Course Resources

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://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• 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.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

 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
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
  • 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.

          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/main/about.cfm
• 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//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• 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.preknow.org/
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Personal Recommended Resources

Fishful Thinking

http://www.goldfishsmiles.com/

This website offers a wealth of resources with activities to do with children. I specifically like it because the ideas offered here help children expand their creativity and different ideas are offered for parents and educators.

Dr.Longorias Website

http://www.drmike.info/

This website offers ideas for teachers, materials, and music that can be ordered through the website. It also contains many more resources like printouts for teachers and a link to a website with phonological awareness activities. I found it to be very informative and fun to navigate.

The Marshmallow Experiment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo4WF3cSd9Q&feature=related

This link takes you directly to a link where you can watch a video of the recreated Stanford University marshmallow experiment. The marshmallow experiment is very interesting to watch and helps you observe how children perceive things different than adults.

Words of inspiration and motivation

                      Dr.T Berry Brazelton

Attachment to a baby is a long-term process, not a single, magical moment. The opportunity for bonding at birth may be compared to falling in love—staying in love takes longer and demands more work.
T. Berry Brazelton (20th century), U.S. author and pediatrician. Touchpoints, ch. 3 (1992).

I find this quote by Dr.Brazelton very inspiring and educational. It conveys the message that a baby needs nourishment throughout the early childhood years and not only at birth. Parents  should be providers of activities that enhance acceptance and teach children problem-solving skills. Teachers should response by being sensitive to each child's individuality.By being physically and emotionally available to children's needs; children are taught the skills necessary to help them set and acquire goals in their adultlife.


 

Piaget and education

“The principle goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done; men and women who are creative, inventive and discoverers, who can be critical and verify, and not accept, everything they are offered.”


- Jean Piaget



          
Every new generation should surpass the past one in accomplishments and expanded knowledge. These two quotes by Piaget reveal that  we must not be content when our children reach us.We should  always expect our children to go farther than we have ever been.It is  vital  to show younger generations to excel in everything they set out to do. Teachers play a very important role in a child’s life. It is never too early to start building tomorrow’s leaders….


            

 

“It is with children that we have the best chance of studying the development of logical knowledge, mathematical knowledge, physical knowledge, and so forth.” –Piaget

There is a large amount of things we can learn from observing a child’s behavior. Children teach us everyday interesting logical things. A child can teach adults to find happiness in simple things. Children enjoy having friends. They admire, value, and trust their friends. If only that perspective would stay through adulthood, the world would not be so complicated. Children live by their instincts. They do not hesitate to make decisions making the task more difficult than it usually is like adult’s do. Children do not dwell on mistakes; instead they examine the error with curiosity. This opens a window of opportunity to learn.

CASA

Volunteer Your Time to Change a Child's Life

Nobody longs for a safe and loving family more than a child in foster care. As a CASA volunteer, you are empowered by the courts to help make this dream a reality. You will be the one consistent adult in these children’s lives, vigilantly fighting for and protecting their fundamental right to be treated with the dignity and respect every child deserves. You will not only bring positive change to the lives of these vulnerable children, but also their children and generations to come. And in doing so, you will enrich your life as well.

- Complete Information can be found at http://www.casaforchildren.org/site/c.mtJSJ7MPIsE/b.5301309/k.9D58/Volunteering.htm

 

CASA I AM FOR THE CHILD CAMPAIGN

I am for the child who has attended eight
schools in four years. Because she’s in foster care.
Because her birth mother, debilitated by mental
illness, neglected her. That is the child I am for. And
because I am, she will be half as likely to
languish in foster care, and that much more likely
to find a safe, permanent home...........
I am for the child who lived in
motels, cars and shelters. The child
who now stands in the entryway
of a group foster home. Clutching
a makeshift suitcase. A garbagebag. As black as the tar heroin that killed his dad.
That is the child I am
And because I am, he will be
half as likely to languish in foster
care, and that much more likely
to find a safe, permanent home.
I am for the child who’s had seven addresses
in a single year. Because she’s in foster care.
Because her father abused her. And because
her mother couldn’t believe her. That is the
child I am for. I am a Court Appointed
Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer.
I am you.

 

Blessings...

My 16 year old daughter April drew this for me. I collect turtles and April drew the "momma and baby turtle" symbolizing us. My daughter mentioned feeling protected and loved when she is around me and this made me extremely proud. My wish is for every child to feel that way....

A special child......

SUNSET
The sun slowly fades away
Getting ready for the next day
Down below you can see
A festival filled with glee
Native Americans chanting and singing
Along with their turtle shell bells ringing
Painted faces and colorful clothes
Even the girls wearing feather bows....

Then you look up and you can see
A cowboy as happy as can be
A brown cowboy hat and black shiny boots
This cowboy isn't looking for any loots
He gazes at the sunset fading away
Getting ready for the next day.......

-By Janeli Chavira.

