Week 4

This week while exploring the site Zero to Three, http://www.zerotothree.org/ I found a brand new section, Little Kids, Big Questions.  This is a podcast series that they have posted to their website.  This series address several great issues facing raising children in our ever changing world.  Parents really and truly need all the different types of resources as possible.
 

This site has several articles and also evidence under the Behavior and Development section of the website that talks about the brain and how it works.  It mentions that the first three years are a period of incredible growth in all areas for the development.
 

This site also provides links regarding what states and your community are doing.  The tab Public Policy lists several different types of programs and links to home websites that can provide more information for you and your parents.  I learned there are many different options. 

Poverty Observation

I was very disappointed to find that after many weeks and hundreds of emails I can’t seem to get anybody to respond. Sadly I have had to do the alternative assignment.
I choose to listen to the podcast with TJ Skalski she is the Principal of the Mother Earth Charter School, in Alberta, Canada.
http://ccie-media.s3.amazonaws.com/podcasts/WFR_07_TJSkalski.mp3 It is the only school that has an indigenous focus.  She is a proud first nation woman. She had a calling to come to this school. It was a very thoughtful decision to take this position.  There was a lot of chaos at this job, there is a lot of turnover in her district.  The vision at this school is reinvesting in the kids.  The culture and language are on the forefront of this school.  She believes these are a must in order for us to help our students to be successful. What is stopping these students from being successful?  They are missing many of the foundational needs to help them become inspired.  This school is about empowering and encouraging students to make the right choices.
I thought this was very interesting because she helped us to explore differences between Canada and the US.  It seemed that they have a much deeper respect for each other as people and for making things work. 

Zero To Three

Zero to Three

Last week I chose to explore the organization Zero to Three. http://www.zerotothree.org/ 

I thought this would benefit both myself professionally and my family.  This organization is dedicated to providing a place that informs, trains, and supports professionals, policymakers, and parents.  Their mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers.  They do this by providing a monthly newsletter and many pages of research and support for the positive influences that need to be present in a child's life. While exploring the website this week I found many of the trends that we have discussed.  It was very hard to choose just one trend to explore.  

Good Health

I choose to look at what the site offered for families on good health and nutrition for their families.  There were many different articles for what to do with childhood obesity to how to feed children in the 21st century.  I was surprised to see so many different resources available to families and professionals. It is really important for our families that they are aware of the differences in healthy nutrition today.  http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/health-nutrition/professional-resources-on.html

I think that it is so amazing that we live in a world with so many resources right at our figure tips.  

Starting Up

We are starting a new class this week.  I am very interesting in learning about the trends in early childhood education.  I have learned so much already and I am excited to jump in and learn more.  Can't wait to see who everyone else gets connected with from other countries.  I am also excited to learn more from the organizations in our country that can help us to change the reality.