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Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The first international organization that I researched was the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This organization was formed to promote policies that will improve economic and social well-being of people around the world. According to OECD (n.d.) we compare how different countries' school systems are readying their young children for modern life. I chose this organization because I will be able to interact with other international organizations across the world while making a difference. The research will be exciting and I will learn best practice from others. The job that I would apply for would be the Thomas J. Alexander fellowship which is a one year fellowship program. If I received this job, I would have to relocate to Paris. I would analyze policy issues related to education and collaborate  with others in organizing conferences and workshops. I would need an advance university degree in education, psychology, social sciences, economics, or a related field. I would also need to learn how to speak French. The job description for this position encourages fellows who have a doctoral degree and familiar with quantitative research methods and has published work in a scientific journal to apply. 

I researched the United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This organization interests me because it "works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values" (UNESO, 2011). This organization focuses on two different global priorities; Africa and gender equality. I have a contact in Africa, Eric Atmore, who is an Associate Professor in South Africa. He has published many articles concerning early childhood education and poverty. The job I found working for UNESCO is Education Roster. This position also requires an advance university degree and a knowledge of French, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, or Russian. The job description states that this position requires consultants who are recognized specialists or authorities working in an advisory or consultative capacity. The site lists many different fields that a person could work in and I would choose to work with cultural and linguistic diversity in education and early childhood care and education. This position asks that all applicants have a relevant professional experience at the national, regional, or international level.

A third organization I researched was the International Step By Step Association (ISSA). This organization began in 1994 and is an early childhood reform initiative in fifteen countries in Central Europe and Eurasia. The goal is to improve the lives of young children and families through a learning community active in national and regional reform programs. According to Klaus & Ghent (2014) since its establishment ISSA has developed a number of pedagogical tools and guides designed for teachers and other early childhood stakeholders emphasizing inclusion, diversity, and the values required in open, democratic societies. I would love to be able to develop curriculum for these young children and expanding the program as far as we can go. 


Klaus, S., & Ghent, L. (2014). First steps: A brief history of the step by step program. Retrieved from, http://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/voices/first-steps-brief-history-step-step-program  

Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). (n.d.) Retrieved from, http://www.oecd.org/home/0.2987_201185_1_1_1_1_1.00.html

United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved from, http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/ 



Thursday, March 26, 2015

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

I researched the Division for Early Childhood (DEC). According to DEC (n.d.) this organization was started in 1973 by a group of volunteers who were advocates for young children with special needs. DEC is one of 17 divisions of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), which is the largest professional organization dedicated to improving the educational success of children with disabilities and gifted children. The mission for DEC promotes policies and advances evidence-based practices that support families and enhance the optimal development of young children (0-8) who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities. DEC is an international membership organization. I chose this organization because of the exceptional children they advocate for. Having a disability, no matter how small, can be traumatic for the child and his family. Even being gifted can make school difficult for children. I found that this organization bridges the gap between research and practice while offering guidance to parents and professionals. One job opportunity that is actually opened that I would be interested in is Instructor, Early Childhood Education. This position would give me the responsibility to participate in the planning, implementing, and evaluation of educational programs and courses. I would need a Master's degree in child development and be sensitive to and understanding the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds of community college students. I would need to be a leader and have experience teaching on this level. Salary is open, but I would have to move to sunny California if I received this job.

Another organization I researched is The National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). Their mission statement is to conduct and communicate research to support high-quality, effective early childhood education for all young children. According to NIEER (2015) such education enhances their physical, cognitive, and social development, and the subsequent success in school and later life. I chose this organization because I am an advocate for high-quality care in all early childhood facilities and feel that these facilities should have someone to help stimulate national and state discussions of early education policy. To partner with other organizations to help develop a national research agenda to deliver important information about early education in a way that is not confusing for the director, teachers, and parents is important. The job that I found is Data Collector. A data collector would train others to administer standard preschool evaluation measures, child assessment as well as classroom observation instruments. The education needed is a BA with a focus on child development and experience working in a classroom setting. This job stresses that the candidate must demonstrate an excellent academic record, and that Spanish speakers are needed. 

A third organization that I was interested in is Zero To Three. I have used this website for many years and find it invaluable for my needs. Zero To Three is a national center for Infants, toddlers, and their families. According to Zero To Three (2014) it is the nation's leading nonprofit for advancing the importance of the first three years of life. This organization was established in 1977 and its multicultural and diverse environment encourages the exchange of ideas. The job I found here will also send me to sunny California and the job title is Senior Training Specialist. The position will have me being responsible for project activities including content development, training, and facilitation. I would also train trainers and contribute to high quality written content, research and facilitate workshops, and collect and organize data. I would need a Master's degree in early childhood education with extensive knowledge of infants' and toddlers' development and behavior. Also a minimum of eight years of experience in the field and at least four years of experience as a trainer is needed. 

