"See You Later"

I would like to say Thank You to all of my colleagues for supporting me through their discussions and feedback on my discussion. I enjoyed reading all blogs. This course has taught me a great deal in communication with others, I will take back the information and use it on my job and in my personal life. I think all teachers need a refresher course in communication in the early childhood field. Thank you again and I look forward to working with everyone, but if I do not take the next course with you, I wish you the best of luck on this journey and I wish everyone the best in life.

Closing Rituals

Are high-performing groups hardest to leave?

 

I have worked in groups that are high performing groups in my  church ministry group. I have worked close in which we acted as close as family. When you work together in a good way, it hard to depart from a group where you have formed a bond. The hardest group for me to leave was the job of president of the activities committee of my church ministry group.

What sorts of closing rituals have you experienced or wish you had experienced?

Closing Ritual consists of sometimes parties or goodbye ceremonies, ,programs and dinner.

 

How do you imagine that you will adjourn from the group of colleagues you have formed while working on your master's degree in this program?

 

I have learned that working in an online degree group, you form a closeness with the people in your group, because I can’t wait to get to see what my group has responded to me and others. Sometime you share several classes with the same colleagues. At the end of a course, I always tell the entire group goodbye and hope to work with them in other courses. I always say thanks you for providing me with professional and personal insight that I can share with others.

Why is adjourning an essential stage of teamwork?

My dad always told me never leave someone or something without say your goodbyes.. I would not want to start of project and did not finish it, therefore the same is for talks in group or meeting, they must be closed or adjourned. Adjourning help the team or group the opportunity to say goodbye, good job, and even see you later. I have learned that adjourning means the start of something new and better.

 

Conflict Resolution

I was glad that I have learned some important tools that have helped me to communicate with others. This Thanksgiving, I had to use some of the resources this week to help me with communication issues with family member. I had to tell my family that they have to listen to each other and not interrupt the other while they are talking. There are a few communication/listening skills that I consider essential in our communications with our families . The first on is to be quick to listen and slow to speck. Sometimes we are so set in our ways; we don’t want to listen to what anyone else’s says around us.

One of the greatest communication/listening skills that I consider essential in work that fosters the well-being of young children and working your  family is understanding. Understanding is a listening skill that allows us to interpret and make sense of the messages that we receive (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012). I think that all people want to be not just heard but they want to feel like someone is truly listening and understands how they feel or what they might be going through. When we are truly being active listeners we will try and understand another person’s point of view, perspectives, and ideas (Nadig, 2010).  The resources has taught me so much about communciation with others.

References

Nadig, L. A. (2010). Tips on effective listening. Retrieved from http://www.drnadig.com/listening.htm

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

My Communication

This week I had the opportunity to see how others would evaluate my communication skills both professionally and personally. I did the assessment on myself and then I ask my sister and niece to assess me as well. Both my sister and my niece had similar assessment of me as I did myself. Both said that I enjoy speaking in public and that I love to hear other opinions. I enjoy build other self-concept by making sure that I treat people the way I want to be treated. I like to meet new people and get to know them.  I enjoyed hearing that I give good non-verbal communication as well. My sister and niece also told me that I am a good listener and that I am also someone that cares about other feelings and their opinions.  This week was really a learning process for me about other perceive me and my communication skills.

Communication with others

I believe that I do communicate differently with certain groups of people. I communicate with family and friends differently from my co-workers and supervisors. I think that each group requires a particular communication style. I have more a laid back, and humorous attitude with my family from my work group. I am more professional with people that I work with.. I also think that we communicate differently from people who have a different language than we have.  We communicate with using eye contact, smiles, close proximity, hugs, and kisses with difference cultures and diversity. I try to apply the rule of treating others as I would like to treated with everyone. I think that when communicating with anyone it is best to communicate intellectually, and positively. Good communication is the key to any relationship not matter who or where you are.

Television Communication

I chose to watch a sitcom that I normally do not watch and would not watch, but for this assignment I  chose to watch Family Guy. The following will describe the communication with the television off and on:

The communication skills with the television off:

When I looked at the sitcom with the television off, at first glance you would think that it was a normal family that would sit down and talk and have dinner together. There was smiles, laughter, eye contact and close proximity. It seemed as if everyone was listening to one another.  It seemed as if the eyes was moving really fast the the lips were moving like they were talking and conversing with each other.

