for shyness to overcome their social phobia at an early age because if not this will have a negative impact in their adulthood life as well. Positive goals are necessary and they also need the support. But parents and teachers some reason of another believe and think this type of behavior is acceptable and they will eventually overcome this behavior. However one who has lived this type of life knows first hand it does not take another twist or turn around in life unless it is deal with professional.

So this is the reason I find this topic very interesting and intriguing because it is a disease or sickness that needs attention and taken serious to help children cope with this problem or prevent it all together. And it is extremely good to know there are studies and research concerning shyness and social phobia to prevent or cope with this illness.

Week 8

March 1, 2014

During the studied of this course we covered a huge assortment of valuable information that will be useful to me in my professional life.  Even though I was not able to make international contact I will make it my goal.  Given that I consider this to be valuable for my career as well.  It will offer me a clearer picture of how other countries early childhood learning experience compares to our.  It will afford me the opportunity to share ideas among one another that will enable me to improve on our early childhood learning experience.  In addition to that it will be a great collaboration with two individuals with a common purpose.  I think it is imperative as early childhood educators to have an outlet that will permit us to exchange ideas, share information and offer support. Furthermore this class also has been interesting, insightful, and rewarding as a early childhood teacher.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 3

February 22, 2014

What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work? In the State of Mississippi the hot topics that are being discussed are Common Core Standards, Reading Achievement, School Readiness, and Teachers meeting quality education for Head Start.

 What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

According to the National Registry Alliance, a comprehensive professional development system:  Is accessible and based upon a clearly articulated framework.

 Includes a continuum of training and ongoing supports. 

 Defines pathways that are tied to licensure, leading to qualifications and credentials. 

 Addresses the needs of individual, adult learners. 

The systems are generally composed of five interconnected components: 

 Core knowledge 

 Access and outreach 

 Qualifications, Credentials and Pathways 

 Funding 

 Quality Assurance

How Does a Registry Fit Into a Professional Development System?

Personnel and training register (Qualifications, Credentials and

Pathways) of a professional development system. A registry can:

 Collect, track, acknowledge and manage workforce data. These data can help identify trends in

training participation and achievement of credentials or movement along a career lattice, and

inform decision making regarding workforce policies and investments.

 Produce records that can validate qualifications or ongoing professional development for

accreditation, a quality rating system/quality rating and improvement system, wage incentives,

and credentials.

 Verify provider qualifications to meet state licensing requirements.

 Approve and track training offerings and compile the qualifications of approved trainers.

 Record and track training attendance.

 Maintain a calendar of training offerings for a state, region or local area. NAEYC recommends all early childhood professionals receive 24 hours ongoing a year of professional development.

Source: www.registryalliance.org

What are some of your professional goals?

Some of my professional goals are to become a higher learning instructor for Jackson State University, own,   pilot, and track the first learning center that render services to infants the first five years of their life with high-quality educated teachers, and meet the needs of disadvantage children.

What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?

Some of my hopes are becoming a professional developer trainer, own my childcare center, and implement training sessions at my present job. Dreams I aspirate are become famous as an educator, the children I served become successful and let me know I had a part of their success, all my grandsons become a success and my children reach the top in their careers. The challenges I present faced are building confidence of writing, public speaking, and owing my business, and obtaining a doctoral.

This week has been very insightful and knowledgeable because I discovered a new career I always wanted to embark upon; therefore as searching the Internet I accidentally learned how to become a professional development or staff development trainer; which I am going to embrace this idea within the next few weeks. My main goal I desire this is to help day care or child care owners to better serve their disadvantage children and families. Through this the children do not have to vicious repeat the cycle of their ancestors. Unfortunately, I have not heard anything from the International contacts.

References

Conceptual Framework for Early Childhood Professional Development

www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/.../PSCONF98.PD

 

Professional Development Systems and the SECA States.pdf

 https://www.google.com/

Source: www.registryalliance.org

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

February 15, 2014

Reflecting many years ago when I was an undergraduate student doing a research paper on child development that I discovered the importance of brain development. In searching the internet for the latest article from the magazine Zero to Three I discovered the issue on "This Issue And Why It Matters": According to Stefanie Powers "During a child's first 1,000 days of life, a nurturing responsive relationship between the child and engaged, invested caregivers positively influences the child's physical, social, and emotional health across the lifespan".

Children's overall development is closely connected to the development of the brain. Although all aspects of development are interrelated, different areas of the brain contribute to children's development across the different domains.

• Physical development is influenced by the motor cortex or band in front of the parietal lobe, the occipital lobe for hand-eye coordination, and thetemporal lobe for hearing.


• Social development is influenced by the limbic system, the frontal lobe, the site of reasoning and planning functions, and by the development of language.


• Emotional development also is influenced by the limbic system and the frontal lobe.


• Cognitive development is influenced by the frontal lobe, the site of planning and thinking functions, and by the temporal lobe for development of language abilities.

Example: Reading and the Brain

Children learn language through experience. When adults read to children, neurons connect and a vocabulary builds.  When adults and children read a favorite book again and again, connections in the child's brain become stronger and more complex.

