According to NAEYC's code of ethical conduct, ethics is defined as "the study of right and wrong, or duty and obligation, that involves critical reflection on morality and the ability to make choices between values and the examination of the moral dimensions of relationships." As a professional in the early childhood field, I could face ethical dilemmas...and maybe I already have....
the ideals meaningful to me:
I-1.1: to be familiar with the knowledge base of early childhood care and education and to stay informed through continuing education and training.
--in order to be effective in any job, an individual must know about and have experience with that job; things change and we must stay up to date with what is happening; it is important to always learn and develop as a professional through more education and training
I-1.5: to create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, cognitive, and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.
--we have learned that children have voices and have the right to be heard; this is meaningful to me in that I need to listen to those voices and facilitate to what they need and want; above all, we will not harm children in any way, we HAVE to provide them safe, healthy, and stimulating environments for them to learn and develop
I-2.3: to welcome all family members and encourage them to participate in the program
--we need to close the gap between home and school; learning will only be as effective as those that encourage it; communication is everything! for all those children that have a hard time transitioning into a childcare setting, if parents would visit more and talk more about school at home, it would be easier for their children; word of mouth spreads the fastest, so from a business perspective, we can spread high-quality care through this ideal as parents actively participate and tell their friends how well that program is...
I-3B.2: to do nothing that diminishes the reputation of the program in which we work unless it is violating laws and regulations designed to protect children or is violating the provisions of his Code
--this ideal brings to mind those individuals who wear their program's uniforms wherever they go, including a bar-scene; we represent this field and our companies wherever we go, whatever we are doing should NOT reflect negatively on the company; this includes, to me, keeping thoughts about co-workers to yourself instead of sharing them with a parent standing in your classroom dropping off her child to your care...
I-3C.1: to promote safe and healthy working conditions and policies that foster mutual repect, cooperation, collaboration, competence, well-being, confidentiality, and self-esteem in staff members.
--I really want to post this ideal on a former employer's office door! If you are going to be in a management position, then be a manager. Be involved. Be present. do NOT hide under a stack of paper!
All of these ideals came from NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment:
NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved December 17, 2011, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
**I think so many things are worth remembering from this class...good thing I printed out all the resources we had to read, so I can always refer back to them in the future....:)**
Saturday, December 17, 2011
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Course Resources
http://www.naeyc.org/
http://www.dec-sped.org/
http://www.zerotothree.org/
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
http://www.highscope.org/
http://www.childrensdefense.org/
http://www.ccw.org/
http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
http://www.nccanet.org/
http://nieer.org/
http://www.preknow.org/
http://www.voices.org/
http://www.erikson.edu/
- World Forum Foundation
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
- World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/
- Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
- Phelan, T.W. (2003). 1-2-3 Magic: Effective discipline for children 2-12.Glen Ellyn, IL:Child Managment, Inc.
- Davis, L. & Keyser, J. (1997). Becoming the parent you want to be: A sourcebook of strategies for the first five years. New York, NY: Broadway Books.
- Shelov, S.P., Altmann, T.R., Hannemann, R.E. & Trubo, R. (2009). The Complete and Authoritative Guide: Caring for your baby and young child, Birth to age 5. USA: Bantam Books. (Original work published 1991)
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Words of Inspiration and Motivation
Janet Gonzalez-Mena's research focuses on the role of diversity and cultural differences in the early childhood field. In her article "Cultural responsiveness and routines: When center and home don't match," she writes an example about time. It is a cultural concept.
"It occured to me that the problem was that my culture puts a strong focus on time-not just on clocks, but on the concept of time as a commodity - as something real that can be lost or saved. I spend time like I spend money. Sometimes I waste it, too. Not everybody in the world looks at time that way."
--sometimes I waste my time too!
I also relate this quote to what I have learned thus far in this program:
"We think our profession as based on research and the basic ideas as universal. We may also consider cultural differences, but we don't think of the whole profession as culturally specific. I've learned to ask the question, who did the research and on whom?"
Passion, Motivation and Wisdom:
"When I think of the word passion and the meaning to the word passion, what comes to mind are what are my values, what are my beliefs, what are the ideas that lead me to action, what do I do so naturally that perhaps seems natural to me but my be challenging to others? What's in my heart?"
--Leticia Lara, LCSW
"Passion comes from wanting to make a difference."
"There's more to life than what's in the neighborhood."
--Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed
"It occured to me that the problem was that my culture puts a strong focus on time-not just on clocks, but on the concept of time as a commodity - as something real that can be lost or saved. I spend time like I spend money. Sometimes I waste it, too. Not everybody in the world looks at time that way."
