My Supports

Support is...a consistent source of sort that is willing and able to bear the weight of the many challenges LIFE brings.

My support...

My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ:

GOD is...My GOD anything and everything that I need him to be. He created this gift in me of teaching and loving children, so when I am faced with adversities concerning such, I can believe in HIS word, when HE says:
 "And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted  beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

AND

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." I Peter 5:7

Although, friends and family are major support systems in your life, NO ONE has the ability to bear the weight of the WORLD at the same time, except for GOD! I am thankful and grateful to call myself, "a child of the King"!!!!

My Husband and my Son

I love these two people very much. My husband is not only my mate but he's my colleague and my best friend. In our marriage, support runs ramped. A few years ago, he finished his Master's in Counseling and was thrilled to support him ALL of the way, and now he has sincerely returned that support. He is also my biggest encourager. My son, means so much to me and he is definitely one of the reasons why I am pursuing this degree. He is my inspiration and a constant in my life. Thanks Guys!!!!!!!

My Connections to Play



Toys I grew up playing with:


Barbie Porsche



My Buddy and Kid Sister Doll



Quotes on Play:

"What we play is life." (Louis Armstrong).

*I believe that play is a manifestation of the things/events an individual  has seen in life and play is also made-up of any future endeavours that may come in life. Hence, for small child play is life and life is play. 

"Whoever wants to understand much must play much." (Gottfried Benn).

*I feel that this quote is most beneficial for the caregivers, adults and educators in the lives of children. I have always felt that if you want to know more about a child, get down to their level and play with them, be apart of their world!

Quotes derived from: http://quote.robertgenn.com/getquotes.php?catid=230

How play was supported in my childhood/role of play throughout my life/compare & contrast of play today and of when I was a child:

As a child, I had numerous opportunities to play. My parents allowed time for my sister and I to be creative and explore the world as we know it through play. However, my parents did create a strong structured, educational environment for us. Although, play is an essential area in which children in the early childhood stage develop, I believe that, adults, teachers, caregivers and parents must set: goals, expectations and boundaries in which children are allowed to play. I strongly believe that children are very much, "child-like", therefore, they need adults, someone who is mature and wiser than themselves to ensure that their environment is filled with security, safety and knowledge. The BIBLE also teaches us, "there's a time for everything under the sun..."(Ecclesiastes 3), children should no doubt have ample time for "free play" but play should also be correlated to development and learning! Play and learning should be one SOLID ENTITY!!

I feel that presently, play has taken on a different meaning. When I was a child, play was encouraged but structured with learning, security and reason. Play, as we now know it has taken on a different form, I believe that children are required to make decisions that are developmentally inappropriate for them to make. The children I teach, everyday, come from homes with LITTLE to NO STRUCTURE, when they come to school, they YEARN for that structure. We ask children, "what do you want to do today?" or "what DON'T you want to do today?". Decisions regarding a child's life should be made by a stable adult. Play is absolutely necessary in a child's life but it takes an experienced, discerning adult to guaranty this play is undoubtedly secure and meaningful.

Relationship Reflection

"Soul-mates are people who bring out the best in you. They are not perfect but are always perfect for you." ~ Relationship Quotes ~ Unknown

(My husband, Derrick Sr. and my son, Derrick Jr.)

My Husband, Derrick-My husband is a very special person to me. We have a unique relationships, we work live and parent together. We currently work at the same school, in the same grade. So, in all aspects, he is my ultimate partner. Recently, God has called us to progress further in the special gifts he has given us. He has called us both to leaderships positions. My husband has been called to Pastor, through his gifts of teaching and counseling. I have also been given the charge to begin work on facilitating and owning my own Christian Early Childhood Center. OUR hope and PRAYER is to continue on the road to partnership and combine the church and school together. He and I encourage each other and support each other to the fullest! Although, there are some times when personal/business relationships may intertwine but we continue to remind each other of the goals we are pressing towards. Overall, my husband is my best friend, there's no one else in the world I would ever think of taking this journey with.

