Time Well Spent

I have to say that this program has been the most interesting and informative program and I am glad that I chose to take these courses. Though out this program I have learned many interesting things, a few where how to become a good director and the characteristics of a good director. I also learned the many issues that an early childhood program can face and the different strategies that one can put together in order for their program to work. The most important thing that I think I have learned from this program is the importance of relationships. Building a relationship with the families, the stakeholders, and the individuals that you work with and for are what makes a program run smoothly.

A long term goal that I have for myself would be to become a program director and to make a families life better in anyway that I can. I would like to ensure that the families that I will be working for will have every opportunity possible for them to make a better life not only for themselves, but for their children as well.

To my colleagues it has been a pleasure reading and learning about your goals and the things that you would like to accomplish by taking this program. I have enjoyed reading your discussion boards and your feedback, I hope that you all accomplish what you have set out to do. Good luck to you all and thank you!

ECE Community Internationally

The first organization that I am interested in is UNICEF. UNICEF is an organization that helps build a world where children's rights are realized. UNICEF nurtures and cares for children, in which they believe that when children are cared for they progress. They are advocates for children and they believe in giving children the best start in life, because giving them the best start ensures that they may have a more promising future. UNICEF involves everyone in creating a positive and protective environment for children. UNICEF offers a number of things that will help children be the best that they can be.

The second organization I am interested in is Save the Children. This is an independent organization that creates lasting change in the lives of children across the world. This organization not only helps children but it also helps the families of those children. When there is a disaster Save the Children takes action and provides medical care, food, and education. They are there to provide long-term help with poverty, hunger, and illiteracy, they replace hopelessness with hope for the future.

The last organization is the ISSA, which is an organization that aims to ensure equal access to quality care and education for children. This organization basically promotes high-quality services that will not only empower the child, but their parents as well. This organization wants to build a strong network of individuals' that will be there to help the child reach there full potential.

The reason why I chose these three organizations is because they not only focus on children, but they focus on helping their families as well. If you are not helping the families of these children as well then the children will not have a far change to succeed in life or whatever they are wanting to do.


References:
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.issa.nl/index.html

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

I have explored three agencies on the national/federal levels. The first agency that I chose is the agency that I already work for, the name of the agency is CAP or Community Action Project of Tulsa. My agencies mission is to improve the economics of very young low income children and their families. We provide many different services from early childhood education to career advance opportunities for the parents of children who are enrolled in our program. I am an early childhood teacher within the agency, but I am interested in an instructional  coach position. This position basically teaches teachers to best the most effective teacher that they can be.

The second organization is the American Heart Association, this organization empowers individual's to live a healthy life. The organization advocates for getting healthy and staying healthy, they teach about stress management, there is information about how to quit smoking, and how to implement those healthy lifestyle for the children and the family as a whole. The job that I would be interested in is called Health Equity Specialist, they basically provide awareness and education on how to stay healthy and lead a healthier life.

The third organization is American Academy of Pediatrics, this organization is dedicated to the well-being of young children and adolescents. There are numerous articles on various topics like child health and family health. The organizations also lists numerous resources that are available for families and other individual's. The American Academy of Pediatrics did not have any job posting, its' an organization that you can become a member of those types of opportunities are available, there is even an opportunity to subscribe to the subscriptions they have to offer. 

  I chose these agencies because they are all about the families. Helping the family is the first line of defense in helping the children, because if we are able to help the parents by educating them on what healthy is and pointing them in the right direction by offering them the resources that will help them and their family. This I think in turn will benefit the communities for which they live because they will be able to be a more healthier productive member of society

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

I explored three agencies that are related to the state that I reside in which is Oklahoma. The first agency is Family and Children's Services, this agency is the leading provider of behavioral health services for children and their families. Family and children's' offer many different counseling services for the family also the families have access to many different resources that otherwise they may not be able to come into contact with even have knowledge about. This agency has many case manager positions open that I would be interested in because case manager's work first hand with the children and their families in order to help them with whatever goals they are trying to achieve.

The second agency that I chose is the agency that I already work for, the name of the agency is CAP or Community Action Project of Tulsa. My agencies mission is to improve the economics of very young low income children and their families. We provide many different services from early childhood education to career advance opportunities for the parents of children who are enrolled in our program. I am an early childhood teacher within the agency, but I am interested in an instructional  coach position. This position basically teaches teachers to best the most effective teacher that they can be.

The last agency that I chose is  Oklahoma Child Care, this agency makes sure that Oklahoma families have access to the best care and education though community based resources. This organization is basically a hub for resources. Families can come and get information on childcare and a healthcare benefits. The job that I would be interested in is the parent service manager, this position basically managers and helps the parents get what they need for their family.