--sometimes I waste my time too!
I also relate this quote to what I have learned thus far in this program:
"We think our profession as based on research and the basic ideas as universal. We may also consider cultural differences, but we don't think of the whole profession as culturally specific. I've learned to ask the question, who did the research and on whom?"
Passion, Motivation and Wisdom:
"When I think of the word passion and the meaning to the word passion, what comes to mind are what are my values, what are my beliefs, what are the ideas that lead me to action, what do I do so naturally that perhaps seems natural to me but my be challenging to others? What's in my heart?"
--Leticia Lara, LCSW
"Passion comes from wanting to make a difference."
"There's more to life than what's in the neighborhood."
--Raymond Hernandez, MS Ed
Friday, November 18, 2011
Personal Childhood Web
My father, Barry Riggs: I am his only biological daughter. He has always taught me the importance of communication and perception; the quotes I always use from him are "Communication is everything" and "perception is reality." My husband has heard these statements so many times. He tells me how proud he is of me for graduating college, getting married (in the opposite order), and uprooting from my family and my comfort zone to succeed in a state halfway across the country. He has supported every decision I have made, and when I ask him for advice, he tries to see every angle and help me see it as well. He taught me how to look at things objectively and from all sides and to weigh both sides of the coin. Today, I live closer to him and he looks forward to our weekly conversations and my weekend visits home. I will teach my children the same lessons about communication and perception, as they still influence my daily work ethic of remembering to always consider how a situation looks from the outside.
My father's high school, senior pic (a more recent one is posted on a previous blog)
My mother, Cathy Riggs: I am her baby. I got to do things sooner in my life than my sister was allowed in hers (my sister and I are 8 years a part). I still sit on my momma's lap sometimes because I will always be her baby! She has helped me financially over the last few years, and it took a lot of courage for me to ask for help. She is always been willing to help however necessary! Every night, growing up, mom would tuck me in bed when I was going to bed. We are talking about through high school, she would pass by and hug me goodnight. But I just remember even in middle school, if I went to bed before she did, I always went to her office and asked her to come tuck me in, and she did. As a married woman, my relationship with her has grown tremendously and we are able to talk about things we have never talked about before. Although, some of her approaches I wish not to repeat, (like don't ask, don't tell type things with alcohol, smoking and sex) I value those small times of her tucking me in at night, and our humorous times, like the first time I peeled potatoes. She comes from a farming background and she always has an answer for me about cooking/kitchen things. She also was a Mr. Fix it tomboy, so she is the first person I call when I have any type of maintenance issues around the house or with technology.
My sister, Shannon Ellis: I was the spoiled one. She is eight years older than me, and we are so very different. My parents had to learn real quick that what worked with her may not work with me, and just because she was the quiet, studious type, I was NOT! We have had our share of resentment issues over the years, but Sissy has always been willing to listen to my troubles and offer advice. Especially when I have had issues with my parents, she always had a little insight to share about something I never knew about them. Over the last few years, I have learned so much more about my parents that I had NO CLUE about. I am my parent's child--that's all I can say. My sister is single and she is looking forward to my husband and I having our first child so she can spoil him/her as a fantastic aunt. We are still very different people, but we have a special bond that no matter how much time has gone past, I can always call on her to help in any situation.
me, my mom and sister
Debbie Martin, my babysitter: I went to Debbie's from when I was 6wks old till I was 12. From about 6:30/7ish each morning till 5:15 each evening, and then various days when we were out of school until I was about 15. She had an in-home child care, and she lived around the corner from the house my parents moved from shortly after I was 6wks old. I grew up with the same kids there for years. She instilled a sense of discipline in me. She practiced time out, and she had 2 small carpets for such. One was in front of the sink and the other in front of the back door. I think it took one time sitting on a carpet that I knew I didn't want to be there again. Over the 12 years I was there, I learned some tricks of the trade with having small children in the house. She kept snacks and cereal in the cabinet under the sink and all the cleaning products above. We were only allowed to watch tv in the evenings, and on special days (once I was older), I was allowed to play on the computer, or ride my bike up and down the street while the little kids slept, or play pinball. On even more special days, I got to ride in her husband's, Herb, classic car he kept in the garage. It was so loud! I cannot tell you any more information about it, that's all I remember and know. I learned the importance of daily routines, expectations, and rewards while at Debbie's house. She practically raised me when you add up all that time I spent there. Today, we still keep in touch. She is no longer in child care, as she is older, but she is a grandmother, so that still counts too! Around the holidays, we send each other Christmas cards and write about the updates. I sent her pictures from my wedding, and she keeps me posted on the people I grew up with while in her care. She fostered my desire to work with children, she'd let me help out with those smaller and younger...she really got me started on my life course!
