Ideals and Reflections

I-4.6 To promote knowledge and understanding of young children and their needs. To work toward greater societal acknowledgment of children’s rights and greater social acceptance of responsibility for the well-being of all children.
I-1.2 To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child.
I-2.7 To share information about each child’s education and development with families and to help them understand and appreciate the current knowledge base of the early childhood profession. (naeyc)

NAEYC states the primary focus of the Code of Ethics is on daily practice. Daily practice or, as Renatta M Cooper coined - “how I want to move through the world” is clarified by the ideals that are the most meaningful to me and help define the focus of my professional goals . Research is very important to me because it provides proof, or validates a theory. Ideal I-1.2 speaks to the importance of implementing research into ECE programs. I will incorporate this into my professional life by ensuring that college students I plan to teach have an understanding of research as it applies to educational and developmental programs as well as the statistical evidence of the long term benefits for society. I am particularly drawn to the statement, knowledge of each child. We must never lose sight of the individual! I will instruct college students, as I did my staff when I ran my child care center - know each child. A simple yet complex task. This thought is enhanced by Ideal I-4.6. The importance of understanding children and their needs begins on an individual level. I am committed to teaching students how to recognize and meet the needs of each child. Ideal I-2.7 speaks of my responsibility to promote the well-being of all children. I will ensure college students grasp the importance of sharing information beginning with families to work toward greater societal acknowledgement of responsibility for the well-being of all children. Parents have a right to participate in their child’s education and developmental programs. I plan to stress the importance of parental involvement for the sake of the parents, but more importantly because of the huge impact it has on the child. Parents and family members can be empowered to become great advocates for their children.

Self reflection:

I have struggled with self reflection because my passion has led me back to a field with so much opportunity for growth. I am able to see the need and potential for leadership and advocacy. Research has produced a dollar figure on the value of investing in early childhood development and education. There is great potential to make great contributions to this field. However, I must be realistic about where I can be most beneficial. I am gaining confidence that I will be an excellent teacher in a community college. At this stage of my life if I can light a spark in my students to pursue a career that involves being a professional, a leader and an advocate I will consider that I have done a good job.

“Don’t hide your candle”
Linda Likins

“Take pride in what you know and have humility about what you don’t know”
Gina Adams

“Don’t emulate people you associate with, just learn from them………”
Dick Clifford

Early Childhood Resources

“staying current is a tremendous responsibility…never get comfortable with what you know”
Renetta M. Cooper

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://www.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://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video 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/about/

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/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/index.cfm

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/

Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

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 of interest

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3341166/Harvards-baby-brain-research-lab.html#

National Child Care Information Center: http://nccic.acf.hhs.gov/

National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies: http://www.naccrra.org/

National Association of Child Care Professionals: http://www.naccp.org/

National Association for Family Child Care: http://www.nafcc.org/include/default.asp

Information on Early Childhood Intervention

Center for Evidence-Based Practices: www.challengingbehavior.org

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning: http://csefel.uiuc.edu

Research and Training Center on Early Childhood Development: www.researchtopractice.info

The Campbell Collaboration: www.compbellcollaboration.org

The Pathways mapping Initiative: www.pathwaystooutcomes.org

The Promising Practices Network: www.promisingpractices.net