The communication skills with the television on:

When I looked at the sitcom with the television on, I got a better opportunity to hear the verbal communications better. There is miscommunication issues of the worse kind I had ever heard. People screamed at each other, cursed , yelled, and did not listen. This family really need better communication and there should be more of leadership role from the parents. The father blatantly disrespected the mother so that caused the baby to disrespect the mother as the well. Listening skills is not evident at all. I will not watch this show again and would advise others not to watch as well. This show lack verbal and nonverbal skills, listening skills and overall lack of respect for each other. All of the things that I saw with the sound off did no seem the same with the sound on.

Competent Communicator

I feel that my father was a very competent communicatore, we he talked people stopped and listen. He would look you in your eyes and ask you questions. He was happy, concerned, fair, truthful and honest. I was the kind of people was always cared about what you thought about a subject. I think that is where I get my talkative ways from. He had good nonverbal and verbal skills. He cares about your feelings and opinions, he was a good of his home. I would like to learn more about those skills so that I can learn to use them in my everyday life. Sometime I do not communicate well with others. I look forward to learning how to listening and talk with others in a bery professional and personal matter.

Professional Hopes and Goals

This course was an eye opener for me. I have hopes that everyone would learn about their culture and diversity and help others to learn to accept each person differences and similarities. One goal I have to use what I have learned from this course to help the parents and children. I would like to thank all of my group colleagues for their insight and wisdom shown in their posts and blogs. We live in a very diverse world and we can learn alot from each other. I look forward to seeing you in other classess, and I wish everyone the best of luck.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

A new child join us from Senegal

 

 

 

 

 

A child from Senegal has arrived at our local head start. But first I must learn some things.
In order to help the child there are several things I must do to learn about the child and his culture.

 

1. A thorough search about the country  of Senegal such as the location, and language.
2. Learn about the traditions, food beliefs and culture of the child, I want to learn about the child's surface culture as well as the deep culture.
3. Prepare my home and school with pictures and artifacts from the countries if possible.
4. Learn words such as hello, goodbye, yes and no in the child language 
5. Make sure that I am  aware of any micro aggressions or biases that I have that could keep me from communication correctly with the child.

Diversity incorporates acceptance and respect. I think it is important to recognize people as individuals; Respect individuals for what makes them different as well as their similarities to others. We want the child to feel comfortable and when children are in a dominate culture that does not empower their family culture, the children can feel lost in two different worlds. Nadiyah Tayler explained that children can start to feel separate from the family and even view the family culture as wrong or not as important as the dominate culture.

 

 



The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression?

Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like. As I look back, for this particular assignment I have to think of the movie Rosewood. This particular movie was so touching and a clear description of prejudice, bias and oppression in Rosewood, Florida. The movie is about a Caucasian woman who claimed that a Black man raped her and it just started a wave rage.

 In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

 It caused people to lose their lives, loved ones and family members. This situation has caused me to think about my life and how it would be different if something like that happen today. Learning about micro aggressions has definitely given me more to think about, especially when it comes to what I think and how I act. I can think back on times that I've said something to someone and they may have been offended by it.

 What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

  I felt anger, hurt, belittle, and humiliated. But I realize that people must remember that everyone has feelings and our differences make us special.

 What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

 I think that people thinking of other differences must change. Everyone has to remember that micro aggressions happen every day and we must be careful how we treat others. Dr. Sue talked about the teacher’s influence and contribution to microagression and how bad their unknown biases create the worse influence on the target’s life (Laureate Education, Inc., 2010). This is something each of us needs to really look at. We have to look at our own cultural framework, biases and our expression of our views to others. It is important that we understand exactly what in our background experiences has created these views so we can work through them. Learning about micro aggressions has definitely given me more to think about, especially when it comes to what I think and how I act. I can think back on times that I've said something to someone and they may have been offended by it.

Practicing Awareness of Microagressions

Micro aggressions in my opinions are a person’s way of using little stereotypical statements or emotions to others. Most micro aggression is negative and unintentional but some are intentional, people know what they are doing. After reading the resources and listening to Dr. Sue I understand that people really don't know they are doing these things so harmful to other. The week has taught me that I have said things that I didn't mean that were not nice but now that I know better I am not going to say or act that way again. I have a friend who is gay and he came over my house this week and an old friend of mine was there and asked me did he know how to do hair because she thought that was his career. My gay friend is an accountant, not a hair stylist. 

I have been at fault for using micro aggression toward a people some point in my life. I have learned a lot about myself this week, and about others that I come into contact with. Learning and educating yourself about other culture and diversities will help you understand better about others and what you say and do harms other people's feelings.

