Reflections and Good-byes

Firstly I would like to thank Dr Todd for all the very constructive comments and support throughout this course.  I have been in the middle of immigrating from Indonesia to Holland and it was not always easy keeping up to date with my work.  Thanks to the support and encouragement for my fellow students and Dr Todd, I was have been able to successfully complete this course and learn many new things.  I will be taking a 8 week break after this as I start my new job teaching at an International school in Holland and settling my 3 young sons into their new life here. Hope to meet up with some of you again in future courses.

What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

Research was not something that came naturally to me.  I was not aware of the process at all.  I have learnt a tremendous amount from this course and with the correct steps I feel confident to conduct research that is meaningful, valid and accurate.  I have become more aware of the validity and equity within research since studying the course materials.

In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

I now have a far wider understanding of the research process and also understand that from an educators perspective I have the right to refuse participation and also on behalf of any learners in my care.  I feel far more confident conducting research and also being a part of any research studies.  I have learned to not feel intimidated by researchers as I have the knowledge to support and aid quality research (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, &Sirj-Blatchford, 2010).

What lessons about planning, designing and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

I have learned that research has a systematic process and by following these steps one can be sure of a well planned and executed research study.  Validity and equity are both important factors within research and by sticking to the guidelines one can ensure both these factors.  Throughout the process researchers need to pay attention to the ethics of the research and abide strictly to steps in place in order to remain objective and produce a study with validity.

What were some of the challenges you encountered and in what ways did you meet them?

When I first started the course I found the new terms and concepts very challenging.  I found it difficult to narrow my research idea down to more specific.  It was a challenge to grasp the different types of research designs but after enough reading and working with examples I managed to get a good idea of it all.

What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

I have always held early childhood professionals in the highest regards and feel that it is a very special vocation that one chooses to follow.  I have even more respect now after seeing the position that they hold and with their knowledge the difference that they make through research in the lives of children.

References:

Mac Naughton, G. Rolfe, S.A, & Siraj-Blatchford, I. (2010).  Doing early childhood research: International perspectives on theory and practice (2nd ed.). New Yrok, NY: McGraw-Hill.

Early Childhood in Australia

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au

This was an easy choice for me since I spend a year teaching early childhood in Queensland, Australia.  I have taught with many Australian teachers in International schools and my own children have had Australian teachers.  I am a big supporter of the Australian system and feel that it is very child orientated and developmentally appropriate.  The education is child focused with a strong core and solid philosophy. 

This website is non-government, national organization. The site has a lot of information and different links to other resources.  There are also different books and journals published from this organization.  There are many different topics that are addressed on this site, diversity in the classroom, emoitional issues and learning through play are a few. It is a good source for Australian based teachers as it addressed issues and standards within the National Quality Standards for Early Childhood in Australia.  Australia has good policies in place for inclusive education and they clearly state that all children have equal rights. 

The policies in Australia are constantly being reviewed and improved.  When I worked in Early childhood care in 2003 the ratio of babies to adults was 5-1, now in 2016 it is 4-1.  One of the differences in Australia to America is that education is looked at nationally and not per state or province.  Accrediation is also compulsory and thus the quality can be monitored and ensured.
I think this site is a great resource for teachers and students.  You can sign up with no charge and receive regular newsletters with the latest issues and trends in Early Childhood.

A TOPIC OF RESEARCH I FIND PERSONALLY VERY INTERESTING

I feel that I can very much relate to this article that explains the concept of 'Global Nomads or Third

Culture Kids'.  These terms were coined by Norma Mccaig in 1984.  The terms refer to anyone that has lived outside of their passport country for a significant period during their developmental years, due to the work of their parents.

My husband is Dutch, I am South African and our 3 boys were all born in Cape Town, South Africa.  When the youngest was 1 years old and the oldest was 4 years old we took an assignment and moved to rural Sumatra in Indonesia.  We lived there as expats on an oil compound with a small group of exapts from different parts of the world.  After having spent close on 4 years living there we are now in South Africa about to move to Holland, a period that is described as transition.  As an international school teacher I was familiar with the term and witnessed it a lot with children that I taught.  Now as a mother of TCK I understand it even better.  Plenty of research has been done on the topic and this is of great help to families that are going through different stages of moving and settling. 

