Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Hello! Welcome to my Blog!  Looking forward to an enjoyable class!

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Journey through Research


This research class has been an insightful and interesting journey.  I can honest admit that I thought at the beginning of this course that I would end up drop the course.  Anything to do with research typically overwhelms me professionally.  However throughout this process that I have come to understand that my every day challenges, running childcare facilities takes research and different levels of study the majority of the time.  This class has enabled me to understand the research process more clearly, and apply it to my professional work.  I can better organize my thoughts and relay those thoughts and ideas to help others benefit from my work.  I am glad that through this process that I have a better understanding and new found respect for equality and equitability.  It is those two important factors in the research process that will lead fellow colleagues and professionals respect and value your work.  It also insures that the work and research being done has true unbiased representation and acknowledgements. 

I have a special thank you to all of my fellow classmates who struggled and challenged themselves through this course and I want to give a word of thank for your continued support.  Thank you to Dr. Davis for your encouragement and arrangement of assignments to make the last eight weeks manageable.

Happy Holidays to everyone!  I will see you in the New Year!

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Blog Assignment: Research Around the World


*       What are some of the current international research topics?

*       In the Australian Community a significant amount of research is being focused on the middle years.  Identifying the disconnect and establish more effective teacher student relationships seems to be the topic of the research found on http://www.acsa.edu.au/pages/page32.asp

*       What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website? If I understood the website correctly that early childhood teachers working with children birth to five years must possess early child teaching qualification.    I also was very surprised that the focus of early education was stated that is main focus was children experiencing success in learning.  That is such a wonderfully vital role to focus on.  I think most organizations want children to experience success in learning but do not make it a focus.

*       What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

*       I did not find any interesting links on the Australian Curriculum Site.  I was able to find note worthy information on the EECERA.  This is the site had a link to the Korean Institute of Childcare and Education.  This site had numerous links to the type of research that is being done in Korea.

*       Sites




*        

 

Saturday, November 17, 2012


  I was introduced to Conscious Discipline training developed by Becky Bailey, about five years ago. It is specifically designed to provide parents with the conscious awareness and skills needed to create safe, connected, problem-solving homes. It is also a dramatic strategy to handle the most difficult of challenging classroom.  Giving families a true working alternatives to  hitting, spanking or isolation techniques as a form of punishment has I know personally helped not only my work with children inside the classroom, but also raising three children independently.   Research proves that when teachers and parents exhibit self control in volatile situations that they themselves teach children emotional intelligence (Bailey, 2012)

I have used these strategies based in bailey’s research and passed on the education research techniques to my families struggling with aggressive and challenging behaviors.  Teaching children, staff, and families emotional intelligence is a teaching style that will work with persistence and consistency.  Its benefits in my family specifically have given me piece of mind and less stressful mindset to raise my child that is diagnosed with ADHD.  My child has now has the strategies to deal with frustration and feelings that become overwhelming.

I have professionally and personally observed this research affect children and their families positively.

 

 

References

 


Bailey, B. (2012). Retrieved from Conscious Discilpline: http://consciousdiscipline.com/about/research_papers.asp

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Pulling out my Hair!!



 
 
 
Oh My Stars!!!!  This research process is extremely trying.  I have picked a particularly popular topic to research and know just from job experience that there are a lot of studies that have been done in response to my chosen research topic.  I chose how to manage challenging behaviors inside the classroom.  This is stimulated by my own personal need to help support the 3 year classrooms that I currently supervise.   These rooms in particular are the other cause of sleepless nights despite my daytime efforts and strategies.  My 3 year old rooms are out of CONTROL!!!   As I have tried to research this topic I have come to realize that my worst fear has been realized and that is….. I am terrible at research.  I mean really is anyone else getting directed to sites that you have to pay and subscribe to in order to review the full articles?  Is anyone finding the ERIC search engine is difficult to use???  I am beyond frustrated with this process.  I even tried just straight Google ad that is getting about the same results.  I will need you all’s continued support and insight if I am going to make it through this class.  Please help if you have unlocked the secret to finding great journals that are quality.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012


Consequences and Inspirations


 The international community has a different perception of early years learning, internationally family member typically are baby sitters and learning centers educate.  This is foreign concept to the existing working American family.


International contacts have been personally non responsive to questions and insights.


Establishing links to International can damper collegial spirits become in established countries the education system is ranked way higher in national priority.


I hope to continue to try and establish a permanent professional relationship with a colleague from the international community to stay abreast on the educational challenges and success they achieve.

 
Thanks for a great 8 Weeks!

Friday, October 19, 2012


The issues that dominant the topics of discussion in my personal professional world seemed to be centered around training and special needs/ challenging behavior training.  Having the right tools in your teacher’s tool belt inside the classroom is essential for program success.  By looking at classrooms specific needs and training staff to handle those challenges can be the key to quality care, excellence in educators and professional reputation.  When a program is able to manage and support developmentally appropriate practices that build confidence and respect of families is when the field we are so passionate about becomes a career not a job.  In the program I currently operate requirements potential, continuous and annual training is required.  Our program assists with tuition assistance and annual specialized training. Conscious Discipline, Touch points and valued KIT trainings.
I can only hope that I can contribute to the military families and the early childhood education community. My goals of providing the best quality care available to sevicemen and women is something I hold very close to my heart.  Giving back to community that has given so much to my own family.  I know as I face the challenges and political hurdles I can continue to push the childcare profession in the military community to unexpected levels.  I would like to somehow start a literacy program that allows children to bring age appropriate books home and build relationships around families learning to love to read together.