Quotes about children

Resource: www.etsy.com

The essence of resiliency

"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference."
                                                                                                  Reinhold Niebuhr


Resource: http://activerain.com/blogsview/501570/resiliency-quotes-phrases-and-sayings

"Only those who dare to fail greatly, can ever achieve greatly."
                                                                                                 Robert F. Kennedy

Resource: http://activerain.com/blogsview/501570/resiliency-quotes-phrases-and-sayings

Resilience

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."
           Deepak Chopra

Resource: http://activerain.com/blogsview/501570/resiliency-quotes-phrases-and-sayings

Assessing Childen

                If we are to “holistically” assess children, then we must assess the child as a “whole”. This includes all factors and influences that have the potential to progress or disturb the health, development, and well –being of children. I believe that the living environment, level of academics, medical status, and societal models should be measured because they are directly/indirectly interconnected to the child. These are all key components in every child’s life that can carry a major effect on them. A child’s living environment is the first source of development, as parents being their first teachers. Lack in this setting, such as nutrition, disconnected utilities, resources, or protection, can contribute to malnourishment and maltreatment. In my opinion, factors at home directly affect behavior in the learning institution. Academic evaluations are proper when determining whether brain maturation and learning is occurring at normal level. The results from this assessment can either excel the child or proceed with the necessary services required for any discovered challenges. Health assessments insure that children are healthy and growing properly. It can also expose many forms of abuse in situations where children are afraid to disclose this tragedy to anyone. Prominent figures in a child’s life are considered to be the ones that they interact with on a daily basis. This web of supporters must do just that, support them. Individuals such as family members, friends, and coaches should display a positive influence rather than corrupt them with negative ones. If these components are properly assessed, then “holistically” the child is bound for success both now and in the future.

                Children around the world are assessed in different ways. As I was engaged in research pertaining to this topic, I was able to acquire a list of assessment tools utilized by pediatricians in Canada concerning the different ways they assess and evaluate the health, development, and well-being of their school-aged children. Included in this resource file is an array of specialized evaluations that range from socialization to self help, and everything else in between. Please click on the link to access this file, as it is substantially filled with resourceful testing methods and tools for assessing children.

                Additionally, as educators, it in the best interest of our children that we recognize these factors and put forth our best efforts to help families maintain stability for children by utilizing the information from these assessments and becoming a resource in providing the necessary assistance to insure overall success.

Resource: http://www.med.unc.edu/ahs/physical/files/school-based-pt-docs/Ped%20Assessment%20Tools.pdf

Consequences of Stressors

There are many stressors that children experience in their environment. I am aware of the current stressors that children are experiencing that are highlighted by our text books. I have a firsthand account of the affects that violence has on an individual. Violence is prevalent in many households whether it is against children or domestic.

When I was in the eighth grade, my aunt was murder by her husband in our home. We lived in a five bedroom, two bathroom single level home with 13 people. It was tight but we are a close knit family. For as long as I can remember, the women in my family have endured verbal and physical abuse. Imagine being a child witnessing this type of abuse and being absolutely helpless. My only resource and resolution was to pray. The fear was overwhelming and intolerable. I wanted to run away most times, but I felt as if I was in a world all alone. My siblings, cousins and I would lock ourselves in the room to try and “weather the storm.” And my older males cousins developed raged filled anger that boiled over every time my uncle would go into one of his drunken rages.

On this particular day, my grandmother rushed to pick us up from school. The look on her face was one that I could not describe. She had gotten a phone call from our neighbors that we need to come home immediately. We arrived and our neighbors surrounded the house and they were in a state of shock and disbelief. I can vividly remember feeling my heart pound so hard as if it was about to beat out of my chest. I could hear the sirens as if I was standing next to them on loud speakers. We rushed in the house to see blood everywhere; it was all over our living room sofa, carpet, and wall. He shot her seven times with a 9mm, where she died, and then turned the gun on himself. This is still such a painful memory. I can still see the images clearly and get teary eyed when I reminisce about the memories and pictures that we keep in on the mantel and family albums. To this very day, I cannot stand the sight of guns. They cannot be in my presence, my son can’t play with play ones, I don’t not purchase them and I do not allow them in my home. I cannot tolerate any forms of violence. I am non-confrontational and I do not argue. These actions hold too many bad thoughts and memories. I have never really dealt with the affects that maltreatment, abuse and violence has on me and I don’t think that my siblings/cousins have either. My family has yet to sit down and talk about what took place almost 20 years ago, so I have been holding this hurt and fear bottled up inside. As a family, we continued on but that room still haunts me.

