Time Well Spent

What I learned from this program?
-I learned a great deal about culture and diversity.  I always thought that these words were the same, however, I quickly learned the difference between the two. 
-I also learned about the correct way to research.  I learned how to be confident in doing research and it made me not so apprehensive.  I am now so much calmer at the idea of doing it!  Still not my favorite thing to do, but I am knowledgeable about how!
-I have excitingly learned about managing and owning my own child care facility!  I learned about budgeting, purchasing, staffing, and so much more than I ever imagined it to be.

My long term goal is to be become an Early Childhood Professor.  Before I accomplish or work at this goal, I want to be a Daycare Director.  In the long term I would like to teach other students how to enjoy and embrace my field of study!

To my Instructor,
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my emails and make me feel like you had time for my concerns.  I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have gained in this course.  Although it was tough at times, you showed me exactly what it means to do graduate level work and be proud of it.  Again I thank you!

To my Colleagues,
Thank you for always taking the time to read my blogs and discussions.  You always left me great feedback and comments.  I wish you the best in your future!  WE MADE IT!!!!!!  Congratulations.  Now go be great!

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

            Although I would always want to work and live in the United States, it was exciting to think of working to help families and children on an international level.  Thinking of my field locally and nationally does not lead to much of a major interest change for me.  However, when I think of this field on an international level it reminds me of the importance of early childhood. 

            Save the children’s website led me to a position entitled, child protection advisor with a location of Hatay, Turkey.  The role of this person is to “provide quality technical leadership and advice for the design, implementation and monitoring of child protection related activities in the context of Syria response program” (www.savethechildren.net/jobs, 2013).  When looking at the mission and vision of this organization, I knew that I would want to be part of such an organization.  The qualifications and experience needed for this position are to have a “Master or Bachelor degree, experience with fundraising with major donors, highly developed cultural awareness, and a commitment to Save the Children values” (www.savethechildren.net/jobs, 2013). 

            United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s website has an interesting position available for a finance and administrative officer with a location of New Delhi.  The role of this person is to “provide a range of administrative management support activities to the UNESCO entitles in New Delhi, India.  He/she reports directly to the directors of entities with overall guidance from the Bureau of Financial Management” (www.careers.unesco.org, 2013).  The position pays pretty well in US dollars and seems like a very interesting position.  I looked the qualifications of this position and  they would like the candidate to have at least four years of experience and a bachelor’s degree (www.careers.unesco.org, 2013).         

I looked at the UNICEF website and looked at the careers that they offered.  I was interested in a child protection position with this company because I think that my passion for helping children would be used greatly!  According to the website this position would “play a key role in the design, implementing and monitoring and evaluation of child protection programs.  Key areas include child protection from violence, exploration and abuse, development and advocacy for legal and social policy reform and strengthening national protection mechanisms” (www.unicef.org, 2013).

 References

www.careers.unesco.org.  Retrieved December 7, 2013.

www.savethechildren.net/jobs.  Retrieved December 7, 2013

www.unicef.org.  Retrieved December 7, 2013

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

         Organizations that appealed to me!

(1)   NAEYC (I chose this organization because it is a popular organization within the field of early childhood education.)  “NAEYC’s mission is to serve and act on behalf of the needs, rights and well-being of all young children with primary focus on the provision of educational and developmental services and resources” (www.naeyc.org, 2013).  There were several opportunities at NAEYC, but one that struck me as interesting was the “Council for NAEYC Accreditation of Programs for Young Children”.  The responsibilities are to approve policies, monitor and provide feedback on NAEYC operations, oversee accreditation decisions, recommend to the governing board, and review all proposed revisions to NAEYC accreditation criteria. 

(2)   UNICEF (I chose this organization because of what they do for children and families in many countries).  I would be interested in a “Child Protection” position with this company because I think that my passion for helping children would be used greatly!  According to the website this position would “play a key role in the design, implementing and monitoring and evaluation of child protection programs.  Key areas include child protection from violence, exploration and abuse, development and advocacy for legal and social policy reform and strengthening national protection mechanisms” (www.unicef.org).

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

            (1) Alamance Partnership for Children (Local)-I chose to mention this organization because it is a community of practice that is in my community.  They focus on helping families thrive, as it relates to children.

            (2) Smart Start Organization (Local)-I chose to mention this organization because it assists childcare facilities in providing funding as well as finding resources to make daycares better.

            (3) North Carolina’s Race to the Top (State)-I chose to mention this state organization because it was created to help schools show accountability, as it relates to early learning.

