Thanks everyone for making child development interesting!

 

A child seldom needs a good talking to as a good listening to.
- Robert Brault

 

Children are one third of our population and all of our future.
- Anonymous

Testing Children's Minds and Abilities

    
     
     When testing for children's intelligence, I think there has to be a better way. Why can't the grades that a child makes at school be good enough? Why do the state and federal government keep coming up with more standardized tests? I don't really have a good answer for this question. I feel as others do that one or two standardized tests shouldn't determine if a child is intelligent or not! This last school year more standardized tests in math were given to the students in our schools. Most of the students didn't do well because they have never been taught and tested in this manner before. Now teachers have to teach Math in a way unfamiliar to them and the students. Do all  have schools have to do this dance for the state and federal governments? Now all students have to show and explain every little detail of a math word problem to the point of ridiculousness. Who comes up with these tests? Who decides what needs to be tested? Is it people that have never taught in school before? I really wonder sometimes.....One thing that changed about out standardized tests this year is that these scores were added and averaged into the children’s overall grade at the end of the school year.  I guess it can be a good or bad thing.  At least the scores were only a portion of the child’s grade and not a major part, but also it made the children that don’t try very hard on these tests realize they will be penalized for not trying.  I just hate that teachers get penalized sometimes for children that don’t try.  You can do your best all year teaching, then when it comes to testing, the children that either don’t test well or the children that doesn’t care can then affect a teacher personally in more ways than one.  These type tests are going away in a year or two and I’m not sure what will replace them.  It could be worse or better!  

     I read that in Latin America, children don’t even go to school very often or very long.  There is no standardized testing either.  Teachers make up their own tests for children.  They are trying to change things, but up to this point education in Latin America is still lagging way behind.  Children in Latin America are some of the least educated children when compared to other nations.  Poorly trained teachers and disorganization is part of the problem.  Education is lacking in quality and quantity as well.  This nation acknowledging failure is the first step in fixing the problems.

 

Reference 

The Economist. (2002, May 9). Cramming them in: More Latin Americans are being educated, but not well.  Retrieved from http://www.economist.com/node/1121601

Stress on Children's Development

Stresses come in all forms. Children seem to be the most affected by stressors on the family.  Chaos is a stress that I see in children at school all the time.  By chaos, I mean that the children may move around alot or stay at a lot of different places.  They do not have a stable home.  Some children stay with parents or a parent one night, the other parent another night, or grandparents another night all in the same week.  The moving around during the week is rough on children. They come to school not prepared because someone didn't help them get their homework done or they may have left their schoolwork at another family member's house.  I see this pretty often. It is really rough on the child when the parent/grandparent disagrees with how to discipline the child.  Teachers sometimes have different relatives giving them different directions and that causes major chaos.  The child ends up getting away with a lot because the teacher doesn't want to get in the middle of family drama.  Teachers have to just do their best and make the child follow classroom rules and the child gets in trouble for not having their homework done, for example. 




Water Wars in South America

South America has 29% of the world's fresh water reserves according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.  Thus, the government displaces families at will to get to the water or get the water where it's needed.  This affects children's lives.  By losing their home, children and families become homeless. People are going to war to fight over these waters and some are dying over it.  The government is displacing water to different mines around South America. The government is taking the public waters and using it for mining instead of letting the people use it for drinking and farming. The people are trying to fight back, but it's really difficult against big corporations. All the fighting is causing chaos and stress on the people and families trying to make a living.  The government says it puts the publics need for water first, but that isn't what the people are seeing.  Water for mining has become priority for the government because of the financial gain.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-13/south-americans-face-upheaval-in-deadly-water-battles.html

Malnutrition Affects Child Development Everywhere

Malnutrition is a topic of grave importance, because without food we all would perish.  This topic has always been a sensitive issue with me.  I didn’t grow up having to worry about food, but so many families do on a daily basis. I am blessed to not have this issue personally, even if I have to charge groceries sometimes. Not all people have the luxury of having a credit card at their disposal to use. I have a sensitive side when I see families, especially children, suffering. I know of people here in the US that is not able to buy food like they need to be able to feed their families properly.  On the other hand, I see so much food being thrown away at school every day that it just kills me to see this waste.  Especially, when I know there are starving children in other parts of the world, like Southern Africa that would love to have some of the food that we throw away on a daily basis.  I have always heard about starving children in Africa.  It just breaks my heart when I see the pictures in the infomercials trying to raise money for them!  