Domestic violence occurs all over the world. Children living in these environmental conditions are traumatized beyond measure. There are several stressors that infect the lives of children in South Africa. Incurable diseases, poverty, and lack of resources are just a few factors that children deal with on a daily basis that have a direct impact on their future. The futures of South African children are extremely vulnerable to these conditions and reflect a crisis facing their livelihoods. The external stressors the lack of food security complicates the well being of the children and their lack of financial resources to support their families. The children of South Africa are unable to cope with such sudden floods or access to limited services which lessens their chances of survival. Coping strategies are being put into place to combat the internal and external stressors that they are encountering. According to (Drimie & Casale, 2009),  “The United Nations (UN), charged with overseeing the unprecedented food aid response in Southern Africa between 2001 and 2006, defined the prevailing situation as the “Triple Threat”: the combination of HIV and AIDS, food insecurity and a weakened capacity for governments to deliver basic social services has led to the region experiencing an acute phase of a long-term emergency (Maunder & Wiggins, 2006).”

Reference

Drimie, S., & Casale, M. (2009, September). Multiple stressors in southern africa: the link between hiv/aids, food insecurity, poverty and children's vulnerability now and in the future. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2904441/  

Nutrition/Malnutrition

“The world produces enough food to feed every man, woman and child on earth. Hunger and malnutrition therefore are not due to lack of food alone, but are also the consequences of poverty, inequality and misplaced priorities.”- UNICEF Deputy Executive Director, Kul C. Gautam.

                In my life, food has played a critical role in my well-being. It is the center of my family traditions and good health. I remember as a child being told to “eat all of my vegetables so that you would grow up to become big and strong” or “breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” And now to maintain good health, it is important for me to keep up with proper dieting and exercise. I do not ever remember a day where I didn’t come home to a home cooked meal or went to bed hungry because we didn’t have anything to eat. That’s why it is still so very unbelievable how many of our children around the world do not receive a nutritious meal on a daily basis. It is even sadder that they may not be eating at all. I have often pondered how can something so vital to life be a commodity?

Nutrition/Malnutrition has a critical impact from the womb.  “Proper nutrition is a powerful good: people who are well nourished are more likely to be healthy, productive, and able to learn. Good nutrition benefits families, their communities and the world as a whole” (UNICEF).For under developed regions of the world, food ranks high upon the list of unavailable resources. This lack affects everyone. If mothers suffer from malnutrition, then so will their unborn and probably the whole family. This will also affect factors of sleep, rest, and normal daily functioning. “Malnutrition is, by the same logic, devastating” (UNICEF)

                Somalia has the highest rate of malnutrition around the globe. As of September, more than 200, 000 children are suffering from malnutrition. This cause is not from hunger, but from the malfunction as humanitarians. One third of Somalia is unable to meet the basic essential needs. The poor nutritional status of children results from unclean living environments, unsterile water, health care services, and the quality of dieting and proper infant feeding practices.

The information learned from my research impacts my future work in major ways. As a conscious effort to meet the needs of children as a whole, the service that I provide will accommodate all the factors that influence the lives of children and their development. In order to try to alleviate this issue we must consider the factors that contribute to it and the potential results that are depending on it.

Reference

http://www.unicef.org/somalia/nutrition.html

My Birthing Experience and Others Around the World

      As the new age era approached using technology as its number one source, my nephew was on his way into the world. His mother went to her regularly scheduled appointments and followed the orders of her OBGYN as suggested. As the advancements of ultrasounds and amniocentesis emerged, his mother learned of the devastating news that her prenatal test came back abnormal and that there may be something seriously wrong with her unborn child. Unfortunately, he was born with severe autism and physical deformities. I chose this experience because of the impact it had on me personally as well as my family. It brought us much closer together knowing that we had this fragile life in our hands that we all had to come together to take care of. Everyone in my family committed to the role of being a positive figure in his life knowing that his survival and success relied on us and our roles were vital in his critical life. The research done on prenatal care and child development was essential to us. Becoming educated on the possible affects and life that my nephew would lead better prepared us and accommodated our questions and concerns. The doctor’s diagnosis was that he would not live past the age of two, but I am happy to say that he is now 24 years of age.

                As I was reading about the births in the Sub-Saharan countries of Africa, the death rate of children under the age of five was heart stopping. These deaths were due mostly to malnutrition and diseases. Because this region is under developed due to the war, lack of resources and medical technology, many of these deaths could be preventable if the mothers had access to proper health care services.

                Reflecting on prenatal and child development, I realize how essential it is. We still have other regions in this world that do not have the necessary measures of providing preventative services to mothers and their unborn fetus therefore increasing the death rate caused by the lack of neonatal care. In my experience, it was neonatal care that implicated the condition for which my nephew would be born 24 years ago, and yet it is still not available to all expecting mothers. This has an astounding impact on my perception of child development. Having this science available and not using it is one thing, not having it and needing it is another. I cannot imagine how these mothers might feel losing a child born or unborn.

Reference

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs178/en/index.html

THANK YOU!!!

                I would like to take the time to thank my online learning community of colleagues and instructor, Dr. Dartt here at Walden University. Your inspiration, support, and encouragement have made a difference not only in my online experience but my professional and personal life as well. I wish you all success as you continue your future endeavors of advocating for young learners as “Excellent Educators". I hope to meet each of you on graduation day as we “seal the deal” of our commitment to the field of early childhood education. Last but not least I would like to challenge each of us to persevere with the passion and wisdom that fuels our motivation in life. If I can be of any assistance in our journey of professional and personal development, please do not hesitate to call upon me.

