Insights on Research

The biggest insight I gained in taking this course is that the world of education can be very scientific indeed.  Most people think that early childhood education is having snack time, and putting children down for naps.  Not so!  It can be technical, scientific, and make huge differences in the world of research.  That has been the biggest way my thinking has been modified from this course. 

The critical scientific thinking was the biggest challenge for me in this course.  It was a huge shift in thinking for me, and one I am not sure I successfully made.  This course will help me with behavioral analysis within my classroom in the future.  This course will help by enabling me to critically look at problems and to develop scientific ways to solve them through studies. 

I am excited to apply my new found knowledge to my classroom.  This course will continue to benefit me for years to come. 

International Early Childhod Research

The site I examined was Early Childhood Australia website: http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/qias_qa_support/family_day_care_quality_assurance/family_day_care_quality_area_3_childrens_experiences_learning_and_development.html

It is very similar to the NAECY website, as it has many resources for professionals and for parents.  The resources include: the latest early childhood research, political lobbying, early childhood development standards, and professional standards. 

The Early Childhood Australia site had a standard that was interesting to me:

"Carers and coordination unit staff promote physical competence in all children"

I think that sometimes in the United States physical development is sacrificed for results in cognitive development.  Physical development should be an intricate part of the whole development of the child.  In many ways, the United States is similar to Australia's stance on early childhood education. This is one area where I feel Australia may be more progressive. 

My Dream Study

For my research project, I would focus on the effects of diet on AD/HD.  Having no restrains in reality, I would work with a hospital that has a developmental clinic.  My research would get an initial baseline of behavior at home and at school.  I would interview parents during the intake process.  The parents and the research team would then complete a food journal during the home visit.  Taking note of processed, artificial and other notable ingredients in foods that may aggravate the child’s condition.  Then my research team and I would put the children who qualified for an AD/HD diagnosis would put the family on a strict food plan.  The plan would give explicate instructions on what the family can eat.  No processed food, limited sugar intake, and no dyed foods will be available.  A blood test would be taken to see reactions to dairy and gluten as well.  The study will last 6 months, noting weekly behavioral changes and studying the food journal in case tweaks to the food plan need to be made.    

This study could have an extraordinary impact on the well-being of children.  It could revolutionize the way AD/HD is treated; families would have definitive choices placed before them.  There could be another option besides pharmaceutical treatments. 

My Research Journey

The topic I choose for the research simulation is the effects of poverty on early childhood education.  I choose this topic because I see poverty in my classroom every day.  One day a student comes to school hungry.  The next day I had a student evicted from his house.  The students I teach all have autism; nearly all of them are nonverbal. The upheaval in their lives would affect a typical child negatively.  I can only imagine the turmoil that my students are going through. 

I have only just begun researching this topic for my chart.  One resource I have found is the Harvard University (2011) Global Children’s Initiative: http://developingchild.harvard.edu/initiatives/global_initiative

This site has many interesting articles on the effects of stressful situations such as poverty on young children.  I would love to have any input that you my colleagues could share with me!

Consequences of International Contacts

Four consequences of learning about the international early childhood field are:

1.      Learn about trends in the international field of early childhood education. 

2.      Learn about what works and does not work in the field in other countries.

3.      Learn from countries that are ahead of the United States in education.

4.      Finally, create professional contacts so as to share information about early childhood education.

My goal for international awareness is to continue to try and get an international pen pal.  Even though this assignment is over, I would still like to make a professional contact in which to share information with. 

Early Childhood Care and Education

Unfortunately, I did not receive a response from my international contacts. 

So I thoroughly examined the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) website to learn more about international early childhood educational practices. 

The first new insight I gained is that education is a privilege not a right in many countries.  Only the children of wealthy people are able to go to school, while the poorest children must work to help their family.  It is a horrific cycle that seems to have no end.

The second insight I gained is that developing governments have difficulties dealing with early childhood in a holistic manner.  Instead, early childhood education is placed within many different sectors of the government such as health and services.  It is also difficult for growing governments to coordinate early childhood schools in the private and public sectors, so there is no constancy between the two.      

The final insight I gained from the website is in the area of literacy.  The UNESCO website states that one in five adults are illiterate, with 2/3 of those ratio women.  Also 67.4 million children are not in school.  With numbers that staggering, it makes me wonder what can be done to change this abysmal trend. 



Source -

http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/access/

Sharing Web Resources

http://www.naccrra.org/

One link in the NACCRRA website that caught my interest was the picture of the nation that allows you to type in your zip code to search for child care resources and referral agencies.  Being from a small populated state, I was not expecting to find any resources. 

Happily I was mistaken!  There is one site in the town I live where people can look for child care. 

1. Child Care Finder - Southeastern Wyoming Office
1111 E. Lincolnway, Suite 116
Cheyenne, WY, 82001
Phone: 307-638-2091
E-mail: cheyenneccf@wyoming.com
URL: www.childrens-nutrition.com

This is an excellent resource for me as a professional.  Often parents ask me what the best child care centers in town.  I have limited knowledge of daycares since I never used one personally.  Now I have a resource to help parents find affordable, quality daycare.