When we work with parents their children, and our co-workers we must know how to effectively communicate both verbally and non-verbally. Parents will be key in this change in communicate effects to change the way we see others.

 

 

Definitions of Culture and Diversity

Assignment:  Our assignment this week was to call, write to, or talk to at least three friends, family members, acquaintances, and/or colleagues. Include at least one person who you believe is in some ways culturally different from you (a different gender, race, class, religion, abilities, age, etc.)

Joyce-Best Friend

what is your definition of culture?" To me it is how we look, talk, smile, laugh, walk, eat, and celebrate."
What is your definition of diversity? “All the different people in the world around us.

Dorothy-Family Member

what is your definition of culture? “Traditions and behaviors of everyone”

What is your definition of diversity? “Diversity is what makes you different from others”

Shirley- Colleague

what is your definition of diversity? "Culture is the differences in people"
What is your definition of culture? “Diversity is your upbringing”

 
In this course, it has taught me that culture is more than just the outside, “When early childhood’s educators think about culture, they think the surface things that are easy to see taste and define.” (Derman-sparks L and Olsen Edwards J.). After this week reading and videos, I have learned more about culture and diversity than I ever knew before. I have a greater understanding so that I can help all of my parents. I am advocate that all teachers take a course in diversity. This course has given me such a greater insight about others and their perspective and how they live.  

References
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves

My Family Culture

The assignment this week was to Imagine the following:

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. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

I chose first my Holy Bible because I never leave home with it. I brings me spirituality, calmness,and humbleness as I read  it. Second, I would take my family photo case which has memories in it over 50 years. I like to sit sometimes and reminisce about the past and look forward to the future. and last and would bring my family's certificates of live birth. All of these items I feel can tell about my culture.

If  I had to just keep one is would be the photo case because the memories in it is priceless and will never be forgotten such as first birthday, marriages, first dances,etc. I would hate to have to give up the other things but, the picture will be able to show, and tell the true meaning of my beliefs, traditions, and foods, I believe that pictures are worth a thousand words. I will be able to use the pictures to tell about my culture here in the United States. I would be very hurt if I had to give up my bible which is my comfort zone and my children live birth certificates. This assignment has ,made me think about what is really important in your life.

Reflection on Research

Over the past eight weeks I have learned and gain many insight regarding research and why we conduct research. Before this course, I really did not think about research. I learned that doing research helps us understand why we do what we do with families and children. In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed? I have a different perspective about research because doing my simulation research, it made me realize how prevalent research is.What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn? I learned that research has to be done according to the research design plan and in order to do research no parts can be missed. Research can be mind blowing but once you learn the terms and steps it is a breeze. What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them? I had problems narrowing down my topic but I finally got that done with. What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course? Since starting this course, I understand that research is all about planning and having methods in place that works for the research that is being done. I have enjoyed reading the course materials and learning about my colleagues research simulations and all the topics were interesting. I look forward to sharing what I learned with others. 

Research Around the World

Research Around the World

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

I chose this site, because of its mission statement when I first entered the site. The mission statement was the first thing I noticed and I was high impressed with the wealth of knowledge and information that can be gained from the site. The website was just filled with information and I went to each tab and read all that the link had to offer. I think that the Early Childhood Australia Code of Ethics was the most important tab for me. I was glad to see that there was codes of ethics.  Some of the international topic discussed was quality child care, and child care funding. This website reminds me of the Early Childhood Knowledge and Learning Center. I have already emailed the link to several of my friends who are also teachers.

I was so surprised at all the articles and books that  this website that this website offered which can be such a good professional development tool. I found that each tab offered information that was  related to early childhood and children. I have already asked my agency if I can become of member so that I can received information. I would recommend all educators to look at this site and the information it has to offer.  This website is a great networking tool to learn about what others are doing the field. From this website I can see that Australia is doing similar things and there are passionate people there who care about early childhood education.

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

I would like to share a uplifting story about research on Leukemia. I have a friend whose mom was diagnosed with Leukemia and was hospitalized. Research was being done at St. Jude Hospital  in Memphis and my mom was at a hospital over three hundred miles away and it needed to be shipped immediately.  Her mother had a round of Leukemia that did not get out her kidneys but the doctor knew of a antidote that worked on a child at St. Jude. The antidote was needed to get the poison out of her organs because it had cause her to have mo mobilization on one side and she could not talk.


