Sunday, February 23, 2014

Examining Codes of Ethics

As I reflect and in retrospect to the three ideals from NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct that are meaningful for me are:
Ethical Responsibilities to Children in which environments for children are safe, healthy, nurturing and responds to the needs of each individual child.
Secondly, the ethical responsibilities to families in this role it is important for early care professionals to remain respectful, keep open lines of communication, and to remember that the family is the primary importance in children's development and the child is the common interest of both the family and the early childhood practitioner.
Finally,  the last ideal that is meaningful to me is ethical responsibilities to colleagues.  When working in management there are ways to making the work environment ideal, being caring, cooperative, showing dignity and integrity, professionalism in workplace relationships in the same way that children and families are viewed is also applicable to how we interact with adults in the workplace.

Three code of ethics of the Division for Early Childhood that are meaningful to me are similar to NAEYC's are  the enhancement of children's and families' quality of lives, also as a practitioner my responsiveness in regards to family centered practices.  Secondly, I support and find this very important ethical and evidence based practices to establish the foundation of what we do with children and families in our care.  Early care is centered around research based practices which allows educators to maintain clarity on the evolving changes in our field.  Lastly which is why professional development and preparation is largely important.  Teachers and other support staff must stay on top of the innovative ways that early care is changing.  This is why early care professionals attend training's and professional development workshops that will enhance their knowledge that help them to implement classroom practice.

These three ideals are significant to my my professional life because each and every day this is what I work toward.  The responsibilities to the children and families are what our mission statement emphasizes and the importance of quality care and best practices is what is I value in my program. This information was so timely since my site is going through NAEYC re-accreditation.  This supports the work that is being done and why we work so hard at doing what it is that we do.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Resource Page: The Value of Resources

Required Resources
  • Course Media: "The Resources for Early Childhood"
    Five early childhood professionals discuss their preferred and trusted resources.
Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices
Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being
Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)
  • 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
Part 5:  My Interest.  Three Additional Resources Related to Young Children, Families, and the Field of Early Childhood
Exchange.  Supporting Early Childhood Education Professionals Worldwide in their Efforts to Craft Thriving Environment for Children and Adults.   http://www.childcareexchange.com/ 
   
INCCRRA.  Illinois Network of Child Care Resources & Referral Agencies. http://www.inccrra.org/
 

Gateways to Opportunity.  Illinois Professional Development System. http://www.ilgateways.com/en/   

Saturday, February 1, 2014

Words of Inspiration and Motivation!

For the quotes of my two chosen contributors form their commencement speeches given for graduate level grads

The first lesson is there is no free lunch in life. Don't feel entitled to anything you don't sweat and struggle for. Help our nation that it's not entitled to world leadership based on the past, or on what we say rather than how well we perform and meet changing world needs.

For those who are minority in this college class, I hope you will never take anything for granted in America, even with a Muhlenberg degree. And, we need to all be concerned as racial intolerance resurges across our land. It may be wrapped up in new euphemisms, and in better etiquette, but as Frederick Douglass warned us earlier it's the "same old snake."

And for any graduates who feel entitled to leadership by accidental birth or color of skin, let me remind that you that the world that you already live in is two-thirds non-white and poor. And that our nation is becoming a mosaic of greater diversity that you are going to have to understand and respect and work with.

I hope each of you will struggle to continue to achieve and not think for a moment that you've got it made. I know you won't ever be lazy. Do your homework. Pay attention to detail. Take care and pride in your work and take the initiative in creating your own opportunity. And don't wait around for other people to discover you, or do you a favor. Don't assume a door is closed…and if it is closed today, don't assume it's closed tomorrow. Keep pushing on it. Don't ever stop learning and improving your mind, because if you do you are going to be left behind. ~Marian Wright Edelman, Founder and President, Children's Defense Fund

"We see children for who they are; remarkable human beings who are just beginning to discover the world in all it contains and provide adults with dilemmas, challenges, joys, and heartaches, as we try to make sense of how they see the world, why they do what they do, and what we should do in response." ~Dr. Samuel Miesels, Ed.D, President Emeritus of Erikson Institute, a graduate educational institution preparing child development professionals

My most memorable quotes about passion, motivation, and wisdom from the professionals in the media segment week 2 are from Ray Hernandez, "As a professional in early childhood we have the unique opportunity to work with children." 
The final quote was from Renatta M. Cooper, "All education is a civil rights issue. This is equity work."