Valuable resources

Position Statements and Influential Practices

• 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). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
• 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://community.fpg.unc.edu/sites/community.fpg.unc.edu/files/imce/documents/FPG_Snapshot_N33_EvidenceBasedPractice_09-2006.pdf
• 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.
  Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

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 media segment 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/
  Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

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/
• 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/
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• 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.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

• 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

My additional resources

• Kaiser, B & Sklar Rasminsky, J. (1999). Meeting the Challenge: Effective Strategies for Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood Environments.Canadian Child Care Federation
• Kaiser, B & Sklar Rasminsky, J.(2012). Challenging Behavior in Young Children. Understanding, Preventing, and Responding Effectively. Pearson Education, Inc.
• Professional journal: Child development Perspectives
• Cline, F (M.D), & Fay, J. (2006). Parenting with Love and Logic. NavPress.
• Kindlon, D, PH.D., & Thompson, M, PH.D. (2000). Raising Cain. Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys. USA. The Random House Publishing Group.

Jean-Marc-Gaspard Itard

 

 

Inspirational quotes from education specialists
 

"To be judged fairly, this young man must only be compared to himself." In his introductory statement to the French   Minister of the Interior when explaining his work with "The Wild Boy of Aveyron"

"If at the height of this emotion, I suddenly left off reproaching him and substituted caresses and a few words of affection and encouragement, I obtained an increase of emotion which doubled the expected effect." Always remember that natural caring can result in a bonding way more powerful than threat.


 Maria Montessori

"In the life of the child play is something of little importance which [the child] undertakes for lack of something better to do". When I watch students play, it doesn't seem to me that they are doing it out of only boredom.  

" The wandering minds that breaks away from reality, breaks away also from healthy normality." I think I disagree with this statement completely, basing my belief on my own experience as a teacher. I have very rarely encountered a child that couldn't make the distinction between pretend-play and reality. 

-Sandy Escobido, Deputy Field Director, Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy Initiative, California Community Foundation: "We, as professionals in the early childhood field, have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better."


-From Louise-Derman-Sparks, Professor Emeritus, Pacific Oak college, CA: Early childhood education is "the passion to make sure that all children are taught in environments and in ways that truly nurture their ability to grow and to develop to their fullest ability." 

Personal Childhood Web

The four adults that helped to shape my life and with whom I had a special relationship with as a child:

My Granny

The first person that comes to my is my Grandmother.  My relationship with her was a very special, an exceptional one.  We had a close connection and I spent a lot of time with her.  I remember my parents going over seas with my brother and I, aged five, got to stay with my Granny for 6 weeks.  It remains to this day one of my fondest childhood memories.  

My granny was kind and loving to me, she was interested in me and taught me many things.  She taught me games and read me books, we baked together and I loved going with her to her favorite beach to swim in the icy water.  It was peaceful with my Gran and I felt extremely safe and loved.  If anything happened in my life I would phone my gran to tell her first.  As I grew up my relationship remained strong with my gran and she became my confidant.  We keep a close relationship and even when I was overseas I sent many letters and called regularly.  She was my rock and my soft place to fall.  She loved me unconditionally and I always felt that.  She died 3 years ago - and to this day I miss her.  I miss not being able to share things that she would have so appreciated, like this masters that I have started.  My gran made me feel important, she made me feel special and I loved her very much.

My mom

My mom and myself (baby on the left)

My mom was a very nurturing and protective mother. I was always perfectly dressed and groomed.  She made sure we had all that we needed and was fiercely protective of my bother and I.  At times as children we didn't appreciate it but now as an adult and a Mother I understand that feeling she had.
My mom taught me to see the beauty in nature and to appreciate our surroundings.  She taught me to be a strong and self assertive woman.  My mom would never take no for an answer and taught me to do the same - do not settle for less, persist till you get what you want.  My mom is very generous and a giving person and taught me to be the same way.  Humor was a great part of my upbringing and we laughed a lot in our home.

My Dad

My Dad was a hard worker and moved in many different circles.  We had an adventurous life with many different sorts of people from different walks of life around us.  My father exposed us to a side of South Africa that most white families didn't care to know or were afraid to be involved in.  My Dad was karate instructor and taught in the townships (areas where black people were made to live in the times of apartheid) he didn't see the division and didn't care to keep us separate from people of a different color. 

My dad and I having a swim

This was greatly to our advantage and I feel that it molded my brother and I into the adults we are today and influenced our careers and choices.  My dad made our family a colorful and exciting one.  My dad supported me in every choice i made for myself, even when it wasn't what he would have chosen for me.  He understands the way I think and I think that is because we are similar in many ways.  Like my dad, I too am a Global nomad, and he both appreciates and supports me lifestyle.  My dad made everything fun.  everyone would come to our house and he would make the Olympics games a Saturday ritual.  Dig up the garden to bury tins for our nine hole putting green, drawing a chalk tennis court of the road and playing water tennis to mention just a few.

 

      My brother, Frank, and myself with our dog Sandy.

 

My Auntie Maureen

My Auntie Maureen with myself (on her left) and my cousins

My moms younger sister was a constant person in my life.  She was always there and is still a very special person in my life.   I looked up to her as a little girl and loved being in her company.  I remember brushing her long beautiful hair. I was very special to her and knew it.  I felt safe with her and loved.  Even though she had a daughter six weeks younger than me she treated me equally and I was a second daughter to her.  My aunt was someone I felt I could tell anything to and she wouldn't be angry and I could trust her.  I remember the deep feeling of love I had for my aunt as a little girl.  To this day we remain close and share a very special adult relationship.
                                 

This is me, age three at preschool

Taken now in Cape Town at the foot of Table Mountain

Inspirational quotes from Maria Montessori

“The things he sees are not just remembered; they form a part of his soul.”

“Children are human beings to whom respect is due, superior to us by reason of their innocence and of the greater possibilities of their future.”

“It is the child who makes the man, and no man exists who was not made by the child he once was.”

           "When dealing with children there is greater need for observing than of probing”

“It is true that we cannot make a genius. We can only give to teach child the chance to fulfil his potential possibilities.”

“Little children, from the moment they are weaned, are making their way toward independence.”

“Education is a natural process carried out by the child and is not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in the environment.”

One of my all time favourite books isGuess how much I love you, written by Sam MacBratney
 

 I love this book and choose to read it to my own children often as well as my class.  it shows the special love of a child and a parent.  I like the repetition in the book.  The illustrations are beautiful.

I have chosen to share this poem that my 7 year old son came home with on the first day of second grade. It touched my heart deeply to see his sensitive little character coming through so beautifully in his writting.