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Testing For Intelligence

I believe a child's ability to adapt to a certain situation or environment should be measured or assessed.  The way a child can involve his/herself into an environment can cause either a negative or positive affect on the development of the child.  Children do not like change (neither do I) and this can affect how a child views the world.  I think that if we are able to assess the children when they are adapting to an environment, we would be able to make the change happening around them a lot more comforting.

In the United States, school-age children are assessed based on standardized testing policies in the Public School system.  I do not agree with this at all.  I do not believe that children should be assessed based on their ability to take a test.  If these children do poorly on the standardized test, they have the chance of being left back in the current grade they are in.  I know I am not the greatest test taker there is, and I have personally always done poorly on tests.  I have always had really bad anxiety, so before a test when I was younger, I wouldn't be able to eat breakfast or really focus on anything other than this standardized test.  This type of pressure should never be on any young child or teacher.

In Iceland, assessment and evaluation of pupils is conducted internally, and is not standardized between different institutions. Pupils are given regular reports to grade their progress; however the way in which this is done varies between schools. For example, a numerical grade could be given, or an oral and written assessment may be given.  Their principal purpose is to help ease the transition into upper secondary education and help the pupil to choose a course of study. Pupils are awarded a certificate with their marks at the end of the compulsory schooling period.

In Italy, most primary schools use a system of assessment based on teacher observation throughout the school year. Assessments are recorded on each child’s report card, which is designed to provide a detailed profile of the pupil’s academic ability and personality. The record card is passed to a pupil’s next school when he leaves. 


Both of these countries are just examples of a more relaxed setting for school-age children.  Both of these countries are also ahead of the United States in reading and math. 

Consequences of Stress on Children's Development

There are a ton of stressor's that can cause affect children's coping skills.  I remember growing up in a fairly nice neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York, with good family values.  I would say I had a great childhood because of my parents working hard for my brother and I.  My father worked nights majority of my childhood and my mother was a stay at home mom until I was about eleven years old.  This is when my world changed.

In 2001, I turned eleven on September 6th which also happened to be the first day of 6th grade.  It was already a nervous experience.  I was in a new school (one that my brother and cousin attended) so the teachers already knew who I was.  Only a few kids from my primary school went to the same middle school and only maybe one or two were in my actual class.  I'd say the first week was a success.  I got along with everyone fairly well for the first week, I liked my teachers and I had band class.  This was an awesome introduction to Junior High School... until September 11th.  

I distinctly remember being in gym class the morning of September 11th.  It was a beautiful, breezy fall morning and my brother had taken me to school this day.  I had to be in by 7:10 a.m. because i was in the SM program for gifted children.  We had an extra math or science class and started earlier than the other children.  When second period came around, the boys and the girls were separated for gym.  We had a gym on the fifth floor and a gym on the third floor.  Of course, we had the fifth floor gym for the semester.  I remember learning about what we were going to be doing and actually seeing the Twin Towers smoking.  Of course at this age I had no idea what was actually going on.  I am assuming after the schools got the news of what actually happened we weren't allowed near the windows and in all of our other classes the shades were down.  The teachers tried to explain to us what happened, but they also figured our parents were better for this so after lunch all of the kids were brought down to the auditorium or the lunch room where movies were played as our parents picked us up one by one.  

I remember my mom getting to school about an hour earlier and as we walked home, she told me all about what happened.  I didn't know what to think or what to believe, I was only eleven.  I remember getting to my aunt's house and she had it on the news on t.v.  This was the first time I actually witnessed what I saw so many miles away from my school window.  This was the first time in my childhood I was scared to live in New York.  I didn't understand what terrorism or war was at the time, but as I grew older, I understood what happened that sunny day in New York.  

The country that I chose to research about the exposure of children to war and terrorism was Egypt.  I picked this country because of the recent events that had happened about two days ago.  There was a bombing of an Egypt Mosque and at least 305 human beings were killed.  Not only was there a bombing of the Mosque, but as the civilians were running out of the church to save their lives, they were also being shot at.  Ambulances rushing in to help people were being shot at.  For children to bare witness to this type of tragedy is just a shame.  This is not the type of world that we should have our children growing up in.  When did hate become stronger than love?  When did we so strongly start hating others that we don't believe they should have the chance to live a long life?  This needs to stop all over the world.  According to State.Gov "The new Egyptian Constitution passed following a public referendum in January 2014. Article 237 specifically addresses terrorism, stating that Egypt “commits to fighting all types and forms of terrorism and tracking its sources of funding within a specific time frame…” Egypt’s penal code includes an extensive counterterrorism legal framework, primarily under Part 2, Section 1, Article 86, which defines terrorism in expansive terms that include peaceful protests. Additionally, subsequent sections define a variety of offenses and penalties for those who engage in terrorist activities and provide incentives for cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of terrorist organizations. Despite having counterterrorism as its stated primary purpose, Egyptian counterterrorism legislation has had an intimidating effect on NGO operations."

