Week 5 Content Review

1. Why teach? Many choose teaching and related professions in order to make a difference. Is it possible to really make a difference in the lives of children? Respond to these questions based on what you learned from the reading “Fostering Resilience in Children.” How did this reading impact your thinking about your future work?
2. Consider the age/grade level of children with whom you hope to work, or the work you hope to do with parents and/or families. After all you have read throughout this course, including this week’s article “12 Characteristics of Effective Early Childhood Teachers,” identify five characteristics that you hope to cultivate in order to be effective in your future work, and explain why these characteristics are important to you.
3. There are many ongoing debates and discussions about the impact of standards and regulations on the field of education, teaching, and children’s learning. Review at least three of the standards and regulations documents listed in this week’s Learning Resources. Articulate your thoughts about their impact on the field of education, teaching, or children’s learning. Use specific examples drawn from the documents that you read to support your thinking.

 

           Learning Resources

          Required Resources

Article: Benard, B. (1995, August). Fostering resilience in children. ERIC Digest (EDO-PS-95-9). Retrieved fromhttp://resilnet.uiuc.edu/library/benard95.html

Article: Colker, L. J. (2008, March). Twelve characteristics of effective early childhood teachers. Beyond the Journal. Retrieved fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200803/BTJ_Colker  Copyright 2008 by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Reproduced with permission of the National Association for the Education of Young Children in the format electronic usage via Copyright Clearance Center.Note: The characteristics discussed in this article also apply to teachers at the intermediate grade level.

Standards and Regulations for Early Childhood Education

Program Standards

Web Article: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). (n.d.). When babies and toddlers are in care, accreditation is a key to quality. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/resources/research/when+babiesArticle: NAEYC. (n.d.). A guide for families: Using NAEYC standards to find quality programs for young children. Washington, DC: Author. Retrieved fromhttp://www.standrewumc.org/fileadmin/New_Website/Children/CWP/NAEYC_Accreditation/NAEYC_Right_Choice_for_Kids_brochure Note: Though this brochure is written for families, it will provides a sound overview of quality education for preschool-age children.

Ethical Standards

NAEYC Code of Ethical Conducthttp://www.naecte.org/docs/ethics

Standards and Regulations for the Elementary Grades

• Learning Standards
• Standards for the English Language Artshttp://www.reading.org/General/Publications/Books/bk889.aspx?mode=redirectPrinciples and Standards for School Mathematicshttp://www.nctm.org/standards/content.aspx?id=16909

Program Standards

• Minnesota Department of Education: Alignment of Minnesota K-12 Kindergarten Academic Standards with the Early Childhood Indicators of Progress: Minnesota’s Learning Standards and the Head Start Child Outcomes Frameworkhttp://education.state.mn.us/mdeprod/idcplg?IdcService=GET_FILE&dDocName=005279&RevisionSelectionMethod=latestReleased&Rendition=primary

Current Issues in EducationNote: For this week’s Discussion, be prepared to post your thoughts and insights about one of the following issues that affect education. Peruse the suggested Web sites in order to gain insights into the topic of your choice.

• English as a Second Language
• TESOLhttp://www.tesol.org/s_tesol/secet.asp?CID=1893&DID=11074
• Children with Special Needs
• CEC SmartBrief: Children with Special Needshttp://www.smartbrief.com/cec/index.jspNote: Free registration is required in order to access this article.
• Effects of Being Born into and Living in Poverty
• Child Welfare Leaguehttp://www.cwla.org
• Effects of Stress and Trauma on Learning and Development
• Child Trauma Academyhttp://www.childtrauma.org/David Baldwin’s Trauma Information Pageshttp://www.trauma-pages.com/Zero to Three (Infant mental health)http://www.zerotothree.org/
• Brain Research and Learning
• Brain Placehttp://www.amenclinics.com/brain-science/The Dana Foundationhttp://www.dana.org/default.aspxLearning and the Brainhttp://www.learningandthebrain.com

Optional Resources

• Course Text: Developmentally Appropriate Practice in Early Childhood Programs: Serving Children From Birth Through Age 8 edited by Carol Copple and Sue Bredekamp
• “Guidelines for Developmentally Appropriate Practice,” pages 16–23These guidelines, though written with early childhood education in mind, also apply to teaching at the intermediate grade level.
• Web Site: National Education Associationhttp://www.nea.org/
• Web Site: American Federation of Teachershttp://www.aft.org/