Katherine Peters, my friend: Katherine and I lived 2 houses apart from when I was 6mos old till she moved when we were 12. She was my first best friend. We grew up together. We got the same bikes, we played together in the cul de sac every weekend, we slept over each other's house...we did it all together. We had a huge falling out in the pre-teen year...the pre-puberty time. Middle school drama. Whenever I think about my childhood, I always think of her. She taught me friendship. One time, we played hair cuttery. I cut hers first, made her bob lobsided. Then, she took a HUGE chunk from the back part of my head off, and tried to cover it up with the other hair. Her mom was so mad at me for cutting hers, and my mother was so mad at them for being mad at me when she had taken such a chunk off mine...it was a lot harder to fix than getting a trim professionally done on the other side. We reconnected during college, and it's nice to know we had such an important relationship back then, that we are still connected today. We keep up through facebook and laugh about all our funny childhood stories. She is the reason I value my close friendships so much, I guess. The good ones are scarse, so when you find one, keep it.
My father's high school, senior pic (a more recent one is posted on a previous blog)My mother, Cathy Riggs: I am her baby. I got to do things sooner in my life than my sister was allowed in hers (my sister and I are 8 years a part). I still sit on my momma's lap sometimes because I will always be her baby! She has helped me financially over the last few years, and it took a lot of courage for me to ask for help. She is always been willing to help however necessary! Every night, growing up, mom would tuck me in bed when I was going to bed. We are talking about through high school, she would pass by and hug me goodnight. But I just remember even in middle school, if I went to bed before she did, I always went to her office and asked her to come tuck me in, and she did. As a married woman, my relationship with her has grown tremendously and we are able to talk about things we have never talked about before. Although, some of her approaches I wish not to repeat, (like don't ask, don't tell type things with alcohol, smoking and sex) I value those small times of her tucking me in at night, and our humorous times, like the first time I peeled potatoes. She comes from a farming background and she always has an answer for me about cooking/kitchen things. She also was a Mr. Fix it tomboy, so she is the first person I call when I have any type of maintenance issues around the house or with technology.
My sister, Shannon Ellis: I was the spoiled one. She is eight years older than me, and we are so very different. My parents had to learn real quick that what worked with her may not work with me, and just because she was the quiet, studious type, I was NOT! We have had our share of resentment issues over the years, but Sissy has always been willing to listen to my troubles and offer advice. Especially when I have had issues with my parents, she always had a little insight to share about something I never knew about them. Over the last few years, I have learned so much more about my parents that I had NO CLUE about. I am my parent's child--that's all I can say. My sister is single and she is looking forward to my husband and I having our first child so she can spoil him/her as a fantastic aunt. We are still very different people, but we have a special bond that no matter how much time has gone past, I can always call on her to help in any situation.
me, my mom and sisterDebbie Martin, my babysitter: I went to Debbie's from when I was 6wks old till I was 12. From about 6:30/7ish each morning till 5:15 each evening, and then various days when we were out of school until I was about 15. She had an in-home child care, and she lived around the corner from the house my parents moved from shortly after I was 6wks old. I grew up with the same kids there for years. She instilled a sense of discipline in me. She practiced time out, and she had 2 small carpets for such. One was in front of the sink and the other in front of the back door. I think it took one time sitting on a carpet that I knew I didn't want to be there again. Over the 12 years I was there, I learned some tricks of the trade with having small children in the house. She kept snacks and cereal in the cabinet under the sink and all the cleaning products above. We were only allowed to watch tv in the evenings, and on special days (once I was older), I was allowed to play on the computer, or ride my bike up and down the street while the little kids slept, or play pinball. On even more special days, I got to ride in her husband's, Herb, classic car he kept in the garage. It was so loud! I cannot tell you any more information about it, that's all I remember and know. I learned the importance of daily routines, expectations, and rewards while at Debbie's house. She practically raised me when you add up all that time I spent there. Today, we still keep in touch. She is no longer in child care, as she is older, but she is a grandmother, so that still counts too! Around the holidays, we send each other Christmas cards and write about the updates. I sent her pictures from my wedding, and she keeps me posted on the people I grew up with while in her care. She fostered my desire to work with children, she'd let me help out with those smaller and younger...she really got me started on my life course!