My coworkers: I value the partnerships that I have with the teachers I work with! We not only value each other's professional opinions but we care about one another, personally. Our families fellowship together and we are able to lift one another up, because of the general compassion we have for one another. It's so refreshing to know that they are not only my friends and partners, professionally,but they are my sisters in Christ. During our lunch time, we have been known to pray for each other and conduct 'mini bible studies'. We make sure that we have fun teaching, and pride ourselves in being able to make each other laugh. I love these ladies very much and wish them nothing but the best in their future endeavours.

Many Thanks...

Many, Many thanks to my professor, Dr. Myers and my colleagues. I truly believe learning takes cooperation and collaboration! I appreciate our discussions and post the most. It's nice to know that through this journey, I am not alone.

"Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns." - Author Unknown

Educational Quote

"Education is like a baseball game, it needs all its players: parent, teacher, community, and student."

Author Unknown

Testing for intelligence?

This is an issue that is overlooked and that definitely deserves attention. This topic is all too familiar for me. I have always had a problem with TESTING. I was always a EXEMPLARY student who immersed myself in school and as a result obtained great grades. Nevertheless, I was not a good test taker. Children, like myself, should not be required to prove themselves over and over again. Instead, you should focus on the "whole" child and what he or she contributes to their education. In addition, working in a public school system in Texas, children, 3rd-12th grade are required to take and pass the STAAR (The State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness) test. Speaking as a "true advocate for children", tests such as these have a #1 goal: $$$$$$. This is not a test for or about the students, this is a test that allows many bureaucrats and law makers, politicians, board members to make a profit off of children and educators.

The article, The case against standardized testing: raising the scores, ruining the schools, by Alfie Kohn is a article that genuinely expresses concern for children and the "terror" of standardized testing. The article speaks of preparing children for 'reality' and how testing is not a determiner of being a responsible, productive citizen of the world. Also, many of these tests rely heavily on quantitative data instead of qualitative data. There's much emphasis on the "right" answer, leaving no room for variations, creativity,... In essence, "The more we learn about standardized testing, particularly in its high-stakes incarnation, the more likely we are to be appalled. And the more we are appalled, the more inclined we will be to do what is necessary to protect our children from this monster in the schools"( The case against standardized testing: raising the scores, ruining the schools, 2000).  

I also had the chance to read up on some intelligence testing performed in the United Kingdom. Many researchers believe in testing for intelligence but insist that cognitive testing must take first primarily in order for there to be an accurate evaluation. Natives of the United Kingdom are persistently pressing the issue of complete cognitive development and information processing. Many historic researchers, continue to battle this matter of "testing for intelligence".

Author, Alfie Kohn, of the article, Standardized Testing and its Victims provided many facts regarding standardized testing and how it affects our children, educators and society as a whole. While reading through these 8 facts, one of them hit very close to home for me. Fact #8, "Many educators are leaving the field because of what is being done to schools in the name of "accountability" and "tougher standards" (Standardized Testing and its Victims, 2000). Education and its impact of children and family has truly lost its way. One of the major blows I feel is responsible for this systematic destruction is: standardized testing.

Kohn, A. (2000). The case against standardized testing: raising the scores, ruining the schools. Retrieved from: http://sites.google.com/a/teacherrenewal.org/www/CaseAgainstTesting.pdf


Kohn, A. (2000, September 27). Standardized Testing and its Victims. Education Week. Retrieved from: http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/edweek/staiv.htm

Sternberg, R.J.(Ed.). (2004). International Handbook of Intelligence. Retrieved from:  http://catdir.loc.gov/catdir/samples/cam041/2003048462.pdf

Poverty and Education



The one stressor that continually shows itself strong in our country and many others is the 'war on poverty'. As stated many times before being a public school, kindergarten teacher, I know how much poverty affects children and families. I have been teaching ESL (English as a second language) for 4 years now, and have come to find out that poverty speaks the same language. Many of my students have been brought over by American missionaries from countries such as: Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, Cambodia, Iraq, Iran, etc...Children from these countries have feelings of shame, guilt and overall fear. One boy in particular that is from Sudan, has a difficult time fitting in to the "American Culture". I have discovered that he is often hungry and lacks the necessary uniform requirements of the district. I know that before this child can learn, he must receive proper nutrition and maintain a healthy self-image. His days at school should not be filled with ridicule and distraction. It is my job as an educator to ensure that they feel valued and receive a fair and credible education.

