So Hard to say good bye

It was such a pleasure reading the responses from you each week. There was a lot of information that was shared to help me grow and learn as a professional. Reading stories of your personal life as well as getting to know what inspired your drive as a professional lead me to the realization that each person in this field has a passion for it. Regardless of demographics the reason for enrollment was evident through each post, each week. There is definitely one thing we have in common and that is the love of the children and the drive to see them succeed not only in early learning years but through out life. Thank you for sharing. You may keep in touch with me by contacting shalicebullock@att.net.

Leaving Groups... How is it?

I had the opportunity to be part of a group called teachers of the round table. Stage 1 of this group was forming the teacher mentor that worked the district brought all of us together every Wednesday evening.  During the forming stage we were all introduced. We got to know what age group and school we all came from the number of years of experience. Stage 2 of the group was storming. Everyone shared ideas and classroom strategies. Sometimes we shared about the same behavioral problem child and what worked and didn't work that week. There was always one teacher that wanted to out talk the group. She wanted to express to everyone her opinion about everything. Once we got to stage 3, norming, we all were pretty familiar with what to expect from each other. We also had delegated duties that made things run smooth. In stage 4, the performing stage, Each person in the group was reaching the goal of becoming more distinguished professionals and ensuring the best academic success for the students involved.  In stage 5, the adjourning stage, we had a pot luck. It was great to share dishes and talk amongst each other freely and not focus on the mission. One of teacher from the group and I became very good friends. We still laugh and talk and occasionally share strategies. Its  also great to have the adjourning stage because it gives closure to the group and a chance to say goodbye and ensure the mission was accomplished.

Compromising Effects

Compromising is very difficult. The reason I say this is because those involved each want their own way. The last argument I had was with my ex husband. We both wanted full custody of our child and the rights to the property. I was willing to compromise all entitlement to the property for full custody of my child. He wanted ne to compromise my rights to the property and custody of our child. That was not a good deal in my eyes. Therefore, it became a very uncompromising situation. Although, I have learned to take the positive approach to communication. I don't think it deems effective when the other person involved lacks the same effective communication skills.

Communication self perception vs what others see

The way I was evaluated in the verbal aggressive category showed that to those I come in contact with that I am fair and hold positions related to facts. I viewed myself as argumentative and an attacker when someone doesn't hold the same position as me.  We all agreed that I show empathy and concern to others. In communication anxiety I viewed myself as constitutional I care about some communication factors but not all. They both viewed me as comfortable and confident communicating in all situations. From these evaluations I learned that I am more confrontational than willing to listen. This shocked me because I always viewed myself as caring and willing to listen and provide effective communication. However, my mother and colleague view me as being the kind gentle communicator that I thought myself to be. Their perceptions helped me to see myself as a greater communicator than I viewed myself as. I feel comfortable in all areas of communication. However, I tend to be debatable and always see my side of things. They viewed me as the total opposite type of communicator. Yet we all agree that I am a great listener.  My own perception of myself is a lot stronger and firmer than what they actually see.

Different Communication

I sometimes catch my self speaking slower or with a distorted accent when I am speaking to someone with an accent different from mine or what I call broken English. I can often ear myself when I do so I try to stop and gain control over what I call mimicking.

Communication Idoled

My cousin Tracey Parker has excellent communication skills. I idol her skills because she has the ability to think, rationalize and comprise agreements. Her use of words reminds me of the video watched this week Change your words Change your world. She told me as child she would teach her self a new vocabulary word everyday. She would write the word, learn the meaning,learn the origin and frequently find chances to use it through out the week. She also a passion for music which in my opinion further creates her creative ability to communicate.

Purple Feather Online Content Specialists. (n.d.). Change your words, change your world. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnVbiTwkvp4&NR=1

If a major catastrophe occurred...

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you...

The First Item I will take is my bible Because through Him all things are possible.
The next Item would be a family picture. I would like to remembered and have my grandchildren and even great great grands be able to see what who I am.
The last item would be my blanket. I have a blanket that has been passed through my family for years. I believe this blanket to my protection and hugs when I need to warmed and loved.

