"We're not fighting! We're saving"; Debora Wisneski at TEDxMiamiUniversity - YouTube

"We're not fighting! We're saving"; Debora Wisneski at TEDxMiamiUniversity - YouTube

What Do the 2012 Election Results Mean for Early Learning? | First Five Years Fund

What Do the 2012 Election Results Mean for Early Learning? | First Five Years Fund

Pre-K schools in La. must step up | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Pre-K schools in La. must step up | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Pre-K Evolution in Louisiana

Groups: Get more pre-K input | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

The changes in early education for Louisiana, time for the "nitty-gritty."

I agreed to participate!!

The following study published in Infant Mental Health, Implementation of a Mental Health Consultation Model and it's Impact on Early Childhood Teachers' Efficacy and Competence, was conducted by Tulane University in Louisiana child care centers.  I was teaching at the time and participated in this research project.  The main idea was if teachers were socially and emotionally supported within their teaching environments, they would be more effective as teachers in an early learning environment.  Mental health consultants came to our center and offered support through individual classroom observations and group conversations.  We discussed whatever "drama" was occurring in the work environment and any other concerns we may have had about the children in our care.  We were basically given an onsite mental health consultant that visited every other week.
As a result, our center staff became close and we verbalized any concerns, instead of letting them boil and bubble through gossip.  The study concludes what I saw evident in the center I was working.  Mental health support, offered on a large, state led scale can increase teacher efficacy. I and my fellow staff members returned to work after many of these sessions, inspired to work as a team and for the children we were teaching.   I was happy to contribute to the growing body of knowledge that works to improve teacher child relationships and the efficacy of early learning programs.
Walden University Discovery Service: Implementation of a mental health consultation model and its impact on earl...

At the National Conventions, the Words They Used

Really cool tool!  Try typing in "early childhood" or "education," very interesting!!

At the National Conventions, the Words They Used - Interactive Feature - NYTimes.com

Every Child, Every Nation

International Early Childhood Field

We Are One

After reading everyone's entries concerning the goals of other nations, one thing is clear.  We are all after the same thing and we must continue the unified pursuit for a positive childhood for all.

Promoting a Positive Childhood - ACEI Blog | Association for Childhood Education International

Issue and Trend in Early Childhood

I've learned so much! Glad to know there is reform in the air!
Ed Dept’s District-Level Competition Keeps Door Open for PreK-3rd Reforms | NewAmerica.net

Sharing Web Resources

THE DECADE FOR CHILDHOOD 2012-2022

Embracing the human future.

Exploring childhood today, creating new opportunities for childhood tomorrow.

On March 30, 2012, during the Global Summit on Childhood, ACEI and the Alliance for Childhood launched the 

Decade for Childhood, a 10-year initiative that provides 

opportunities for individuals and organizations 

to disseminate knowledge, consider best policies and practices, and support a global conversation about childhood.

Here are some articles from this section of the ACEI website:

The Decade for Childhood 2012-2022
The State of Childhood
Children Investing in Childhood
Goals of the Decade
Ten Pillars of a Good Childhood
All Pages

Real Cuts, Real Consequences

frac.org/pdf/stakeholder_quotes_snap_jul10_2012.pdf

Subsidies and High Needs

What are we really doing to help 42% of our nation's children?

Federal Child Care Subsidies Are Not Necessarily Linked to High-Quality Care | NewAmerica.net

"To leverage our federal dollars more efficiently – and provide the highest-need children with high-quality care – we should further study the barriers that low-income families face in access, affordability and quality of care, and refocus our money and our effort on filling those holes."

KIDS COUNT Data Center

Access hundreds of measures of child well being

Home - KIDS COUNT Data Center

The Re-emergence of Concentrated Poverty: Baton Rouge, Louisiana ranked 11th

www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2011/11/03 poverty kneebone nadeau berube/1103_poverty_kneebone_nadeau_berube.pdf

Local Reaction:
http://theadvocate.com/news/1231729-123/story.html

National Center for Children in Poverty: Louisiana Early Childhood Profile

www.nccp.org/profiles/pdf/profile_early_childhood_LA.pdf

Sharing Web Resources

Speaking of Demographics! 2012 State Fact Sheets

www.naccrra.org/sites/default/files/default_site_pages/2012/cca_state_factsheets__intro_natl_facts_060812.pdf

This showed up on my facebook feed and in a monthly newsletter I have been receiving from Child Care Aware.  Just so happens to go right in line with our topic this week.  This organization continues to be a valuable site.  Their mission is to promote national policies and partnerships to advance the development and learning of all children and to provide vision, leadership, and support to community Child Care Resource and Referral.  Their vision is similar to many of ours, a nation that supports the development and learning of all children.