While researching poverty and other countries, I stumbled upon an article that discusses how children brought up in poverty are more prone to engage in acts of Terrorism. Researchers conclude the solution to this growing problem is to up federal funding given to countries' stricken by poverty. This increase in funding will give law enforcement more money to fight crime and increase wages. The article states, "In our view, alleviating poverty is reason enough to pressure economically advanced is countries to provide more aid than they are currently giving" (Education, Poverty and Terrorism: Is There a Casual Connection, 2002). Many countries affected by this poverty and terrorism are countries such as Hezbollah, Lebanon and many countries embedded in the Middle East.

I attributed this problem that foreign countries are experiencing to that of the correlation between violence and poverty in the U.S. Education is the border that divides success and failure. In the article, Poverty and Education researchers attribute the poverty in the U.S. to that of the "Urban Flight". Many urban/metropolitan schools are suffering because of the flight of people along with the flight of funds.

This problem of poverty is a growing phenomena and takes much problem solving to dissolve. The children are the people that suffer the most. Authors of the article, Poverty and Education state that, "Without a significant shift in how schools are funded, and changes are made in the accountability of schools, urban schools will constantly face additional cuts in resources, forcing cuts in programs in order to balance an already delicate budget" (Poverty and Education, 2007).


Maleckova, J., & Krueger, A.B. (2002). Education, Poverty and Terrorism: Is there a Casual Connection? Journal of Economic Perspectives, 17, (4), 119-144. Retrieved from: http://www.krueger.princeton.edu/terrorism2.pdf

Hightower, L. (2007). Poverty and Education. Race and Poverty in Education, 2(10). Retrieved from: http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/colleagues/vol2/iss2/10

Breastfeeding

When being presented with the opportunity to chose a Public Health topic, Breastfeeding was a "no-brainer" for me. In the text, "The Developing Person", Berger included a "Benefits of Breast-Feeding" table that showed how Breastfeeding could positively benefit the baby, mother and family as a whole.

I remember breastfeeding my own son.Through breastfeeding, my son received many nutrients essential for his development and he and I formed a bond that was definitely special. Breastfeeding was/is extremely economical, when compared to the price of formula. Breast milk was also great for freezing and using at a later date.

I learned that  in the country of Canada, scientist and health care professionals are trying to strengthen the exclusivity of breastfeeding amongst Canadian mothers. These professionals used a a plan that included a series of steps that helped mothers become more aware of the benefits of breastfeeding. Some of these steps included making sure they had enough information, giving the mother quality time for breast feeding and giving the newborn breast milk on demand with no other liquids and/or "artificial teats". The researchers found that breastfeeding amongst these women were high and began to grow when implementing the steps and plans. Nevertheless, more mothers could be breastfeeding if more maternity services were provided to Canadian women that made them MORE aware of best practices and ways to address concerns of the matter.

Overall, Canadians, truly believe in the benefits of breastfeeding. My desire, is to conduct my own breastfeeding informative sessions. This degree will allow me to gain a vast amount of information on the development of children in hopes to inform those I reach. Breastfeeding is one of the crucial issues I plan to educate women and families on.

Berger, K.S.(2009). The Developing Person: Through Childhood. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Chalmers, B., Levitt, C., Heaman, M., O'Brien, B. (2009). Breastfeeding Rates and Hospital Breastfeeding Practices in Canada: A National Survey on Women. Birth 36(2), 122-132. Retrieved from:
http://www2.cfpc.ca/local/user/files/%7B4C87B83E-2035-4358-8373-E17DB3641BDF%7D/Chalmers%20Breast%20feeding.pdf

Childbirth

I would love to share the story of the birth of my own son, Derrick. While reading Chapter 4 in the Berger text, I began to compare my birth with some known facts and I began to compare my Western Culture birth to that of women in Guinea-Bissau which is located in Western Africa.