 When I began my research into this topic, I wasn’t shocked to find out that of the African countries, Sub-Saharan Africa has made the least amount of progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goal of reducing hunger by half by 2015 (Folaranmi, 2012).  The

Horn of Africa is experiencing the worst food shortages in recent years, partly because of increase in population, political conflicts, and climate changes.

The definition of food security and malnutrition

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life.”(8) This definition is based on four dimensions: the availability of sufficient quantities of food of appropriate quality; access by individuals to adequate resources for acquiring appropriate foods for a nutritious diet; utilisation of food through adequate diet, clean water, sanitation and healthcare to reach a state of nutritional well-being where all physiological needs are met; and the ability of populations, households and individuals to have access to adequate food at all times (Folaranmi, 2012).

Honestly, even in the best circumstances, it is hard to meet the definition requirement of food security.  We may live (I live in the US) in a county where food is abundant in stores, but that doesn’t mean we can afford to buy when and what we want.  I want to be able to help children and families one day through mission work or charitable organizations to have enough food to survive. 

Reference

Folaranmi, T. (2012, September 17). Food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa: Current trends, causes, and consequences.  Consultancy Africa Intelligence.

www.consultancyafrica.com

My childbirth experience and births in South Africa

I have two boys, Connor (14) and Tanner (12 next month).  It’s hard to remember everything about their births, but they are the most special births I could ever want to discuss!  I guess I have to say I can remember Tanner’s the most because I was having marriage problems at the time.  It all worked out perfect though, no fretting!!  I went into labor the evening before his birth. I got to the hospital about midnight. I was so nervous and upset. My husband and I got settled into our room and they started hooking me up and checking me out.  The nurses started pain meds after I had dilated enough.  I didn’t have to push near as much as with my first son.  Connor took me forever to push out!  Tanner came out a lot quicker.  I had him at 6:12 am on 6-11-01.  I will never forget that one!  He is a morning person to this day.  We still didn’t have a name picked out for him after he was born, because we couldn’t agree on a name.  It didn’t help that we were still arguing and fighting while I was in labor and even after. Tanner turned out to be ADHD and I feel that it probably stemmed from our not getting along during my pregnancy.  I’m proud that he turned out to be really smart despite the problems!

Birthing experience really does affect the child in more ways than one.  Some women reportedly refuse to go the hospital to give birth and do it at home no matter the complications, because they are too afraid of hospitals. The women had heard how the hospital staff was rough or harsh to others.  The hospital staff doesn’t give proper care to the newborn baby or mother. If a baby came out with any problems, sometimes the staff wouldn’t try to help or save them and would let the infant or mother perish.  Obviously, if an infant doesn’t receive proper care, they could obtain deformities, birth defects, or even mental problems. Some women were reportedly refused pain medications or antibiotics to take home with them.  

I can’t imagine being treated this way.  We are definitely blessed to be in the US where birthing mothers and babies are always priority. Child development has a huge reflection from the birthing experience.  Children born in a harsh environment don’t always live to their potential because of so many complications during birth. Children born in a peaceful and healthy environment usually are born healthier and have the resources to live up to their potential. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule and we can thank God for that!

             www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232413.php

Thank You!

I've enjoyed getting to know everyone and learn from you! Good luck in the future and may our paths cross next class!

Examining Codes of Ethics

I also made hard copies of the NAEYC and DEC Codes for future reference.

The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct contained the 3 ideals I chose to comment on.

1-1.3 To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.

