Sharing Web Resources

NIEER National Institute for Early Education Research

Website: http://nieer.org/

NIEER E-Newsletter Volume 11; Issue 11

Relevant Professional Development:

In the Hot Topics Section, Growing Up Bilingual talks about the study of literacy outreach for low income Latino families. Families participating in the study read to their children resulting in ELL (English Language Learners) children reading by the time they reached kindergarten. As I continue to learn best practices and improve my professional development in supporting my ELL population it is important to stay current with the results of new studies. Also learn strategies on how to establish communication with non-English speaking parents.

Link: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_512JCR.pdf

 Adding to my understanding of economists and neuroscientists supporting the early childhood field:

The e-newsletter contains a link to an article “Early Learning Costs are Worth It”, written by Tim Kleisner Chairman of Hersey Entertainment and member of Pennsylvania Early Learning Commission. Kleisner affirms that investing in early education is critical. He describes the hiring process for young people in the summer to work in Hersey Park. People are selected based on their abilities to be courteous, pleasant and work well in a team. The fact that these are learned behaviors Kleisner believe that it is crucial to invest in early care to build problem solving skills, team work, communication skills, as well as language and math skills (Kleisner, 2012). He argues that science affirms that if children lack these positive learning experience it will affect their brain development, social development and academics (Kleisner, 2012). Investing in programs to reach economically at risk children under five will improve their skills before fourth grade. Investing in children early in life influences learning and development programs, save money and most importantly influence children’s lives.

Link: http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/index.ssf/2012/05/early_learning_costs_are_worth.html

Other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field

In the section, New on Preschool Matters…Today! An article examines the four states with the highest Pre- K enrollment. The four states are New York, California, Florida, and Texas. Although these states have the highest enrollment, quality is another issue. New York ranked best out of the four, meeting seven out of the ten NIEER Quality Standards. The other states met approximately three out of ten quality standards. The average NIEER Quality Standard Benchmark is at least eight out of ten.  As a kindergarten teacher in NY this sheds some light on the vast differences in school readiness skills among children exiting preschool and entering kindergarten. These issues made me think about the access to preschool programs in NY a little deeper, children may attend preschool but do not have access to preschools that offer quality early learning and development. This results in children not being equipped with the necessary skills to flourish in kindergarten and beyond.  What’s the point of children attending preschool without receiving services to develop their skills and abilities?  

Link: http://preschoolmatters.org/2012/05/15/fdrs-advice-to-pre-ks-big-four/

Resource:                                                                                                                   

http://nieer.org/publications/online-newsletters/volume-11-issue-11

Getting to Know International Issues

World Forum Podcast:

I decided to listen to the work of Delfena Mitchell, Director of the Liberty Children's Home in Belize. In Episode 3, Mitchell discussed her experiences with an abused boy transition into the home. When he first entered the home he did not talking at all and eventually he began to speak about the abuse he had encountered. Unfortunately child abuse is an issue that affects children worldwide. Organizations stepping in and taking a stand and stretching out a helping hand help mold and shape children to become healthy productive member of society.

Insights on poverty in China

1.       Poverty in China mostly affects children and families in urban communities and families of migrant workers.

2.      Many families in urban areas were laid off and struggle to find employment and depend on the government to meet their basic necessities.  

3.      98% of poor families believe that education is important and aspire to motivate their children to pursue higher education despite their economic situation.

Resources:
http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php?action=chipactivities-nat
http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php/action=documentfeed/doctype=pdf/id=83/
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/current-work/world-forum-radio/

Sharing Web Resources

NIEER National Institute for Early Education Research

Website: http://nieer.org/
                 
The NIEER newsletter, volume 11 issues 10, focuses on a variety of issues affecting children, families and professionals in the early childhood field. It is outlined with five sections. Hot Topics: provides information about funding issues and its influence on quality early education, resources to improves program practices, information encouraging family involvement, mental health, language development and nutrition.  New On Preschool Matters…Today: highlights professionals and organizations making a difference in children lives by researching, advocating and investing in early education. The Calendar displays upcoming national events for professional developments such as National Conference for, Principals and Child Care Directors and many more. Early Education News Round Up provides news about the field in different states and lastly Resources provides further reading on selected topics in the newsletter.

Under the Hot Topics section, I read A Legal Right to Early Education? It was a summary of the profile on state funded preschool programs, The State of Preschool Yearbook. I was shocked to learn that in American only 28% of four year olds were enrolled in state funded programs in the 2010-2011 school year. It is imperative that children have access to quality early education. I was also surprised to learn that 7 states do not offer preschool services.

 Newsletter Link:

http://nieer.org/publications/online-newsletters/volume-11-issue-10

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

This week attempting to locate and contact two professionals outside of the United States was a bit challenging. I started my quest by asking my friends and colleagues to help me find someone to network with. I am waiting to hear from someone who relocated to Paris and is currently working in education. I then turned to social networking and emailed a moderator of an online community I was introduced to in my undergrad studies and I am waiting for a reply.  I explored the website World Forum Radio, in the meantime, I am going to attempt to contact professionals from the website and listen to the broadcasts so that I am able to participate in upcoming class discussions.

I decided to study the National Institute for Early Education Research website, because it offers research based advice in various issues in the early childhood field. It also conducts research supporting quality early childhood education and I can learn information specific to the state I live in.  I aspire to start my own day care center and as I immerse myself in the early childhood field it is important to stay up to date with issues and changes in the field. There are many valuable website and resources but I would like to take a deeper look at the resources this website has to offer. It also has a Pinterest application, an online pin board where I can follow the site’s interests and read articles from my phone.

I look forward to learning about the issues and trends in the early childhood field and I am also excited about sharing experiences and learning from my colleagues.