Time Well Spent

At least three deeply felt learnings from this program

One thing that I have learned is that I must be open minded so that I can get a better understanding of myself and others.

It is essential to be ant-bias and not place judgment on others. We must get to know people and accept them for who they are.

The final thought that I will take from this course is that children learning abilities will vary because of their up bringing so we must welcome all culture’s customs, values and beliefs in our classroom community so that all children are welcomed.

At least one long-term goal

It is my goal to be an advocate for young children and stand up for what is right for them and their well-being. I hope to provide children with resources that can help them become productive citizens in today’s society. Throughout life many children will be faced with life changing circumstances that may interfere with their overall development. “Inequitable opportunities, privileges, and life experiences based on economic class deeply affect young children’s lives” (Sparks& Edwards, 2010, p.101). Many will lack the necessities of life which can hinder their cognitive development. Early childhood professionals must reach out to these children and come up with all possible rationales to help them succeed in spite of their social economic status.

A farewell message to your Instructor and colleagues (consider uploading a video or audio podcast)

It has been a pleasure working with and getting to know all of you. Throughout this journey I have learned so much from each of you. The blogs and discussion board is where all of our interactions took place. It is always a joyous feeling reading your responses. We all have come thus far and I wish you all the best of luck on your future endeavors. I know that each of us will continue to excel as we are all advocate for positive social change that is beneficiary to young children and their families. Thank you Dr. Myers for your hard work and dedication to ensuring that we are anti-bias educators so that we can better serve children and families. Most of the children within our classroom community will come from diverse backgrounds. In order to be anti-bias educators we must be open-minded, optimistic and set aside our biases so that we can display diversity and provide children with quality learning opportunities despite of their culture, race, ethnicity or religion. Through hard work and dedication we are willing to do whatever to support the well being of children. Best wishes to all of you and I hope that we keep in touch over the years to come! My email address is quitner@yahoo.com

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and

ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The first organization that grasps my attention is the United Nation Children’s Fund. As I browsed through some of the things this organization did, the section about quality of education and friendly schooling stood out to me. “UNICEF is profoundly committed to securing safe, rights-based, quality education for each and every child, irrespective of his or her circumstances” (UNICEF, n.d) It is my desire to provide children with quality ;earning experiences in spite of their economic status or life circumstances. I will add this organization to my community of practice because we share a common goal.  One Job that I was interested in was the Junior Professional Programme. In order to apply for this job one must be a citizen of the respective country in which they are applying, be between the ages of 28 to 32 years of age and must have a master degree.

Save the Children is an organization that focuses on “helping children and families help themselves” (Save the Children, 2011). This organization adds fuel to my passion because it is educators it is our hope to be able to equip families and children with resources and knowledge that can help them in their daily lives. Giving families the skills needed to sustain in life can help them provide a better life for their children. The ad visor of early childhood development is a job that interests me. In order to be a candidate for this position one must have a master’s degree in International Education, Developmental Psychology, or Cultural Anthropology with ECD focus. I do not have the adequate education at the current time to fulfill the requirements of this position; however I am willing to take the necessary steps that are needed if a job becomes available within my area.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is appealing to me because their overall mission is “is to promote policies that will improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world” (OECD, 2011). Early Childhood professionals is always willing to do whatever it takes to protect the well being of young children. Politicians and lawmakers come up with policies that are either for or against the well-being of children. With an organization like OECD behind us we can ensure that they will come up with many rationales and solutions to help protect the well being of children and families. The global partnership for effective development cooperation is a position that caught my attention because it “will provide a platform for political dialogue, accountability and mutual learning. One will need a degree in economics, international relations, development economics/studies or a related field. You must also have at least three to seven years of experience in a national or international aid agency, preferably both at headquarters and in the field.

References:

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.oecd.org/home/0,2987,en_2649_201185_1_1_1_1_1,00.html

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

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