Blog #5

I have enjoy a lot this quarter for two reasons the first one is because I have the opportunity to interact with different professionals as well as with parents. The second is because I really learn a lot from each one of my classmate’s discussions and blogs. During this quarter I also had learned on how to advocate for children and their families. I belief that as educators is our responsibility to teach and stand up for children. I would like to say thank you to Teresa for the great information she provided within these 10 weeks. I've learned so much from journals blogs and I gained new knowledge about Autism. I think you chose a great topic because this is so important in the field of education. Teresa I wish you the best in your career and keep up the great job you do with children. During these 10 weeks I have read all your blog postings. It is amazing to me, to hear how you express yourself when speaking with professionals, colleagues, and other people within the field. I believe this is one of the qualities teachers need to have. I strongly believe people need to be passionate about what they do in order to be successful with their career. I had the opportunity to read your blogs and I can honestly say you seem to enjoy what you do. I wish you accomplish all your dreams and don't let anything stop you from continuing your professional path. GOOD LUCK I also would like to say thank you to Barbara for all the information she provided during these 10 weeks. I've learned and gained new knowledge about Early Intervention and I wish you the best in your education. This topic is an important topic for families, professionals, and teachers, within the field. Knowing facts about Early Intervention is always great to know. It is to people advantage to gain knowledge because they can understand facts better. I had the pleasure to read and follow your blog journals. Ms. Barbara, I wish you the best in your professional path and in the future. Thank you for all your contributions and dedication. GOOD LUCK I'm a firm believer about providing quality not quantity, especially because teachers are always busy running around and teaching children academic skills they need to learn prior to moving up to the next level. Finding the time to teach each individual child is a challenge but not impossible. Many of us chose this field because we love teaching young children but to me the most important thing is to find that special time to help each child's individual needs. If I can do this I know I'm doing my job, which is to help children succeeded in their education.

Observing and Interacting With Families of the Children in Your Setting

During this module I had the opportunity to interact with different colleagues and professionals within the field. I spoke with a teacher who has her Master's in Education. Ms. B.S. currently she teaches 3 to 5 years old few months ago she was teaching two’s year old. I had the opportunity to ask her questions in regards to childhood obesity. Ms. B.S. believes that children that are overweight or obese are that way because families don't realize that being overweight or obese is dangerous for children health. Ms. B.S. believes that professionals can support families to learn about childhood obesity by encouraging parents to volunteer in the classroom. She believes parents should participate and interact in the classroom preparing nutritious meals with their children. Ms. B S. believes teachers can do activities relating to the food pyramid and read or ask parent to read books relating to healthy eating. Ms. B.S. strongly believes that professionals need to know how to approach and talk to parents about their childhood obesity. Parents might think they are being attacked and they might feel they are bad parents. She said that "the key is to be cautious" because some professionals are not sensitive as they talk to parents or children about their weight or eating habits. Ms. B.S. said it is important to allow children to participate in activities that interest them, even though children that are obese find it difficult to run and climb. If they would just do some sort of activity for one hour 3 to 4 days a week they would have less chances to become obese. It is important to let children be themselves don't push them to do physical activities that might hurt them, but continue to encourage them to run and play some kind of sports so it can be fun as they exercise. After talking to colleagues and other professionals within the field I learned that it is important to involve parent in the education of their children. I learned different strategies to get parents involved in the classroom such as sending a letter home inviting parents to participate in our weekly Food Experience and sending home a letter about the activities children do during the week. I also learned that classroom participation is critical for parent. The insights I gained from observing, and interacting with professionals, teachers, and families is that by building relationships teachers and parents can work together as team tour the same goal