Sincerely,

Dionna L. Palmer

Effective Teacher: Professional Skills & Abilities Video

Absolutely phenomenal.... I am an Excellent Educator!!!!

Thoughts For Teachers

Heart of Teacher

http://www.google.com/

I love this!!!

http://www.google.com/

Code of Ethics and Ethical Conduct in ECE.

Within all professional career fields their are guidelines that must be adhered to in order to be effective, efficient, and productive. These statements magnify core values, principles, ideals, behavior, and responsibilities that support and benefit the well-being of all parties involved. 

As I reviewed NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment, my aspirations and professional goals were strengthened as one entity, being fueled with even more passion and motivation.

As an educator, I hold ethical responsibilities to the children and their families, community and society, my colleagues, and myself.

Each associated value focuses on and supports the multifaceted complexity of the early childhood field and holds vital and critical meaning to my professional and personal endeavors. There are three statements in particular that I consider meaningful components:

"P-1.1 -- 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."

I am a builder of the mind and spirit. My influence will be utilized to nurture the whole child.

"Statement of Commitment: As and individual who works with young children, I commit myself to furthering the values of early childhood education as they are reflect in the ideals and principles of the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct. To the best of my ability I will:

• Never harm children.
• Ensure that programs for young children are based on current knowledge and research of child development and early childhood education.
• Respect and support families in their task of nurturing children.
• Respect colleagues in early childhood education and support them in maintaining the NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct.
• Serve as an advocate for children, their families, and their teachers in community and society.
• Stay informed of and maintain high standards of professional conduct.
• Engage in an ongoing process of self-reflection, realizing that personal characteristics, biases, and beliefs have an impact on children and families.
• Be open to new ideas and be willing to learn from the suggestions of others.
• Continue to learn, grow, and contribute as a professional.
• Honor the ideals and principles of the NAEYC of Ethical Conduct."

I ACCEPT. 

The Code of Ethics of the Division for Early Childhood (DEC)

"Enhancement of Children's and Families' Quality of Lives: 4. We shall advocate for the equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and families to enhance their quality of lives."

References

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.dec-sped.org/

Poem on Education (addional resources)

I Am A Teacher
I am a counselor and psychologist to a problem-filled child,
I am a police officer that controls a child gone wild.
I am a travel agent scheduling our trips for the year,
I am a confidante that wipes a crying child's tear.
I am a banker collecting money for a ton of different things,
I am a librarian showing adventures that a storybook brings.
I am a custodian that has to clean certain little messes,
I am a psychic that learns to know all that everybody only guesses.
I am a photographer keeping pictures of a child's yearly growth,
When mother and father are gone for the day, I become both.
I am a doctor that detects when a child is feeling sick,
I am a politician that must know the laws and recognize a trick.
I am a party planner for holidays to celebrate with all,
I am a decorator of a room, filling every wall.
I am a news reporter updating on our nation's current events,
I am a detective solving small mysteries and ending all suspense.
I am a clown and comedian that makes the children laugh,
I am a dietician assuring they have lunch or from mine I give them half.
When we seem to stray from values, I become a preacher,
But I'm proud to have to be these people because ...
I'm proud to say, "I am a teacher."

by
Stacy Bonino

http://patricia_f.tripod.com/poems.html

Laughter is good for the soul!

Course Resources

Greetings everyone,

This week's blogs contain a collection of reading and media materials prevalent to the support of early childhood education. These resources epitomize knowledgeable resources that can be utilized to comprehend and perfect personal and professional progress in this field. Please feel free to click on the title of each resource. In doing so, you will be linked to the website where you will continue to find valuable information. Also, to the right of this post you will find a section on my blog titled "Articles on Education." These articles are filled with interesting reads about education and are updated daily. Enjoy!

"I think first and foremost my passion comes from, a lot of it is intrinsic motivation that I have for the work that I do." -- Raymond Hernandez MS. Ed

I believe that in order to be effective, efficient, and successful in all that you do, you must harbor some type of motivation whether it is intrinsic or extrinsic.

What are your thoughts on intrinsic and extrinsic motivation?

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

“Children benefit most from teachers who have the skills, knowledge, and judgment to make good decisions and are given the opportunity to use them.” – Susan Bredekamp PhD

Dr. Sue Bredekamp is the originator of NAEYC - Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Education: Serving children from birth through 8 (2009) This process grants learning facilities with accreditation of providing quality childcare services.

As educators, how has your practices been effected by the guidelines?

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

“If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it.” – Lyndon B. Johnson

As I read this quote, it inspired me to think of experiences that I could implement into my classroom that would inventively compel my students to participate in hands on activities, by getting away from the advancement of media, back down to the simplicity of interactive lesson plans and curriculum.

What does this quote say to you?

My favorite book title

My favorite book/book title is The Little Ant. I love this book because its a funny tale of an ant the tries to put various elements like the sun and wind in jail for melting the snowflake that made him slip and hurt his leg. You have to read the story to find out what "really" happened.

Education

What does higher education mean to YOU?