When I Think of Child Development …

"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate." - Anonymous

I like this quote because it reminds us of how much children absorb when they are young. In addition, it also reminds me about how important it is for us to role model for children. Throughout this class, I have learned how much and how quickly children learn in their early years. This quote is a reminder to all of us to keep engaging children and explore together with them. Having a two year old also reminds me every day that he will imitate the good and the bad. That is why the second part of this quote is so dear to me because it helps me stay on track with being a great role model for him. I just hope that everyone who wants to work with children keeps in mind that we have to do something great that children can imitate.

Testing for Intellegence

In my opinion, viewing a child as holistic is very important. This is why I think IQ test are not very efficient. Most standardized test are not very accurate or show the capability of students because of the way they are designed. They do not take into consideration a child's culture, upbringing, learning style, etc. Growing up, and even today, I have a hard time with standardized test. I am average at best. However, I am a grade A student. I work hard on myself and gain knowledge whenever I can. I am focused, determined and hard working. In addition, I am proud of what I do and work hard to achieve it. All this cannot be shown by taking a test. Neither can a child's intelligence be measured by a test. Children are so diverse and they progress in their own time. Yet, as a society, we are so focused on providing prove that our child is the smartest that we often forget that we dissect the children rather than seeing what they are capable of. When children are asked "Where does the milk come from?" Most children will answer "From a cow." They have been taught that cows are milked and then the milk is delivered to the store. However, another child may answer the same question as "From the fridge." Now my question is "Is this a wrong answer?" An intelligence test would say "yes" since this is not the wanted answer. I would argue the answer is a valid since the child goes to the fridge whenever he/she wants some. Intelligence test only want one answer that someone decided is right rather than a creative one. Also, it only test for knowledge that a child should have acquired rather than testing for talents. One child may be interested in music and excel beyond his/her classmates but because the child is not interested in math might fail. So, is this child less intelligent than the child who is a math whiz? We have to start focusing on children as a whole to start seeing what children are really capable of.

I grew up in Europe and therefore chose Europe as comparison for this week. Growing up in Germany has taught me many differences. Children are never assessed by a standardized test. Parents have a choice in what their children need to learn to succeed. Germany has three different schools that emphasize different capabilities. If parents want their children to go to college, they choose a different type of school than parents who want their children a vocational training for their children. Every year, children take a sort of standardized test to show how well they compare to other countries. This test is called PISA. The test is not designed to test their intelligence but to show how well they do in areas of math, science, reading, etc. compared to other countries. The results are then taken to re-modify education to help children succeed in a multi-national world. Again, this test only gives a limited view of what children are capable of but it is to help improve the educational system rather than comment on their intelligence. Children do not have to take a college test to go to college. They can choose any college after their graduation. This is different to the US since all students have to pass the SATs before applying to college.

Consequences of Stress on Children’s Development

I had a best friend who had to cope with poverty. Growing up, I never realized how much she had to cope with. When we went to school, she always had to struggle more than I did. I had lots of school supplies, my parents would help me with my school work and I had access to all the books I needed. During my high school career, I also had access to a computer and the Internet. My friend on the other hand had to struggle because she had none of these. Her parents were on welfare and could not help her with most of her homework. She also had to help with watching her younger siblings. Her closing was always old and ragged. She brought her own lunch to school and was never able to buy school lunches. Many of the children in our class made fun of her because she never had the latest clothing articles or sneakers. When I got older, I began to understand how much it affected her. Every time we went to go shopping or to the movies, she found an excuse not to come. Growing up, I found this odd but when I talk to her now, I finally understand the hardship. Poverty does not only affect the body but also the mind. In later years, she confided in me how much her self-esteem suffered because she felt left out. She never had money to do the things we did even though she wanted to. We tried to involve her by offering to buy her movie tickets because we knew she had no money. However, she always felt that we are taking pity on her rather than trying to be nice. She was too proud to just accept the offers because it felt like begging.

