"In the final analysis it is not what you do for your children but what you have taught them to do for themselves that will make them successful human beings".
Ann Landers

To my fellow classmates thank you for all your inspiring discussions and blogs. I wish you all success in your future classes. 

                     Wanda Goethe

Why Should We Test?

TESTING is the seven letter word that gives most people butterflies in their stomach. The traditional standardized testing is outdated. What can we really learn from these test? The test does not give enough insight on how a child thinks or what kind of social emotional skills they have.
We gave a writing test to our kindergarten students last week. As I walked around the room I could see panic on some of the students face. A few students were able to write a few site words but without enough clarity. What do you think we did with this test? Well, the lesson plans were revised to add more sentence structure and an opportunity for the child during centers to play with games that will strengthen those skills that were lacking. Is this the norm for all kindergarten classes? I am not sure but in my class we are dedicated to providing our students with the utmost learning environment we can offer. The students learn the necessary academic skills with lots of fun games and activities interchanged together. It is fun, academic, games and crafts are rolled into one. The reward is seeing that big smile on the students face when their little light bulb shines bright.

In Australia they recently established the Australian Curriculum Assessment and reporting Authority (ACARA). Most Australian jurisdictions take student based examination  at the end of year twelve. Australia participates in International testing with a sample of 15 year old students every three years. A sample of students ages 4 and 6 take the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) every four years. To ensure that student achievement is measured adequately they focus on assessment for learning, assessment as learning, assessment of learning. Australia is focusing on improving their class room education everyday as every other school system is and should be.

Queensland Studies Authority, 2009, P–12 Assessment Policy, QSA, Brisbane.

The Scars Racism Can Leave If There Is No Healing Process

As a child, I remember my sister and I going to the corner store to buy pop rock candy with my mom and being followed by the person working in the store. I asked my momma why the man was following us and if he was going to rob her. The weird thing was he was only following the black customers. My mother tried to explain to me that there are people that treated black people different because the color of their skin. I guess being a child I did not realize how wrong this action was because I would still go with my friends to buy candy and gum from the store until we moved.

The most disturbing act of racism I remember as a child was when a parent told their daughter she could not play with me because I was black. I did not understand how someone could be so mean to me. We were only playing and riding our bikes together. What was so wrong with that?  I ran home crying to my mom and told her what happened. She was not happy that the parent had hurt my feelings but she managed to comfort me through the situation until my dad came home. They told me it was the girls lost and she did not deserve a friend like me. I never spoke to the girl again because I found other children to ride my bike with and the little girl ended up moving.

 I was able to cope with the situation because my parents were there to support me. I learned that it was nothing I did but sometimes adults and children could act ignorant and in ungodly ways. The children were acting on what was taught to them. I have always tried to treat everyone with respect and remember how it felt to be treated in such an ungodly way.

In the south, racism is still evident in the day to day activities. One day my oldest daughter told me that a boy on the bus asked her if she lived in the white building on the side of our house. She started laughing and said "no" that is our shed I live in the brick house. He continued to say little racial slurs until my husband and I contacted the school and transportation department. They investigated the situation and we did not have anymore problems. My heart goes out to the children and anyone that have been the victims of racism. I do not allow any of my students to disrespect each other because a child's self esteem and identity formation can be seriously altered if they do not have a strong support system like I did.

In the last month there have been two students in our county that have taken their own lives for whatever reason. The community (blacks and whites) have rallied together to support the families, friends and fellow students. Why does it take death to bring people together momentarily? I will leave this question with you.

I have always wanted to visit my family in New York and shop in Soho. While I was looking up some tourist information on the web I came across the ABC 20/20 documentary shot in Soho, New York.It was done to see how customers reacted to someone being racially harassed. Although, the shopper, clerk and security officer were actors the response to the mistreatment of the shopper was amazing. There were only about 20 people out of 100 that came to the shoppers defense. Feel free to see the video yourself @ Shopping While Black Social Experiment That Shows Racism Still Exists In America.

In South Africa, they celebrate the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in March every year. The celebration is the rememberance of 69 people in Sharpeville, South Africa demonstrating peacefully against racial apartheid were opened fire on and killed by police. The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is remembered by world elected officials and organizations working together to stop racism.