The medicine was shipped to her mom to see if the antidote would work. Her mom received the medicine and about one hour later she was able to talk and walk again with the help of the research studies on children. The research that was done at the children's hospital helped her mom so much and will help others that will be la similar situation.  Research is so beneficial to lives of children and families. As educators we should embrace research and the work that is being done.

If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?

Albert Einstein

My Personal Research Journey

 Topic for simulation: How does parents language skills affect their children language skills.

When I thought about a topic that interested me I thought about language development in children ages 3-5. I feel that this is a crucial time to engage children in language skills and to help me acquire language skills at a early stage. Children need language to communicate with others but need the help of others to acquire the skills. babies are born without language, they learn to communicate by listening to the world around them. Parents can help their children learn and  develop language from the earliest days with games and books. I encourage parent to start reading to their children as early as possible. Language development  includes opportunities for social understanding, for learning about the world, for sharing experience with adults and other children.

This week research chart helped me do a literature review that will include resource to help both teachers and parents. I am learning how to use the terminology about research will be enable me do a better job a conducting research.  The literature review was sort of hard for me but as I do more research I learn what was including in the literature review. 

I would like to ask my colleagues if they have any insight  or resources to offer on  language skills in children ages 3-5 that will benefit my simulation. Thank for sharing any information on this topic. I look forward to any information you can share. 

Final Blog

Through out  this course I have been able to learn much more about the early childhood field  and how other countries are helping in field as well.  I was not able to make an international contact The podcasts and reading my colleagues blogs has afforded me a wealth of information to be shared with my coworkers.Many countries are struggling with low salaries for those in the the EC field,standards and quality programs. 


The three consequences of international learning is global awareness because sometime every country think they know more than the other when the reality is we all can really learn from each other. In this course I learned that all countries have the same problems as the united states, but we have one thing in common and that's the love of the early childhood education. Over the past eight weeks I have learned that it is important to make contact and learn what what other are doing in the field. You can learn so much from the culture demographics of other countries. The next consequence of international learning is cultural diversity, the pod casts allowed see how other professional in the field share their  thoughts about the field. Learning about other countries cultures offers me the chance to learn about reading the articles and browsing through the websites when was so informational. The third consequence of international learning is building partnerships 

The final consequence of learning about international early childhood programs is building partnerships with global contacts.  Throughout the course, I was not able to establish a contact with a global contact.  I learned so much from reading others blogs which was very beneficial to learning about other countries and the developments in the early childhood field in other countries.  Building partnerships is very essential to any job within the early childhood field which is valuable in helping us create classrooms with global awareness with  respect with cultural diversity. When we build partnerships with contacts from other countries we are able to gain and share information along with  ideas that can help us all. One goal I have for this field is for more international contact be made with local programs to share insights and thoughts in the field. Lastly I would like to say, To Dr. Giordiana, class and group colleagues, I have learned so much from each of you!

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

The podcast Episode 10,by  Susan Lyon which was about how  small child’s conception of the word “city”, and therefore she started learning and reading about young children think, after research on the cognitive development of young children Susan brought the  “100 Languages of Children” exhibit to the San Francisco Bay area. Susan Lyons began work with the Innovative Teacher Project, and she also taught at the Presidio Child Care Center and the San Francisco public schools. She is presently working at a San Francisco Italian immersion preschool.  

UNESCO’s “Early Childhood Care and Education” webpage (http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/), after reading and navigating the website,  I learned about  the  2000 Dakar Framework for Action and their work with  the  early childhood field. I also learned that  other countries have that same issue of money and finance  in their efforts to expand and improve the quality of early childhood care and education as our country does. I think that by communicating and have international contact we are learning from each other and that will be able to help each other’s country. I really enjoy reading and learning about the work that other outside of this country is doing in the field to help children.

I have not received a response from my contacts by I will continue to try other until I have made a contact with an international contact. My professional goals include to be the best teacher and educator I can be and to continue to be an advocate for children and families.  My professional hopes and dreams include to make sure that all children will one day be able to have access to quality education with high quality teachers, materials and standards. I do not see any professional challenges because I will try my best to follow through on my goals in life because if I can beat cancer I can beat anything in life. 

