Time Well Spent

This program has taught me so much about the administrative side of early childhood, about being a leader, and most importantly it has allowed me to realize some important truths about myself. The first deep knowledge that I have acquired throughout this program has been the process of budgeting and allocating resources, in a program. Not only is it a vital skill to know these concepts but the process in which we created a program to budget for and wrote grant proposal provided me with real life hands on experiences. Another, concept I will deeply take with me is from the building research competencies course, previously I had no type of experience with reading research papers or writing them. This course provided me with valuable skills towards understanding the basic conformity to which papers are written, and towards understanding them. I have even found some interesting jobs that requires its applicants to have of knowledge of teases rich competencies, so I'm excited and appreciative to have that knowledge added to my resume. Lastly, the knowledge I acquired in the perspectives in diversity and equity course have impacted the most out of all the courses on this journey. Learning about self-reflection, and it's affects on myself as a teacher has provided with a new view on just how different elements can affect the environment in which we teach. The impact that diversity has on the real world classroom, is a reality that many educators do not know how to incorporate within their methods of teaching. I truly believe that this course should be offered at the B.S level, and mandated to take in order to teach. 

My long term goal is to open my own daycare center. The knowledge and skills acquired over the course of this will help me take one step closer to achieving this goal.

I would like to say thank-you to Dr. E, and all the other professors that have helped me over the course of this program. A special thanks to all my colleagues, I have learned so much by reading your insightful work, and from your own critiques on my own work has made me a better student and educator forcing me to think critically, or out of the box.  

Good Luck to everyone in their futur eEndeavors!!

Jobs/roles in the ECE community: Internationally

The first organization I chose was UNICEF, my main reasoning for choosing them being their well known status for global humanitarian work for children. I remember carrying around a box every Halloween as a young child, collecting pennies for them. 

One job that was of interest to me was the Chief of child development in Education located in Turkey. A successful candidate in this position would have to have:

- Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Education; Primary Education, or Social Sciences fields relevant to international development assistance.*

- Some demonstrative capacity to identify and monitor gender and other inequalities, as well as develop and implement gender mainstreaming in programmes.
- Eight years of progressively responsible relevant work experience at national and international levels in fields relevant to Education programmes in Middle Income countries and emergency settings. Experience working in the UN or other international development organization an asset.
- Proven experience in Education in Emergencies.

The next organization I chose was the academy for educational development. I had never heard of this organization, but thought that it's mission to improving lives by creating a unique mix of capabilities to address today's interrelated development challenges, was really interesting. 

I found one position at this particular organization, that appealed to me. The nutrition behavior change specialist located in Kenya, is responsible for improving the nutritional status of women and children under two years of age by implementing a program that integrates water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and nutrition. A successful candidate would need to have:

• Knowledge and experience in designing and implementing evidence-based behavior change approaches, particularly approaches incorporating the role of products, social factors and environment in facilitating change.
• Understanding of key nutrition concepts, and the role of safe water, food hygiene, sanitation and hand washing in nutrition.
• Strategic thinker, strong team player, able to deliver results without close supervision.
• Experience managing public- private partnerships, social marketing and/or product development desirable.

The last organization I chose was the International step by step association, which I chose to explore because I had never heard of it. Their mission is to support professional communities and develop a strong civil society that influences and assists decision makers provide high quality care and educational services for all children from birth through primary school (birth through 10 years old), with a focus on the poorest and most disadvantaged.

The only position I found was for a communications officer, on their Linkdin page which had no 

other information on qualifications or skills needed. 

References

• Website: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/

• Website: International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.issa.nl/index.html
• Website: Academy for Educational Development. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.aed.org/en/index.htm

Jobs in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

The first organization I chose is zero to three because of their dedication to the younger early childhood field specifically of babies and toddlers. This stage of development is critical to the healthy growth in all aspects of young children and issues related to younger developing children must be addressed and is equally important to the early childhood education field. I found one job opportunity that interested me called a Content Specialist that would be responsible for helping to develop and maintain consistency of the voice of the organization for all aspects of online and print marketing and communications. In order to fulfill this position I would need to have a minimum of 3-6 years of experience in a related field, exceptional writing and organizational storytelling skills and experience a strong understanding of digital content.

The next organization I chose is the Center for Child Care Workforce that advocates for public policy to restructure the early care and education delivery system to better address the issues of workforce recruitment. I think this organization to improve the quality of early care education, and its educators is an important endeavor to tackle, especially in the field of wage increases. I did not find any job opportunities on this site.

The last organization I chose is the National Child Care Association, which I selected due to their advocate work towards improving the regulation methods with in early child care regardless of private or public affiliations. I think that this is an important issue as many states have various regulations across the board instead of one that is unified. I did not find an employment page or any job opportunities within this organizations website.

I did find one position on Indeed.com that interested me with the company Child Trends that called for an assistant research coordinator in early childhood. This position requires a Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of two (2) years of experience in sales, marketing, recruitment, communications, or public relations OR, at least two (2) years of college coursework and at least 7 years of experience. In addition to having a high degree of comfort performing extensive work over the phone and advanced experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint required.

References

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2011). http://www.zerotothree.org/

Center for Child Care Workforce. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2015 from http://www.ccw.org/

National Child Care Association. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30 2015, from http://www.nccanet.org/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

All of the organizations I chose are from the Maryland learning links website, which is a resource for educators developed under federal funding through a State Improvement Grant.  It is co-owned by the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Special Education and Early Intervention Services (MSDE), and the Johns Hopkins University, School of Education, Center for Technology in Education (JHU CTE).  

The first community of practice organization I chose is the Early Learning Network which is a forum dialogue among local birth through 5 program leaders to exchange ideas and information, engage in shared problem solving, and to post locally developed resources and other. I chose this particular COP due to the exclusive dialogue that occurs in their forum with other early child hood professionals.