I find it interesting to read that children actually go through a far harder time repatriating in their own country once having lived abroad.  By reading the research on this topic teachers and families can better undestand the processes and better support one another through the different stages.  By understanding your child's emotions you can be a stonger support when needed.    

Reference

Schaetii, B. (N.D.). Global Nomad, Third Culture Kid, Adult Third Culture Kid, Third Culture

                  Adult: What Do They Mean? Retrieved from http://www.figt.org/global_nomads

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Personal topic for research project

My passion lies with special educational needs in early childhood.  When I was a first year teacher I had a little boy in my Kindergarten class that clearly had special educational needs.  Being a first year teacher I did not have the experience to know off hand how to help him.  I  sought the advice of fellow teachers and the Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO). After assessment and diagnosis I had a better idea of how to help this boy and manage the rest of the class.  This was the spark of my interest and I wanted to learn more about different Special Needs and how to incorporate this into a mainstream inclusive classroom. 

The subtopic I have chosen to research further is the benefits as well as the challenges of an inclusive classroom.  I start a new job in September at an International school in Holland I hope to take my newly acquired knowledge and put it to practise. I predict that the benefits will far outweigh the challenges of an inclusive class.

I would greatly appreciate any shared experiences from you my fellow students and or thoughts on this topic.

Reflecting on my new international awareness of issues and trends in early childhood 

Throughout this course we have had a lot of opportunities to research and read about different situations, issues and trends around the world while comparing them to the situation in America.

I feel that I have become far more informed about the educational situations and issues in others countries. I have taken a step back and looked closely at my own teaching and beliefs.  It has been a good exercise for self reflection and goal setting.  

I have a far better knowledge of the education system in other countries as well as the issues that go along with it. I also realize that many countries share the same problems and flaws with their education system and can learn a lot from each other.

My goal would be to have a center where all the best practises and theories were documented and accessible. To have an international model for Early Childhood Education that was practiced globally and standards were assessed and met. I feel that Early Childhood Education should have no boarders and no barriers.  All children world wide should have equal opportunities to the same benefits.  By having a model to adhere to schools and centers would be assured of quality education for all.   

 

  

My International contacts’ views on excellence and quality in educators, their goals, hopes and dreams

This was a very insightful exercises that I find most enjoyable.  Frankie in Holland is away on a course and was unable to send any input this week.  Here is what Julie in Indonesia sent me.

What issues regarding quality and early childhood professionals are being discussed where you live and work?

In the International Schools circuit, the issue is to always hire specialists in their fields, especially for Early Childhood, and not just fill these positions with under qualified, inexperienced hires. It seems that Early childhood teacher positions are sometimes left to be filled last and by local, non-English speakers without the required experience or qualification to teach a quality program.

Because most companies only pay tuition starting in Kindergarten, the enrollments for pre-school classrooms are low, thus not generating money for the school, which means some schools don't want to invest back in the program. What they need to consider is that if parents are happy with the program in preschool, there is more chance of them keeping their children in that school for Kinder and up.

What opportunities and/or requirements for professional development exist?

In international schools, most teachers each get a certain amount for their PD each year. They can use if for online class or to attend workshops. Each teacher is required to set goals for the year regarding their professional development and that might entail going to a class, or studying online. Most schools also invite guests to hold conferences or workshops in the school, teachers also exchange their knowledge via PD sessions. You are encouraged, not required to attend professional development sessions. But you are required to work towards meeting your goals.  

What are some of your professional goals?

-Acquiring my Masters degree in Early Childhood Education

-integrating technology in the class more efficiently

-planning comprehensive units with goals, activities, assessments and essential questions

-seeking responsibilities and administrative duties whenever possible

-integrating play and projects in early childhood education

What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges?

-My hope and dream is to attend a Reggio Emilia workshop in Italy

-My hopes are always that a workshop will be meaningful and easily applicable in my practise

-My challenge is that my goals do not rely always on only me, they also involve other people, which means I depend on them for their achievement. For example, I depend on the technology integration specialist to teach and help me integrate technology in my class. 

It still surprises me to read how in some places Early Childhood is viewed as less important and the teacher hired has less qualifications and experience than those of school teachers.  International schools value professional development and support their staff with generous opportunities for further knowledge and remaining current - something I feel is very important. 