Poverty in India:

Even though malnutrition and hunger are a big problem in India, the policy making is amongst the worse in the world. According to Hansan (2009) the child under-nutrition rate in India is 46 per cent. This is almost twice as that of sub-Saharan Africa, which is economically speaking poorer than India. Hansan states that India ranks 66th among the 88 countries surveyed by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). "It comes below Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon, and slightly above Bangladesh" (Hansan, 2009). The recent rise in food prices has possibly made matters worse in terms of people's access to food. The persistence of poverty is the poor implementation of government programmes (especially Integrated Child Development Services and the Public Distribution System), and various other factors .

The 2009 Congress promises in their manifesto to enact a law to facilitate access to sufficient food for all, particularly the most vulnerable and deprived sections of society. Not surprisingly, making access to food a fundamental right is likely to become the centrepiece of the United Progressive Alliance's second innings. "Politically the main challenge is to ensure that the Right to Food law is not limited to the fulfillment of the Congress election promise of 25 kg of grain a month at Rs. 3 a kg for Below Poverty Line families: this would amount to whittling down the people's access to food in the guise of the new law" (Hansan, 2009). If Congress makes true on their manifesto, this would be a great improvement on their child development.

Jacob (2010) describes the Reproductive and Child Health Programme II. This program incorporates the Integrated Child Development Services and the National Rural Health Mission, which have resulted in massive inputs in the health sector. Again, if the new administration makes good on promises, reducing poverty and improving health care systems can make a big impact on children's lives and development.

Reference

Hansan, Zoya (2009). Legislating against hunger. The Hindu, Chennai.

Jacob, K. S. (2010). Millennium Development Goals & India. The Hindu, Chennai.

Child Development and Public Health

The topic I chose is breastfeeding. I am a supporter of breastfeeding because I have done it myself. For the first year, my son had all the benefits of breast milk. I was a working mother and did pump as often as possible to have milk for my child during the day when he went to his daycare. I have to admit, breastfeeding can be an inconvenience at times. For example, I had to excuse myself about every hour to hour and a half when we had guests or go to the car when we were out. However, the benefits cannot be ignored. My son was always healthier than other children in his classroom. It was also cheaper. I had several friends and was surprised on how much money they spent each month on formula alone. Breastfeeding is therefore a great benefit for anyone who has low income. Other benefits are a balance of nutrition, micro nutrients, less ear infections, better vision and protections against childhood diseases (Berger, 2009). There are also  many benefits for mothers as well. Nothing brings a child and a mother closer together than breastfeeding. As much as I hated getting up every hour to hour and a half, I hated stopping to feed more. I still woke up in the middle of the night or found myself thinking I have to feed or pump for a long time. Even though me and my son are still close, it is a different bond. It also helped me loose the weight I gained during my pregnancy within a short period of time. The last benefit is that breastfeeding makes making good choices in your own diet much easier. I was a lot more health conscious while feeding since I realized what I eat, my child eats as well. Therefore, I was very careful in what I ate.

I researched the topic of breastfeeding in other countries. I found an article by Mane at al (2006). They researched the decline of mothers ceasing breastfeeding before the age of 15 month in West Africa. The study included 12208 children born between 1987 and 1997 in a rural area of Senegal. They interviewed mothers and found that children who were weaned early had a higher mortality rate before the age of two: "Our results showed that early cessation of breastfeeding was rare but that associated mortality was high, especially when the mother had died" (Mane at al, 2006). 
Wardlaw at al (2010) had another interesting article about developing countries and how breastfeeding can make a huge difference. The article explains that nearly one in every five children die form diarrhea (1.5 million a year) . Amongst providing vitamin supplements, the article says that exclusive breastfeeding can prevent many of these deaths.

References
Berger, K. S. (2009) The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.
Mané, N. Binta; Simondon, Kirsten B.; Simondon, François; Diallo, Aldiouma; Marra, Adama M. (2006). Early Breastfeeding Cessation in Rural Senegal: Causes, Modes, and Consequences. American Journal of Public Health, Vol. 96 Issue 1, p139-144, 6p.

Wardlaw, T., Salama, P., Brocklehurst, C., Chopra, M., Mason, E. (2010). Diarrhoea: why children are still dying and what can be done. London: The Lancet,Vol. 375, Iss. 9718; pg. 870, 3 pgs.