https://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/crt/2014/239407.htm

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/24/world/middleeast/mosque-attack-egypt.html

Immunizations

I chose to discuss immunizations.  Working in a daycare, this topic hits very close to home.  Although we are not DOE certified we do require the children to start with the basic immunizations.  If we have an infant starting at 6 weeks, we ask the parents update us with the immunization list as they go through them.  This isn't only for children, as staff we are required to have the proper immunizations as well.  We receive the PPD shot every two years, and just this year we are required to receive the Varicella Vaccine (chicken pox shot).  

I know in the United States, well New York at least, the Department of Education requires children to have all the immunizations before they start school.  If they do not have them, a letter from the doctor exempting them is required as proof as to why they cannot have the shot.  This debate has been going on for quite some time now and I believe there are pro's and con's to each side of the argument.  I believe every child should receive all of the vaccines necessary for immunization records.  All of these articles stating "autism comes from the MMR shot" or this disease is a result of that vaccine really bothers me.  Growing up, we all received the basic immunizations, we all grew up perfectly okay.  I am a firm believer these diseases and disabilities are not the "side-effects" of a vaccine.  Also, I wouldn't want my child to be the one to spread a sickness through-out the school because I refused to have them vaccinated.

Vaccines are special.  They help healthy people stay healthy and in doing so help to remove a major obstacle to human development (WHO Unicef, 2009).  I have decided to learn about vaccinations and immunizations in Germany this week.  New legislation in Germany will make it mandatory for all kindergartens to notify the German health authority if parents haven't submitted proof of vaccination counseling for their children (Scutti, 2017).  Germany is trying to be proactive when dealing with immunizations.  They noticed a trend in their population and a rise in diseases from the beginning of the year up until May.  These new laws go into affect in July 2017 and will require counseling to inform all parents about immunizations.  I think this is a big step for Germany and many other countries should take note.  They are trying to stop outbreaks before they continuously get worse throughout the public.


Scutti, S. (2017, June 06). Encouraging vaccination around the world. Retrieved November 12, 2017, from http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/06/health/vaccine-uptake-incentives/index.html  

WHO, UNICEF, World Bank. State of the world's vaccines and immunization, 3rd ed. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2009.

Childbirth in Your Life and Around the World

CHILDBIRTH IN MY LIFE

While I do not have much experience with childbirth in my life, I do have one that I can discuss.  I can't say I remember it but from the stories I have been told, I think I recall it fairly well.  I am sure you could have guessed by now... I am talking about my own birth.  I have no nieces or nephews and have never been involved in another friend or family members birth.  From the stories that I am told, my parents say they were already anxious and on edge during pregnancy with me because the last month, my doctor had moved to Staten Island.  While living in another borough was already difficult, my father was a sanitation worker who at the time was working nights.  You can never predict when your water is going to break or contractions are going to start.  Also, my mother had a rough delivery with my older brother (requiring an emergency c-section) because the cord was wrapped around his neck.  They were told to try to relax with me because the doctor's didn't want my mother to trigger an early birth.  Luckily, I was born just fine.. a little jaundice, but okay.

I chose this example because I feel personal experiences (whether mine, or someone else's) are very helpful and extremely informational.  When it is my time to have a child, I know my mother and father will help me through whatever life throws at me.  Birth is a miraculous and beautiful time to go through with your loved ones.  After the readings and videos from this week, I believe that is when child development is most important -- in the womb.  We are making huge progress to figuring out what exactly a fetus goes through and I can't wait for the breakthrough of all the information.