Bilaal Rajan,(March 2009).Fighting Racism Around The World, Social Activist and UNICEF Ambassador

Child Development and Public Health

This week in EDUC 6160 we are asked to pick a public health topic that impacts children’s development all over the world. The topic I choose is Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is the unexpected sudden death of a child under the age of 1 that an autopsy cannot show an explainable cause of the child’s death.

I am interested in this topic because it is one that with proper education to parents can become almost non-existent. If educators and public health organizations continue to spread the word on how to prevent SIDS and get the younger population involved this can truly become a positive trend toward ending SIDS.

What are some of the ways SIDS occur:

The child is placed in bed with parent or care giver and is accidently smothered during sleep. This especially happens when the caregiver is extremely tired and lays the infant next to them with intentions to place the infant in their crib but falls asleep.

The child is place on their stomach to sleep.

The child’s bedding is too soft which allows for the babies face to easy become covered.

Poverty plays a big part because accommodation is limited.

Studies from 1990 to 2008 show that Japan had the lowest decrease of 30% in SIDS deaths and Ireland had the highest decrease of 73% in SIDS related deaths after risk campaigns ran in their country. Overall, all countries had significantly dropped all over.

References:

Statistics and Information Department, Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare

SIDS data: www.sids.gr.jp/en/recent_projects.html

Mother’s & Children’s Health Organization, Maternal and Child Health Statistics of Japan, March 29, 2006 (in Japanese), www.mcfh.or.jp/index.php

Irish National Sudden Infant Death Register, www.sidsireland.ie

Personal Birthing Experience and Other Countries Birthing Experiences

It was about 6:00 am on Tuesday, April 10, 2002 when I felt this horrible pain in my lower abdomen as I was getting ready for work. I knew I was in labor as I called to my husband to call the doctor. The ride to the hospital felt like hours as the pain intensified. This will be our second child and it’s another girl. We arrived at the hospital about 45 minutes later. I was then escorted to labor and delivery where it was confirmed I was in labor, but, I was not due for another two and a half weeks.  I was put in my room as hours passed with no progress. I was given medicine to increase my labor but it did not work and the contractions were becoming unbearable. Finally, after eleven hours of constant pain and pushing the doctor decided to perform an emergency C-section. I welcomed the epidural they gave me to ease the contractions before going in the operating room. I could barely keep my eyes open as my doctor was talking to me. I could hear him tell me he was sorry that I would not have been able to have a natural birth because my daughters head was tilted in the birth canal. Then minutes later, I heard the most beautiful sound my baby girl crying as I drifted off and on to sleep. I was able to see my husband holding our precious little girl before I totally drifted off to sleep. She was 7 lb 2 ounces and beautiful.

I choose my second daughters birth because it was a different experience from my first daughter. My water broke at home around 1:30 in the morning and my husband had me to the hospital by 2:20 that morning. The contractions were coming so fast I had my daughter at 4:20 in the morning. She was 8 lbs 8 ounces and beautiful.

Giving birth is something so special that God allows a woman to experience in her lifetime and it should not be taken for granted. The expected mother has this tiny little gift growing inside her for approximately 40 weeks. She is the sole provider of everything this tiny little gift needs.

Japan

Most Japanese woman usually leave their husbands for about three months to have their baby then they return home after the baby is born. If the mother does not leave to the baby and the husband is with her he is not allowed in the delivery room. He had to watch through a window. If the mother has to have a C-section the baby is put in an incubator for 24 hours and the mother is allowed to rest for three days. In the U.S. the father is allowed in the operating room during a normal C-section and is able to watch his child being born. The newborn is given the utmost attention and care once he or she is brought into the world.

To My EDUC 6005 Class Mates

The past eight weeks have been very influential to my teaching career. I have learned so much from the course and my fellow class mates. Thank you all for your feed back on my discussions and posts.  The support from other teachers and early childhood professionals is always welcomed. Good luck in the rest of your journey through MS in Education.

Early Childhood Code of Ethics

To be familiar with knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.

As an early childhood educator, It is our responsibility to always look for new information and ideas in the field so we may teach our students in the best way possible. We must continue our education and training as the need arrives for more advancement of the early childhood field.

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

We as educators must realize that each child learns differently and has their own unique qualities. It is our responsibility to build a relationship with that child to see what motivates their learning.

To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.

To be a successful educator to a child we must earn their trust and let them know we have their best interest in mind. We should reach out to the families and make them feel apart of the child's learning environment therefore, the families will know we are a team and our main goal is their child’s success.