The next organization I chose is the Early Learning Professional Learning Institute, which is a community space available for educators to share thoughts and resources from The Power of Strategic Implementation conferences that occur each year. I thought this COP was very specific, and would be helpful to anyone who was interested in networking with other people who had attended the same conference and wanted to discuss the components of it in greater detail.

The last organization I chose is the Making Access Happen in Harford County MD. This COP is a collaborative professional learning network designed to increase the participation of 3-5 year old children with disabilities in public and private community based early and development programs. I chose this network due to the locality of it within my own school, and their dedication towards enhancing special needs children in early childhood programs.

I found two particular job opportunities that interested me, the first is an opportunity with the head start collaboration through ICF international. This position is responsible for e-wide Quality Rating Systems and State Early Learning Standards and collaboration with ECE entities involved in State and local planning to better meet the needs of low-income children from birth to school entry, and their families. Specialized skills needed to fulfill this job are:

• Master’s Degree in early childhood education, child development or related degree.
• Knowledge of Head Start performance standards and all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations.
• Experience with content knowledge related to child care licensing, subsidy administration, Quality Rating and Improvement Systems

The next job is Child Care Specialist in Fairfax VA, this position requires its applicants to 

• Have Comprehensive knowledge of the principles, concepts, and methodology of assigned area of accountability; 
• Knowledge of county budget/fiscal policies and procedures; 
• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing; 
• Ability to perform short- and long-range planning and monitor effectiveness of programs; 
• Ability to keep current on the latest theories of early childhood development and education

I think that both positions would be a great opportunity to learn many of the skills I've acquired during the course of this degree program.

Collaborative Learning Community

During these past 8 weeks I feel like my collegues have greatly supported me, through their constructive comments, and criticism as they have analyzed my work in all of the assignments. I too hope that I have helped in supporting and assisting their own growth during assignments by providing questions, dialogue, and new insights on thier work throughout the course. By collaborating together on assignments we have provided additional unique perspectives beyond just the professors commentary that I know for me personally has given me a broader view on the issues and concepts in this course.

It is my wish for my collegues as they entered into their specializations and continue down their professional path to truly incorporate all of the vital knowledge throughout these courses into thier lives and careers. Concepts of communication, collaboration and cultural competency skills are needed in our profession and in our world more then ever, so utilizing what we have learned and teaching others is so important.

Good luck to everyone in their future endeavors both personally and professionally!

I wish to keep in contact so here is my personal email ashav11@msn.com

The Adjourning Phase

Several groups that I have had the opportunity to be involved have a bittersweet aftermath when it comes to adjourning. The majority of my classmates that were within my major when I was completing my B.S, had accomplished success in umany projects together including the full operations of a mentoring program with a neighboring inner city high school and fashion shows for inner city youth. One of the hardest parts about saying goodbye upon graduation was knowing that many of the friendships I had made and people I had seen on a daily basis would be lessened. Fortunately, I was able to maintain many of the friendships that I had made, and continue to do so today. "Members may also opt yo maintain friendships even if they will no longer be working together. " (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012 p.258) I think that high performance groups are definitely harder to leave as the positive cohesion of the group, and efficiency in accomplishment can create a comfortable climate, in which the group members may feel wary about leaving such a functional group. "Cohesion is a important factor in generating a positive group temperament or climate in which members take pride in the group, treat each other with respect, feel confident about their abilities and achieve higher success in accomplishing goals." (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2012 p.269) The Closing rituals I have been a part of include, graduations, dinners, and even parties that were celebratory towards the successful end of an endeavor. I would imagine the adjourning of this particular group of collegues to end via our blogs due to the online capacity of this school. However, I would like to think that I may meet some of my fellow collegues during the final graduation ceremony for those who are in the same state as me, and would be a perfect finish to the program.

The aspect of adjourning provides an opportunity for closure and the ability for the group to be able to reflect on positive accompliments, or mishaps that may have occurred.  Although bittersweet, it gives everyone in the group to be positive in their reflections, as well as their own contributions that had been made to the group.

References

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Conflict Resolution

I can think of many conflicts that could be resolved with strategies learned this week towards solving issues more effectively. Recently, I had a small disagreement with a parent regarding their behavior in my classroom, humoursly the mom had an issue with her 4 year old son, playing in housekeeping with dolls, and barbies. She preceded to yell at him and take the toy from him each time she entered the classroom. Upon speaking with her after school privately she stated that she did not want her child playing with "girl toys", and became angry that I replied that all children including boys play with many different gender toys/roles as they explore the world around them. The conversation was not really resolved at the end and although she refrained from the yelling and aggression within the classroom, I could still tell she was upset by the situation. One strategy that might be helpful in this situation is to take some tips from the "third side" in viewing other's perspectives. I think that listening from the "third side" would be helpful towards really understanding and considering the mothers point of view. "Listening allows us on opportunity to see from multiple vantage points and allows us to see the whole. Listening is a simple way to show respect. Watch your intention in your listening. If your intention to listen is to find a way to convince them of "your way" , to prove them "wrong" or "convert the right side," you will not create an opportunity for a solution that supports each side and the surrounding community." (The Third Side. nd.)

Another strategy that could have been helpful is to seek understanding first before relaying my own point of view. "If we encourage others to explain their side first, they will be more apt to listen to ours."(Billikopf, G. 2009)

References

Billikopf, G. (2009, August). Conflict management skills. Retrieved from http://cnr.berkeley.edu/ucce50/ag-labor/7labor/13.htm

Website: The Third Side. (n.d.). The third side. Retrieved from http://www.thirdside.org/