Childbirth––In Your Life and Around the World

My own experience:
It was around 7 o'clock in the morning on Friday December 5, 2008. I woke up early this morning because I had an appointment in the hospital to discuss a c-section. I was full term but my little boy was still breach. I was scheduled for a c-section for Monday morning. When I woke up, I had slight cramps but I thought nothing of it. My husband and I lived in Japan and the hospital we needed to drive to was an hour away. When we got to the hospital, my cramps got stronger. I was hooked up to a monitor reading contractions. They found, I had started to go into labor. Within the next few hours, I was asked to sign several papers and the doctor decided fairly quickly that my son will be born on this day. Right before 1 o'clock pm, I was taken to a operating room and epidermal was administered. A few minutes later, the c-section started. My husband was allowed to be present in the room. At 1:35 pm, my son saw the light of day. He was taken to the side and cleaned. My husband cut the umbilical cord and brought my son over to my side for me to see. I got my own private room with a little tiny room mate. My son was allowed to stay with me during recovery.

Child Birth in China:
According to Brown (2010), there are many tradition in China that surround pregnancy in China. Be it that Chinese women read poetry or only eat certain colored foods. What I find most astonishing in the article was that "Chinese women traditionally labor in an armchair or a futon" (Brown, 2010, p.1). After birth, the women pray to their godess offering incent and meat. Chinese women also do not choose a child's name before the birth. They chose a false name after the birth to scare away evil spirits. The child is renamed when he/she is older. In fact, a child's name changed four or five times throughout their live time.

I found interesting how different childbirths can be around the world. When I think back on my own son being born, everything was very clinical. I had a support system, medical advice on what to eat and how much, and a hospital to go to to ensure a smooth childbirth. I believe that a child's development is closely connected to all aspects of pregnancy and childbirth. I believ that good nutrition is important during pregnancy and through the first years of life. When I read the article about how children are born in China and their tradition, I found that many of them seemed strange to me. I could also never imagine giving birth outside a hospital but in China homebirths are most common. I was surprised to read that a child's name changes throughout their lifes. To me, a name is a form of identity for a child and I never imagined changing my sons name, yet, I can understand why Chinese women have the tradition to protect their children from evil spirits. Reading about childbirth in China definetly opened my eyes to different traditions.

Reference

Brown, L. (2010). Childbirth tradition around the world: China. Retrieved on November 5, 2010, from

http://www.babyzone.com/pregnancy/labor_birth/birthing_traditions/article/childbirth-traditions-china

Examining Codes of Ethics

NAEYC
I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive, and

physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.

This ideal is important to me because I believe children are only able to learn and grow when they feel safe. When I talk with coworkers, I often explain to them that the child's product is not important but they way on how they arrived at their final product. If we respect children for how they are and how they learn, we ensure that all our children feel valued and grow to their full potential.


I-1.10—To ensure that each child’s culture, language, ethnicity, and family structure are recognized and valued in the program.


This ideal is important to me on a personal level. I am from Germany and my culture is very important to me. My  own experience showed me how important it is to value different cultures and language in for all our children. Our programs consist of a varied student body and we should respect them for this by including all of them.


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

This ideal is important to me because I believe that families are the greatest influence in a child's life. In order to ensure all children get what they need, we have to ensure a consistency between our programs and home.  This can only be achieved if we respect the families and show them that they can trust us with their most precious possession their children.



DEC
I. PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE

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

This ideal is important to me as a professional as well as on a personal level. Each child is unique and we as professionals need to ensure children feel that we are respecting them and their family values. It starts by learning a few words in their own language and encouraging them do their best.

III. RESPONSIVE FAMILY CENTERED PRACTICES
4. We shall advocate for equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and

families to enhance their quality of lives.

This ideal is important because all children should have a chance to participate in programs that can help them gain the right skills to be successful in life. All children should have to possibility to participate in high quality services but we have to offer enough to make this a reality.

Responsive Family Centered Practices


5. We shall collaborate with families and colleagues in setting meaningful and relevant goals and
priorities throughout the intervention process including the full disclosure of the nature, risk, and
potential outcomes of any interventions.

I find myself explaining to both parents and coworkers about the importance of conferences to set goals for children. To gain an overall picture of what a child is truly capable of, it is important to have many different views on a child's weakness and strength. This is why this ideal is important to me because it can help both parents and professionals help a child in any area needed.