If they decided I can only take one item that would have to the blanket never know where I may end up.

My Connections to Play

“Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning…They have to play with what they know to be true in order to find out more, and then they can use what they learn in new forms of play.” ~ Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood)

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity.” Kay Redfield Jamison (professor of psychiatry)

                   

As a child my parents supported all of my play ideas I remember reading books and imaging I was the characters in those books. My parents never stopped me from playing. At times I was a princess ruling a palace at other time I was on a deserted Island no matter what my day was like or what game I decided to play my family supported and at times even joined in.

Today I feel as children do not use imagination the way others did back in time. Today's children are a lot more knowledgeable with technology and the Internet. Children are expected and required to know more in this day and time.

Relationship Reflection

The leader of the pact that has truly inspired my life is my mom. Growing up my mother supported everything I wanted to accomplish in life. Even if it was a dream she didn't agree with she continued to show her support. my mom instilled in me all the values I needed in life to become the woman I am today. Even til this day she still continues to encourage me and all my silly ideas.

My Mom

The next person that is the light of my life the reason why I continue to be strong and live everyday to be greater is for my loving daughter Amia. She impacts my life in ways that are priceless.

My beautiful daughter & me

My dad is the greatest person for me to talk to when I need the truth. He will give me his opinion uncut and raw and by no means will he be like my mom and encourage me to try if he thinks its not a good idea. My dad has been a great inspiration in my life even as a child. I remember getting sick and my dad and I would play a game called pass the cold. That where I had to give him all my sneezes and coughs and he would kiss away my cold until I passed it to him. He always said he was bigger and stronger and could tolerate being sick better than I could!

Lil bro & our dad

My younger brother is another person that gives me the love and support family is all about. When ever I need him he is always there. Although he is bigger than me I am still the BIG sister!!!

lil bro & me

Last but not least I can not forget my Chinese Crested dog Sprout. I love him for making me feel special when ever I am sad or down I can count on him to be there to make me smile

Sprout

Playtime More than Fun Time

Play is usually seen in three different ways. There is the play that the parents see as just something children do. There is the play that teachers see as learning and then there is play seen by children as fun! But the little secret discovered during research is that play is learning and it is fun and it is something that children naturally do! read more on learning through play by clicking on the link below:
http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/documents/make_the_most_of_playtime2.pdf

Social Emotional Behavior to Change the World

I am choosing to research social/emotional development. There is so much new research on the importance of teaching children self regulation skills and making friends. This new research and the findings of Dr. Becky Bailey can possibly lower crime rates as the children get older. Learning and understanding self regulation can change the way the world begins to think.

Wonders in the World

As I sat back and thought of my post for this week the devastating news of the Kindergarten children shot in Connecticut ran across my television. Not only was I appalled by the fact innocent children where taken away from there families. I was even more devastated that it happened at school a place where children should be safe. How could someone create such a selfish act and take these children away from their families , friends, schools and communities. I sit back and think of every thing that has been learned during this course and I wonder will UNICEF or The Global Children's Initiative be there to support these families in this dire time of need?

Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website

On Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative” website, There are many things being done to help children around the world. In Zambia the Early childhood education initiation is being launched along with UNICEF to help bring a greater early childhood experience. Brazil politicians, policymakers, public managers and civil-society leaders had come together for the first time because of an executive leadership course on early childhood development, which was hosted by the Center on the Developing Child. "... growing, interdisciplinary body of scientific research is already starting to transform the health and well-being of children in the highest-income countries and offers promising opportunity for other nations. Much work needs to be done, however, to successfully raise the commitment to an integrated approach to child development that would enable such breakthroughs to cross economic and national borders" (Harvard GCI, 2012).

http://developingchild.harvard.edu/topics/global_child_development/

My Supports

I know I've spoke of them before but I must say my greatest support is my family. There is never anything that I cannot count on them for. I look to them for insight and guidance when things are bothering me or hindering my growth and happiness. I love my family for all that they do for me and I just cant thank them enough.