A Letter to the Editor

A Letter to the Editor:  A Plea for Play-based Early Education

I bring my kids to the park daily and I, more often than not, engage in several conversations with parents concerning the accomplishments of their young children.  Inevitably the conversation turns to education and I write to you today with an enormous concern. Most adults understand the importance of childhood, but do we comprehend the importance of a quality childhood?  Do we know what it takes to create programs that support quality development and how to implement them?  I’m afraid the cliché attitude towards the importance of childhood has overshadowed the importance of creating quality experiential learning opportunities for our youngest minds. Many early education programs are driven by parents asking that their children are taught to read before the age of five.  Other programs are driven by standards that ask four year olds to learn through only direct instruction, and teachers are being asked to teach from scripted curriculums allowing for very little “wiggle room.”  Research is telling us this is not the way.  According to a recent article in Yong Children, “programs that are standardized rather than tailored to meet children's individual needs are detrimental to children's future academic success” (Geist & Baum, 2005, p.31).  In contrast, Deborah Leong and Adele Diamond, neuroscientists looking at the benefits of play and self regulation, contend a play based curriculum can contribute to the development of important executive function skills.  These higher order and creative thinking skills, while they may not be considered “academic,” may also be some of the best predictors of academic achievement (Warner, 2008).  This is just scratching the surface of the enormous amount of research supporting a play-based model.  I have heard teachers complain, “Kids just are not the way they used to be.” This is usually followed by blaming pop culture and media outlets pumping the wrong message and of course blaming the parents.  Could it be our early childhood education programs pumping the wrong message?  What message do we send when we expel (yes, expel) preschoolers for throwing tantrums?  What message do we send to a five year old when we tell him he must not move to first grade because he cannot sit still? What are these practices teaching parents?  Early education programs should be the cornerstone for teaching parents about the development of their children, not programs telling them they are doing a bad job. 

This week our legislature will pass a bill to separate our district from its current school board and allow us to build a new system from the ground up.  Every fiber in my being wants this new district to do it right.  Let’s acknowledge the research that demonstrates the advantages to a quality early education program.  Let’s get it right from the start and focus our attention on a play based curriculum and create a foundation that can produce the type of innovators we want for not only our parish, but for the global community.

Reference

Warner, L. (2008). "You're It!": Thoughts on Play and Learning in Schools. Horace, 24(2).

Geist, E., & Baum, A. (2005). Yeah, But's that keep teachers from embracing an active curriculum. Young Children, 60(4), 28-36.

“How can Harlem Children’s Zone (HZC) get thousands of poor children to succeed academically where hundreds of programs and billions of dollars have failed?”

The Long Haul | Harvard Graduate School of Education

"At HCZ we talk about a “pipeline” of services, but it is actually two parallel pipelines: One for children who go to our K–12 charter schools; the other for children who live in the neighborhood and go to traditional public schools. Both start with our early education programs. We have outreach workers scouring the neighborhood, looking for pregnant women and parents of young children for The Baby College, a nine-week series of workshops that teach a range of parenting skills. It’s a great program, but the outreach workers use all sorts of enticements — free childcare, a weekly raffle, free diapers — to get parents in because we want all of them, the good and particularly the bad. Then we have our hooks in them — and them in our database — hopefully for the next 20 years or so."




“We’re trying to create a community where children are our permanent interest,” says Canada, “and a child who has struggled is connected to a series of adults who stay with the child over long periods of time. This idea that we’re investing in children as a team over time is central to our work.”

International Day of Families is May 15th

International Day of Families

Click on the comments by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.  Great Stuff!  We must support all policy issues that impact family well being. It is the only way early development can succeed as a respected and effective field. 

Early Learning Initiative | U.S. Department of Education

Early Learning Initiative | U.S. Department of Education

Giving Young Children the Right Start - Effective Practices for Experiential Learning: LIVE from Washington

Education Department on USTREAM: .

Louisiana Takes Big Steps to Improve Early-Childhood Education - Early Years - Education Week

Child Care Aware® of America Honor Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) During 2012 Week of the Young Child™ | NACCRRA.org

News Room -> Press Releases -> Child Care Aware® of America and thread Honor Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) During 2012 Week of the Young Child™ | NACCRRA.org

Early Education Global Action Week!!