I chose these agencies because they are all about the families. Helping the family is the first line of defense in helping the children, if we are able to help the parents by educating them and pointing them in the right direction by offering them the resources that will help their family. This I think in turn will benefit the communities for which they live because they will be able to be a more productive member of society.

A Message of Thanks

These past 8 weeks have been very interesting as well as informative. Some of us have been together since the beginning, but those that haven't it has been a pleasure learning from you, reading your posts, and responding to your inquiries. My hope is that everyone will reach the goals that they are setting for themselves as well as luck in their future endeavors and with that said I wish everyone well!! Thanks!

Week 6 Blog

I had just started my early childhood career and I was placed in a four year old classroom with a wonderful teacher this teacher taught me a lot about my job and she was very understanding and very good with the children. Though out the year we had so much fun with the children and they learned a lot. At the end of the year she decided that she was not going to return because her family was moving out of town, I was so sad to see her leave because we where a good team. Upon leaving work everyday I felt so accomplished and I felt like I had helped the children and their families. When the new school year started I was in the classroom with another teacher that really didn't have the passion for the job, so before the year was up I decided to get my own classroom and luckily my co-teacher was ready to help children and their families. I think that good groups are the hardest to leave  sometimes you may not have a choice in the matter, but it's still hard all the same. When you get into a good group a lot of things get accomplished because every one knows what is expected of them. Adjourning from a group I think is important because it gives the group members a chance to celebrate their accomplishments and to say good-bye or not good-bye, but a talk to you later because I have your number so good groups would benefit from adjourning.

Week 5 Blog

A friend and I where having a discussion about a movie that we had just got finished watching. I did not think that the movie was very good, it was actually kind of boring and I was glad that my friend had paid for my ticket. My friend began to talk about how much he liked the movie he was really trying to convince me that the movie was wonderful. I began to have a small disagreement, but I stopped sat there and thought about it I remembered what we where learning about the concepts of NVC: respectful, reciprocal, and responsive. Upon thinking about that I just listened to his point of view I eventually was able to find at least one scene in the movie that was kind of funny. Being able to communicate in a respectful way helps get your point across and the parties are more receptive to the information.

Assesments

This assignment was very interesting. It was cool to see how others evaluated me based on my communication skills. I chose my brother and my co-worker, to my surprise they both had similar results. Their results showed that I have situational anxiety when it comes to communicating with others. I tend to get a little nervous when I have to communicate with a large group of people verses a small group of people. It showed that I am an active listener or people-oriented, I try and listen to others and be as empathetic to what they are telling me as I can.

The insights that I have learned this week is that I have to try and put my anxiety to the side when communicating with people in a large group. Also because I am a good listener I realize that this is the reason people always come to me when they need to talk. This was a fun assignment is was good to find out how others assess me based on communication.

Week 3 Blog

I do sometimes find myself communicating differently with individuals of a different culture. I think it is because I am more comfortable communicating with others of my culture because I believe that they can relate to me. I think that for the most part people who share the same culture kind of grow up with similar traditions and other things that govern their family. As far as for individuals that are of another culture not similar to mine I tend to communicate with them differently especially if their home language is not English. Usually in order to communicate effectively with them I listen and I let them take their time and not interrupt when they are talking. I think that effective communication is give and take between both parties you have to listen in order to give effective feedback.

Sound and no Sound

The show that I chose to watch was the Big Bang Theory. I have never actually sat and watched this show before but I have heard that it was a really good show. Watching the sow with the sound turned off was interesting, there where six individuals sitting around a table having lunch. The relationships of the individuals seemed to be a friendly one, the non-verbal behavior that they where displaying seemed happy because there was laughter, eye contact, and their body movements where done in a joking way. The individuals all seemed to be friends. When I turned the sound on my assumptions where correct. It was a group of friends having a good time at lunch laughing at one another and joking with each other.

This assignment has taught me that non-verbal as well as verbal communication is very strong. You don't always have to verbalize in order for someone to realize what you are saying, basically actions speck louder then words sometimes.

Competent Communicator

A competent communicator to me is someone that can get there point across in an effective manner. The company that I work for sends us to training classes every summer, and this one particular summer there was a guest speaker. This was the best presentation that I have ever sat though, the speaker was very engaging. The topic of his presentation was being your best self being all that you can be reaching your best potential. The speaker had eye contact with the audience he was very knowable on the subject that he was presenting and he even had crowd participation. He spoke with authority and I could tell he was loving his job. The communication behavior that I would like to model from him would be the non-shyness that he had. I tend to be shy at times when talking to people, that would be the main behavior that I would take away.