Don't Forget!

This course has really stiumlated some fresh ideas to apply to our preschool program. 
These are a few "notes to self" as I begin to evaluate our current program:

1.  Use the Code of Ethics to inspire and refocus my staff at the end of the school year and also when we start up again in August.
2.  Raymond Hernandez's quote "You don't have to know everything, you just have to know how to use your resources" (Laureate, 2010).
3.  Remember to reflect and learn from mistakes.
4.  Read Lilian Katz article on Social Competence Assessment (ERIC March 2001)
     and re-read NAEYC statement on Early Childhood Curriculum Assessment, and Program Evaluation

Code of Ethics

Examining the Codes of Ethics serves as a clear reminder of the high standards we are held to as early childhood educators and advocates.  I chose three that really spoke to me in light of the research we have conducted during this course.

I-1.10 - To ensure that each child's culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.

During Week Six, I read an article on the importance of accomodating cultural minorities.  The article gave examples of the struggles these minorities have in trying to understand the American school system.  We have a variety of minority cultures represented at our preschool and I would like to make a more concentrated effort to be sure our communication is clear to all families we are working with.

P-1.5 - We shall use appropriate assessment systems, which include multiple sources of information, to provide information on children's learning and development.

One of my goals for the upcoming preschool year is to re-evaluate our assessment tools.  I want to align our curriculum and assessment strategies more closely with the Kansas Early Learning Standards.


I-2.9 - To participate in building support networks for families by providing them with opportunities to interact with program staff, other families, community resources, and professional services.

This week's study on professionalism and advocacy and Week Five's study of resources really made an impression on me.  I want to be a connecting point for our families to community resources that can enrich their children's educational experience.  I have already started including links to community services in my monthly newsletter.  My eyes have been opened to how much more we can be doing to assist the families we serve.

NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment.  Retrieved from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Resources EDUC 6005

                                                              Learning Resources

 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
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
  
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

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
  
  
• 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 video 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/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.
   

Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• 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/main/about.cfm
  
  
• 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/index.cfm
  
  
• 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.preknow.org/
  
  
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
  
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
  

 Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)

• 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

Some Additional Resources!

       .  Carter, Margie, & Curtis, Deb. (1998). Visionary director: A handbook for dreaming, organizing, & improvising in your center. St. Paul, MN: Readleaf Press.
          (Don't be fooled by the copyright.  This is a great tool I learned of at a recent early childhood conference.)       

       .  www.writeoutofthebox.com   Marianne Gibbs, MOT,OTR offers practical and developmentally sound techniques for fine motor development.  I have attended several of her workshops at early childhood conferences.

      .  www.TeachingStrategies.com  This site offers resources for professional development, curriculum, family support, books and webinars.

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