References
NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
The Division for Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.dec-sped.org/

Course Resource Section

1. Kids Included Together (KIT)
http://www.kitonline.org/

This organization has many resources available to include all children in the classroom. They work closely with military families and have workshops, trainings, and professionals that lend assistance to classroom teachers as well as programs.

2."The Brat Stops Here!"
Jacobsen, Mary Elaine (2006). The Brat Stops Here! New York: St Marin's Griffin.

This book is both for parents as well as people who work closely with challenging behaviors. This book is a guide on understanding frustrating behaviors and gives helpful tips on how to work with challenging behaviors to change them. What I like about this book is that it explains how temperaments can have an effect on children's behavior and how parents and teachers can use those temperaments to help the child manage behavior.

3. Zero To Three
Zero To Three. "Tips for Choosing Toys for Toddlers." Retrieved on 05 October 2010 from http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/play/tips-for-choosing-toys-for.html

I like this article because it gives parents as well as program helpful information on what kind of toys toddlers are most likely to play with and which toys will actually evolve them. I am a mother of a toddler and find myself often frustrated because some of the toys I buy for my own child only interest him for about 2-3 hours. However, when I tried some of the toys this article recommended, I found my child has a lot more fun even though they are not the most expensive.

Part 1: 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, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
This link provides new studies and useful information for anyone who needs to find more age-appropriate. It introduces the importance of culture and creating a safe learning environment that fosters respect.

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
Keeping children safe is a responsibility that everyone working with young children has. It is important to understand were different organization stand on child abuse prevention to understand what each one of us can do to help children get a voice.

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf

This article shows different ways of how you can promote school readiness in your program and why it is important for children.

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
We are a multicultural society and need to take charge of promoting cultural diversity. This article gives insides in how we can help children learn and cope with linguistic difficulties and ensure that they can succeed while valuing their culture.
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
In order to ensure a high quality program, a curriculum needs that is ethical and age appropriate. This article helps you understand what to look for when deciding on a curriculum, assessment and program evaluation.
NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
This article gives advice on including all children in your program no matter the challenges.

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
Zero to Three is a fairly new organization that has many helpful articles on how to make a difference and the importance of teaching young children.
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://www.fpg.unc.edu/~images/pdfs/snapshots/snap33.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. 

Part 2: Global Support 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, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
This is a wonderful resource if you want to learn more about children's rights. These rights both promote unalienable rights to protect and foster children's learning as well as their right to be with families.

Websites:
World Forum Foundation
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization.

World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep.org.gu.se/English/about_OMEP/
Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
Part 3: 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/main/about.cfm

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//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

Institute for Women’s Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm

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.preknow.org/

Voices for America’s Children
http://www.voices.org/pages/page.asp?page_id=22807

The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/
  
Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

 "Many of them thought that encouraging parents to put their young children in a school would tend to break up family life," she said, "and the pediatricians of the city were sure that we would spread children's diseases." (Abigail Eliot)

Reference

Abigail Eliot, 100; founded school that became department at Tufts; [City Edition]

Boston Globe (pre-1997 Fulltext). Boston, Mass.: Oct 31, 1992. pg. 19

I think this quote by Abigail Eliot is something we can all relate to working in child care settings. We often have to fight against prejudice of breaking up families or being a place where children get sick all the time. I do admit that I was one of those people who never thought much of day cares until I experienced them first hand and saw how much difference they can make.

"The most important thing is to enjoy children, to love them, be fair and just with them. If you do that, they're pretty likely to come out all right," (Abigail Eliot)

Reference

ABIGAIL ELIOT: STARTING UP

Phyllis Coons Globe Staff. Boston Globe (pre-1997 Fulltext). Boston, Mass.: May 13, 1984. pg. 1

Again, I think Eliot speaks out of my heart I also believe that children who are loved unconditionally and who feel they are treated fair learn the same traits.

"There is a reason the same toys are played with generation after generation: wooden blocks, crayons, puzzles, trucks, dolls," [Susan Bredekamp] says. "It's because they meet the needs that young children have always had."

