My Supports

Family

My primary support comes from family.  My family provides financial and social support.  As a result, I can rely on my family to help me make it through the rough times.  I rely on family support during most of my crises and difficult times

Coworkers

My coworkers provide support at work when I have problems with my job or when I need assistance.  My coworkers provide professional assistance and help me to work through issues related to teaching or the work environment.  I work with these people on a daily basis, therefore, they are part of my professional newtwork and support system

Friends

My friends provide support for me when I need someone to talk to.  As a result, my friends provide social support and spiritual support.  Furthermore, I have two friends that I can rely on for guidance when I have problems in my personal life.

My Connections to Play

Play is an important part of the learning process because children naturally like to play. 

Physical activity is a benefit of play.  Children develop both physically and mentally when they learn to play games and interact with each other.

Quote #1

“Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.”  Stuart Brown, MD

Contemporary American psychiatrist

Quote # 2

Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.

Diane Ackerman

Contemporary American author

Play in education has changed.  The emphasis on recess and play has been downplayed and reduced in education.  This makes it possible for students to learn in new and exciting ways.  I used to love recess because it allowed me to have fun in school.  Also, I enjoyed the creative activities in the class.  As a result, I try to create creative activities in my own class room.  Therefore, I would love to see more play in education.

Relationship Reflection

Family and Friends

Family and friends make up my personal network.  My relationship with these people is based on love and trust. They also provide social support.  I can rely on family and friends to support me when I have problems and when I need hlep.  They also provide financial and other forms of support that help me to stay in school.

Teachers
Teachers provide academic support. This relationship is based on academic goals and professional development.  I rely on my teachers to provide feeback and guidance.

Peers and Proffessionals
I have relationships with my peers and other professionals.  These relationships are based on mutual goals and respect.

My Connections to Play

Quotes about play

Play energizes us and enlivens us. It eases our burdens. It renews our natural sense of optimism and opens us up to new possibilities.

Stuart Brown, MD

Play is our brain's favorite way of learning.

Diane Ackerman
Contemporary American author

Play in Learning:

Play is essential to the learning process. Children get exercise when they play and it benefits physical development.  Play also allows children to express themselves in creative ways.  As a result, teachers have to look for learning opportunities during play.  Vygotsky explained the social values of play and its relationship to learning.  Through research, play is proven to be an element of child development.

Thanks for the support

I would like to thank all of my classmates and fellow scholars for their continued support.

Examining Codes of Ethics 
I like that the NAEYC has a standard for excellence in early childhood education.  Also, the DEC code of ethics has two codes that stand out for me.  These are:

1. We shall honor and respect our responsibilities to colleagues while upholding the dignity and
autonomy of colleagues and maintaining collegial interprofessional and intraprofessional
relationships.

2. We shall engage in ongoing and systematic reflective inquiry and self-assessment for the
purpose of continuous improvement of professional performance and services to young children
with disabilities and their families.

Educational Resources

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://sylvan.live.ecollege.com/ec/courses/72033/CRS-CW-5804955/educ6005_readings/naeyc_dap_position_statement.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (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
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title. 

Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
   
• Websites:
  • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage 
    
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP’s mission. 
    
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/about/
    Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children’s Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
  
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/
     

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?”, select “Tips for Specific Formats and Resources,” and then “e-journals” to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Additional Resources
21st Century
http://www.learningplanet.com/
http://pbskids.org/