Sharing Web Resources: The National Head Start Association

The National Head Start Association is a great resource for early childhood educators, teachers and parents. The website offers an abundant amount of information about staff development, training, learning opportunities, blogs, parent radio. For this week, I took a look a the Keep the Window Open! tab. I don't know how I had missed this tab before but is GREAT. I got a chance to see what others had to share about their story about head start. On the tab there a link where you can see testimonials from every state. I am going to try to read some from every state, I have already started, it is just amazing how head start has touched the lives of so many and continue to do so. The association has goal of 27 million to tell their story about head start and how it has touched their  lives and changed them forever.


I am a member of the organization, and I receive the newsletter, the newsletter which shares the most recent information about upcoming training and advocacy opportunities and much more. The association is a great resource and that is why I am sharing it with others to share with their co-workers and parents.


As educators we must be able to have resources that can help better the lives of children and families and this is a great resource.






Reference


http://www.nhsa.org/

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 2

I listen to the podcast this week on

Episode 3: Delfena Mitchell

Delfena Mitchell is Director of the Liberty Children’s Home, on the outskirts of Belize City. This program opened in the summer of 2005 and is licensed to house up to 40 children, predominantly between birth to 5 years of age. However, older children who have younger siblings in care are and will always be accommodated.

All of the children at the care center have been abandoned, abused or orphaned and many have disabilities, special needs or are HIV positive. Further information on this program is available at www.libertyfoundation.org.uk.

This week podcast hit home because in my city there is not children's home, and I was at a store and met this young lady who said she was homeless and had been abused and I asked her if she need someone to talk to and I gave her my address. She came to my home and I gave her a meal and a place to stay for the night. I so fortunate to read about people who do deeds for others. 

For the alternative for this assignment allowed me to learn about  The Center's Global Children’s Initiative has begun to build a portfolio of activities in three domains: early childhood development; mental health; and children in crisis and conflict situations.

Early Childhood Development

The first priority in this area is to learn the successful work the Center has conducted in the United States for a broader range of strategically selected audiences, in an effort to energize and reframe the global dialogue around investments in the earliest years of life.

Child Mental Health

Mental health concerns is addressed issue that has significant implications for the broader health and development of children and societies. There is an urgent need to identify the scope of the problem within and across countries and to develop evidence-based approaches in policy and service delivery that are responsive to diverse cultural contexts. To respond to this challenge, a working group of Harvard faculty is developing a focused agenda in research, education, and public engagement to address significant gaps in knowledge and service delivery.

Children and Crisis 

The goal of this effort is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration that incorporates a science-based, developmental perspective into the assessment and management of child well-being in a range of natural and man-made crises, focusing on both immediate circumstances and long-term adaptation. Two issues are the initial focus of activity in this domain:

• Exploring comparable approaches to surveying child status in post-earthquake Haiti and Chile.
• Bringing the science of child development into strategies for addressing acute malnutrition.

This week assignment allowed me to learn more about the equities of early childhood education and it helped me understand that there global countries that have a focus on quality early childhood education. After listening to the podcast I learn that there are a number of professionals who are as passionate as I am about the field. I look forward to learning and hearing from my international contact.

Sharing Web Resources

I chose the website for the National Head Start Association, this website offer a wealth of information for those persons working in head start and those working in the early childhood field. I subscribed to the newsletter because as a volunteer in a  much needed program I feel that I need to learn about the program.


The newsletter offers information on training that will be helpful to staff and parents. I have enjoyed attended training for parents, I learned about the trainings through the newsletter. Professional Development training is provided to understand how to implement  the Head Start Performance Standards, and important happenings in the field of early childhood and education. 


The website offers a radio and a blog that is very helpful in learning information about questions or concerns from a parent and an administrative point of view. One article that stood out that made me think was " Is Standardized Testing Creating a Creativity Crisis? The article talks about students failing due to problems with critical thinking and problem solving skills.


All of the information in the newsletter is very helpful to the me, because I am a volunteer in a program that is much needed in the communities. In the newsletter, there is a page about Government Affairs Updates, which talks about the issue that the government that the policymakers do the help in the field.



     

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1

I have not yet to hear a response from my international contact. I have sent an email, but at the same time I have started with my alternate assignment. The following people are from the radio podcast. I enjoyed learning and hearing from  people who share the same passion as me. The world forum also has a blog, I also invite my classmates to blog at http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/

The enjoyed the podcast because it promotes the exchange of ideas and insights between people and cultures on all topic related to young children. I learned that there are many resources and people who are as passionate about learning about poverty/early childhood and how to help in the communities who are affected. In my opinion we are all affected by poverty in one way or another. I listened to the following podcasts. 