CHILDBIRTH IN SWEDEN

After knowing about births in the United States, I decided to look up births and how they happen in Sweden.  I have heard a few things about Sweden and how they are ahead of the world in childbirth and pregnancy.  They have a very low rate of infant-mortality and c-sections.  The pregnant women here are seemed to be calm and collective while having a baby.  Everything is figured out before hand and you are made comfortable during your labor.  Just like the U.S.A, almost all births take place in hospitals.  Unlike the U.S., the hospitals in Sweden are made to mimic a home setting.  There are labor lounges where women can snack, watch t.v., drink and just relax while labor progresses.  The Doctor is only involved in emergencies & check-ups of the baby after birth.  The team consists of the Midwife, the Midwife's assistant, and a family member of the woman's choosing.  Medicine is not discouraged or encouraged, but each pregnant woman knows the advantages and disadvantages.  Prenatal care is completely free.  I think the USA can learn a lot from Sweden, just by figuring out the low rates of infant mortality.  Sweden believes birth is an intensely fulfilling personal experience.  I believe that's what it will be when I have my first child, and I hope to have the best care that I can receive.

http://www.parenting.com/article/birth-maternal-health

THANKS A BUNCH!

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog posts!  It was certainly a fun course connecting with all of you!  Good luck in your future classes and professions!

Examining Codes of Ethics

DEC Code of Ethics

PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

• We shall demonstrate the highest standards of personal integrity,truthfulness, and honesty in allour 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 diverse backgrounds of our colleagues including such diverse characteristics as sexual orientation, race, national origin, religious beliefs, or other affiliations. 

ETHICAL AND EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES

  

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

•  We shall maintain records of research securely; no personal information about research participants should be revealed unless required by law.  

 NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct
--ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES TO CHILDREN-- 

Ideals
  To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.
  To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.

Principles 
- Above all, we shall not harm children. We shall not participate in practices that are emotionally damaging, physically harmful, disrespectful, degrading, dangerous, exploitative, or intimidating to children. This principle has precedence over all others in this Code.
- When another person tells us of his or her suspicion that a child is being abused or neglected, we shall assist that person in taking appropriate action in order to protect the child.


I chose the above codes of ethical conduct because they resonated the most with me.  Out of the DEC Code of Ethics, professional practice is very important to me.  I work in a current location where the staff is very divided and doesn't always get along with each other.  I make it my business to get along with everyone, but sometimes its like high school all over again.  I think it is important to remember to respect one another on every level possible.

From the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct, these ideals and principles are of most importance in my mind.  As teachers and early childhood professionals we need to realize how unique each child is.  Among each child being unique, they are also all filled with different amounts and types of potential.  Not each child learns the same or grasps a concept the same way.   This is for us to figure out and also enhance this about each child.  It is not an easy task but one that I most certainly enjoy doing.  Also, it is very important for me to know that the children are developing positively in a healthy and safe environment.  You hear so many tragedies happening on the news these days and it is such a shame.  These children should be left in our hands without a doubt in the parents mind.

Growing My Collection of Resources

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
  
• Websites:
  
• • World Forum Foundation
    https://worldforumfoundation.org/about-us
    
    
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
    
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org/
  
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
  
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
  

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

Tip: Use the Journal option under Search & Find on the library website to find journals by title.

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Additional Resources:

• www.ed.gov/early-learning/resources
• www.naeyc.org
• www.acf.hhs.gov
•  www.zerotothree.org

Words of Inspiration & Motivation

This is a quote from Marcy Whitebook that has resonated with me this week.  I believe it is so important to break the silence on important topics such as early childhood education.  If our voices are not loud enough to be heard, we cannot expect change to happen on its own.

“There is ‘No Single Ingredient’ that will enable us to achieve effective teaching.  It’s not education or mentoring, it’s both.  And it’s compensation too.  So what am I doing to combat the attack on higher education for teachers of young children?  What’s feeding me and what am I doing that I hope will catalyze change in the field?  I am trying to break the silence about the attack on education…challenging it in my writing and speaking and encouraging others to do so as well.”
–Marcy Whitebook

This next quote is from the second contributor I chose Ann Turnbull.  This quote resonates with me so much because to this day people do not understand what it is like to raise an intellectually disabled child.  She speaks about her and her husband knowing that his son was their hardest earned degree.  He passed away at the age of 41, JT had an intellectual disorder, mixed with slight autism and bipolar disease.  Making sure he had the best quality of life was their number one priority.