Reference

Classic toys are best child educators say; [FIN Edition]

(AP). Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.: Dec 7, 1988. pg. E.15

When I read this quote, I had to smile because I was reminded of my own son. I find that he gets bored with toys from the store faster then I can replace them while he seems to enjoy toys that are made with love.

"It was very rewarding; it made feel whole; it made me feel creative." Derman-Sparks, Professor Emeritus, Pacific Oak College, CA, (“The Passion for Early Childhood”, 2010) when talking about her Preschool Program.

Reference

“The Passion for Early Childhood” (2010). Foundations: Early Childhood Studies. (Laureate Education Inc, CD-ROM, 2010 release).

I like how Derman-Sparks describes her experience and the intrinsic rewards after working and seeing children grow. It is important to keep in mind that there are so many more rewards in our field of study then money.

"We as a  pprofessionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better and that is what makes me passionate about this field." Sandy Escobido, Deputy Field Director, Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy Initiative, California Community Foundation ("The Passion for Early Childhood", 2010)

Reference

“The Passion for Early Childhood” (2010). Foundations: Early Childhood Studies. (Laureate Education Inc, CD-ROM, 2010 release).

I agree with Escobido that we are a major influence in children's lives. Therefore, in my opinion, we have the responsibility to help them succeed.

My Personal Childhood Web

This is my mother who has been and still is a big influence in my life. My mother is 60 years old and she is an inspiring person. What I find most amazing is that my mother became one of the first computer programmers. I remember when computers were still new and not everyone had one. My grandfather owned his own pharmacy and because it was a family business my mother was expected to also become a pharmacist. When my mother came across an add in the paper about a "new" type of technology that has been developed and needed to have people program, my mother took a leap of faith and decided to take the risk to change her career field. She became very good at programming and worked her way up to becoming a supervisor. Because she was a woman, she often had to struggle in a male dominated domain. When the cooperation she was working for went bankrupt, she was 50 years old. After applying for several jobs, she found herself struggling against younger and cheaper to hire competition. Instead of giving up, my mother decided to found her own small business. Her life has not been easy but she never gave up. This is why my mother become a role model for me and inspired me to work hard. Even today, I talk to my mother about any struggles that I have during my work and she encourages me and gives me advice to get through life. It is inspiring to see that if you work hard, life will reward you. 

This is my brother Georg. He has been a big influence in my life because he helped me understand what a big sister is for. He made me a strong and caring leader. My brother is four years younger than I am. I still remember going to the same school. When he was in 5th grade and I in 9th, we had a snack break at the same time. Every day, my friends and I would sit in the auditorium and he would come up to us with chocolate milk. He used some of his lunch money to by me a carton each day. Then, he would bring it up to me, turn to his friends to smile and wave at them. He was proud to be able to "hang out" with the older crowed. Even though, I told him multiple times that he does not have to buy me chocolate milk if he wants to come over and talk to me, he insisted. Growing up, he always looked up to me and my sister for advice. This made me feel very special because I know he loved me no matter what. It also helped me understand that I do have responsibilities in life and be strong.


The next big influence in my life have been my grandparents. I only have a picture of my grandfather but I still remember my grandmother as well. My grandmother had an important influence on my life because she was my first death experience. I remember being at my grandparents house every summer. When I think back, I can still smell the cookies my grandmother used to bake. The house was always warm and inviting. I felt safe. I remember that me and my siblings used to play at a pool in the garden while my grandma made homemade cookies. When she was done baking, she would dome out on the balcony and throw done some cookies that we would then eat. When my grandma died, I was 6 years old. She was send to the hospital for cancer. The hardest part for me at that age was to understand why we were not allowed to see her. It took me a long time to come to terms with her death but it made me also understand  how important life is. Now, I cherish every day that I have.
My grandfather was an equal big influence in my life. Even after my grandmothers death, we were always invited in his home. My grandfather lead an amazing life. I love to hear him talk about what he has accomplished. My grandfather is 91 years old, has an artificial hip and still lives on his own. He walks everyday and just recently given up hiking in the mountains. It is amazing to see what he can do even in his advanced age. Every time I visit him, we talk about his life. He did serve in World War 2 and has many stories on how lucky he was at times. Listening to his stories made me aware that all the problems that seem to make my life difficult seem to be minor compared to what he had to go through. His stories helped me understand that I should be grateful for what I have.