I gave birth to my son on December 16, 2009. The birth of our first child was very exciting for my husband and I. We did all the things assumed to prepare for the forthcoming of our son: getting the nursery ready, attending numerous prenatal appointments, shopping for wants and needs, creating a birth plan and attending a birthing class at our designated hospital. December 16, I went to work, as usual and felt better than normal. My husband and I worked together at the same school teaching in the same grade. My co-workers commented that I was going to deliver soon, because of my skin discoloration, and swelling. That evening, I decided to accompany my husband to church and we proceeded to run many errands before choir rehearsal started (i.e. getting the infant car seat assembled in the car, stopping to eat dinner and picking up my in-laws so they could attend rehearsal also). While eating dinner with my in-laws and my husband, I began to feel some excruciating pains in my pelvic area. THIS WAS IT!!! My contractions had begun and were just about 10 min apart. Soon, dinner came to an end and we headed to the hospital, per my mother-in-laws advice (I thought I had enough time to go home, grab my bags and take a shower, since pre-labor is expected to be pretty lengthy). Well, thank God for my mother- in-law because I got to the hospital and I learned that I was dilated to a 5 and was in active labor. It was shift change time, so I saw many nurses and begged them all for drugs...LOL I received a 'local anesthesia', an I.V. and a birthing room. I rested for a while and then I received an Epidural, 2 hours later, it was time to push. I delivered my son in 5 hours and he weighed 5 lbs, 8 oz. BUT THERE WAS A PROBLEM!!! While progressing through the birth canal my son swallowed some of my waste and developed 'bacterial pnemonia'. My husband and I were devastated that our son would have to be admitted to the NICU and stay for a week to receive necessary anti-biotics that would cure his pneumonia. Nevertheless, prayer works and we owe it all to Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that our son got better during that week and was able to go home, with a 'clean bill of health'!!
The women in Guinea-Bissau would probably have a different birth story. While reading the chapter, "Burdens of Birth" from the book Tired of Weeping: Mother Love, Child Death, and Poverty in Guinea-Bissau, I learned that pain during childbirth was considered a "woman's right" (Einarsdottir, 2008). If I were to give birth in Guinea-Bissau, I would probably be considered 'less than a woman' to give birth, receiving pain medication. Birth here, is assumed to be an 'appointed priveledge'. Although, the Western culture may scrutinize the 'pain management' side of birth, but they must agree with the bond and attachment that is fostered between a mother and child in this culture. The "sensitive period" (Einarsdottir, 2008) allows fathers and mothers crucial time to form an emotional bond with their baby. The power of a woman in the Guinea culture is also determined by her children and how many children she has! I can appreciate the Guinea-Bissau culture for birthing and I feel that though there are some discrepancies the love between mothers and their children is priceless.

Berger, K.S.(2009). The Developing Person: Through Childhood. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.

Einarsdóttir, J. (2008).Tired of Weeping : Mother Love, Child Death, and Poverty in Guinea-Bissau. Retrieved from:  http://library.waldenu.edu/.

A Special Thanks

Gratitude is the best attitude. There is not a more pleasing exercise of the mind than gratitude. It is accompanied with such an inward satisfaction that the duty is sufficiently rewarded by the performance.

Thanks To:

Professor Kien and my colleagues! I have enjoyed your insight and knowledge throughout this course. I wish all of you well in your future endeavours in the Child Development Field.

FOLLOW YOUR PASSION!!!!

Janille

Philippians 1:6

New International Version (NIV)

"being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."



Examining Code of Ethics



While reading through NAEYC'S Code of Ethics there were 3 ideals that enlightened me:


Ethical Responsibilities to Children:

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."
 *I believe that one never stops learning. Policies, laws and culture changes and it's important to stay abreast on current information that deals with families and children.