I share the same dream as Julie to attend a Reggio Emilia workshop in Italy.

                              Further navigating NAEYC

When given the task to further navigate and look for specific topics I find myself digging deeper and harder than I usually do.  The website is a fountain of valuable information and easily accessible.  Under the section on "public policy" I found site that federal, local and state agencies dealing with the current issues we face in Early Childhood programs.  Here readers can navigate more extensive research on selected topics.  Since starting with my masters I have realized the benefits and importance of staying current and up to date with the latest practises and policies regarding Early Childhood.  With that in mind I chose the section on "Topics".  The topics are interesting and especially as an Early Years educator.  Having an international background I found the article on different holidays and the bias regarding them very interesting.  Having grown up in a community where Christmas was the norm and each school closed the year with a nativity play, it was an eye opener to read and experience that that is not everyone celebrations and apprecatiting and respecting all the different celebrations and tradition.
Regarding this weeks theme about equity and quality in Early Years I was able to find some interesting reading material on the website.  In the section "NAEYC for families" I found a good source of information for parents to help them make informed choices regarding their young children's childcare and early education.  There is also the option to research institutes and see whether they have accreditation from NAEYC or not.  I found a list of 10 standards that they use to give advice on what to look for in a quality program.  It still amazes me that even with all this informative research and detailed information, there are still so many unresolved issues with Early Childhood Education.  I feel that the problems that we face are from higher up, from the forces that make the national decisions.  I am happy with my choice of organisation and strongly support the work that they are doing to benefit ECE. 

Getting to know my contacts’ views and experiences on the inequity and inequality issues in

 schools.

When I addressed the issue of inequity in the quality of education and opportunities with Early Childhood, 

it sparked some interesting conversations with my International Connections. 

I spoke to Frankie in Holland first.  Frankie teaches at an International school and recognizes 

that the children and staff at the school are all very privileged.  Frankie has lived in Holland 

for many years and is familiar with the education system.  She tells me how education in 

Holland is free and compulsory from age four.  The government are so strict about attendance 

to school that if the child is not called in sick they will send someone to the house to see why 

the child is absent from school.  Families get fined if they keep children out of school without 

medical reasons.  There are many different facilities for children younger than school going 

age.  Education for children from age four to eighteen is good quality education and every school can expect the same standards of facilities and 

curriculum nation wide.  

Being a socialist country equity in education is not an issue and things are equally accessible 

to all.  It is also a very small country with high taxes, which makes this system a lot easier to 

control.  

When I spoke to Julie who taught in Indonesia she has a very different perspective on the s

ubject.  She explained that the bigger cities in Indonesia offered private education for children 

at a costly fee.  Rural Indonesia, which is the majority of the country had very limited facilities 

and funds to offer quality education.  Julie felt that the government was corrupt and funding 

was not fairly distributed for educational needs.  The result in the inequity of quality 

education for children was very evident in the older generation.  The adults that were lucky 

enough to attend sound schooling were able to speak some English and went on to further 

their education and get trained skills.  These people were in the workforce made education for 

their children a priority.

NAEYC

I am happy to say that I am very pleased with the organization that I have chosen to follow.  I have already benefited greatly from the fountain of knowledge that this site provides, different articles, link and recent policies all regarding Early Childhood Education.

As a South African I am finding it interesting to read articles regarding policies on a local and state level.  NAEYC offers policymakers a huge amount of support in the form of knowledge and current findings regarding ECE.  NAEYC overlook all the policies country wide to ensure that they are all in line and meet the criteria for good quality education.  I got a sense that there is a real fear of budget cuts in ECE and NAEYC are encouraging the proactive involvement of educators and parents to ensure that this does not happen.  They are committed to the constant improvement and preservation of Early Childhood Education.  They have encouraged policymakers to get more involved and be present in schools to see first hand the very positive impact that ECE has on children. 