 

"Rud and I have six degrees between us, but we frequently say that ‘‘JT is our best professor.’’ Over the years, he has continued to teach us lessons—sometimes more than we wanted to learn. We often comment that what makes him such a challenging professor is that ‘‘he so often gives us the final exam before we’ve had the course.’’ This means that when we fail the final exam, he takes us back through ‘‘remedial learning’’ until we master the lessons required to calibrate his supports and services in order to ensure his individual quality of life and our family’s quality of life."

--Ann Turnbull 

Other quotes:

 

"I had just a built-in passion that it was important to make a real contribution in the world, to fix all the injustices that exsisted in the world, and I wanted to do that through teaching." 

- Louise Derman-Sparks

“To me making a difference will be helping one child be able to be successful in the classroom; one little sparkle will make the difference for me throughout the whole day”.

-Raymond Hernandez Ms Ed.

 

“What a unique opportunity we have in working with children, we as professionals in the early childhood field have the opportunity to shape a child’s life for the better. “

-Sandy Escobido

 

The above quote relate to the passion and motivation that I feel for early childhood education.  It is so important to think about the children first and to always remember if we  affect one child's life, we are accomplishing our goals one-by-one.

Personal Childhood Web

I feel as if each individual Personal Childhood Web is going to be different in some type of way.  I know mine is going to include those closest to me, and who have remained closest to me through-out my life.  I feel even though it is a childhood web, this lasts through-out our entire lives.  We constantly teach and learn from others as we grow older.  Learning never ends.

1. John – Father

Clearly when you hear father you automatically think of nurturing and caring, but it is so much more than that.  He is my hero and always was through-out my life.  He is a hard-working, determined and motivated man.  Family is his number one priority and most importantly my mother, brother and me.  I’ll always be considered “daddy’s little girl.”  The love and care I receive from him is like no other I will ever feel.  We have a special connection that will last a life time.  He would work nights when I was first born up until I was about four years old, so I would spend the mornings with him.  It would be me, him, and sometimes my brother depending if there was school or not.  He has taught me so much about life already and continues to teach me to this day.  I have learned how to have patience and how to make sacrifices for not only myself but those I care about.  I like to think I inherited his passion and drive.

2. Lisa – Mother

There is nothing that can compare to a mother’s love.  This statement is so true and I cannot wait to experience it for myself.  I feel as if I had an outstanding role model for a mother.  She is awe-inspiring every day and the type of independent woman I yearn to be.  Although her and my father make the best team she has taught me I do not need anyone but myself to make it far in this world.  Growing up we argued and challenged each other daily.  We still do today but I know it is in the best ways possible.  We are so much alike and that is why I believe we butt heads like we do.  Through-out all the arguing and challenging I have never felt more cared for by anyone else.  When my first-grade teacher did not teach me how to read, my mother made sure I learned and quickly if you ask me.  She didn’t want me falling behind in any type of education.  She continues to push me today to be the best version of myself possible.

3. Anthony – Brother

This guy has taught me so much in life and were only five years apart from each other.  There is just something about having a sibling that makes my life that much more special.  It’s a different type of learning with him.  It definitely doesn’t involve that same parental nurturing but something much more.  It will always be me and him through our lives.  When we were little he was excited to have a sister and since I was born he took me “under his wing.”  To this day he teaches me motivation, patience, passion and something as silly as common sense.  I learn through his experiences and I hope to be as knowledgeable as him one day.  I look up to him and admire his inspiration daily.

4. Rosario – Grandpa

When I was twenty I unfortunately lost my grandfather.  He is the most inspirational and admirable man that I know and was lucky enough to have in my life.  I learned through his experiences and the positives and negatives that he had to go through.  I would go to his house after school with my brother and have snack with him and on the weekends to have lunch.  I am grateful for the time we were able to spend together and the life experiences he taught me. 

5. Ms. Yolanda – Second Grade Teacher

This person is just as important to me as a family member.  She was the most caring elementary school teacher I had the privilege of having.  She made sure each child in her class fully understood each concept of everything that she taught.  She made sure learning was fun and creative and made me want to go to school.  After a rough first grade, I started to not like school.  Ms. Yolanda made sure she changed my mind.  She cared for all of her students and would even make phone calls home to inform parents how great we were doing.  I think this is important because parents are used to only hearing from the teachers when their child has done something negative.  What stood out to me the most was when Ms. Yolanda called my house when I had my ENT surgery over spring break.  Although I couldn’t speak to her because I just had my tonsils removed, she stayed on the phone for about a half hour just talking to me and making sure I understood that she was there if I needed her.