When I Think of Research...

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

I have gained so much more insight into how to research versus just reading and completing basic task of collection. I also learned how to take a subtopic and redefine it until it is no longer a broad spectrum. I also learned that real research, quality research is not an easy process and requires a lot of time and work. This was so challenging to me!

         In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed? 

     Since I have taken this course I’ve learned that there is more than just choosing a topic and

     completing a collection. I also learned the various ways and methods in conducting research.  A researcher should also be knowledgeable of the culture or diversity they may encounter while conducting the research.

What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

I learned the importance of ethics in relations to research involving early childhood education. As a researcher I must be neutral in a situation and not have my own opinions weigh in the research.

What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

Conducting research was very new to me in a sense. I have once conducted research in the past while helping my son do a research paper in high school which I had no clue what a valid research paper should consist of. 

      What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

 I do not feel that my perceptions have been modified at all. I still have a huge passion for early childhood education and if anything my passion has been enriched as a result from this course.

Overall, I really enjoyed this course because it has taught me so much about research.

Tracey

Research Around the World

I chose this week to look at China and their research.  As I begin reading the site, this research drew well-known and unsung successes to bring this experience together. Focusing mostly on large scale 'tried and tested' experiences in low-income countries, researchers also drew lessons from relevant middle and high income countries' experiences, and from small-scale successes with strong potential for scaling up. This research examined the kinds of macro and sectoral policies which have proved most effective or have the greatest potential to tackle childhood poverty. It included an analysis of key economic policies, the role of cash transfers in securing child wellbeing and ways of promoting youth employment. Some of the key findings that I found to be interesting were how the growth-oriented and distributional measures are essentials for reducing childhood poverty particularly in basic education and comprehensive social protection - preferably before major liberalisation takes place. One effective form of redistribution is cash transfers for poor families - income supplements and minimum guaranteed incomes tend to have the greatest poverty reduction impacts. Programmes that integrate cash transfers with other key services are likely to have the strongest impacts on child wellbeing.

Another fact that I found to be interesting was how researchers believed that China has made great strides in building the public and political profile of ECCE and in boosting general levels of participation over the last two decades. Nationally, well over a third of preschoolers participate in formal center-based programs. China has developed a countrywide ECCE policy context that lays out progressive principles and complex management structures for nurseries (0 to 3), kindergartens (3-6) preprimary classes (5 to 6) and a variety of other forms of child and parent education. The general principles of the ECCE policy reflect progressive, child-centered curriculum, blended with some traditional cultural emphases and recognition of the importance of evaluation. In the management structures, the central government develops general policies and the implementation and detailed planning are pushed out through provincial and municipal governments to the local level with significant support from NGO’s such as the All-China Women’s Federation. The Education Ministry and education departments have the lead role but other ministries, such as Public Health, are charged with contributing to the operational aspects of the services.  

References:

China State Council. (2003). Opinions from the Department (Units) including the Ministry of on Education innovations and development of early childhood education.

Positive Effects of Single Parenting

I was born in the very well-protected family, had a very great childhood memory along with a good educational path. Everything seemed perfect to me. I had never thought that one day I would become a single mom after I realized that my boyfriend of my child was violent. Being unable to maintain my relationship with anymore, I decided to be on my own, and new title has come to me: single mom. At first, single parenting seem to be the toughest job in the world because of its change. Change was the first thing that has to be existed in single parent’s life, and it has really challenged me. After breaking up with my boyfriend, I became angry and withdrew myself from social life. I limited all my social activities as much as I could and never exposed my feeling to any relatives or friends at all.

Researchers have indicated that a home filled with conflict is the least desirable home environment for children. When the child's prior two-parent household included frequent fighting and discord between the adults, the child can benefit from living in a one-parent home provided that the conflict is stopped. A parent who is no longer devoting time to warring with a partner may have more energy to give to the kids. Children observe adult relationships and usually apply what they have learned to their own relationships as adults. By residing with only one parent, the child may actually have a chance to observe healthier adult relationships. Single parents have raised many well-rounded, successful people (Schuyler, 2001)

After a period of time, having realized that I could not be like that forever, I prayed to God for strength and with the advice I received from  my mom helped me to overcome my heartache.  As a result, I started to change by accepting with what happened to me, by not hanging on to the past becoming a very passive person, and by participating in social life with my friends more often.   And now, whenever I looked back, I am so happy that I have overcome the first challenge of being a single mom.

My Research Journey

The early childhood topic I choose to focus on is breastfeeding.  I have three children and when I gave birth to my first son back in March 1989; breastfeeding was not a big topic back then like it is now. My doctor never did ask me if I was going to breastfeed my baby, I guess he just assumed I was not interested in doing so at the time. But in the late 90’s when I gave birth to my second son, I was asked if I was going to breastfeed or bottle feed my baby and I chose to bottle feed.

The first subtopic that I would like to research more on is what is the advantage of breastfeeding for the mother? What is the advantage of breastfeeding for the baby? I would like to know what I missed out on for me not breastfeeding my children.