Out of these three jobs, I would enjoy working at Zero To Three the most. I like to train teachers and develop new curriculum and programs, and I understand the importance of the first three years of a child's life. 

Division for Early Childhood. (n. d.). Retrieved from, http://www.dec-sped.org

National Institute for Early Education Research. (2015). Retrieved from, http://www.nieer.org/about/vision

Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and families. (2014). Retrieved from, http://www.zerotothree.org/  


Saturday, March 14, 2015

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels


One organization that appeals to me is a local group from Butler Community College. They have started a student organization called Butler Community College Association for Early Childhood Education (BCCECE). This organization is also for other early childhood professionals. I am an alumni of this college and still keep in touch with many instructors. The group meets at different centers every month with guest speakers that talk about new trends and other issues in the early childhood field. It is a great organization to network and find teachers for the center and this is one reason I chose to be a part of BCCECE. 

Another organization is our local Early Childhood Directors Organization. This organization is for directors, assistant directors, and retired directors. It is also a great organization to network and learn about current trends. We also meet monthly, have guest speakers, and have a licensing liaison to the health department. This organization is beneficial to both my professional and personal life as I have made some great friends, and mentors, and have learned strategies for different issues.  

A third local organization that appeals to me is Child Care Aware of Kansas. I network with this organization with it's many programs. I have had a Community of Practice develop from my contacts at Child Care Aware and am thankful for the knowledge and extra resources I have received from this. In turn, I can share with the other organizations that I am a member of. 

One job opportunity that interests me is teaching at a university. With early childhood education becoming more important to the community, area universities are now developing programs that teach and support early childhood education. I would love to be able to share my passion so others can get excited and want to join this filed. Another job opportunity I would love to explore is to consult with other centers in setting up their own centers.

Skills and experience that I would need would be actually working in a center as a teacher and director. I feel that everyone needs to experience all parts of the daycare. The education that I would need, I am doing now. Because of the changing trends and issues, I will always be reading, researching, and being a part of CoP's. I feel that I have the skills needed to fulfill either one of these jobs; communication skills, social and cognitive skills, and my passion for early childhood education.  

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Good-Bye and Thank-You!

I would like to thank everyone for their support and confidence in the discussions and blogs. I appreciate the feedback and ideas that were shared. It is nice to know that I am not alone when I have an issue to resolve and I enjoyed sharing my insights. I also hope that I have helped in a small way through my discussions and blog. I am sure this course has helped all of you as much as it has helped me to communicate more effectively in both my personal and professional life. My wish is for everyone to use what they have learned from Walden University as they pursue their goals. I personally have another four courses to get through before I finally graduate with my MS in Early Childhood Education. I hope to "see" some of you in the next course; good luck and best wishes to all.

My contact information is as follows so feel free to use it!

     Jill Grimes
     Trinity Daycare & Preschool
     2402 N. Arkansas
     PO Box 4449
     Wichita, KS  67204
     316-838-0909
     jillosaurs@juno.com

  

Saturday, August 9, 2014

Adjourning; Saying Good-Bye

I have been involved in many meetings and break-out committees in my career in early childhood education. Some were unproductive, some were very productive. I find the hardest group that I had to say good-bye to was the most successful group because we all had the same vision, organizational skills, and were very professional. We did goof off sometimes by sharing stories, personally and professionally, but these stories never interfered with our goal. Some of us in this group had worked together before and knew the norms, but the norms were still always explained to the rest of the group. I have also been in groups who did not have a clue what they were doing or where to start. This type of group usually did not meet their goals and, me being me, would take over on the side with like minded people and get results. It was not difficult to say goodbye to this group! When I do work in a group that is high-performing, I hate for it to end. The people in this type of group had the energy, knowledge, and personality to get things done in a professional way. 

The adjourning stage has some rituals that should be done before everyone leaves. Tying up any loose ends for the project is a must, as well as doing an evaluation, either as a group or individual. Spending time reflecting on what was successful or a failure, and identifying areas for development is important. I feel that the adjourning stage is important for closure that benefits everyone involved. 

I have "known" many of my colleagues since I started working on my Bachelor's Degree. I have read about your visions and goals, personal history, and situations at work in your blogs, the student lounge, and the discussions.  Thank you for letting me be a part of your life and I am hoping many of us can still stay connected even though we all lead busy life's. We have come this far in our education, and there is still so much more we can learn from each other.      

