NAEYC website

I am learning more and more about NAEYC each week. This week I was exploring the professional development tab. This section I feel is current for what I am currently doing. It had all different types of training's that I could attend. They even do webinars which I never knew. The online training are perfect for me because of how busy I am. 

I was interested in reading about how to change your holiday lesson plan so it meets everyone in the program. Though it did not change my way of thinking because some of the things the mention to do I already do. For example have dress up clothes for children who is not able to get a costume for Halloween. Another idea what having them make their own costumes in the classroom. I have done both these and they turn out great. 

I did not find anything about what the government thinks about early childhood education. I did find a statement from NAEYC from 2013 saying that we have to push the government on investments of early childhood that they are looking at the wrong investments of early childhood. 

Another incite that I gain is to always look back at the websites. The websites change often to add the most up to date information. We all know that things are always changing we just do not always follow up and see what is changing before it is to late. Going to this website on a weekly basis will keep you current.  

Poverty in China

I was unable to find anyone in a different country to talk to for these next 8 weeks. My sister knew someone who taught in China for 2 years that said he would be willing to help me out. His name is Kyle he taught kindergarten in China for 2 years. He now is living back in the United States but knows enough to help me out this assignment. 

This week I asked him about poverty in China. In Beijing there is a huge difference from rich and poor. Here in the United States they are normally located in different locations. "The school I worked at was a private school but just on the other side of the fence were slums"(Carmean,2014). Every morning he went and bought bottled coffee from a little shanty store. They was a mother, father and son that owned the store. They also lived in the store. There was only one bed and only a curtain separated the bed from the store. They had no running water. Where he lived there were many of these stores."There was a public restroom and shower that these people used and when you walk by them in the summer the stench is something  that can't  be described. I did have the misfortune of going inside one before. No stalls and holes in the ground, which is common but these were the crudest most vile receptacles I've ever laid eyes on. One could literally rub elbows with the person next to him"(Carmean, 2014). 

Since he worked at a private school he did not teach any children that were in poverty but the bar district would be filled with them. The children would come up to you and sell flowers or just beg. It was very sad from him to see this but these children were trained to do this. The adults would also beg but was always accompanied by a child. "A big difference is that they don't beg like American beggars beg. They are quiet, never aggressive. As for the poor people, they are always happy"(Carmean, 2014). 

They were always happy even though they did not have much. He loved going to their restaurants because they had the best food and they were always very nice to their customers. 

It is amazing how poverty is so different in other countries. I am glad to hear that they are so happy in China. For me it opened up my eyes that you may not have anything but you can always be happy. 

My links

I wrote my last blog stating that I have chosen the website Center for Child Care Workforce. Since then I have been looking into the other site more. I found out I could ask to receive the newsletters from NAEYC for free of charge. So I am not going to look at both of those websites. 

The link for the Center for Child Care Workforce is http://www.ccw.org/

The link for NAEYC is http://www.naeyc.org/

I have not received any newsletters from either of the company. Today I received an newsletter from the MAEYC. Which is the the Michigan Association for Early Childhood Education. This association is made to gear towards Michigan but off of NAEYC. One issue that the newsletter talked about was revising the per-pupil formula. It is in the process of being approved in the Senate.

The issue on the Center for Child Care Workforce that I have chosen from their website is Worthy Wages. This is an initiative that they have created to get the word out there that early childhood education does matter. They are asking people to have events for Worthy Wages Day which is May 1st.

Contacting an Early Childhood Professional

I had a hard time getting in contact with an Early Childhood Professional from a different country. I emailed all of the people in the Asia and Africa section on the NAEYC website. Most of the emails came back to me saying email failed. When asking my technology guy at my work he said it may be because they do not have the same software as us. That our systems may not be compatible with theirs. About five emails went through but I did not get a reply from any of them. I going to keep on trying to contact other professionals from the different countries that were on the list. My sister however has a friend that taught kindergarten in China for two years. He is going to help me out with the best of his ability.

 The website I have chosen was the center for childcare workforce. The reason I choose this is you can sign up to receive emails from them. I am also specialization in public policy and advocacy. This website seems that it has a lot of information about it. I would love to be part of NAEYC or National Head Start but I do not have the money for the membership. I can't wait to explore this website more in depth.