Farewell EC Studies Faculty and Classmates

1. This program has taught me more about myself and my identity then about anything else. These discoveries have allowed me to become a better more intuned person and in turn a better early childhood professional.
2. Unintended Consequences, I had never heard or considered this phrase before this program but its one that I think about constantly now. How does one action indirectly effect another one. For example, if I plan to support children with disabilities by providing training and extra support for staff. The unintended consequence is that planning to support children without disabilities may not be included. Exploring unintended consequences is a new habit that helps me think about everything from different angles.

3. My concentration was in Adult Studies and one thing that I took away from those courses was that adults need to have their life experiences respected and somehow included into the curriculum, they learn like children in various ways, and lectures have to be done a certain way to be effective. Before this program I did not think I had the knowledge or skills to teach adults as my confort zone has always been children. A long term goal I have is to teach early childhood courses at my Alma Mater, Fayetteville State University. I was one of 2 of the first Birth-Kindergarten(licensure) graduates from FSU's BK program and feel like I need to go back!



This was my first experience with an online program and I must admit I was nervous. I have always enjoyed the intimacy and conversation of a good old fashion classroom equipped with tight desks and poor lighting. However, I must admit I grew to love my EC studies friends and instructors just as much. Thank you Dr. Ferrari for your support and for pushing me to grow. I will never forget our class that you faciliated where we had to write about our different identities. I felt like some assignments were a therapy session and well thanks! To my classmates Ellen Bryne (not in this section) thanks for reaching beyond the Walden walls and becoming my friend, supporting, and sometimes Mama! I love you for that! Thanks Sondi (not in this section) for networking and letting me know of career opportunities. Thanks Toni, Sauda, Deborah, Carole, Kathleen, Tanisha, and Johan(my fellow North Carolina classmate) and well there are so many more! Seeing your name course after course was encouraging to say the least. Although I haven't always written or replied to your work I've been watching and ALL you ladies ROCK!!



Feel free to add me to your gmail groups (candacemland@gmail.com) or facebook at candace land ( not the one thats in a bathing suit, that's not me! lol)

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Jamaica

Early Childhood in Jamaica: I chose this country and the organizations because they address the three main threats to Jamaican  childhood (HIV/AIDS,violence, and exclusion).
Did you know that?
 Statistics indicate that there is enrollment of 96.4 percent of children from the relevant age cohort in early childhood institutions. There are 2,137 basic schools in the island, the vast majority of which are community-run institutions. Although enrollment is high, the quality of education, stimulation and care offered in some of these facilities leaves much to be desired. In some institutions staff are untrained, classrooms are crowded, there is a lack of resource material and inappropriate curricula(http://www.unicef.org/jamaica/activities.html.)

The Early Childhood Commission " Investing Today for Tomorrow"

Mission: The organization has an integrated and co-ordinated delivery of quality early childhood programmes and services, which provides equity and access for children zero to eight years within healthy, safe, and nuturing environments.

Job Opportunities:

Communication Manager:

Supports the Early Childhood Commission’s (ECC’s) strategic objectives of broadening awareness of the existence and purpose of the ECC and fostering increased support and involvement in Early Childhood Development (ECD) initiatives among stakeholders, by broadening public and parental awareness of ECD issues, standards and developments.

Skills and Experience I would need:

I would have to work on my technology skills as this position requires not only knowledge of early childhood policies but the ability to maintain and review the Early Childhood Commissions website.

I would also need to work on my public relations skills. I was surprised that very little was required of the person to have an early childhood background.

http://www.ecc.gov.jm/

Child Development Agency " Building a Solid Future Today"

Mission: Our mission is to provide care and protection beyond limits to our nation's children through love, advocacy, education, rehabilitation and family support because we are committed to valuing our children, their families and our team members.

Job Opportunities: None available.

I would be interested in working in one of the children's homes in Kingston, Jamaica. My experience working with at risk populations, children with socio emotional delays, and my ability to problem solve will be crucial to my success as a childcare professional in this part of Jamaica.

Skills and Experience I would need:

I would need training in 'Trauma and Grief Management' because the children in this area come to the CDA because they are in need of care and protection, neglected or abandoned or have behavior problems. I would also need training in case management. http://www.cda.gov.jm/

Unicef Jamaica:

Mission: The overall programme’s objective is to promote healthy families and communities in a child-friendly environment through the provision of quality education and health care, meeting the needs and protecting the best interests of the child.

Job Opportunities: There are none currently available.

Roving Caregiver- it's a non-formal, integrated programme of child development and parenting education provided through a home visiting service. "Rovers" go from home to home working with rural children, many who can't afford child care or don't understand proper care. Each Rover is assigned 30 families and is trained in child development. The Rovers provide resources to parents on various topics as well as stimulating toys and activities to the children.

http://www.unicef.org/jamaica/early_childhood.html


I have always wanted to visit Jamaica, the beautiful and relaxing parts we see on television but have yet to go. However, after researching the condition of the children in Jamaica and learning of the poverty, lack of access to quality early learning experiences at home, residential centers, or childcare programs I am motivated to make a visit to Jamaica a professional goal. The work that UNICEF is doing to help the children in rural locations by utilitizing the Rovers is amazing. I read that many other neighboring islands and struggling countries at using this program as a model. I would be honored to work with UNICEF, the CDA, or the ECC to better the lives of Jamaican children.

 

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

National or Federal Organizations of Interest:

1. Let’s Move is a comprehensive initiative launched by the First Lady. I would love to be a part of this initiative because of its dedication to finding solution to fight childhood obesity.

Let's Move has been in existence for 2 years and has made significant progress. They are a community of practice that consist of parents, businesses, educators, elected officials, members of the military, chefs, physicians, athletes, childcare providers, community and faith leaders and kids.

