The Holistic Child

I find the idea of measuring or assessing a child to be a strange idea. How can we find a way to make that measurement applicable to each and every child? The whole child, including all dimensions, I believe is not measurable. There are no two children alike. This is where we can get into the whole "labeling" issue. However we need to classify, identify, study, observe and understand them. When a child comes into our care we do an assessment of sorts. We work with the assignment called the Denver and the ASQ/ASQSE. It is a developmental milestone type check list. It would alert to something that wasn't on target in different areas of development. It wouldn't necessarily mean a problem but just make the parent aware and possibly point to further assessment in the future. This is fine but if we are trying to deconstruct labeling how do we make sure we are identifying and not labeling? Maybe this is where it should end in the early years? How many parents have worried because their child didn't speak or walk on target and they developed but fine? Why can't we just allow the child to ...be and grow as they will. I do believe there are necessary when the need presents itself but we also have to remember that children need to be able to develop at their rate and not be forced to be learn like everyone else. We assess our children everyday. We encourage, watch, motivate, and teach our children the things they need to do from the moment of birth. Our social impact on them exerts that force on them to "learn the next thing" therefore we are constantly informally assessing our own children. When the child reaches school age they are forced to be assessed by standardized tools. Some children never really reflect their full potential on those tests and get tend to get over looked in the "system". The side note on these is another way to label a child, not only for the parent but for the teachers. The young child that scores low all their life affecting self esteem and killing all motivation to pursue any type of higher education has probably been affected by the continual assessment and testing that they consistently fall short on. This child has the potential to be great at something, and its our job to help them find what that is. They could be the next Einstein or the next amazing composer or even a great postal worker. We have to help kids find their passion if they don't quite know what it is yet. I chose to take a look that the education in Singapore. "For us, education is a matter of survival," National University of Singapore President Tan Chorh Chuan stated in an interview about the education system. The whole country supports education and understands the importance of every person being well educated. This can be seen if you were to just take a look at the literacy rate of the country as a whole 40 years ago much of the country was illiterate, today they rate #1 in many areas of education including math and science. They start "rating" children based on the academic performance in first grade and they are rated first to last. They say this type of harsh rating system is not to demoralize the child, but to show them that they CAN do better next year. I find myself sensitive to this type of "labeling" but it seems to be working for them at a whole so who am I to say?! References: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2009/09/11/75082/commentary-singapores-focus-on.html

Poverty= Stress

Poverty was the stressor that I chose to talk about in this weeks assignment. Few topics in American society have more myths and stereotypes surrounding them than poverty, misconceptions that distort our ideas on this topic.They include the notion that poverty affects a relatively small number of Americans, that the poor are impoverished for years at a time, that most of those in poverty live in inner cities, that too much welfare assistance is provided and that poverty is ultimately a result of not working hard enough. Poverty is a mainstream event experienced by a majority of people in this country. For many of us, the question is not if we will experience poverty, but when. I feel that this is just a cycle that will continue to happen until we take a look at the root of the problem instead of throwing the finger out in blame. That seems to happen more often that not. I work in a Head Start Program, and I am in the homes of people WELL below the poverty line on a daily basis. These parents aren't trying to live off of the system, and they aren't just lazy people who don't want to work. Many times they don't know the questions to ask to get the answers they need for help. I decided to look at the poverty in Kenya. I chose this because Kenya is one of the more agricultural and industrial areas in all of Africa. I would like to think that we have some similarities with that here in the US. The difference is that Kenya is a LOW-Income country with many of its people in poverty.One big factor I found is that there is a very high population with HIV/AIDS. This causes many families to be run by woman, and too many children being orphaned. Woman don't have the opportunities to provide for their families like we do here in the US. If the bread winner for the family passes away, that automatically puts the family into financial trouble they will be unable to get out of.

Breast Feeding

I chose to take a closer look at the area of nutrition and malnutrition. I believe this is a huge part of development and should be taken into account when researching all aspects of childhood development. The signs of malnutrition show themselves in tooth decay, childhood diseases, poor reflexes and muscle tone, delayed development, lack of color to skin, lower weight or obesity, poor performance in school, brittle hair and dry skin. This list can continue of the symptoms of malnutrition. The worst part is malnutrition can be prevented. The real question is can education and services be effective enough to help fix this serious problem? There are many services and agencies galore in the United States that are there to help people who need it, malnutrition is huge issue. Many times the money given is used for nutritionally void food such as white bread, soda, cookies and chips etc. This is not the type of diet that will help children out of the dangers of malnutrition. The website I found states that India is like the ground zero for malnourished children over any place else on the planet. "South Asia, in fact, has the greatest concentration of deadly acute malnutrition on the planet, while India alone accounts for 54% of all under nutrition- related child deaths worldwide." This is caused by several factors: -widespread poverty -endemic hunger -rapid population growth -pockets of weak governance -poor health systems and unreliable national indicators All of these factors are compounded by issues of the caste system (which doesn't formally exist any more but is still very prevalent in every day life), ethnicity, religion and gender. Information on India retrieved from:

