RESEARCH AROUND THE WORLD

I viewed the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) website: http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

Some of the current international research topics that I found to be very interesting were:

1. Improving the Quality of Childcare Through Parenting Enrichment and Training of Trainers: The Eritrean Model by Abeba Habtom of Eritrea, Africa – This is really interesting because this topic demonstrates that in other countries there is a need to improve quality.  Here in Virginia our center participates in Virginia Star Quality Initiative which is a program that provides mentors to early childhood centers and family day homes that would like to improve the quality of care they provide to children and their families.  During our time in this program we have renovated our center, teachers have achieved their CDA (Child Development Associate) from the Council for Professional Recognition in Washington, DC and a few are enrolled in a Community College to achieve their Associates degree in the early childhood field.
2. Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development by Rosemary Hua of Nigeria, Africa  -  In my view when partnering or developing relationships with parents of preschool children the majority of the time it is the mother that develops and maintains the relationship.  It is very rare to see a male involved with preschool education.
3. Curriculum Development Using Community Resources by Wunesh Woldeselassie Bairu of Eritrea, Africa – This topic was also interesting because curriculums and how they are executed in education are so important.  As professionals learn more and more about young children opportunities are presented to improve current curriculums.

What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website? Some of the information that was interesting is the fact that their studies are similar to the needs that are here in the United States: curriculum development, parent involvement and quality programs.

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website? The Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) commitment is great.  “The ECDVU is committed to improving the quality of life for children and their families in Africa. The program seeks to accomplish this through working, on a sustained basis, with ECD leaders from across the continent” (ECDVU, 2007).

References

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) , 2007. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/about.php

Option 2

Imagine that you possess the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field. Imagine further that you are not restricted by the reality of the present. Imagine that your study will make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and/or their families. What topic would you choose? The topic that I would chose would be the affects of early childhood programs on young children’s future success. What can you imagine the positive contribution(s) would be? The positive contributions would be an higher rate of high school graduates and college graduates, successful/positive participants in society, low crime rates and minimal amount of individuals in prison.

Personal Research Journey

I am not to familiar with the research process.  The information from the articles this week gave great insight on how to determine the quality of electronic resources and the text gave insightful information on how to refine your topic.  After reading Chapters one and two of the text Doing Early Childhood Research I have narrowed down my topic and will focus the research simulation on how children develop social/emotional skills through early learning environments.  My reasons for studying this topic stems from my experience in the classroom, as a director of a nonprofit child care center for at-risk children and my desire to advocate for young children.  During the course of my career I have experienced children raising children, children that have been pushed through the school system without having the proper education, which indicates that they have been set up to fail, and lastly, seeing young children that lack in social/emotional development that I believe is gained through the early childhood experience.

Having the chart is a great tool.  While undertaking research the chart will keep me focused.  The simulation process took a little longer than I anticipated.  After finding information on my topic there were several articles with research that supported social emotional development but some of the research focused on the adult interaction, others on the environment and one focused on that development in the classroom environment.  The insight from our first week’s resources on how to read research articles was a tremendous help.

While learning about the research process and conducting research during this course I welcome all advice from you all that will assist me in my research process.  Definitely during this process I will be keeping the articles, text book and other guides with me at all times to ensure that I am interpreting research terms appropriately and grasping an understanding of the context given.

Final Blog

I learned a lot of information regarding early childhood.  1).  There are similar challenges regarding early childhood that are being faced in other countries in the early childhood field, just to name one would be the allocation of funds.  2) It was awesome to subscribe to an online newsletter of an early childhood organization.  In subscribing to the newsletter I was able to keep abreast of upcoming policies regarding the early childhood field and also invite others to share their views with their policymakers in regards to certain policies.  3) My desire to be an advocate for young children is greater after the interaction with my peers during the course learning from their international contacts and the study of different issues and trends throughout this course.

One of my goals is to continue to seek additional international contacts to continue my advocacy of young children and seeking answers in bettering programs.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

Two of my professional goals are to gain a wealth of knowledge as it relates to the early childhood profession and to serve as a advocate for young children.