Susan Lyon was intrigued by a small child’s conception of the word “city”, and began pondering how children think, eventually visiting Reggio Emilia and then bringing the “100 Languages of Children” exhibit to the San Francisco Bay area on two occasions. She initiated the Innovative Teacher Project, and began working with the Presidio Child Care Center and the San Francisco public schools. Currently she is working with an Italian architect to rehab a San Francisco structure into the first Italian immersion preschool.

The Presidio Child Development Center was featured in the Program Showcase section of the March/April 2011 issue of Exchange magazine.

Barbara Jones (BJ) founded the Pine Grove School in Falmouth, Maine in 1985  and celebrates the schools 25th anniversary. The school is a charming wood signal building nested in a grove of pine trees and was used as a  school house in 1917.

George Forman grew up in Monroe, Louisiana received his doctorate in developmental psychology at the university of Alabama, worked with Howard Gardner at Project Zero and he is currently  Emeritus Professor at the University of Massachusetts and the Presidents of Videatives 

 I chose   Kyrgyzstan was part of the Soviet Union. At independence, Kyrgyzstan was one of the poorest ex-Soviet republics with an estimated 32.9 per cent of the population living below the Soviet 'poverty line'.

Growing poverty has also led to children working in a range of jobs, from working on family farms, to agricultural labour for others, domestic service, selling or working as porters at markets. Recent research estimate that approximately 24 per cent of children work either full or part time, similarly since transition there are now homeless or 'street' children in Kyrgyzstan's cities, and some reports of child prostitution and trafficking.

References

http://www.childhoodpoverty.org

 http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/

Sharing Web Resources

I chose the website National Head Start Association  is a private not-for profit membership organization representing the children, staff and Head Start programs in America. I chose this web site because I have been a volunteer in head start for several years. I love working with the parents and staff. I have subscribed to the newsletter and the letter gives up dates on conferences and trainings that are available. I chose the National Head Start Association  NHSA offers a wide variety of services to its members and to the Head Start and Early Childhood Education communities. Follow the links on the left to find out more about our many programs, partnerships, and professional development opportunities. I chose the association because of my affliation as a volunteer with head start and as a volunteer I have been to several national conferences. The International website I chose was the The Global Alliance of NAEYC. The Global Alliance for the Education of Young Children provides an opportunity for early childhood associations from countries throughout the world to distribute materials and share information about programs and services, so that members of the participating organizations will have access to a greater range of early childhood resources. The newsletter offers alot of information to parents, I have already asked for an application to the parent conference and family engagement institute. 

I asked or global contacts from the following, I will continue to send emails because I really would like to know about early childhood about the global

Georgia
Center for Educational Initiatives
Eteri Gvineria
Email: eteri@osgf.ge

Haiti
Step by Step Program / Tipa Tipa
Dominique Hudicourt
Email: tipatipa@hainet.net

Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association
Dr. Betty Chan Po-king
20 Somerset Rd. Kowloon Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Tel: 852-23396005
Email: sannas@ycef.com

I sent emails to several global contacts but I but while I am waiting on a response I have been looking at the podcasts as well.

Establishing International Contacts

I decided to go with Part 1 of the assignment and I chose to contact two professionals. The first professional is with the Pacific Early Childhood Education Research Association at sannas@ycef.com and the second contact was made to Eteri Gvineria at eteri@osgt.ge. I think that it will be a joy to get responses from each one so I decided to contact more. However, I received no responses. I am still hoping t that at least one will get back to me. I listened to the podcasts and one professional really touched me and hit home with me which was Barbara Jones  runs a Montessori school in Maine. I have not heard back from any of my contacts but decided to do the alternate part of the assignment. I am hopeful that one  will respond. If not, I will continue to pursue someone on one of the various lists until I get a response!!

When I think of the support I get from others, it's easy for me to tell where I get it from. I get all of my support through God either directly or indirectly. God supports me directly through my praying and going to church and believing in him. I've been through a lot in my life from dealing with cancer to having back and knee surgeries. I still go to doctors for all three of these things but God is bringing me through them. God supports me indirectly through my children, my friends, and other family members. My children help me in ways the world may never know. They are there to take me to the doctors and to church. My daugher is up with me at night when I'm hurting and can't fuction on my own. They help me with bills and food and they carry me. My friends and family are always there to talk with me about what is going on in my life and give me advice. My Bible is my biggest support system. When I need a friend to talk with and no one is available, I just read my Bible or recite a Bible verse to help carry me through.