P-1.3 "We shall not participate in practices that discriminate against children by denying benefits, giving special advantages, or excluding them from programs or activities on the basis of their sex, race, national origin, religious beliefs, medical condition, disability, or the marital status/family structure, sexual orientation, or religious beliefs or other affiliations of their families. (Aspect of this principle do not do not apply in programs that have a lawful mandate to provide services to particular population of children.)
*This principle is very important and as educational professionals, we have to realize a child is innocent and can not be judged because of their families' practices or background. Its all about the child!

I-2.2 "To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve."
*This I feel is a huge problem in the educational field. The key to the complete success of a child HAS to involve some kind of family support system!

While reading through Division of Early Childhood (DEC) Code of Ethics there were 3 best practices that appealed to me:


Professional Development and Preparation:

4. "We shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services."
*I have always believed that "It takes a village to raise a child". Collaboration must be inclusive amongst all educational professionals. My colleagues and I have different strengths and weaknesses. Where they may be lacking I may pick up the slack and vice-versa!

Responsive Family Centered Practices:

4. "We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers of services for their children"
*Alot of the times parents are not involved in their child's education because they feel as if they have nothing to contribute. We have to set-up opportunities for parents to learn and become concerned with ways they can promote their child's learning.

Enhancement of Children's and Families' Quality of Lives:

4. "We shall advocate for equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and families to enhance their quality of lives."
*As educators we are advocates for children and family. When you make the choice to teach, you join the fight for children's rights.



National Association for the Education of Young Children.(2005, April). Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment. Retrieved August 10, 2011, from:
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf


The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of Ethics. Retrieved August 10, 2011, from: http://www.dec-sped.org/

Course Resources

The following are resources that have really enlightened me on my journey in the field of Child Development (ENJOY!!):

Websites:

http://www.donorschoose.org/
*If you have not heard of this website you have no idea what you are missing!! You know the quote, "ask and ye shall receive..." this website allows you ask for materials related to the education of children that you may need for a lesson or a project. You and your students write letters, post them to the site and various donors donate what you need. All the donors ask for in return, are: pictures of the children benefiting from the donated items and thank yous from you  and your students! IT WORKS!!

http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
*Stay abreast of the research that is related to infants and toddles. Information provided on this site may help you to understand the behaviors of your students! BE PROACTIVE!!


http://www.omep-usnc.org/  World Organization for Early Childhood Education. 
*Become involved! This website provides you with several projects at home and abroad you can become involved in! STRETCH YOURSELF!!

"Passion Quote"

"I had a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution to the world"
-Louise Derman-Sparks


Laureate Education Inc., (Producer). (2011). The Passion of Early Childhood [Video Webcast].               Retrieved from: http://www.courseurl.com

"Famous Educational Pioneers"

"Its true that young families always have faced an uphill struggle starting out in life. But today's young families have been so battered by economic and social changes over the past two decades that the struggle has taken on a more desperate and often futile quality" (Edelman, 1992)

"It's been said that children have unequal childhoods in America" (Ray, 2011)

References:

Edelman, M.W. ( May/June 1992). Vanishing Dreams of America's Young Families. Challenge. 35(3), 13-          19. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/pss/40721344

Ray, A. (2011, June 14). [Address]. Lecture presented at Educational Testing Services Addressing Achievement Gap Symposium, Washington, D.C., United States. [ Audio Transcript]. Retrieved from

           http://www.ets.org/s/sponsored_events/achievement_gap/flash/2011_conference/aisha_ray.html  

Personal Childhood Web

My Personal Childhood Web





My mother, Cheryl:  I would describe my mother as being a “sure constant” in my life. She and I have a bond like no other. She has supported me since I was a young child. At a young age, she taught me the meaning of being a good listener and she counseled me on how to give and take advice. She was a tough parent and she attributed all discipline to love. She was a working mom and taught my sister and I the value of responsibility. I can remember as a child, her teaching us how to count the change the cashier would owe us after making a purchase. She instilled with in us the importance of education. She never missed a PTA meeting nor a parent/teacher conference. She said what she meant and meant what she said. Her guidance in my life provided me with structure.