In viewing the UNESCO website in regards to quality in the field of early childhood care we must focus on the development of the child holistically versus preparation for schooling.  The site also addresses the importance of family and community involvement.  Resources remain one of the issues that are lacking when it comes to expansion of quality in the field.  Governance of the program will only be successful with the different sectors, national, local, public and private, working together as a unit.

References

UNESCO, (2011).  Education. Retrieved April 16, 2011 from  http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/quality/

Sharing Web Resources

Follow some of the outside links that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead? The stories of interest were in regards to funding and an article entitled Pre-K Students Unprepared for Kindergarten—Imagine Learning English Helps which indicates that a literacy-rich curriculum assists children in excelling in kindergarten.

If you receive an e-newsletter, follow a link related to one of the issues you have been studying.

What new information is available? An article that ranks each states child care centers regulation and oversight. Go to http://www.naccrra.org/ and click on the article entitled We Can do Better: 2011 Update: NACCRRA’s Ranking of State Child Care Center Regulation and Oversight to view your states’ ranking.

Additionally, find out if the site you selected at the beginning of this course offers any information about the issue of this week: In an article on the NACCRRA’s website entitled The Economy’s Impact on Parent’s Choices and Perceptions about Child Care the report revealed that “quality and cost remain the most important factors for parents when choosing child care” (NACCRRA, 2011).  Here again inequities in funding rear its head.

Does the website or the e-newsletter contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education? Allocation of funding continues to be a major issue.

What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or the e-newsletter?  I received an e-mail on this week from the NACCRRA e-newsletter.  On the NACCRRA website Capitol Connections **Breaking News** --

Complicated Federal Budget Situation Continues:

Government Shutdown Likely; How a Shutdown May Affect CCDBG;

Negotiations Continue for Remainder of the Year;

We Need You To Take Action!

“The House of Representatives may vote on the Ryan budget resolution next week.  It is important that House Members hear from you as soon as possible.  Ask them to oppose the Ryan budget resolution which cuts funding for programs helping families with children (like child care and education).  Tell them that you oppose tax cuts for the wealthy at the expense of everyone else. Now is not the time for $700 billion more in tax cuts, which would be paid for by cutting children’s health care, family food assistance, and early childhood programs.” (NACCRRA, 2011).

References

NACCRA, 2011. The economy’s impact on parent’s choices and perceptions about child care. Retrieved April 9, 2011 from http://www.naccrra.org/publications/naccrra-publications/economy-impact.php

NACCRA, 2011. We can do better: 2011 update: NACCRRA’s ranking of state child care center regulation and oversight.  Retrieved April 9, 2011 from  http://www.naccrra.org/publications/naccrra-publications/publications/states/Virginia.pdf

Getting to Know International Contacts

I have not heard back from my international contact, but here is the information that I gained from the Center on the Developing Child website and the audio from this week. I learned about the initiative established by the world’s government to “end poverty and hunger, ensure that every child worldwide completed at least a primary education and reduce child mortality by two-thirds by 2015” (Center on the Developing Child, 2010).  The initiatives are known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
 

Dr. Shonkoff at the “World Conference on Early Childhood Care and Wealth of Nations” September 27-29, 2010 speaks to the importance of brain science in child development and the unhealthy effects of early-life adversity have ramifications both on long-term health of the individuals and society” (Center on the Developing Child, 2010).

In addition to the information gained from the Center on the Developing Child website I enjoyed the audio from Vasquez on the Excellence and equity of care on education on this week. As she discussed Standards, School Readiness, Achievement Gaps and Assessment Challenges.

References

Walden University (2011). Excellence and equity of care and education. Retrieved March 30, 2011 from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/crs/default.learn?CourseID=4895003&Survey=1&47=7787673&ClientNodeID=984650&coursenav=1&bhcp=1

Center on the Developing Child Harvard University (2010). Global gathering in Moscow put spotlight on early childhood issues.  Retrieved April 2, 2011 from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/topics/global_child_development/moscow-conference/