Human Capital Development: Why Pre-K Needs to be a Capitol Concern « Preschool Matters… Today!

American Journal of Play

American Journal of Play | American Journal of Play

Ounce of Prevention and Heckman's "Invest In the Very Young," a final post for EDUC 6160-7

“The real question is how
to use the available funds wisely.
The best evidence supports the
policy prescription:
Invest in the Very Young.”


www.ounceofprevention.org/news/pdfs/HeckmanInvestInVeryYoung.pdf

Global Action Week is next week!

Global Action Week | Global Campaign for Education: United States Chapter

Jacqueline Jones Interview

Jacqueline Jones Interview | ChildCareExchange.com :

To My "Mix Breed-Mutt" Son: YOU'RE BEAUTY RUNS DEEP!

"Oh, so you're a mix breed, mutt," the man said to my four year old son at the park, as he discovered his biracial genetic background.

My son quickly replied and ran off, with a shrug of the shoulder, "I'm not a mutt, I'm Ryker!"

Although he did not know it at the time, my son's egocentric reaction was a very weighted statement.  Thankfully, only I knew what intentions and values were behind the words this man spoke.  I hope this man understood the truth behind my son's words as well.



A child asks his mother, "why do they 
look at me like that mommy?"  Her sweat filled palm grasps her sons tiny hand and she pulls him along the summer kissed road as the three men stare with a piercing silence. "But mommy, I don't like it"  ... "I know baby, I will explain when we get home" ... As her footsteps land on the dusty road, each one lands with the weight of her truths.  
She recalls the screams and the moans of her taunted childhood living in her southern state.  She thinks to herself "how am I going to tell my baby he is one of many prejudged human beings alive, in his own home, America"  Her tears begin to fall. "Mommy whats wrong?"  She responds, "the truth baby, the truth"... 
The long walk home gave her visions of how the blood drips and slips into the tears of sorrows from the many people she has known living in the turmoil of hatred as her silence has always been a remedy.  Today though, her silence is not enough because her son wants to understand why eyes can pierce and a gaze can violate his mere presence. How does this mother explain, guide, heal, and nurture the cries and the lies of our history running together to make uncertain truths wide awake dreams about hatred only to leave nightmares for the living? How does she explain that people hate, just because, they do?  She grapples on what she will say when he continues to ask why because his innocence has only been threatened thus far.  How does she intervene so that his unforeseen yet guaranteed traumas will not transform into hatred as well?  Like the weight of the world her footsteps are heavy on this walk home because in her almost 30 years of living she still cannot rationally explain, why.  Why do they hate the skin we are in?


While looking for the answer she found her self looking at the question...

 

Supporting Biracial Childen's Identity Development

Interracial families and the racial identification of mixed-race children: Evidence from the early childhood longitudinal study

Early education examined Baton Rouge, LA

Early education examined | Home | The Advocate — Baton Rouge, LA

Young infants as "Universal Listeners"

Louisiana Education Reform in motion!! Legislative session begins this week! Here we go!!!!!

American Press - BREAKING: Schools across state could close Wednesday

Social interactions and emotions

Does this mean social cues outweigh cognitive cues and the infant values the perspective of the caregiver over her own?  It appears to me the baby is hesitant indicating some statistical knowledge of the dangers of the visual cliff, but ignores this when mom gives a positive response.

The importance of face to face social interaction when learning language.

Still Face Experiment

Public Health Issues

Study: Lack of breastfeeding costs lives, billions of dollars - CNN

http://www.internationalbreastfeedingjournal.com/

THANK YOU, Dr. Kien! THANK YOU, colleauges! THANK YOU, family!!

This has been the best experience!  I cannot wait to see what discoveries come next!

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.

-Albert Schweitzer

Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed.  Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
-Denis Waitley

Gov. Bobby Jindal Education Agenda and Early Childhood

Gov. Bobby Jindal proposes grading early childhood programs | NOLA.com

Redistricting à la Rorschach

Redistricting à la Rorschach

Strengthening Our Connections Conference on USTREAM: The Strengthening Our Connections Conference will focus on improving outcomes for the most vulnerable ...

This is streaming live right now!!!! Marion Wright Edelman is the keynote speaker!!!! Join me please!