Poverty Rising in the Recession creating Unfit Parents

Although UNICEF does a lot to help children around the world. They reality of poverty is right in our own back yard. After reading the article  The recession’s toll on children written by Novotney, A. in 2010. I felt a little bit of controversy arise in my thought process. In my opinion not only was the implication of the poor being unfit to educate their children but that the fact that those new to poverty have deemed their children to failure in life. I believe the reason why this struck a nerve in me was because I am not the most fortunate parent. However, education is something I provide in consistency to my child. I am also new to the world of single parenting so for the thought  of someone telling me I am now inadequate and have deemed my child to failure stuck a knife in my heart. With politicians being the decision makers and determining who receives funds, where, how and when; I see no other way but to make a way. With the turning of the economy and the recession continuing to rise it is survival of the fittest out here and I am a survivor.

EDUCATION in the DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

An issue spoke of from a teacher from the Dominican Republic is the fact that education is not as popular as in the United States. "Education is not a big of a deal there" she stated. continuing on to say "The students need to work harder over in the US, teachers require the students to do more work while teachers in DR are really strict; there is no opportunity for a second chance if you miss any work.". "The US educational system is valued as a tool to success."

UNICEF Helping Children Around the World

UNICEF is the United Nations International Children's Emergency Funds http://www.unicef.org/index.php

UNICEF advocates for children rights. They influence decision making and policies for children. UNICEF was created to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. 

I first became interested in UNICEF for what it does to help children recognize a purpose in life to help overcome any struggles they are facing. UNICEF is there to help in any emergency and advocate for children all over the world. UNICEF travels from country to country making a difference in the lives of children.

OCTOBER 11th has been recognized as National Girl's Day! This is important to give young girls a sense pride and understanding of self worth as thbey enter into womanhood.

My Birthing Experience

    My birth with my daughter was a very memorable one. I did not have any of the hard labors that many women speak of. I had her naturally with no pain medications. I did not even know that I was in labor. I started to see blood which made me nervous when I reached the hospital they told me I was in labor. By the time I reached a room my water had broke and twenty three minutes later my daughter was born.
    China's one child policy was established by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979 to limit communist China's population growth. Although designated a "temporary measure," it continues a quarter-century after its establishment. The policy limits couples to one child. Fines, pressures to abort a pregnancy, and even forced sterilization accompanied second or subsequent pregnancies. (Rosenburg, 2012, pg.1).
     I cant imagine the restriction of having one child. Life is an opportunity that should be granted at the women's discretion. The choice to create a family and determine the family size should be discussed amongst the man and woman not the country leader.

Rosenburg, M. (2012) China's One Child Policy retrieved at http://geography.about.com/od/populationgeography/a/onechild.htm

Our President talks about education

"And I’ve said this all across the country when I talk to parents about education, government has to fulfill its obligations to fund education, but parents have to do their job too. We’ve got to turn off the TV set, we’ve got to put away the video game, and we have to tell our children that session not a passive activity, you have to be actively engaged in it. If we encourage that attitude and our community is enforcing it, I have no doubt we can compete with anybody in the world".
             - Barack Obama
Source: 2007 Des Moines Register Democratic Debate Dec 13, 2007  

Children Choosing their Path

     
In my opinion there should be more research that helps children to choose their career path. Once children get to high school many of them have dropped out. Many times the reasons are schools being to general or the fact that many have families to care for at a young age. There are vocational and GED schools to help them get an education to prepare for life. However, the high school diploma should be made with the same criteria. For example I had a cousin that dropped out high school at the age of 16 she took her GED and was taking college courses by the time she was 17. When asked why she stated she was tired of High School and the structure. If we start children exploring early and gear them toward the path of choosing a future occupation they may be more acceptable to becoming a high school graduate.

"90 million females in India are non-literate But 20 per cent of children aged 6 to14 are still not in school and millions of women remain non-literate despite the spurt in female literacy in the 1990s" (UNICEF, 2001, p.1). India has more girls that drop out of school than boys. most of this has to with class and gender issues that arise from the caste. There is also child labor that still exists in many parts of the country. So the education of children are affected especially for girls.

Work Cited: UNICEF. (2001). Education. retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/india/children