Job Opportunity at Smart Start of Alamance County was of interest to me.  The job title was Program Director and the qualifications were five years in EC management and a Masters Degree in the EC field of study.  I would need 7 years in the professional business area, of which I do not have.

Week 6: Five Stages of Team Development

For me it is hardest to say good-bye to high-performing groups!  Those groups that “just worked”.  Although we didn’t always agree, we did respect each other’s opinions and everyone handled discussions and disagreements with maturity and professionalism.  We had gotten past the awkward “forming” stage and figured out who would work best in which role and we were good at it.  When clearly established norms are set, it is easier for members to be able to “see the value in the differences on the team” (Abudi, 2010).  I personally, need to work with groups who have clearly established norms and haven’t wasted a large amount of time in the forming stage either.  I like to get to know the members and get to working on the task at hand, rather than spending too long just trying to figure things out and everyone trying to see who is worthy of what spot! 

            Closing rituals that seem to work for my grouping situations is that we talk about how things went in our grouping.  I like to discuss things that we thought went well and definitely things that were disastrous.  Of course, it doesn’t always happen, but I would really like to have the opportunity to do so if I had my way each time.  Saying good-bye is difficult in most situations when you are working with an awesome group of people!

            As far as my colleagues at Walden University, I think that saying good-bye won’t be nearly as difficult as if it were in a “face-to face” classroom.  I think that groupings are very different when you are in groups through an online classroom.  I honestly haven’t been in a situation where I feel that it is going to be difficult to say good-bye to anyone.  Not to say that I haven’t learned a great deal, gotten great feedback and ideas from fabulous colleagues here, I just don’t feel that saying good-bye will be hard?    

Week 2: Communication Exercise

          For this blog assignment, I watched one of my daughters’ favorite show that I have never paid close attention to!  It was an episode of “Shake it Up”.  When I watched the episode with the sound off, it was really shocking how much you can actually pick up from body language.  The show begins with children who are dancing on a stage in groups.  I am picking up on the beat of the music from the way the dancers heads and bodies are moving.  The characters’ relationship seems hard to figure out without listening to the words that the children are saying.  When the two girls are in the house they are sitting on the same couch.  One girl is reading a magazine and the other is talking to her.  Their faces look calm so it appears that they are having a friendly conversation.  Throughout the show the two girls are together so I am assuming that they are friends, because they are of two races and can’t be sisters.  They use many gestures and during the meal, one girl appears to be sad and the other girl seems to be trying to cheer her up. 

            When I was able to listen to the show, I found out that the two were best friends and dancing partners.  Both girls lived in the same building and went to the same school.  I never picked up that the little boy that went to their school was the girl’s brother because it never showed the two of them in the house.  When watching the meal scene I learned that Cece (sad girl) was told that she couldn't dance if she didn't pull up her grades.  Her mother told her this, while having a phone conversation.  When I was listening only, I did pick up that the girl was upset about what the lady was telling her, but I didn't realize that she was her mother.  Cece’s friend’s name is Rocky and she was comforting her and saying that she would tutor her to bring her grades up.

            If I were watching a show that I normally watch, I would have been able to figure out the relationships and conversations rather quickly.  If you’re watching a show, you can predict a lot of what you think that particular character has said or will say.  You know what types of looks they make and what they mean.  It would have been much easier to watch something that I normally watch, however, I wouldn't have gotten as much out of the activity.  When looking at the episode without sound or even background knowledge, you don’t know what to expect.  I think the good thing about this is that you can see it with any “open eye”, without judgments.  However, without knowing the characters or background knowledge you’re only option is to assume.  Most of the time, my assumptions were incorrect as far as relationships went.  I was shocked to learn that by not listening to the sound, I was able to pick up on the correct mood of the person.  You can learn a lot about what a person feels, simply by watching and paying attention to body language and gestures. 

Communication Week 1

The person that I feel communicates effectively in any given situation would have to be our President, Barack Obama!  Every time that I have seen him speak, he always speaks with confidence and preparedness.  Even though others aren't always on his side or believe in, he still speaks as if they do.  The President is always prepared in his speech and seems to be ready for anything that someone asks of him.  When watching the debate, no matter how mad he was on the inside, it didn't look like it.  To me, he is someone who understands how to communicate with others effectively and doesn't interrupt others even when he is passionate about something.  I would like to be able to speak to people with confidence and preparedness.  I would like to communicate without interrupting and making sure I am respectful, even when I’d rather act another way.  I would like to remain calm, no matter what is said.