This poem was written by my 11 year old daughter. She is very talented and posseses extraordinary writting skills. Janeli has touched my heart in many ways because she is a very thoughtful little person. She is very mature for her age and is always putting people's needs first. Janeli is patient and understanding when situations arise. She is very structured in her schoolwork and very detail oriented. At the top, you can see the picture that she drew to accompany her poem. She was only asked by her teacher to draw a picture and she decided to write a poem to explain her picture. This child always likes to excel and go the extra mile. As a mother, I try to reinforce that and teach her new ways to learn. I tell her that knowledge is a treasure no one can steal from you and no matter where you are it will come in handy. As teachers, we must advocate knowledge in children so that they grow up socially strong. By being socially strong they will be emotionally secure and a better future will await them. As parents, we should view ourselves as the most important teacher our children will ever have.

Good book to share

This is one of my favorite books to read to children because it talks about building resilience,positive reinforcement, and self-esteem. It also teaches children the ability to get up when faced with challenges. The book talks about no matter what mistakes you make you can still like yourself! It shows children it is okay to make mistakes and learn from them....

Personal Childhood Web

CHILDHOOD BLESSINGS............

Although my father would bring home a paycheck of about $120.00 a week, He was a very hard worker who always placed his family first.

I first entered the work force at the age of nine. At that young age, my job consisted of walking behind the adults carrying a jug of water while they worked under the very hot Texas sun. At the age of 11, I joined the adults and also weeded the cotton fields just like them. When I was around thirteen years old, we migrated to Minnesota in the summer and worked the fields over there. The Minnesota days were longer and I remember working 12 hour days. The only advantage was that in Minnesota, it wasn’t as hot as it was in Texas. Working at an early age helped me build a strong character and believe in myself. It also taught me to give 100% in everything I do no matter what the task is. Because my father always told me I was a very talented person, I felt like I had the most important job in the world. This helped me become a secure and determined individual.

Maybe for someone that has not been through my experience, this will be difficult to understand. Growing up like that, I learned to be grateful for my parents and also value education. My parents never had an education and that is why they struggled in life. Although I never complained for helping them, I always knew I wanted something better for my children. Working for very little money at an early age made me realize the value of money. I was not the child that was spoiled with expensive toys, so I had to use my creativity.

Since my parents could never afford the big Barbie house, I would build my own houses out of twigs and anything I would find. The toys that I always had were pencil and paper. As a result of this, I spent many hours fantasizing and writing about different stories. I also became a good drawer. Maybe someday these skills will come in handy when I help a child develop his imagination and motor skills.

While cleaning cotton fields, we were a very united family and my parents made it so fun, it was almost like a game. The days were long and tiring but we appreciated a snow cone at Dairy Queen in the evening like it was gold. I am a very talkative person and I believe I acquired those skills because spending so many hours in the fields, my father and mother always taught us to be open and talk to each other so the day would seem shorter. I was aware of time management at a very early age since my mother always instilled in us to get up early and enjoy the freshness the new morning brings. Now that I am an adult, I think I do a good job of managing my time and I cannot help but wonder if getting up for the fields instilled that habit in me. I also value other’s time as well as my own.

My father is a very humble man full of wisdom despite the fact he only completed fourth grade. He always showed me to abide with integrity and honesty. Growing up my father was always there to help me with a science project, history essay, and intricate mathematics. Although he did not have much school he always has been very knowledgeable and multi talented. My father can do anything and just like a child I still believe he is my Superman.

                                          

                                               

                           “MY SUPERMAN”

My mother taught me to have leadership skills and stand up for what I believe. My mother is a person that never learned how to drive and has depended on my father for the last 46 years to move her around. Having lived in the United States for over 30 years my mother never learned to speak English either. These are just some of the barriers she endured and still managed to up bring five healthy thriving professionals who will leave a legacy for generations to come. My mother taught me to be a strong willed hard worker and accomplish whatever I set out myself to do.

                                  
                        "MY BEAUTIFUL MOTHER”

           “MY TWO VIEJITOS”

My oldest sister Martha was always there to cook and nurture me when my mother was working. The fact that we have a 10 year age gap between us did not stop her from playing dolls with me whenever I was bored. By playing dolls and making clothes out of old rags she developed my creativity skills. I remember being a child and watching her put on her makeup and thinking she was going to be a supermodel some day. Besides her physical beauty my sister has always had an essence that brings me comfort no matter what is going on in my life.



                               

                              “BIG SISTER”

                                            Myself and my three sisters having fun..............

                  From left to right; Martha, Lorie, Alma, Dina

Quotes

“You must be the change you wish to see in the world” -Gandhi

This quote teaches involvement, determination and advocacy. It takes action to change things. If we complaint about injustice but we do not do nothing about it, we are a part of the problem and not the solution. As teacher’s, we must constantly advocate for the improvement of children’s futures.

It took one lady not giving up her seat in the bus to impact millions .She wanted to see change; therefore she decided to revolutionize that day the course of the inequitable regulations.........

Thank you Mrs. Rosa Park.

By enlightening children and teaching them values, truthfulness, and integrity teachers are impacting future generations. Every day we must do our utmost to improve on in everything we accomplish but particularly in everything we teach; keep in mind that children are always observing and listening. Through a child’s eyes, teachers are perceived as role models and parents as their first superheroes.