Katherine Peters, my friend: Katherine and I lived 2 houses apart from when I was 6mos old till she moved when we were 12. She was my first best friend. We grew up together. We got the same bikes, we played together in the cul de sac every weekend, we slept over each other's house...we did it all together. We had a huge falling out in the pre-teen year...the pre-puberty time. Middle school drama. Whenever I think about my childhood, I always think of her. She taught me friendship. One time, we played hair cuttery. I cut hers first, made her bob lobsided. Then, she took a HUGE chunk from the back part of my head off, and tried to cover it up with the other hair. Her mom was so mad at me for cutting hers, and my mother was so mad at them for being mad at me when she had taken such a chunk off mine...it was a lot harder to fix than getting a trim professionally done on the other side. We reconnected during college, and it's nice to know we had such an important relationship back then, that we are still connected today. We keep up through facebook and laugh about all our funny childhood stories. She is the reason I value my close friendships so much, I guess. The good ones are scarse, so when you find one, keep it.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
A little bit of everything
This may be a long one....A story about a child that touched your heart
An image of a child’s drawing, and why you chose it
Anything else that fuels your passion for the early childhood field
I graduated college May 2008, a week after getting married, and a week before moving to Missouri for three years for my husband's job in the Marine Corps. I had been working part time for KinderCare Learning Center through the last year of college, and I was able to transfer to the only KinderCare within 120miles in Columbia, Missouri. I knew I was only going to be there for three years. I also knew it was my first "real-world" job after graduation. I gave it my all because early childhood education is my passion. The timing worked the way it did that the kids I had first in the two-year old room, I also had at 3 yrs old and in the Pre-K room. It was like a full circle when the last six months came around and I was back with my original babies. The last three months there, I was promoted to 3rd in charge, or Health & Safety Coordinator. Anyway, my families knew I was only there three years, and no matter how much time we had to prepare for the departure, no one was ready when it was time. This picture is of the cards I received from the families alone of my babies, with the exception of the purple-dog one in the back which is signed by each of my coworkers with stories of what they will miss. These babies that I had been around since they were 2, I was around for their parents having babies, those younger babies I had when they were 2 or 3 and my original babies were in Pre-K....I was a part of some amazing times with these families. My babies signed these cards themselves with their names, and I helped teach them how to write. I also worked with the older kids, the schoolagers, during the summer months because I could drive the bus. The card all the way to the right is from one of those girls I had each summer, and whom I picked up from school everyday. She was a foster kid, in a house of three other biologically related siblings also in foster care. I loved spending time with her and talking to her about the things she likes...she even grew her nails out soooo long, I could never imagine having nails that long....and she drew me that whole card. The card all the way to the left, signed by Mariah, Taven and Delshaune.....still tugs my heart strings to this day. Mariah and Taven are biologically related, in foster care in the household where Delshaune, also foster child, was legally adopted by the family. I had Mariah when she was 2, and again when she was 4 and 5; I had Taven when he was 3 and 4; I had Delshaune in the schoolage room during the summers. They have the greatest foster family. My husband and I would babysit the three of them while the parents went to the fostercare meetings and such....the kids LOVED "Mr. Joe's truck." Even weeks later, at KinderCare, they would randomly ask me when I was going to pick them up in Mr. Joe's truck and take them to the park again. You want to hear stories that touch your heart, I have them about those kids...but I don't think you wanna read another 8pgs on them....the "system" was being way too lenient on the birth mother and hurting these kids with the coming and going out of the foster home. Anyway, the card directly under that purple-dog one is from one of the families of a child I was around from before she was 2, till she was 4. In the card, mom writes, "you have truly meant the world to us and have made more of an impact on Ally's life, more than you will ever know." What fuels my passion for early childhood? The fact that I still get facebook messages of stories Ally made up about me passing through KinderCare one day some week. I get calls from my coworkers to tell me about one of my babies asking when I was coming back and they miss me. I get calls from other coworkers telling me how nobody quite does it like I did. They want me back to fix it again. I was there for 3 years. I taught children from 2 years to 5 years old, and they still remember me and events that happened with me. We all knew it was temporary, but yet I am still very much a part of their lives. How important is early childhood? From the ages of 2 to 5, I had a huge impact on children's lives. I cannot wait to go back to visit and see them again, all grown up and going to school. But, I know that I influenced that. I impacted their lives, and they REMEMBER ME. What fuels my passion? The emotional response I feel when I read over these cards and talk to the families through facebook and hear how these babies still ask about me.
Favorite Children's Book(s)
Current Photos
My dramatic ways
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