I chose this one because in a school setting, each teacher needs to be able to do this and should do this. Each student is different and should be treated as such. A teacher needs to try to help each student reach their full potential and this may require extra work for the teacher, but that is part of the job.  A teacher should want to see the student grow and flourish under their care! I see really bright students that don’t get the extra attention they need to challenge them. On the other hand, I see students that are falling behind because they aren’t getting the extra help they need just to keep up or catch up.

            1-1.4 To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults.

I also chose this one because I see children at school every day that misbehave at school and disrespect authority figures.  I feel that this is because this is what they do and see at home. I had the experience twice this week where a child refused to do what I asked them and got smart with me.  It is so frustrating and disheartening to see children treat adults this way!

1-1.9 To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful.

I chose this one because I know of a child that was just diagnosed with autism this late in the school year. Now that we know, we can give him the assistance he needs. He will be given different accommodations next week during our state testing (in Tennessee it is called T-CAP). He will benefit from these accommodations and so will the teacher on her scores. It is always in the best interest in the child when we can diagnose and help them with their disabilities.

The DEC Codes:

1. We shall demonstrate in our behavior and language respect and appreciation for the unique value and human potential of each child.

This goes along with the NAEYC Code 1-1.3 I chose in recognizing that each child is different and unique and should be treated as such.

Professional Collaboration
1. We shall honor and respect our responsibilities to colleagues while upholding the dignity and autonomy of colleagues and maintaining collegial interprofessional and intraprofessional relationships.

I chose this one because I see teachers talk about each other behind their backs and it's a shame! We should respect each other as individuals and be positive. There is no need to be childish in the workplace.

4. We shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services.

I chose this one because one day when I am new to the field I will hope someone will take me under their wing and mentor me and help me in all areas including professionalism.

Early Childhood Resources

Early Childhood Websites:

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Websites:

• World Forum Foundation
  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP's mission.
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/
  Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Professional Journals:

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

 Position Statements and Influential Practices:

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  

 Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being:

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

Additional Resources:

Nicki Zolfagharbik has owned and operated a Daycare for over 20 years.

http://www.pbs.org/teachers/_files/pdf/PBS_ECE_resources.pdf

http://www.human.cornell.edu/hd/outreach-extension/early-childhood-resources.cfm

http://www.gryphonhouse.com/

www.google.com  has tons of available resources when early dhildhood is researched!

More resources:

• Course Media: Davidson, R. (2007). The heart-brain connection: The neuroscience of social, emotional, and academic learning. Edutopia. The George Lucas Foundation. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/richard-davidson-sel-brain-video
• Podcast: Spiegel, A. (2008, February 21). Old-fashioned play builds serious skills. NPR Morning Edition. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19212514
• Web Article: Alliance for Childhood. (n.d.). Play resource list. College Park, MD: Author. Retrieved June 2, 2010, from http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/play_resources

Article: National Scientific Council on the Developing Child. (2004, Winter). Children's emotional development is built into the architecture of their brains (Working Paper No. 2). Waltham, MA: Author. Available from Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University website
http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/resources/reports_and_working_papers/working_papers/wp2/

Article: Shonkoff, J. P. (2006, November). A promising opportunity for developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the interface of neuroscience, psychology, and social policy: Remarks on receiving the 2005 C. Anderson Aldrich Award. Pediatrics, 118(5). 2187-2191. doi:10.1542/peds.2006-1728. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/118/5/2187.full.pdf+html

Article: The World Bank. (2010). Early childhood development. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTCY/0,,contentMDK:20246241~menuPK:4697089~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:396445,00.html

Article: Bang, Y.. (2009). Helping All Families Participate in School Life. YC Young Children, 64(6), 97-99. Retrieved April 5, 2011, from ProQuest Education Journals. (Document ID: 1908826341).