My sister, Camille: My sister and I were destined to become close because we were born only fourteen months apart. I can attribute a lot of my knowledge to her. She was always a grade above me in school and she would share her experiences with me as a child. For example, she would let me know which teacher and students to trust and what to prepare for in the next grade or school. We spent almost every waking moment together, until she went to college. Even when we were miles away from each other in college and later in life, we still MADE time to spend together. We have seen each other change so much! She was there for me when got married and never left my side at the birth of my son. Camille is a social butterfly, she never meets a stranger. She has made me become more personal in life. Camille and I are literally inseparable. I can attribute my strong-willed personality and my love of life to her!

My Grandmother, Claudia “Granny”: I would call myself, blessed to be born and raised in the accompaniment of ALL of my grandparents. However, some grandparents were more instrumental than others in my life. Whenever I think about my paternal grandmother, Granny, I began to become overwhelmed with emotion. She was a huge influence in my life. Her home was my home away from home, when my parents were working. She was our secondary caregiver (next to my parents) from 3 years of age. My grandmother is the epitome of a Proverbs 31 woman. She not only cared for my sister and I, she also cared for other children in the family and neighborhood and her elderly mother. When she spoke, she spoke wisdom. She was most instrumental in my spiritual life. She was a praying woman and she was and is rooted in the Word of God. She not spoke about being a Christian she lived a life to show it. She taught me how to pray and how to seek God’s face in the midst of adversity. When my sister and I started school she would make herself acquainted with all school personnel and staff. She also immersed herself in our family church. She even got us and many other children involved in a Youth Choir she started. This choir that she was given the vision to do helped me discover my gift for singing. So, I can go on and on about my “granny”. She is alive and well to this day at the ripe age of “92”. She is still spilling wisdom and now my son has the opportunity the experience the blessing of “granny”

My grandmother Alena “Mama Lene”: Mama Lene was and is my maternal grandmother. If I had one word describe her it would be “fierce”. She was rough around the edges but she meant well. Mama Lene was a very head-strong person. She was cut, dry and to the point. She taught my sister and I not settle and to gain self respect and dignity. One way she showed her love is through food. Mama Lene was an excellent baker and cook. Whenever we visited her we knew that she would impart some lovin’ in our tummy. I attribute my no nonsense demeanor to Mama Lene. She challenged my sister and I to set high, obtainable goals. She also taught us to never give up and to always take care of ourselves. Mama Lene is the kind of woman that knows what she wants and is not afraid to say it, intimidation is not in her character.

My grandfather, Milton “Papa”: Papa is my maternal grandfather and education is his motto. Papa felt so strong about making educational important to us because he never took advantage of it in his life. Papa is one of the most hard-working individuals I know, when he retired from a being a truck driver in 1989, he had taken less than 10 sick days in the 40 + years of him working. He surely, wanted a different path for his children and grandchildren. I can vividly remember what he always says about fixing things or figuring something out that me be challenging, his answer always is, “Can you read?” This seems so easily dismissive but it’s true. If you can read you can do anything! My grandfather was so serious about my sister and I getting an education that he purchased a car for my sister to get to and from campus after my parents got divorced. At the time, we were struggling with paying housing fees and tuition and the expenses that came with getting a divorce. I appreciate the benevolence of my grandfather; he truly believes that it’s more blessed to give that to receive. My papa has taught me how to strive, give and gain as much knowledge as possible.

"I cannot believe I am blogging"

WOW,

I always sort of make fun of those who are "computer savvy" BUT now I have no choice but to be! I am trippin' over having my own "blog"! Now, I just have to think of something to post! (LOL) I am really looking forward to this new journey of obtaining a Graduate Degree!!! It will definitely be a rocky road, but I know there is light at the end of the tunnel! I am holding onto the fact that, "the best is yet to come"!!!

Janille