"Children are happy because they don't have a file in their minds called "all the things that could go wrong"."

- Marianne Williamson

"If a child cannot learn in the way we teach, we must teach in a way the child can learn."

 -unknown

"Children do not care how much you know until they know how much you care."

- Teddy Roosevelt

"Children have to be educated but they have also to be left t educate themselves." 

-Earnest Dimnet

Testing for Intelligence?

Testing is hot topic in education. The questions is should we do testing or should we not do testing. I believe testing needs to be done. I do not believe in standardized testing though. When I was in elementary, high school and even college I always hated standardized testing. I do not feel it leads to the correct intelligence of the person taking it. For example when I was testing for college entry exams I always did poorly. I was placed in a lower class because of the testing. One professor even moved me to a higher class because I was to advance for the class.  Many students, myself included, have test anxiety, especially when it is timed.

I believe testing should be natural. In my classroom we do anecdotal note taking to "score" the children. I know this can not be done as the children get older but testing can be different in the classroom. First off, I think they should go away with timing the test. I believe if the timer is gone children will have less anxiety and do better on the test. Also teachers should look at other documentation for scoring then test. Children learn differently and teachers need to keep that in mind. 

The country I picked to see how they asses their students was Germany. The reason I picked Germany is because I have a lot of German in me. I searched so many websites I could not find a lot of information on assessments in Germany. The information that I found was that they do assessments based on what are the children's needs. "In grades one and two, the focus is on direct observation of the pupils. In grade three pupils also begin to be familiarized with written class test and certain subjects"(BRIGITTE LOHMAR, 2013). In the first two years children get their reports at the end of each year. After that they get them at the end of the first half of year and then again at the end of year. 

Resources

BRIGITTE LOHMAR, T. E. (2013). The Education System in the Federal Republic of Germany 2011/2012 . Secretariat of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education .

Childhood stress

People say they want to go back to being a child because they had no worries. Not everyone can say that. Some childrens life growing up was nothing they would ever go back to. I have a co-worker A. that had a rough childhood growing up. She was molested by three guy family members. She was removed into other family members houses but it would happen at that home too. Being molested is something that is very hard to deal with. She said the main thing that help her move on in life was going to church. There were two ladies that attended her church. She always went to them to talk to them. She started trusting adults again because of them. She lost trust in adults because her family would not do anything. Child protective services would be called in but would not do anything since she was being moved from house to house. They told A. that if she keeps saying the things that was happening that she would be put in a group home. She did not want to live in a group home. Another thing that help her cope with it was when she had her first son. She knew from the day he was born they she was not going to let anyone hurt him.  

She has no embarrassment talking about what had happen to her when she was a child. She has used it to help others out. Before starting work as a teacher she worked in a drug rehab clinic. She told me a lot of the teenagers in the program started using drugs because they were abused as a young child. She was able to understand them because she had went through being abused. A. told the teenagers her story and they learned to trust her. She said she has helped a lot of the teenagers turn themselves around by sharing her story, That is why she offered to help me out with this assignment. She wants to help anyone that she can by getting her horrible experience out there. She hopes that people will hear what she went through as a child and step up and help. She wants the people who were abused when they were a child to know that they are not alone. 

Child abuse happens all over the world. I choose to look at child abuse and other childhood stressors in China. China has already help lowers the number of children with no food, no clean water and health care. They are not working on lowering the numbers of violence, abuse, exploitation and trafficking. These are only some of the dangers for children in China. Violence happens in every country. Every country has different views on it. In China they is not a lot people can do to stop it. It is a considered a private issue. In China parents and teachers can use violence as a form of punishment. That is why it is considered a private issue. Such violence can lead to child abuse. Trafficking of children is also happening in China. They look at the trafficking as a form of child abuse and exploration. Law are being created but that is not the only thing that will help lower the rate. They officials also need to provide help to the children before it is to late. 

What is being done to help lower the rate? UNICEF is trying to identify at-risk children. When they identify the at-risk children they provide better care and give them more community services.  How can you help? Visit http://www.unicef.cn/cn/ today and see how. 

There are many concerns when it comes to public health. There are environmental concerns along with religious concerns. Some of these concerns are nutrition/malnutrition, immunization,healthy drinking water, sudden infant death syndrome, and breastfeeding. The topic that stands out for me is healthy drinking water.

I picked healthy drinking water because I am very picky about the water I drink. The water I drink has to be filtered. I will not drink tap water. I also need the water to be ice cold. I prefer the water with flavor shots in it. I also notice that I drink water faster if I have a straw. Then I got to thinking that I should not be that picky. There are millions that can not even drink the water that is near them and here I am saying I NEED to drink water this way. I should be happy with the way the water comes. Right?

In the developed countries there are only 10 million people without safe drinking water. Not just one country that is all of the developed countries. In Latin America and the Caribbean there are 32 million people with out safe drinking. In South, West and Central Asia there are 196 Million people with out safe drinking water. In Southeast, East Asia and Oceania there are 200 million people with out safe drinking water. You are probably thinking wow those are some high numbers, but what about Africa? Africa has 345 million people are without safe drinking water. 

With 345 Million people without safe drinking water I thought I would dig in to why is the water in Africa so unsafe? Most of Africa just does not have access to water at all. When the small towns do have access to water it is contaminated. Water plants are not properly maintained because of funds. Africa does not do water testing as much as they should. Which is another reason they have unsafe water. 

Shocking facts:

 *3.4 million people die each year from a water related disease.