I found it very interesting to read about issues regarding outside play and children getting injured.  Personally I feel that recess is essential for children to recharge and be physical, as well as developing social skills.  However I understand from what I have read that there is a great amount of children being hurt when playing outside.  Safety for children is priority but also cost money.  Many institutes do not have the funding to maintain a safe outside play area.  In studies we read that many children from poorer income families do not have the opportunities to play outside as it is not safe and not geared for children.  These children would only have the chance at school and now this too is being diminished.  This for me is a real issue, as children need this time in order to learn and function effectively.  I feel that there is already developmentally inappropriate academic demands placed on young children and the combination of that and less play time can be detrimental to their healthy development.

It is so vital to have organizations like this one to fight for the rights of ECE and stand up to the powers that be to defend the precious process of child development. 

Reference

www.naeyc.org

Quality of Work  Submitted	Satisfactory 4/4 points	3/4 points	2/4 points	1/4 points	Unsatisfactory 0/4 points
Adherence to  Assignment  Expectations The extent to which  work meets  the assigned criteria.	Assignment meets  expectations  and reflects  graduate-level critical,  analytical thinking. All key components are  included: Initial post submitted with  2 comments  to other students’ blogs.	Initial post submitted  with 1  comment to other  students’ blogs.	Initial post not  submitted with  2 comments to  other students’  blogs.  OR Initial post submitted with no  comments  to other students’ blogs.	Initial post not  submitted with 1  comment to other students’ blogs.	Does not  fulfill the  expectations  of the assignment.  Key components  are not included:  Initial post not s ubmitted with no c omments to other  students’ blogs.

Meet my professional partners and hear their experiences and views

Firstly I chose someone that I have known for 16 years, we met at the International school of Amsterdam, in Holland,  when she was a Kindergarten teacher and I was a teaching assistant.  Frankie comes from Britain and has lived in Holland for over 20 years.  I later moved to another community International school and had the pleasure of teaching her twins in Pre-Kindergarten.  Frankie is now head of Early Years and teaches art. 

When I asked her about her experiences with teaching children from poor conditions she answered honestly that she had only ever taught in International schools and that the children from these schools were from privileged families.  Her own schooling, she added was in England in a little village of working class people.  She was not aware of anyone who struggled due to poverty.  We discussed poverty here in Indonesia and also in South Africa.  Frankie's school are part of an exchange to a village school in Tanzania in Africa.  She is planning to join them next year as she has always been very interested in Africa and curious about the conditions that the people there live in.  I will be curious about her experience in Africa and witnessing the poverty first hand.

My other professional connection is Julie, Julie is a Pre-Kindergarten teacher that I met in Indonesia.  Julie is French  and has a long history of teaching in 6 different countries.  She is on her way to teach in Russia and is hoping to work her way into a leadership role in the Early Years.  Julie is very dedicated to education and did a lot for our school here in Indonesia.  I was luckily enough to have her teach all 3 of my sons.
When talking to Julie about her experiences with teaching children in Poverty, much like Frankie, she had not taught children that were subject to poverty.  Having lived in Indonesia for 5 years Julie is fully aware of the poverty here and is very involved in school raising funds to help the children with some relief.  She knows how important children's health and nutrition are as part of healthy develop and is concerned when she hears what about the diet of the children in the village and rural locations.  She tells about how her maid at home has a baby and what they are taught to feed the baby.  A first introduction to solids is rice with salt.  This is alarming to us that are more educated in basic nutrition of babies and young children.  We know that salt is unhealthy and should be avoided, especially in babies.  Due to poverty and poor living conditions there is a lack of education and people are trying to survive with what they can afford, which is rice here. 

I have shared this weeks application with my professional connections regarding poverty in Indonesia and look forward to some interesting conversations.

Quality of Work  Submitted	Satisfactory 4/4 points	3/4 points	2/4 points	1/4 points	Unsatisfactory 0/4 points
Adherence to  Assignment  Expectations The extent to which  work meets  the assigned criteria.	Assignment meets  expectations  and reflects  graduate-level critical,  analytical thinking. All key components are  included: Initial post submitted with  2 comments  to other students’ blogs.	Initial post submitted  with 1  comment to other  students’ blogs.	Initial post not  submitted with  2 comments to  other students’  blogs.  OR Initial post submitted with no  comments  to other students’ blogs.	Initial post not  submitted with 1  comment to other students’ blogs.	Does not  fulfill the  expectations  of the assignment.  Key components  are not included:  Initial post not s ubmitted with no c omments to other  students’ blogs.