Thank You

I would like to thank each one of you for your hard work on your blog sites. They have been inspirational to me. Each week reading your opinions and discoveries has helped me grow as a professional in this field. I hope that each of us continue to post new and interesting discoveries to our blogs. I wish each of you well in your educational and professional endeavors.

Cassie Massaker - I enjoyed reading your childhood web we come from different families, but there was so much similarity. I wish you well in all that you do.

Deidre Middleton - I enjoyed your quotes especially Hilliary Rodham Clinton's quote. I wish you well in all you do.

Code of Ethics

Naeyc Code of Ethics

I-3B.1 - To assist the program in providing the highest quality of service.  This is important to me in that I would like to deliver top quality services to my children and families.  This code of ethics parallels with my personal goal of becoming an excellent teacher.

P3B.4- If we habve concerns about a colleague's behavior, and children's well-being is not at risk, we may address the concern with that individual.  If children are at risk or the situation does not improve after it has been brought to the collegues attention, we shall report the collegue's unethical or incompetent behavior to an appropriate authority.  This principal became very important to me early in my career when I worked with a woman that would hit the children.  I made management aware of her inexcusable behavior.  She was spoken to by management, but continued to hit the children, this was her way of disciplining them.  I then brought the matter to Bright from the Start the licensing authority here in Georgia.  She was immediately discharged. 

DEC Code of Ethics

We shall support professions new to the field by mentoring them in the practice of evidence and ethically based services.  This is meaningful to me because I am new to the field of Early Childhood Education and would love to have a mentor.  My program does not offer mentors, but it is an excellent idea.  A mentoring program helps maintain professionalism in the field and helps in the effort to deliver high quality services to children and families.

Course Resources

NAEYC (2009).  Where we stand on child abuse prevention.  Retrieved November 29, 2010 from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/childabusestand.pdf.
This article gives professionals practical ways to prevent child abuse in their setting.

Article:  UNICEF (n.d.).  Fact Sheet:  A summary of the rights under the convention on the Rights of the Child.  Retrieved November 29, 2010 from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/rights_overview.pdf
This article is a series of laws that were created by the Convention on the rights of a child.  These laws have not been ratified by the United States as yet.

Journal of Early Childhood Research retrieved from Walden University Library http://ecr.sagepub.com.ezp/

Young Children retrieved from Walden University Library http://proquest.umi.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/pqdweb?index
Through this publications NAEYC provides a forum for discussion of major issues and ideas in the field of early childhood education.

Additional Resources:

CDA Council  http://www.cdacouncil.org/

Bright from the Start  http://www.decal.ga.gov/

National Head Start Association  http://www.nhsa.org/

All of these resources are committed to the betterment of Early Childhood Education.

Quotes of Childhood Professionals

"I had a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution to the world, to fix all the injustices of the world and I wanted to do this through teaching."  - Louise Derman-Sparks

"We as professionals in the early childhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life, that is why I am passionate about this field."   - Sandy Escobido

 "When we deal with children we are not merely one person.  We are at least three people.  We are parents of our children...we are children of our parents...we are adults with our own interests and needs.  Often these three people within us do not agree and may have different ideas...about what should or shouldn't be done."  -Magda Gerber

"We are in an endangered time for children, and if we let the family explode, the people who will suffer are the kids."  - T. Berry Brazelton

Personal Childhood Web

The five people that come to mind from my childhood would be my father, mother, grandmother, teacher (Ms. Berger) and Uncle James.

Gilbert Thomas (Dad) - I remember him as far back as about 3 years old.  He was always reading to me, teaching me my colors, abc's, etc.  He would have me watch TV with him while he explained different things to me about the show.  He was my first teacher.  When I was about 10 years old my Dad got me all dressed up and took me to a fancy resturant.  I remember everything about the resturant, it was really nice.  He talked to me about dating.  He said that I should only go out with a boy that can take me nice places.  My Dad purposely dropped a knife on the floor, before the knife hit the floor the waiter was at our table with a new one.  He said to me "that is how you know you are in a nice restuarant". 

Norma Thomas (Mother)-  I remember my mother teaching me about household things, how to wash clothes, clean a bathroom, cook.  She also taught me etiquette.

Oriel Richardson (Grandmother) - She lived with me and was my caregiver when my mother was at work.  She was notorious for telling stories.  I remember sitting at her feet along with my two bothers and listened to stories she would tell.  I remember not understanding some of her stories, but she would always tell us the moral of the story.

Mrs. Berger (Kindergarden teacher) - She was a round red headed middle aged woman.  When I was young I thought she was Mrs. Santa Claus.  She was very jolly.  I remember her teaching me how to line up and always telling me to smile (I was a very serious child).

James Douglas (Uncle) - He is a pastor and was also known for telling stories.  I would say Uncle James was responsible for my knowledge about God.  He would read to me and talk to me about God as a child.

Many of these people still influence me.  My Dad influenced me up til his death in 2007.  As an adult he was my confidant, I would talk to him about work, boyfriends, etc.  He would always advise me regarding my troubles.  My mother is who I talk to about receipes, tv shows, gossip.  In her own way still teaches me a thing or two about the right or wrong way to handle things, household things.  Uncle James is still counseling me regarding the bible and practical issues regarding the bible.  He was my confidant when I went through my divorce.  My grandmother always said "Pick your friends carefully, because who they are so are you".  I always remember this saying when meeting new people.

Controlling Biting

I have a little boy in my class who bites.  This is a serious issue for me in the classroom because he bites randomly and at no specific time of the day.  I did some research on biting and wanted to share what I found.

Why children bite:  young children may bite due to frustration, anger, or in an attempt to gain control over another child.  The young child may also be feeling powerless or frightened, or he/she may just be overtired.  In some cases, the child may be making an inappropriate bid for attention from child care provider, Snuggs, C, Controlling biting in Daycare, July 3, 2007. 

Biting is another oral behavior which usually persist normally 8into the second year, Dr. Carl Arinoldo parenting expert and author of Essentials of Smart Parenting:  Learning the Fine Art of Managing your Children.

There is not sound research that provides a sound clinical strategy to prevent biting.  It is suggested that when I child bites teach him/her that it is inappropriate behvior.  Treat the victim and have biter assist in the first aid process.  Firmly but gently inform biter that biting hurts and it should not continue.  It is also important to protect the victim from future attacks.   During group activities isolate the biter as much as possible.

Week 2

My favorite children's book is Little Gorilla by Ruth Bornstein.

It is a story about a baby Gorilla and how he grows to become a big Gorilla.  I love this
book because it tells children that they are growing and will soon be big boys and girls.

Fawn Thomas' Blog

I am an Early Childhood Teacher working with Early Headstart.  The children
I service are from 12-24 months.  I received my CDA credentials in 2009.  I
am pursuing a degree in this field.

I did it I have created a blog!