Births

I have to say that I have not been involved in to many babies being born as I am an only sibling and it was just 2 of my friends who had babies. They both had them in the hospital, and neither of them stuck to the "birth plan" so I was told after the they were out of the hospital. One of my friends did get to spend some time in a hot bathtub at the hospital, but when it was time to actually have the baby she had to get out of the tub and go back to the bed. I find it very interesting that we as a society seem to think that having babies in a lying down horizontal position with your feel above your head is the best way to have a baby. Gravity pulls things down and we are developmentally created to be vertical. Why would birth be any different? I have heard many times that there are complications and c-sections are happening more often. It makes me wonder if they are really needed or are we just using them to get the babies out so that the next mom can come on through the door? I know that might sound like a harsh reality, but in my undergraduate studies I actually studied hospitals as a business for making a profit. This would fit the scene that has been painted. Why not let the child come on their own, yes I know that in some circumstances it is necessary to operate for the health of both the child and its mother, otherwise, let it happen the way its supposed to! I have already spoken to my husband and we are both in agreement that if we decide to have children, then I want to have a midwife. I want someone who is going to advocate what is best for me and my child at the time, instead of pushing meds and a quick birth. I would like to be able to move freely and not be constrained to a bed with my feet in stirrups. I looked up a website that was . This was just what I was talking about. This group helps you to decide if you want to have a child in a birthing center, hospital, or at home. They are there to assist you with labor and delivery and they are even there to support the mom after the child is born and keeps and eye out of PPD during those home checks after birth. They seem to be supportive from start to finish and then some. This is WAY different in comparison to those children who are born here in the United States. In Korea you are not just a number but a mother (and father/mother) going through a life changing experience together and they seem to be there every step of the way. I have included the website in case anyone wanted to take a closer look.

special thanks!

I want to thank is Catherine. Along these last 8weeks you have been there through ever post and everything that we have shared. You have also been so forthcoming about what you share that at many times I have been humbled by your honesty and passion for what you do and for those around you. I hopebthat we will be able to continue our journey here together and I know that wherever you are you are amazing at what you do and have given me a light to strive towards. Thank you and good luck in whatever it is you see yourself doing. You are already a success. I also want to thank Elizabeth. You have also been there with words of encouragement and support. But you also asked questions that made me think outside of my near little box. Thank you for challening me and for the support. Good luck on the road ahead! And a thank you to everyone else to helped to encourage and form connections throught this first class. I am honored to go through it with all of you.

Code of Ethics

There were many codes that were meaningful to me as I read through this weeks assignments. However, there were three that really struck at my heart as being the most near and dear to me.

The first one came from NAEYC core value section- "Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage

of the human life cycle" I think that it is so important to let kids be kids. They have a whole different way of learning and understanding their world. I feel that it is so important to support and nurture that kind of thinking. I am a teacher who wholly supports the play base approach to learning and using exploration and key experience to teach my children.

The second one also came from NAEYC the Ideals section- "I-1.3 To recognize and respect the unique qualities,

abilities, and potential of each child." Each and every child that we see has is their own unique individual. They all learn differently and see the world in a different way. Being able to see this and work with how your students learn best will only help to add to their successes in school and life long learning. Setting a good strong foundation early is key to helping EACH student succeed and EVERY student now matter their background, learning level, etc, can be successful. It's our job to help them see what they are capable of.

The third comes from the DEC  Responsive Family Centered Practices section-"We shall empower families with information and resources so that they are informed consumers of services for their children." Parents are their child's first teacher and greatest advocate. They know their children better than anyone else can, so giving them the tools they need in order to support their children is an essential part of our job.

Course Resource Section

 ACEI - Association for Childhood Education International
           . Mission/Vision statements. Retrieved October 2, 2013. Retrieved from http://acei.org/

AMS- American Montessori Society
                             http://www.amshq.org/

NAEYC - National Association for the Education of Young Children
                      Their main Website: http://www.naeyc.org/
 
            (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


 NAECTE- National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators.
                               http://www.naecte.org/

NACCP- National Association of Child Care Professionals - now known as Early Learning leaders (ELL).
                               http://www.naccp.org/


NAREA- North American Reggio Emilia Alliance
                            http://www.reggioalliance.org/

Waldorf - Waldorf Early Childhood Association of North America

I use this book constantly as a reference for my classroom checklists:
 
Beaty, Janice. 2010.Observing Development of the Young Child. Merrill. 




     

Eyes of a child.

I teach young children because I LOVE seeing the way they see and experience the world around them with awe and wonder. That is how I want to experience my world around me and learn how to continue to do that from my kids daily. I wish more people could see the world through the eyes of a child!!!