*780 million people lack access to clean water. That's more then two and half times the population of the      United States.  

*The major illness is caused my fecal matter. 

*Every 21 seconds a child dies from a water-related illness. 

Math Time:

If one child dies every 21 seconds that means 2 children are die each minute. That means 171 children die each hour. That means 86,400 die each day. 

Want to help?

Visit:

www.thewaterproject.org

Sources:

The Water Project. (2014). Retrieved 5 14, 2014, from www.thewaterproject.org

water.org. (2014). Retrieved 5 14, 2014, from www.water.org

The Birthing Experience-C. LaBonville Week 1

Giving birth is one of the most important and memorable day of a women's life. They finally get to meet their little bundle of joy. I have not had this moment of joy or been a part of someone else moment of joy. I will be sharing about my birth. I obviously do not remember this wonderful day but my mother has shared the moments with me. Most of my sibling before me were born by c-section. Once a C-Section is done that is how all births have to be done. The doctors wanted to schedule my mom on December 23 1987 for the surgery. My mother did not want to have surgery this close to Christmas since she had five other children at home to celebrate with. The doctors schedule the C-Section for December 18th. On December 16th the doctors were doing a Amniocentesis Test. The needle they were using hit my mothers abdomen. My mother told me that I did not agree this the needle. I caused her to go into labor, they sent my mom in to emergency C-Section. That was the day I was born. The best day of the year. ;)

Birth happens in every country. Though every country does it differently. I choose to research the birthing experience in Germany. I am going to start from when the mother goes to check-up appointments. Here in the United States the appointments are some what private. In Germany you go behind a screen  that is not very private and undress you self. Then you go out and sit in a chair for the doctor to examine you. Here in the United States you normally lay down. This chair has a slight recline but you are still face to face with the doctor and you can see everything they are doing. In the United States they prescribe medicines for women who need it for morning sickness. In Germany they recommend tea for any issues you are having. One of the most important things to do when having a baby is to pick a name. Here in the United States that parents choose and have the final say. In Germany you have to get it approve my the local register office. In Germany it is more common to have a mid-wife. Though this is not very common anymore in the United States they are becoming more common with in the recent years. For delivering women in Germany you can either have the baby in the hospital, birth homes, or in-home. In-home births are harder to find a mid-wife that will come to your home to deliver the baby.

My brother and sister-in-law was living in Germany when she was pregnant. Though they had the child in the United States when they moved back she had to go for check-ups in Germany. Her German doctor worked and shared information with her doctor in the United States. Since she live in Germany she told me about her experience while in Germany. "The biggest difference is they ultrasound at every appointment. They never listened to the heartbeat,just saw it on the ultrasound"(Dine,2014). One thing she mention that I did not find on the website was that they do not have nurses all you see are doctors and the administrator in the office. One thing I thought was interesting was that the doctor you see for prenatal care is not the same one you would birth your child. Though she did not give birth in Germany she was told she would of had a different doctor at the hospital. She did confirm that they prenatal vitamins are different then ours in the United States. She mostly bought her vitamins in the United States when she came back here to visit family. When she did have to buy them in Germany she had to get them behind the counter, not over the counter. The reason for this is because they do not put as much folic acid in their vitamins as the United States does.   

The only similarity that I found that connected to my birth was having the baby in the hospital. I think part of that is because I do not know all the details of my birth. An insight that I have learned from this was that every country is different on the birthing process, there are not many similarities.

Dine, A. M. (2014, 5 8). (C. LaBonville, Interviewer)

Freeze, D. R. (2010, 11 6). Stand and Deliver. Retrieved 5 8, 2014, from http://rixarixa.blogspot.com/

The following are from NAEYC code of ethics.

I-1.9
To advocate for and ensure that all children, including those with special needs, have access to the support services needed to be successful

This ethic is very important to my professional life because a lot of time special needs children go untouched. The early we can seek help for those children the better chance they have at being successful.

I-2.2
To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve. 

This ethic is very important to my professional life because families is what make us have a career. You should be there for the families on what ever they need.

I-3A.1
To establish and maintain relationships of respect, trust, confidentiality, collaboration and cooperation with co-workers.

This ethic is important to my professional career because your co-workers are the only ones that understand what you are going through professionally. They will be there for you when you need them and you should be there for them when they need you. 


The following are from the DEC code of ethics.

I.1
We shall demonstrate in our behavior and language respect and appreciation for the unique value and human potential of each child.

This ethic is important to my professional career because every child is different. In order to form a bond with every child you need to understand and respect that they are different. 

II.4
We shall support professionals new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services.

This ethic is important to my professional career because I was new at one point, I had co-workers that were there for me. I would like to do the same for the new professionals.

III.6
We shall respect families' rights to choose or refuse early childhood special education or related services.

This ethic is important to my professional career because the parents are the children's first teacher. Even if we do not agree with them not getting the services we have to respect their wishes. They may not be ready to accept that is what the child needs.  

Great Resources

The following are resources that I received from my class that I am currently in. Hope they are helpful!

These Sources are for 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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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, fromhttp://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://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
• 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.

These sources are 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, fromhttp://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP's mission.
• Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/
  Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

These are 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/
• 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/
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• 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.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Here are some resources that I have found

*Handbook of Early Childhood by 

by

 

Robert C. Pianta (Editor), 

W. Steven Barnett (Editor), 

Laura M. Justice (Editor), 

Susan M. Sheridan (Editor)

*Developing Early Childhood Services by Peter Baldock

*Shaping Early Childhood by Glenda Mac Naughton