The last influence I want to mention is a man named Mr. Knecht. He used to me my math teacher and I don't have a picture of him. When I went to school, I could not stand math or my math teacher Mr. Knecht. He always came into class being chipper and in a good mood. He was excited about what he taught and very challenging in his tasks. It took me years to realize how much influence he had on me. His attitude and passion for teaching made me realize years after I left school inspired me to be a teacher as well. Even though I never liked math, I still remember all the things he taught versus the math problems other math teachers taught me. He was one of the few teachers challenging me and I had to rise up to the challenge. This gave me more responsibility because I had no excuse for failure. The only one I had to blame for not doing well was me. He is the reason why I started to work hard on myself to succeed.

Quick as a Cricket

I love the children's book "Quick as a Cricket" by Audrey Wood. This book teaches children so many different things. First of all, it teaches children different types of animals. Furthermore, it teaches them to distinguish animals further such as "Basset and Poodle" instead of just teaching them "dog."

The second reason why  I love this book is that it teaches opposite in a fun way. Each animal is paired with an attribute such as "quick - slow." Each attribute is followed by the opposite throughout the book. 

The third and last reason I like this book is the message in the end. The book ends with the words "Put it all together and you go ME!" I love this message because it helps children understand that they are not one-dimensional but comprised of so many different character traits. It also conveys the message that it is good to be different and versatile. In my opinion, "Quick as a Cricket" is a book that is absolutely fabulous and in my opinion highly recommendable.

A picture says more than a thousand words...

Here is a picture of a child that is very special to me. This picture was the first homework my son ever had from his classroom. He was 13 months old. The teachers gave the following instructions: What does peace me to Sam?

At first, I thought that this was silly but then I sat down with my son and started coloring this picture. We had many laughs and giggles and even my husband joined us. After spending about 10 minutes together on this project, I finally realized how important it is to spend time together as a family.

It took a picture for me to realize what my son is already capable of and how fast he is growing up. After having so much fun with this art project, our family decided to spend more time together on family projects such as this picture. Now, we take time each week to do something creative together with many laughs and giggles. This is why I think this picture is very special because it brought a close family even closer together.

Paul Vallas - A Quote to Remeber

Here is a quote that I think everyone involved in early childhood studies should take into consideration.

"If you're going to equalize the academic playing field, you've got to get the kids in early childhood programs."


- Paul Vallas quotes


In my opinion, Paul Vallas speaks a lot of truth. As our lives get faster and busier, we often forget that we set academic success often in the earliest years. If you work int he field you know that children who have books in their lives early on have advantage over children that do not. If you have some college education, you probably will have heard that the most neural connections are formed within the first 3 years. Yet, all that is talked about in the news is K-12 system and how it has failed. So much changes have been made to the school system but most people are still unaware that their set the standards with children in their early years. It saddens me when I hear that children are still growing up without books. I think early childhood programs are absolutely essential to help all children succeed academically and I am a great advocate for them. Early childhood programs can teach social skills as well as cognitive skills. If children learn to succeed and work with each other during the early years, we can set the stages for later years.

Introduction

Hi, let me introduce myself. My name is Anna Garrett and I am a military wife and a mother. I have been happily married for five years and have a 21 month old son. I was born and raised in Germany where I also met my husband. After dating for about five years, we decided to marry in the US. Ever since, we have moved around the world. Not long after we were married, we moved to Japan were I started working in a Child Development Center. Over the next year and a half, I found myself enjoying working with children and understanding how important Early Childhood Education is. I started doing more research in the area. About half a year after starting to work, I become pregnant. My son's education is very important to me and I decided to find a high quality educational program which I found in military Child Development Centers. Shortly after my son was born, we moved to Guam. Again, I started working at a Child Development Center and worked my way up to become the Training and Curriculum Specialist. I am now in a unique position to directly influence a quality program to ensure children are getting the opportunity to excel. I currently hold a Masters in Education with emphasis on Secondary Education. A few days ago, I started a second Masters Program with Walden University. I am enrolled in a Masters of Early Childhood Studies and hope that I can share with you what I learn in this program as well as life experiences.