Strengthening Our Connections Conference on USTREAM: The Strengthening Our Connections Conference will focus on improving outcomes for the most vulnerable ...

Examining Codes of Ethics

Three ideals contained in the NAEYC and DEC codes of ethics that are meaningful


I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities,abilities, and potential of each child.


This fragile and resilient age group is often under appreciated.  It may be commonly understood within the bubble of our field, but the common awareness of policy makers is evidently lacking.  It will be a tremendous effort within my community to effectively communicate early childhood's importance and ultimately it's economic advantages.

I-1.12—To work with families to provide a safe and smooth transition as children and families move from one program to the next

Head Start and programs like it are perfect examples of gains for the field, yet they are not enough.  Once children and more importantly families leave their walls, it's like being thrown to the wolves.  Asked to navigate through a system that often contradicts itself.

From Division of Early Childhood, We shall advocate for equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and families to enhance their quality of lives.

The field of early childhood has a very large responsibility to equalize children's ability to navigate through a system of education that has yet to be perfected; want to talk about school readiness?  With a strong foundation created in the early years of life, children of all incomes can actively play a role in the pursuit of knowledge.  Their architecturally primed brains will have the strength and resiliency to overcome negative environmental experiences.

From Neurons to Neighborhoods

National Research Council
Shonkoff (2000)
Abstract: The Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood Development reviewed an extensive, multi-disciplinary, and complex body of research covering the period from before birth to entry into Kindergarten to generate an integrated science of early childhood development and the role of early experiences. The result of the committee's review, this book synthesizes the literature, elaborates on a number of core concepts of development, and offers recommendations for policy and practice. The committee's conclusions and recommendations are grounded in four overarching themes: (1) all children are born wired for feelings and ready to learn; (2) early environments matter, and nurturing relationships are essential; (3) society is changing, and the needs of young children are not being addressed; and (4) interactions among early childhood science, policy, and practice are problematic and demand dramatic rethinking. Following an executive summary, the book's chapters are as follows: (1) "Introduction"; (2) "Rethinking Nature and Nurture"; (3) "The Challenge of Studying Culture"; (4) "Making Causal Connections"; (5) "Acquiring Self-Regulation"; (6) "Communicating and Learning"; (7) "Making Friends and Getting Along with Peers"; (8) "The Developing Brain"; (9) "Nurturing Relationships"; (10) "Family Resources"; (11) "Growing Up in Child Care"; (12) "Neighborhood and Community"; (13) "Promoting Healthy Development through Intervention"; and (14) "Conclusions and Recommendations." The book's four appendices include related reports from the National Academies, and discussion of technologies for studying the developing human brain. Contains 1,821 references. (HTH)

ERIC PDF Download

Early Child Development From Measurement to Action: A priority for growth and equity

From World Bank
siteresources.worldbank.org/INTECD/Resources/ECDBook2007.pdf

Susan Ochshorn: Preschool Teacher Sells Chili to Make Ends Meet: Where Are Our Values?

Warning!!! Not a Scholarly Article, it will be obvious, but I'm curious to hear reactions.

Susan Ochshorn: Preschool Teacher Sells Chili to Make Ends Meet: Where Are Our Values?

The McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership is a good resource. Become friends with them on facebook for links to some wonderful upcoming forums.

http://cecl.nl.edu/

I just recieved this link on facebook and wanted to share it

Developing Kindergarten Readiness and Other Large-Scale Assessment Systems | National Association for the Education of Young Children | NAEYC

Early Childhood Newsletter Archive

This link brings you to the Policy Priorities from the Children's Defense Fund site, specifically for early childhood.

Early Childhood Newsletter Archive

UN Conference on the Rights of the Child: In kid friendly language!

I want to print poster size copies of this and post in very public places!

www.unicef.org/rightsite/files/uncrcchilldfriendlylanguage.pdf
Is it still true that the United States and Somolia are not a part of this convention?

The National Association of Child Care Resource & Referral Agencies -- Reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant!

Marian Wright Edelman's Child Watch Column: "Cuts in Education: A Failing Choice"

Marian Wright Edelman's Child Watch Column: "Cuts in Education: A Failing Choice"
I love this Woman!!!

Treating Students as Lifelong Researchers

"I have always been regretting that I was not as wise as the day I was born." - Henry David Thoreau

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other. " - Abraham Lincoln

"You're off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So... get on your way!" - Dr. Seuss