Web Article: The National Institute for Play. (2009). Play Science-The Patterns of Play. Carmel Valley, CA: Author. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.nifplay.org/states_play.html

Another nurturing, positive, and important website about the architecture of a young child’s brain is: Friedman, D. (n.d.). Stress and the architecture of the brain. Retrieved April 13, 2013, from National Scientific Council on the Developing Child website: http://www.beginwiththebrain.com/resources/stress_article.pdf

http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/local-wellness-policy-resources/childhood-obesity-reports-and-studies/scientific-observations

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

Some of Patty Smith Hill’s thoughts and quotes I found that resonated with me were these because I believe in them also.

Not so much a quote as one of Hill’s beliefs was that she believed that children being allowed to play freely were valued as much as learning about hard work. She was quoted as having said in an article I read this week:

"When I was about eleven, someone told me about a foundling's asylum, and I decided that a whole houseful of babies would be the finest thing in the world, and I went as far as to ask my mother to help me take charge of one when I grew up" (quoted in Chaffee, 1925). In her retirement, Hill, like many of her eminent Progressive contemporaries, started a settlement house for families in her Harlem neighborhood near Teachers College in a building that was given to her for that purpose by Jewish Theological Seminary, thus fulfilling her childhood dream. (Rudnitski, 1995)

A quote by Maria Montessori that I really liked was this:

“A child will learn naturally if they are put in an environment containing the proper materials.”

I really liked this because sometimes adults interfere with children’s playtime when the child if left alone would learn as much or more without our interference.  A child can learn by just playing with an object and figuring out how it works or using their imagination and playing with that object.  Children also learn naturally from each other.

Some thoughts that were quoted from other early childhood professionals that I liked were:

Raymond Hernandez said his passion comes from wanting to make a difference.

Hopefully, we all want to make a difference in the lives of children. If not, then we need to find a different profession!

Renatta Cooper said to take our egos out of the picture. It’s not all about us, what’s best for the child?

 I love this, because there are many times when we want to do what is best for us as teaching professionals when that isn’t what is best for the child.

Niki's Childhood Web

My mother, father, sisters, and both sides of my family including my grandmas and cousins all had impacts on me as a child.  I guess really all our surroundings have impacts and make us who we turn out to be, but these I mentioned are the most special to me. I should mention that I am from Arkansas. That's where I grew up.

My mother was the foremost and most important person to me because she was always there for me.  She did most of the caring for myself and sisters growing up.  She was there for me all the time.  She worked part of my childhood, but was a stay at home mom for most of it.  She cooked breakfast for us in the morning and she would have us something to eat after school when we got off the bus in the afternoon. She is a loving mother,  We were a "touchy" kind of family.  We hugged, kissed, and loved on each other.  I would sit in my mothers lap, even as an adult.  My mom would do anything for me. 

My father is also an important person to me.  He was more of the disciplinarian growing up. I wasn't as close to my dad when I was young.  He worked alot and hunted in  his free time.I always knew my dad loved me though. He just had so many things going on in his life. He was a farmer and stayed busy with all the things that go with that. He farmed with  his dad and brothers. He retired this year and they sold most of the farmland and equipment, so that had been a drastic change in his life.  He has changed so much since he has gotten older. I'm closer to my dad now than I am my mom.  He is the one who calls and checks on me at least once a week if I don't call him first. My dad is the one I talk to most nowadays in my family.

My Grandma Hill is my mothers mother.  She has passed away now, but when I was younger I loved to spend time with her.  I would go to her house if I got sick during the school day when my mom was working.  She would baby me and cook for me and do things with me.  I always loved spending time at her house.   She always had a lot of magazines to look at. I would sit and read them or flip through them. I always had fun doing that. We would have big family get togethers at her house and she would cook for everyone.  It was great!  Then we started having the family get togethers at my parents house because it was bigger and  had more room for everyone.  I have a big family with lots of cousins and relatives.  She influences my life now, because when I get older and have grandkids, I want to be just like her.  She didn't meet a stranger and loved everyone. 

