Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Thank You!

I would like to say Thank You to all of those people who helped me through out my first online course. Thank You to those people who commented on my blog, who responded to my discussion board post and sent me emails letting my know different things. If it weren't for the helps for my colleagues I don't know how I would have made it through this first course.

Saturday, October 23, 2010

Examing Code of Ethics

NAEYC Code of Ethics Ideal I-1.7 states that To use assessment information to understand and support children's development and learning, to support instruction, and to identify children who may need additional services. I have a child in my class who transferred from another school. When he came we tested him and found him two grades below level. We contacted the other school and they claimed to have done interventions and support to get this child the services they needed. When they sent us their paper work, there was nothing usable. My question is how does a child get to the second grade and he couldn't pass a kindergarten placement test? Because of episodes like this I try to pay close attention to my students to make sure I can do everything in my power to make sure they get what they need to succeed.

NAEYC Code of Ethics Principles P-2.5- We shall make every effort to communicate effectively with all families in a language that they understand. We shall use community resources for translation and interpretation when we do not have sufficient resources in our own programs. There are a lot of Spanish speaking families moving into our school attendance zone. I have found that in several families the parents do not speak English. The Spanish teacher at our school has been kind enough to sit in on conferences with us to translate. He is also nice enough to translate notes for us to the parents when we need it. Having him there makes it easier on us and the families.

DEC Code of Ethics Enhancement of Children's and Families' Quality of Lives 1. We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and others with whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and cultures. One of the children in my class is a Jehovah witness. During the holiday's when we have a celebrations, the school sends there children to the library where they watch movies and do other things. I also try to find alternate activities for children like this. An example is when we were making Santa puppets I gave the other child an animal puppet. Doing things like this help to show families that we respect their culture and values.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Additional Resources

Course resourcses can be found it link at the bottom of the page

ADDITIONAL RESOUCES
  • Bickart, T. S., Jablon, J. R., & Dodge, D. T., (1999). Building the Primary Classrooom. Washington, D.C.: Teaching Strategies Inc.
  • Berk, L. E., (2006). Child Development. New York, New York: Pearson Publishing.
  • Dodge, D. T., Colker, L.J., & Heroman, C., (2002). The Creative Curriculum for preschool.Washington, D.C.: Teaching Strategies Inc.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"I'm not here to save the world, but make a difference in the community in which I'm working"
                                                                                  - Raymond Hernandez

"Children are not succeeding because they are not given the tools they need not because they don't have the intelligence."
                                                                               - Louise Derman- Sparks

"Students not only need to know how to use a skill but also when to use it. They need to learn to recognize for themselves the context in which the skill might be useful and the purposes it can most appropriately serve."
                                                                                  - Sylvia Chard