Time Well Spent

Class, I have learned a lot about advocacy and addressing a challenge in this class.  I plan to use what I have learned to become a better and more active educator.

My long term goal is to become an administrator in Head Start.  I believe I can make a difference for all children.

I would like to personally thank everyone for contributing to my blog and sharing their blogs with me.  Good luck to you all.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The first organization I reviewed was the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which is designed to “promote policies to improve social and economic conditions for people” (OECD, 2013). The OECD currently provides a Young Professionals Program, which helps to develop people to work with the organization.  This is similar to an intern program, and people are required to have a business degree and some management skills.  I would like to enroll in this program to find job opportunities and to work with people around the world.  

The United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is an international organization that helps to conduct research and improve communications among different nations” (UNESCO, 2011).  The organization primarily focuses on combating poverty and developing peace.  One of the jobs offered by the organization is program manager.  The organization also provides membership for people who want to contribute to its efforts.  I would like to work for this organization because I want to help combat poverty and work with third world countries. 

My third organization is Save the Children.  This is a well-known organization that accepts donations to improve the lives of children around the world (Save the Children, 2012).  The organization has a position that is currently open for a Resource Manager.  According to the job opportunities on the website, the manager must have management skills and be capable of securing resources and funding for the organization.  I have actually made donations to this organization.  Therefore, I would love to work with Save the Children to help combat poverty and other issues facing children in the world.  I believe that combating poverty can improve the quality of early childhood education. 

References

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (2013). Retrieved June 12, 2013, from http://www.oecd.org/about/

Save the Children. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/

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

I chose to research the National Parent Teacher Association, the American Federation of Teachers, and the National Association of Federal Education Program Administrators.  First of all, the National Parent Teacher Association is a national organization that comprises teachers, parents, and communities dedicated to improving the quality of education in schools.  The PTA at local schools are governed by the national organization, which provides resources and research to enhance early childhood education.  After looking at job opportunities for the national organization, I would be interested in becoming a coordinator.  The position is currently open and requires managerial skills and communication skills.  According to the organization, a coordinator “coordinates public policy and works with the staff to create newsletters” (PTA, 2013).  I would like to work in this position to work with schools to coordinate activities and programs to enhance learning and parent participation.

The American Federation of Teachers is a national organization that is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.  Research showed that “five divisions within the AFT represent the broad spectrum of the AFT’s membership: pre-K through 12th-grade teachers; paraprofessionals and other school-related personnel; higher education faculty and professional staff; federal, state and local government employees; and nurses and other healthcare professionals” (AFT, 2013).  This organization provides information and research to educators.  The career section of the site showed an open position for a Director of Organizing.  The job requires an individual to organize events for members.  This is a great position to learn more about educational policies, and it requires organization and planning skills.

The third organization is the National Association of Federal Education Programs (NAFEPA).  NAFEPA works with educators from federally funded programs.  The organization provides memberships in 28 states and assists educators in finding funds for new programs.  Currently, there are no jobs available in the organization.  However, as a member, I could use this organization to find funding for my challenge. 

References

American Federation of Teachers. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.aft.org/

National Association of Federal Education Programs. (NAFEPA). (2013). Retrieved from http://www.nafepa.org/

National PTA. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.pta.org/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

The Mississippi Association of Educators (MAE) is a state level organization that encourages educators to work together and share information.    The Mississippi Association of Educators has a position for program managers who conduct seminars. This job requires public speaking skills and an educational background in education.  A seminar speaker can help to develop programs to provide educators with information on current research.

I am currently a member of the local Parent and Teachers association.  As an educator, I work with parents to develop field trips and activities for children.  I also help parents to develop learning strategies to use at home.  A primary purpose of the PTA is to encourage parental involvement in education.  Therefore, all positions are voluntary.

The Mississippi Professional Educators (MPE) is the state's largest organization for professional educators. This organization focuses on early childhood education.  The organization helps to develop research and information to improve the practices in early childhood education. The organization has a coordinator position that requires communication and organization skills.  The coordinator works with members to schedule meetings and seminars.

References

http://maetoday.nea.org/

http://www.mpe.org/mpe/index.php

Reflecting on Learning

Greatest Hope

My greatest hope for early chidhood learning is to create and see classes where all children are included and able to grow.  I want to work with people and diverse groups of families to further help develop a more effective anti-bias educational program that benefits all children.  I also want to become an advocate for children to ensure fair and equal access to a quality education.

Words of Thanks

I would like to thank all of you for your contributions to my blog.  I wish everyone the best on their future goals and work in early childhood education.  Thank you.  Tammie Bolden

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

I investigated the area in Central Africa.  This area has a high poverty rates and children are exposed to disease and hunger.  According to the site, “2 out of 10 children  do not live to be five years old because of malaria and malnutrition" (UNICEF, 2013). UNICEF works to combat poverty in the area.  The organization also works to conduct research and create programs that enhance the lives of children.

As an early childhood educator, I have seen children living in poverty.  The cases are not as extreme as those in the Africa; however, poverty impacts children's development.  Therefore, I work hard to work with families and to act as an advocate for children.  My goal is to help famillies living in poverty to provide the best opportunities for their children to learn and grow.

Reference

UNICEF. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/index.html.

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

•What is your reaction to the ideas shared in this reading?

It is very shocking how the media targets young children.  Today, marketers attempt to sell children clothes that are designed to make them look like adults.  Levin and Kilbourne (2009) stated that “many industries make an obscene amount of money using sex and violence to market their products to children” (p. 2).  These practices are not productive, they are predatory.  Young children are not capable of making the decisions to wear the type of products and clothing presented to them.  As a result, it is evident that children are being sexualized in the media and companies profit from this behavior.

•In what ways have you observed the sexualization of early childhood in your own personal and professional experiences? What examples have you encountered in store advertisements, television, the Internet, other types of media, and/or other types of environments?

In the Head Start classroom, I have personally seen young children wearing tight clothes, lip gloss, purses, and earrings.  The parents actually buy these clothes because celebrities wear them or they want their daughters to look like models. 

•How might these messages impact children and their healthy development? Consider the ways they might influence gender identity, what children learn about being a girl or a boy, the expectations children may develop about gender, and other related concerns.

The sexualization of children is unhealthy for their development.  When parents dress their girls in a sexual manner, it can demean their self image.  Boys can also develop a misconception of girls as sex objects.  Levin and Kilbourne (2009) stated that “today’s cultural environment bombards children with inappropriate and harmful messages, and as children struggle to understand what they see and hear” (p. 4).  Therefore, parents and teachers have to work together to create positive examples for the children.

 

•What can early childhood professionals do to tackle this problem and reduce the negative effects that it has on young children?

Educators can discuss appropriate developmentin the classroom.  Educators can also work with parents to help them understand how to avoid media pressure and how to work with children.  Everyone has to work together to help children develop a healthy image.  

Reference

Levin, D. E., & Kilbourne, J. (2009). [Introduction]. So sexy so soon: The new sexualized childhood and what parents can do to protect their kids (pp. 1-8). New York: Ballantine Books.