My Grandma Smith is my dads mom.  She has also passed away now, but when I was younger I loved going to spend time with her also.  She lived in a different area from my Grandma Hill.  My Grandma Smith lived where my dad and his brothers farmed  on the Mississippi River. She lived in the country. She would try to teach me things about canning. She also cooked really good and I learned alot from her about it.  My dad came from a big family also.  He had 3 brothers and 5 sisters.  We had awesome get togethers on July 4th when I was a kid.  All the family would get together and have massive barbecues and just hang out all day under my dads farm shop roof.  We would cook, eat, play, and have a good time.  I would get to see all my cousins that lived out of state.  They all would come visit for these big family get togethers. My Grandma Smith influences me because she was the cornerstone of  her family.  She kept everyone together and was a loving example for all of my family.

My sisters played a special role in my life.  I have 3 sisters.  My oldest sister, Lynn, died in 2008 in a car crash.  My other older sister, Tammy, lives in Utah with her family.  My youngest, sister, Lacy, lives at  home with my mom and dad.  As kids, we played and did stuff all the time.  Lynn and Tammy were older and drove us places like Nodena where my Grandma Smith lived.  We would go to the river and play on the sandbar (kind of like a beach area) or swim in the river.  My sisters and I loved to play in the fields and woods.  We would go on exploring trips and see what we could find. We would all fight like cats and dogs, but we all loved each other too. When we were young, we would sit up on Friday nights and watch scary shows.  We all loved scary shows.  Our mom would watch them with us sometimes too. We also loved to play with our cousins and hang out. We had cousins from out of state that would visit.  We would have a blast playing and talking and just being kids.  I still have a good relationship with  my sisters.  Although, we each have our own children and families, we still try to talk and keep up with each other. 

Charlotte's Web

It's probably cliche, but I love this book!  I didn't read books very much when I was a child but this book always stands out in my mind. I always remember Charlotte trying to save Wilbur's life.  It was so sad and happy at the same time.  I love when all the other farm animals are helping Charlotte come up with  her sayings for her web each week.  They all get involved with the process and want to help Wilbur to live.  It reminds me that it takes all of us to help children to live to their potential; parents, teachers, churches, extended family members, and even friends of the families.  These days it takes anyone willing to put the time and energy into helping and loving these kids for them to grow to their potential. Most parents have to work and sometimes even a lot of hours or odd hours. Children usually are willing to be loved by anyone that shows it to them because they are so starved for attention!

Quotes about children and books

I chose two quotes because they are about children and reading books. I LOVE to read!!  I read at least one or two books a week if I have time.  I read even more in the summer when I don't work.
My first quote is:

"Make it a rule never to give a child a book you would not read yourself."
George Bernard Shaw

My second quote is:

"If you want your children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales. If you want them to be more intelligent, read them more fairy tales."
Albert Einstein

I love these quotes because I feel children should be exposed to alot of types of books, but when we make them read books they don't like, it usually backfires.  Then, they like to read books even less.  If someone made me read books that don't interest me then I would be bored too and wouldn't want to read it.  I hope we can keep in mind that what we like and what the children like are sometimes two different things entirely.  I love fairy tales and children can learn so many things from them like lessons, morals, and values. Fairy tales can sometimes stimulate the imagination and make children create their own ideals and worlds and that isn't a bad thing.

First Post

Wife, Mother, and Teacher Assistant Moving Up

My name is Niki Smith. I am a mother of two junior high boys. Connor is in eight grade and Tanner is in sixth grade. I have been married to Robby for almost nineteen years. I have been a teacher assistant for five years now and I love it! I work in a third through fifth grade elementary school.  I have battled with myself for about seven years about going back to school for my masters in teaching. I finally decided to go for it! I hope to fulfill my dream and make it a reality with Walden University.

I have a bachelors in business and also a cosmetology license. I used to work in a beauty salon in Memphis, Tennessee.  We moved to Big Sandy after 9/11. We live on 12 acres with 3 dogs, 19 chickens, and 1 duck. My life is pretty busy, but I'm looking forward to making room for my degree. I have already noticed some similarities in other classmates. I'm looking forward to making some new friends and accomplishing this endeavor.