Week 4- Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

            Like in week 2, I chose two National Level Organizations that help the well-being of children and families, and the early childhood field, both the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP). In addition to these two organizations, another National organization I want to share is the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).

            Each of these organizations appeals to be because I think they can make a significant difference in society. For instance, the NAEYC is a source dedicated to providing high quality education to children. According to the NAEYC, “together, we work to achieve a collective vision: that all young children thrive and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential” (About NAEYC).

In addition, the NAEYC website is a great resource with up to date articles and facts that we as educators can apply in our classrooms, which can make us better teachers.

            In addition to the NAEYC, the NSLP also appeals to me because this organization is dedicated to providing low-cost and free lunch meals to children who do not have the means to a nutritious meal. According to the website, “any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the National School Lunch Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals”(National School Lunch Program, 2013). We live in a society where we are so consumed by materialistic things, that we sometimes forget that there are families and children that are hungry in our country. I am thankful that there are programs like this that are able to provide nutrient dense meals to those that are hungry or without the means to provide food for themselves.

            The last organization I found is the Administration for Children and Families. According the ACF website, their mission is to “foster health and well-being by providing federal leadership, partnership and resources for the compassionate and effective delivery of human services” (ACF Vision, Mission, & Values). The ACF appeals to me because their goal is to empower families and promote economic and social well-being amongst families, children, and individuals in the community.

            The job opportunities that appeal to me at the NAEYC is the director, quality improvement & program support position. The job description is that this person is able to manage the team, make improvements to existing programs, and provide high-quality customer support, training, and assistance, in addition to working together with other affiliates. In order to apply for this job I would need to be “well versed in management, quality improvement, technical assistance, and early childhood education” (Our Mission and Strategic Direction | National Association for the Education of Young Children).

            Like I mentioned in last week’s blog post about job opportunities at the NSLP, unfortunately they are not hiring. However, there are volunteer opportunities at the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).  The qualifications to obtain a position as a volunteer is that you need to be of an accredited institution and be a U.S. citizen.

            After searching the Administration for Children and Families, it turns out that since it is a national organization the only way to find jobs is through the USAjobs.gov website. However, upon doing so it seems like there are currently no jobs available for this organization. With that being said, there are no job descriptions either.

References:

            ACF Vision, Mission, & Values. (n.d.). Retrieved September 27, 2015, from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/about/acf-vision-mission-values

            About NAEYC | National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC. (n.d.). Retrieved September 26, 2015, from http://www.naeyc.org/content/about-naeyc

            National School Lunch Program. (2013, September 1). Retrieved September 11, 2015, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

            Our Mission and Strategic Direction | National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2015, from http://www.naeyc.org/about/mission

Week 2- Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

            This week I chose three organizations that focus on helping children from various backgrounds. The National School Lunch Program, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), and The County of San Mateo Children’s Fund.

            The National School Lunch Program (NSLP), is a program dedicated to providing low-cost and free school lunch in both public and non-profit schools. According to the National School Lunch Program, "any child at a participating school may purchase a meal through the National School Lunch Program. Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible for reduced‐price meals, for which students can be charged no more than 40 cents" (National School Lunch Program, 2013). The National School Lunch Program appeals to me because there are so many children in the United States that are without food. I know this program reaches many children across the Nation who may be hungry and the NSLP can help with this deficit.

            The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is a large organization with over 70,000 members in the early childhood field and with 300 regional Affiliate chapters, “all committed to delivering on the promise of high-quality early learning. Together [they] work to achieve a collective vision: that all young-children thieve and learn in a society dedicated to ensuring they reach their full potential” (Our Mission and Strategic Direction | National Association for the Education of Young Children).

According to the NAEYC’s website, this group is dedicated to promoting a high-quality education to children from birth to age 8. This program appeals to me because it is a nationally known program that has 80,000 members whose interests are in improving the quality of the early childhood programs for children and their families. In addition, the NAEYC has a “gold standard [accreditation for] early childhood programs across the country” (Our Mission and Strategic Direction | National Association for the Education of Young Children).

            The County of San Mateo Children’s Fund is a program dedicated to helping low-income, foster children, and teens that reside within the county of San Mateo, California. This program has been in affect since the 1973 and serves more than 4,500 children from birth to age 18 (Children’s Fund, 2015). The Children’s Fund has several programs such as back to school supply distributions, Halloween costumes, holiday gift program, providing refurbished computers, the Maureen Borland Orthodontics Endowment Fund, and baby clothes for low-income and homeless families. This program appeals to me because it is a local program in my community. In fact, I have actually volunteered at this program while I was in college as an undergrad.