Friday, August 1, 2014

Conflict Resolution 

The conflict I am going to write about happened a few days ago. The parties involved were myself, a mom, and a step-dad who has never been in to pick up the child before even though the child has been in my center for over a year. Mom is a laid back type of person just like her daughter. At the time they came in to pick up "Kimberly," the two year old class had just walked in from outside and stopped in the bathroom for potty break. Step-dad rounded the corner and saw one child hit his step-daughter. He did not know at the time that his step-daughter had just pushed the other child off a small step that all the children were sitting on. He came into the office demanding to know what I was going to do about this situation and that I must hire more teachers for supervision. At the time I had two teachers with seven children, way under our teacher/child ratio. I explained to him the developmental stages of a two year old and what his step-daughter had done to the other child, and no, that it does not make it right for the other child to hit her back. He cut me off so fast and stated that if this happened again he would call his lawyer. I apologized and stated that since he feels this daycare/preschool is not meeting his step-daughter's needs, that today could be her last day and gave him the daycare lawyers name and phone number just in case he needed it. He backed down quickly, saying how wonderful "Kimberly" was doing here and that everyone was doing a great job. He thanked me, said see you tomorrow, and left; mom said nothing the entire time. I have not had any issues with the family since then. My center is a small Christian center with only sixty-two children. I believe this step-parent felt he could intimidate me with the "lawyer talk" and did not expect me to reply with my "lawyer talk." He did not take the post-it note with the lawyers name or number. 

One strategy that I have learned about is the use of the 3 R's. I am always respectful with everyone and felt that I was responsive to this step-parent by maintaining eye-contact and a respectful tone of voice. I did not want to sound defensive or make this step-dad look bad when he was addressing this issue. I wanted him to understand that I emphasized with him and the situation. I also did not want him to think that I was "all powerful" and knew everything making him feel small. When people can recognize and have empathy for their own emotional reactions, they have a better chance of being able to make a conscious choice on how to respond to any given situation. 

Another strategy that I have learned this week through The Center for Nonviolent Communication is that other people may attempt to use fear, shame, or guilt to get what they want and need from others. I believe that the step-dad was trying to "put the fear in me" by mentioning his lawyer. I also got a bit defensive and that is why I mentioned my lawyer which I should not have done. I could have done a better job on observing and concentrating on what he was saying even though he was verbally "attacking" me. If I would have done this, I would have been able to meet the family's needs in a more professional manner.  


Saturday, July 26, 2014

My Communication Styles

I had a co-worker and my son take the tests to see how they felt I rated as a communicator. We all agreed that with the Listening Styles Profile I was a in group 1, as I am very people-oriented. Being in group 1 states that I am very trusting of others which sometimes can backfire for me, and it has! This reminded me of a situation when I was picked for jury duty and one of the attorneys asked me if I would trust everyone who walked into a store. I replied that since I am a Program Director of an early childhood center that my little world is full of trust with the children, parents, and staff, so yes I would probably trust everyone because I "live " in the perfect world of childcare. They did not pick me for the jury but everyone had a good laugh. My listening style is very important both in my professional and personal life especially when I am dealing with parents and their children all day. It is imperative that I do not "tune out" parents for the safety and well being of their children in my care. On the other hand, I do sometimes "tune out" some of my boring friends even though my non-verbal cues say that I am interested. 

My son and I both evaluated me as having a low level of communication anxiety, and my co-worker evaluated me as having a mid level of communication anxiety. I would tend to go with what my son and I thought, but I understand how my co-worker evaluated me differently. She does hear me complain when I have an issue about a child and I have to have a serious conversation with a family about their child's development or behavior. Because of my position of being a Program Director, I have to have a low level of communication anxiety because I address groups of parents all the time and I also teach child development classes. This also helps me in my personal life because I am not afraid to start a conversation with a sales clerk, manager, or even a person who is behind me waiting in line. 

My co-worker and myself evaluated me with having a moderate level of verbal aggressiveness which surprised me after reading the description. My son evaluated me with a a low level of verbal aggressiveness. I have been "watching" myself this week when I communicate with my staff and families, and make sure I do use the facts in my conversations and not to "attack" anyone personally.  

An insight that about communication that I gained this week is that my past experiences do make up my personal perceptions, but some of my perceptions have changed with age. For example, I know some people who shy away from people who have tattoos or piercings because they feel they are dangerous or illiterate which makes these people a bad influence. Maybe because I am fifty-five years old, I take things with a grain a salt. Most of my staff have tattoos; I have four myself. Parents will show off their own tattoos proudly to me and this does not change my communication outlook when talking with them.