Talking about the story also contributes to brain development. As adults discuss the storyline with children, even more new words are introduced. Vocabulary increases, and children starts to learn the process of conversation. 

Watching television or listening to a recorded story does not have the same benefits of live conversation.The interaction in give and take conversation is the key experience that wires the brain to develop language

It is essential that infants received the love, touching, and all the motor senses that's needed to develop normal and wired to connect with the world around them. I have seen many children in my life time not able to communicate or comprehend the simplest things as retaining the alphabets' and now I understand that these children missed the necessary brain development; which is critical in life to get a head start in life.


References:
Early and middle childhood. http://www.fcs.uga.edu/ext/bbb/brainTimeEarlyChild.php
This issue and why it matters. http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/areas-of-expertise/zero-to-three-journal/34-1-ednote-toc.pdf

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 2

February 8, 2014

International Contacts China, Rwanda, and Three Caribbean Nations





 Assessing the state of child mental health services in
China;
 Developing and evaluating family-based strategies
to prevent mental health problems in children affected
by HIV/AIDS in Rwanda; and
 Addressing child maltreatment and mental health
outcomes in three Caribbean nations (Barbados, the
Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and Suriname).
To strengthen their policy relevance, each of these
projects is being designed to include an economic component
to analyze allocation effects in the supply and

demand for services.

Children in Crisis and Conflict Situations
The Global Children’s Initiative is currently exploring
potential synergies with the Harvard Humanitarian
Initiative and the François-Xavier Bagnoud Center for
Health and Human Rights at the Harvard School of
Public Health, both of which have extensive experience
working in emergency situations across the world. The
goal of this effort is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration
that incorporates a science-based, developmental
perspective into the assessment and management of
child well-being in a range of natural and man-made
crises, focusing on both immediate circumstances and
long-term adaptation. Two issues are the initial focus of
activity in this domain:
 Exploring comparable approaches to surveying
child status in post-earthquake Haiti and Chile.
 Bringing the science of child development into
strategies for addressing acute malnutrition.

Building Broader, More Diverse Leadership Capacity
in Research and Policy
Finally, and central to the Center’s core mission, an
array of education and training activities will be incorporated
into all of the thematic areas described above.
The first dimension of this work focuses on building a
sustainable infrastructure to support the productive
engagement of Harvard students and faculty in a diversity
of global settings. The second dimension focuses on
developing opportunities to provide leadership training
for individual researchers, policymakers, and institutions,
primarily in the majority world.

Sharing Web Resources

February 1, 2014

What specific section(s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?
The specific section important to my current professional development is "School Readiness" which allow students a smooth transition. Students should be academic prepared since kindergarten requires so much more than the past. (ZEROTOTHREE) World rounded articles to enhance the latest trends and issues to help all professionals be abreast on all topics.

Which ideas/statements/resources, either on the website or in an e-newsletter, did you find controversial or made you think about an issue in new ways? 
This statement has had a great profound effect on my teaching because it made me wonder was I reaching all of my children and knew how to reach each individual child needs.
"Quality early learning has a long lasting impact on children, their well-being and their ability to learn. The early years of a child's life-ages birth through five are the most important years in his or her development. Research shows that children who experience stable, high-quality child care perform better in grade school, high school, and beyond."

Ninety percent of brain growth occurs from birth to five years of years age.
A child develops the ability to reason by the age of five
By the age of three, many children know 1,100 words

It is extremely important as early start and preschool educators; we must be prepared as highly-qualified educators to know how early children learn best and the importance of early learning for later school success. Furthermore as high qualified educators how to help disadvantaged children to close the achievement gaps despite advantage achievement children. Since we as a society lives in a competitive global world, therefore our early childhood children should be able to compete global with confidence and they  and their families depend on us to give them this edge.

What information does the website or the e-newsletter, contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field? 

Why Business Should Support Early Childhood Education
ICW/Institute For A Competitive Workforce
http://icw.uschamber.com/sites/default/files/ICW_EarlyChildhoodReport_2010.pdf

RAND  LABOR AND POPULATION
http://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_briefs/2008/RAND_RB9352.pdf 

What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain from exploring the website or e-newsletter?

Mobilizing Science to Revitalize Early Childhood Policy

Shonkoff, Jack P. Issues in Science and Technology26.1 (Fall 2009): 79-85.

Current early childhood programs should be viewed as a promising starting point for innovation, not a final destination that simply requires increased funding. Remarkable progress in neuroscience, molecular biology, and genomics has provided rock-solid knowledge that underscores the role of positive early experiences in strengthening brain architecture, along with compelling evidence that "toxic" stress can disrupt brain circuits, undermine achievement, and compromise physical and mental health. Evaluation science also is providing the means to differentiate effective early childhood programs that should be scaled up from underperforming efforts that need to be either strengthened or discontinued. It is time for policymakers to strengthen efforts to equalize opportunities for all young children by leveraging the science of child development and its underlying neurobiology to create the framework for a new era of innovation in early childhood policy and practice.

As a society as a whole we must become advocates for equal/fair early childhood for all families and their childen regardless income and ethic group. It starts with day care centers owners being highly educated and their staff members. Furthermore utilize staff development and updated training along with magazines and tapes as coed accessible.