            The NSLP is a program that is part of the United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS).  The FNS offers both paid and unpaid internships for students ages 16 and older in high school, pursuing undergraduate or graduate degree. The qualifications for this internship are to be of an accredited institution, and a U.S. citizen. This internship appealed to me because I was happy to read that students as young as age 16 can apply for an internship with the FNS.

          The NAEYC has several job opportunities, however the job title that interests me is director, quality improvement & program support.  According to the NAEYC website, “this person is well versed in management, quality improvement, technical assistance, and early childhood education” (Our Mission and Strategic Direction | National Association for the Education of Young Children). They are responsible for managing a team, the improvement of the program, providing high-quality customer support, training, assistance, in addition to working together with other affiliates (Our Mission and Strategic Direction | National Association for the Education of Young Children). The qualifications for this position are to have previous managing experience in the Early Childhood Field (ECF), 3 years supervisory experience, Bachelor’s degree, and ability to demonstrate recruit and evaluate staff.

            The Children’s Fund currently only has volunteer opportunities available right now. However, in order to be a volunteer all that is needed is to be age 14 and older.

References:

Children's Fund. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2015, from https://childrensfund.smcgov.org/

National School Lunch Program. (2013, September 1). Retrieved September 11, 2015, from http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

Our Mission and Strategic Direction | National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC. (n.d.). Retrieved September 13, 2015, from http://www.naeyc.org/about/mission

Week 8- Reflecting on Learning

Sparks and Edwards mention, "young children need caring adults to help them construct appositive sense of self and a respectful understanding of others. They need adults to help them begin to navigate and resist the harmful impact of prejudice and discrimination" (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 11). During these past eight weeks I have learned a plethora of new knowledge. I look forward to implementing all that I have learned into my classroom. It excites me to know that I have a pocketful of new strategies and techniques to use that will not only benefit me as a better instructor, but will also benefit my students even more. Everyday at my preschool, we have a set schedule, however during circle time this gives me the opportunity to freely teach and educate my students through activities, books, and games.
I want to be a teacher that my students can remember well into their educational careers. I want to influence my students to be better and teach them important life lessons which they can take with them into adulthood. My reason for becoming a teacher is to make a significant impact on my students and promote positive experiences in their lives. In my mind, school should be fun and a place where children can freely express themselves without feeling ashamed or embarrassed for speaking their minds. In addition, parents should be welcomed into the classroom; the classroom is not only for children, but also for parents. I want my classroom to be a place where ideas can be shared and a place of learning for both children and families.
I want to thank everyone for taking the time to comment on my discussions and blog. I really appreciate the feedback. In addition, I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts and ideas, as I really appreciate your opinions and getting a different perspective on the assignments. This course has given me a lot of new insight and I would not have gained as much knowledge that I have without your help.
Thank you, and I hope that each and every one of you succeed in all your for future endeavors.

Elizabeth Santacruz

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Week 7- Impacts on Early Emotional Development

            This week I chose to explore Latin America and the Caribbean. I chose this area of focus because this region is not far from us, and although we live just north of Latin America and the Caribbean, there are a lot of people that still deal with corruption, poverty, and war. Children and families in this region are exposed to violence, exploitation and discrimination in their everyday lives. Unfortunately, many of these encounters are taken place within the family, school and community or state institutions (América Latina y el Caribe).

            In Latin America and the Caribbean, there is a high number of children that experience malnutrition. Malnutrition affects the development of the children well before birth. However, according to UNICEF, “it is now recognized that the period between pregnancy and 2 years of age is crucial for optimal growth and development” (América Latina y el Caribe). In order to help these deficiencies in this region UNICEF works to help pregnant women with breastfeeding as well as provide Fortified Complimentary Foods (ACF), a nutrient dense food and liquid that is supplementary to breast milk to be given to children. In addition to UNICEF working towards eliminating the food challenges, they’re are also working towards eliminating gender disparities in the education system, reducing the infant mortality rate, helping to improve maternal health, combat HIV/AIDS and other diseases, as well as providing ways to access safe and clean water.

            These challenges might affect children by their in ability to focus. If children are unable to get an adequate nutrition this will lead to low energy, interfere with their physical and mental development, thus hindering them academically and lead them to drop out of school. If children are dying young they will not be able to experience life and all that it has to offer. If pregnant mothers are not receiving the adequate amount of medical attention or nutrition, this can lead to complications in their childbirth or can negatively impact their unborn child.