Quotes from Brilliant people

"Attachment to a baby is a long-term process, not a single, magical moment. The opportunity for bonding at birth may be compared to ... falling in love--staying in love takes longer and demands more work." -T. Berry Brazelton

Having and raising a child is a whole life commitment. There are many joyous times, but there are many hard bumps along the way. It takes a lot of hard work and determination, but if you can do that anything is possible for you and your child!

“Until justice is blind to color, until education is unaware of race, until opportunity is unconcerned with the color of men’s skins, emancipation will be a proclamation but not a fact.” -LBJ

I believe that LBJ said it all, and unfortunately this quote still rings true today. I wish that wasn't the case but we need to keep trying and pushing forward to a time when we have made it into the vision of the world that LBJ had for us. Welcoming everyone no matter their color, race, religion, abilities, disabilities, and so on.

"As I grew up I wanted to continue to be the teacher, because I had a building passion to make a real contribution to the world, and to fix all the injustices in the world. I wanted to do that through teaching." Louise Derman-Sparks




American Presidency Project: Lyndon B. Johnson: Remarks on Project Head : Retrieved from
             http://thinkexist.com/quotes/lyndon_b._johnson/2.html
 Attachment_to_a_baby_is_a_longterm_process. (n.d.). Columbia World of Quotations. Retrieved
             September 28, 2013, from Dictionary.com website:  
             http://quotes.dictionary.com/Attachment_to_a_baby_is_a_longterm_process

Louise Derman-Sparks "The Passion for Early Childhood" Five early childhood professionals share passion,
           motivation, and commitment to the early childhood field.

PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB:

 

My Mom: She is the glue that holds our family together. No matter what her family comes first. She has been my rock during hard times and through her strength I have been able to succeed even when I thought I wouldn’t. She loves me with a fierce passion and had a determination to raise me to be the best I could be! She was there when my dad and I couldn’t even be in the same room after my TBI. She was the buffer on both ends. She selflessly gave of herself to keep our family together during some of our darkest times, and because our beacon of light and hope. Today my mom is my best friend and confident. Below is a picture of my Mom (Cathy) and I.

 

My Dad: My dad was my best friend growing up. We did everything together, even if it was just jumping into the care a driving around the block to the post office. Those were our adventures. We took as many as could. We were like Mutt and Jeff, never apart. Our relationship got strained when I had my TBI, because my dad had a hard time coming to terms that I could possibly not be his little girl anymore. He felt that he was a fault that he couldn’t get to me in time, and that stress caused a fracture to form. Over time it has healed and we are again just as close as ever. The picture below is a picture of my dad walking me down the isle on my wedding day. It was a moment that we never thought would happen as my dad is very ill, and the doctors said he wouldn't make it. He is still here, today and doing well, but this was a very special moment in both our lives for more reasons than just the obvious.

My PopPop: (Maternal Grandpa): He was a quiet man, who would sit back and just watch his family together. When he did say something it was full of meaning and love. He used to take me to his workshop where he taught me about life and nature. He was a gardener and putterer. We would light a fire in his wood stove, and just make creations for his garden; bird houses, butterfly houses and even bat houses. I got to use my artistic talents (what little I had) and would paint them once they were made while he was doing real work. He loved all of his grandchildren, but I know as his first granddaughter I had a very special little nook in his heart as he will always have in mine. The picture below is one of my grandpa (the silver fox) in one of his proudest moments surrounded by his grandchildren. I am the on hugging onto his left arm :-) I miss him every day!

My sister (best friend): I was born any only child, but my next door neighbor and I have been best friends since I was 3 and she was 2.5 years old. We had so many childhood memories as we spend nearly every day together. When we got older, we didn’t fall into the same groups of friends, but once breaks and summers came around it was like we were never apart, and we picked up right where we left off. She is the only person who could tell me like it is and put me in my place and visa-versa. She was the sister that I never had, and we even fought like sisters. She taught me that I do have someone in my life can really depend on outside my family. Even though we are miles apart today we just a heartbeat away.      Below is a picture of Megan and I.

 

 

Aunt Rie: (My mother’s sister) When I was younger my aunt didn’t have any children. I would go over for sleep over’s, and we would get up late at night to feed her sweet tooth. We would have a snack of tea and cookies or hot chocolate. I was her first niece and she spoiled me to the moon and back, mostly with her attention, but she also loved to get me things. Once she had children of her own, she would still make time to spend with just me. Then I got older and went away to college. My Aunt Rie actually worked at the school I went to and we had weekly lunch dates, where we would go out and talk about everything under the sun. She has supported and loved me throughout my whole life with no acceptations. Below is a picture of my Aunt Rie and I.

This is me :-)

Then   1990                                                       Now 2013