Job opportunities:

White House Intern: The Office of the First Lady

The staff is divided into six departments: Chief of Staff, Policy, Communications, Scheduling, Correspondence, and the Social Office.

I would want to work in either her Policy or Social Office. The skills I need to competently fulfill this role would be organizational skills, the ability to research policies, event planning, and excellent  communication skills.

2. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

The Department of Health and Human Service has the North Carolina Infant-Toddler Program. This program provides resources, interventions, and creates treatment plans for families with children with developmental delays.

Position Title: Habilitation Specialist

Skills and experience needed:

Experience in service delivery for children with developmental delays is a required. I have 5 years of experience. Another requirement is the ability to write IFSP's. I currently work with children as the transition from the 0-3 program to school age services. Although I am familiar with IFSP’s, I have only written IEP's. I believe that this would not interfere with my ability to do the job.

Management prefers someone with an Infant Toddler Specialist Certification or working towards certification. I do not have this but will research taking the steps to add this to my license.

3. The North Carolina Association for the Education of Young Children (NCaeyc) is the state affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children(NAEYC). The mission of the group is to be the voice of the professionals who work directly with or on the behalf of children birth- age 8.  I would love to join this community of practice along with the other teachers, child care providers, administrators, directors, researchers, college faculty, and others.

There are not any current job opportunities within this organization. I explored the positions and qualifications of the current staff to see what potential jobs may become available in the future.

Position Title: Coordinator of Programs and Services

Based on what I read about the current person that holds this position to be successful in this role I would need a Master’s Degree in the field of early childhood, 10 years’ experience, experience as a rated license assessor, and childcare program administration skills.  I would like to become familiar with the rated license process so that I can gain the skills to possibly work as an assessor. To work for this organization in this role I need to work on my leadership and program management skills to be successful. I have my childcare director’s certification but have never worked as a center or program director. I’m thinking of working part time this summer as a program administrator to gain the experience.

Exploring Roles in the ECE community: Local and State Levels

What is Smart Start?

Smart Start was created in 1993 as an innovative solution to a problem: Children were coming to school unprepared to learn.
Policymakers recognized that progress would require tapping into the same innovative spirit that inspired private sector advances, and therefore, established Smart Start as a public/private partnership. Independent, private organizations work in all 100 North Carolina counties through The North Carolina Partnership for Children, Inc., and 77 Local Partnerships.
The power of Smart Start is that it delivers outcomes by giving communities local control to determine the best approach to achieving them.

Smart Start’s Vision

Every child reaches his or her potential and is prepared for success in a global community.

Smart Start’s Mission

Advance a high quality, comprehensive, accountable system of care and education for every child beginning with a healthy birth.http://www.smartstart-nc.org/


Job opportunities:  I researched the smart start childcare agencies in my county and three surrounding counties and found no job opportunities.

I think that becoming apart of this statewide community of practice will give me the experience I need to move beyond my current role as a preschool teacher and explore the other aspects of the field. There are so many community of practices within this big umbrella of early childhood in our state.

I did find this event in my search of communities of practice in my state. I think it would be a good opportunity for me to volunteer with other advocates for children and families. I need to become a part of a community of  practice that focuses on advocacy for children and families.  If  I attend this event it will be my first "political" early childhood experience.

I co-founded a Birth-Kindergarten majors club at my Alma Mater, Fayetteville State University. I consider it a community of practice that is important. I would like to serve as a mentor within this group of adult learners. I also feel as though I have a lot to learn from them. The mission of this community of practice is to serve as support for current and future students as well as serve the community through acts of service. 

*There is an opening for an assistant Birth-Kindergarten professor open. However, you have to have a doctoral degree to be considered for the position.

Week 2 Video without sound blog

  I thought the women in this relationship hate each other because there was lots of eye rolling, looking away. The relationships between the various women was confusing at times because they would smile at each other and laugh. The next minute hands would be flying and facial expressions changed. This is definetly a show that you would have to know the relationship of the people to understand the communication.

With the Sound on:

In the case of this show, Basketball Wives I still have the same impression of the relationship of the women because of the mood swings and nature of the conversation. It seems as though they were friends but only when working on a project or without certain other women around. There was lots of non verbal communication going on. I wonder how the women on Basketball Wives feel watching themselves on t.v.
Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?


Write about your experience in your blog, including what you learned about communication from this experience and insights or “aha” moments you believe would be helpful to your colleagues.  I learned from this video that you can really tell the intentions or interest of friends in social groups by stepping back and watching the interactions and facial expressions going on while hanging out.

Reflecting on COmmunication in the Early Childhood Field (6165)

This course came right on time. I think as we grow in our profession we face new challenges that involve how we communicate. I have enjoyed this course and the people in group 1.  I hope to see familiar faces as I embark on the next phase of this journey, Adult Studies.

Adjournment

The stage of adjournment is sometimes the most overlooked aspect of team development. It seems like that when a project is over the participants are so eager to be done that they go their seperate ways or they have become so close that they feel upset when the project is over. The hardest group for me to leave what a non collegiate sorority I joined. We started out very small and did lots of team building activities. These women became my sisters. We participated in community service projects, crafts, celebrated each others accomplishments, and other activities that drew us closer. After each meeting we would discuss the upcoming plans and do closing rituals. I loved those rituals and found comfort in them. When the group became inactive it was without notice and a few of the members including myself were hurt and struggled to get the organization back together but it was not possible. It was hard to realize that my organization was no longer a part of my life because we were such a strong team and got alot done.



I think that adjourning from this cohort at Walden will be interesting because we've all been connected for 2 years several times a week. I look forward to meeting my classmates at graduation and staying in contact via facebook or perhaps a Walden Early Childhood blog.