            As an early childhood educator I have learned to appreciate all that I have, and to also remember how grateful I am to teach in a classroom setting with supportive and helping families. I know not all families can always be there to support their children within the classroom, however I am thankful for the ones that are able to always lend a helping hand. In addition, I think it is great how my school does not necessarily ask for donations, but parents are willing to make donations whether it is food for snack time or toys, and other educational resources we could use at the school. I know not every teacher in the world has these experiences, regardless of what it is we are all here to educate, support, and challenge our students to prepare them for a brighter future.

References:

América Latina y el Caribe. (n.d.). Retrieved August 16, 2015, from http://www.unicef.org/lac/overview_4169.htm

Week 6- The Sexualization of Early Childhood

            The topic of sexualization is sad, but true. The media has a big impact on everyone; it not only strives to persuade people to do things, but also influences on how we should live our lives. Unfortunately, young children and adolescents are at a vulnerable state in their lives, which ultimately affects their development.  According to Levin and Kilbourne, “ [girls] learn at a very young age that their value is determined by how beautiful, thin, “hot,” and sexy they are. And boys, who get a very narrow definition of masculinity that promotes insensitivity and macho behavior, are taught to judge girls based on how close they come to an artificial, impossible, and shallow ideal” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 2).

            One example that illustrates how media exposes children to a highly sexualized environment is the movie, “13 Going on 30”. In this movie, a 13-year-old girl, Jenna is searching for acceptance and wishes to look like the models in the magazines. On Jenna’s birthday she invites people to her party and dresses up like a grown up in a crop top, short skirt, wearing makeup, and with a stuffed bra to create breast. Overall, this girl wishes on her birthday to be “Thirty, Flirty, and Thriving”, and the next day Jenna’s wish comes true.

            Another example is when I was growing up, the women in the media including magazines, movies, and celebrities were often sexualized and were often thin, tan, and pretty. At the time, these were the expectations to look up to. According to Levin and Kilbourne, “children growing up today are bombarded from a very early age with graphic messages about sex and sexiness in the media and popular culture” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 1). Unfortunately, this was my experience as a child growing up, however I believe that because more are aware of the implications of how this affects the child development, the media is getting better.

            Another example is where I have children in my class singing a Taylor Swift song. In this particular song the lyrics talk about Taylor Swifts lists of ex-lovers, how love is a game, and how men are players. At the time I did not think much about the girls in the class signing this song, however now I feel like I should have said something. Levin and Kilbourne states, “when children are young, long before they can fully understand the meaning of sex and sexual relationships, the foundation is being laid for the kind of sexual relationships they will have when they grow up. It is built from their experiences, of course, both positive and negative” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 4).

            Levin and Kilbourne mentions, “in the most extreme cases, the media’s incessant sexualization of childhood can contribute to pathological sexual behavior, including sexual abuse, pedophilia, and prostitution” (Levin & Kilbourne, 2009, p. 4). Now, these are the extreme implications on how the media can affect children.

References:

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books. Retrieved from: http://dianeelevin.com/sosexysosoon/introduction.pdf

Week 5- Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice (E Santacruz)

            I am a young looking 25-year old preschool teacher. In reality, I look like I am 16 years old. I have been working at the community learning preschool center for almost a year, and I have noticed that because of my appearance and age I find that some children and families do not consider me to be a “real teacher”. While I teach, I oftentimes find the children in my class overstepping my authority. These children only do this with me and not act this way with the other veteran teachers. While I am doing circle time with the class and with the other teacher setting up the snacks for snack time or lunch, she will have to stop what she is doing and tell the class to stop talking and to pay attention to me.

            As for family interaction, I think many parents do not take me seriously do to me being younger, however in reality, I am the most educated when it comes to schooling at my preschool center. Many parents will turn to the veteran teachers for any questions or concerns, however I am trying to break this barrier by trying to develop more of a parent-teacher relationship. In my school, teachers lack parent-teacher relationships and daily communication with the parents. According to Eric Hoffman, “families are experts in their own child (Laureate Education, Inc, 2011). And by creating a stronger bond with the families I can better cater to their needs and wants for their child. In the end we both want the best for their child.

            Since taking this course, I have taken more initiative and have written positive notes to the parents about their child’s well behavior at school. It is too often that parents are only told about a child’s bad behavior and does not get any praise for their good performance. By letting my class know that I am writing good behavior notes, this gives them positive reinforcement to be on their best behavior. In addition, this gives me recognition since I am going above and beyond in order to implement a parent-teacher bond.

References:

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Learning     about fairness: Culture, language, and economic class. Baltimore, MD: Author