My second subtopic is if a mother has gone to the doctor about an unrelated illness and the doctor wants to put the mother on medication, what should the mother do? I would like to know whether or not if the mother would have to stop breastfeeding the baby and put the baby on formula. My plans are to research to see how this subtopic is related to the early childhood field.

As I continue to do my research on these subtopics this week’s discussion board has taught me how to look for credible sources that would benefit me as I research. I look forward to sharing with you the ones that interested me the most.

Issues and Trends in the Early Childhood Field Final Blog

I have enjoyed learning about the international early childhood field and about the issues, trends, and challenges early childhood professionals in other countries are facing. With these resources in mind gave me new insights on three main consequences into the early childhood field:

First consequence, in order to be effective in the early childhood field is to have new resources to draw upon. We have to learn how to get along with others in order to promote healthy development for our young children. By me learning about the international childhood field has helped my knowledge on different global issues around the world.

Second consequence, with me studying different website opened my eyes to issues and challenges that others are facing and also how they are overcoming them. As I sit back and complain about the recession and how the budget has been cut gave me an eye opening on how thankful I am to live in a country with all the resources we have here, compared to how other countries are lacking resources.

Last consequence is awareness.  I have gained new resources, and I also have awareness for the international early childhood community and organizations that promote the well-being of children and families worldwide. Being able to read or communicate with someone from another country is a good thing because you can learn so much from other by sharing resources and collaborating on ways to promote healthy development of children worldwide and provide high quality services for all.

I would like to thank all my classmates for your wonderful thoughts and comments throughout this course. I really enjoyed reading all the blogs as well as the discussion boards. I look forward to working with some of you as we continue our journey.

Best of luck to all!

Tracey

Week 7 Blog Assignment

Insights that I gained from this website:

What is UNESCO? UNESCO is a great program that advocates for Early Childhood Care and Education that attend to health, nutrition, security and learning which provide for children’s holistic development. This program is part of a range that promotes inclusive education. UNESCO leads the international policy drive for an integrated early childhood care and education system that encompasses both the well-being and holistic development of the child.

Early childhood care and education is often the concern of several government sectors and usually these are education, social affairs and health. The multi-faceted nature of early childhood care and education gives rise to the challenge of effectively coordinating provision of policy development and implementation across the different sectors. According to EPA, too many children are receiving an education of such poor quality that they leave school without basic literacy and numeracy skills.  Deep and persistent disparities based on wealth, gender, location, ethnicity and other markers for disadvantage are acting as a major barrier to progress in education. Cross-sectoral coordination is difficult, especially at the national level. It is one of the main challenges facing governments of both developed and developing countries trying to promote a holistic approach to early childhood. Responses vary and some countries have sought to remove the problem by integrating cross-sectoral responsibilities into a single ministry.

In my opinion, if our world's governments are serious about education for all, they need to get serious about tackling inequality. 

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Sharing Web Resources

The web-site I chose was the National Association Early Childhood Teachers Educators (NAECTE).  According to the e-letter, the NAECTE will be holding a Fall Conference November 2, 2011 in Orlando, Florida.  The theme of the conference is The Future of Early Childhood Teacher Education. One of the keynote speakers will be Kathryn Castle and she will be speaking on New Teacher Research Text. How do teachers apply research results to effect change? She talks about how Early Childhood Teacher Research is an exciting new resource that will address the sorts of questions and concerns that pre- and in-service teachers of young children frequently have when engaging in teacher research, how the book touches upon the important issues every early childhood teacher should know—the uniqueness of early childhood teacher research, reasons for doing it, and how to do it.

The other keynote speaker will be Doris Fromberg and she will be speaking on New Kindergarten and Pre-K Curriculum. The All‐Day Kindergarten and Pre‐K Curriculum provide an activity‐based and classroom‐proven curriculum for educators to consider as they plan and interact with pre‐k and kindergarten children. Allowing young children the opportunities to become independent, caring, critical thinkers who feel comfortable asking questions and exploring possible solutions, the Dynamic Themes Curriculum offers children the skills they need for responsible citizenship and academic progress. This book describes a culturally‐sensitive pre‐k and kindergarten curriculum in the context of literacy, technology, mathematics, social studies, science, the arts, and play, and also discusses:

learning to meet and exceed content learning standards

• How to organize for differentiated instruction and to

integrate multiple forms of assessment

• How to teach literacy tools and skills in fresh ways

• How to work with families, colleagues, and community

Building off of author Doris Fromberg’s groundbreaking earlier work, The All‐Day Kindergarten and Pre‐K Curriculum presents a practical curriculum centering on how young children develop meanings. This is a fantastic resource for pre‐and in‐service early childhood teachers, administrators, and scholars.

Although the newsletter mentioned anything about the issues and trends of equity and excellence in the early childhood field, I feel as though it will benefit new teachers who are going into the early childhood education field.  There has been nothing new since my previous post concerning the website.

Also, to learn what is happening in your region, you can see the Regional Reports on the NAECTE News page as listed below:

http://www.naecte.org/index.php?option=co

m_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=29

:

http://www.naecte.org/index.php?option=co

m_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=53