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!!