Interacting with Professionals/Administrators and Your Advocacy Plan

Module 3: Blog 3: This week I had the opportunity to interact with the program director and the Health coordinator. My first question was in regards to the child with the eating problem and what were they doing to help he parent and the child with the issue of overweight and his anxiety for food. I was told by the program director that in regard to the child I had observed he has improved due an action plan that has been put in place in cooperation with the Child's doctor and the Head Start Program. The health coordinator mentions that the child had been referred to a pediatrician to be evaluated, one of the changes that the parent implement was to have healthy snacks at home instead of junk food. At the Head Start program one of the child’s teachers seat everyday next to him and ensure that he serve his portion, if the child asks for second servings the teachers encourage him to serve only vegetables. The program director also mention that in order for the program to encourage families and children to have nutrition’s meals, the program start implementing the GO Slow Whoa program that was pretty much mandated by the department of Head Start . She has notice that this program has help a lot because at the center they eliminate the consumption of Juices, cakes and cookies; instead they have more fresh fruit and vegetables. The health coordinator share with me, that it is mandated that teachers have structure physical activities for children for at least one hour throughout the day since. She also said that when they notice or find out that children are overweight or at risk of been obese they have an overweight action plan, this plan is revise on a monthly basis by the health coordinator, the social worker and the parent so they can see if the plan in place is working. I asked what would happen on cold or rainy days, their answers was that no matter if it was cold or raining that teacher can continue implementing physical activities in the classroom, that all classroom have CD’s with children music that can be used for exercises activities. Both the coordinator and the program director mention that it is a lot of work especially with parents that does not cooperate with the actions plans. That many parents still refusing the reality that their little angels are overweight, for some parents is normal to see their children with some pound over. Both will continue working with all families regardless of their thoughts, what they want is the best for children under their care .The program director inform me that as of next week they will start serving organic food. Her belief is that many chemicals and pesticides on foods also take effects on gaining the extra weight. Once I finish my conversation with the program director and the health coordinator, I stop by in one of the classrooms and was able to observe children been active, on this specific they there was a volunteer who was providing Yoga classes for the children. They seem to have fun and enjoy the activity. I would like to implement in my setting some of the activities this center has in place. I also would teach children the importance of a proper nutrition, one of the activities I would like to do with the children the food pyramid activities. I think they will learn about the different food groups. The difference I would like to make in my community and my field would be to eliminate or control obesity in young children by having a proper nutrition and physical activities.

Mod. 2 Observing and Interacting With Professionals/Colleagues in Your Setting

Mod. 2 Observing and Interacting With Professionals/Colleagues in Your Setting I observed a preschool classroom ages 3-5 years old in a child care setting. The day of the observation there was a total of seventeen children in attendance. There were eight 3 years old and nine 4 years old. The lead teacher explain that the three teacher are in charge of implementing the curriculum in a daily basis, but that she is in charge of writing them base on the observation thy had made the prior week in their primary group. All teachers had their own teaching techniques with their group. They started the day with a morning circle where there was discussion about where children want to play during free play and also talk about the unit they are studying, they had been focusing on seeds & plants. They read a story that was about a boy who want to grow a carrot and every day he was putting water but nothing was growing until one day he came out and the carrot had grew. Then children participate in activities where they have to identify the different seeds they had in the classroom. Children also create their own collage with the seeds. I felt this was a great activity that allowed the children to learn and expand their knowledge about different seeds. They also learned that seeds come in different shapes, sizes and color. I liked how the teacher explains to children about the different seeds. It really prepared the children for the activity and got them excited because they were investigating different seeds like During the observation in the classroom some children were talking between each other, showing each other collage and having a discussion about what they had done. Teacher said this usually this happens and she allows children to have conversation among themselves so they can learn to listening to what their friend had to say. I think this was very nice that she allows children to learn from each other and compare their work. Throughout observations and interactions some experiences I gained that is related to my advocacy efforts for child obesity was that I got to observe a particular child eating behavior in the classroom. The teachers explained to me that this child in particular has been struggling with over eating. The parents had talked with the teachers and family workers that the child sneaks out in the evening and sits under the table to eat, this issue happened overnight on a daily basis. Parents have saw for health advice, but the doctor just recommend some medication for anxiety. Teachers were informed that this child cannot have second servings. I observed that when he asked for more and teachers say there was no more he cries and got really mad, to the point that he started snatching food from his peers. Child was out of control because he wants to continue eating. Teachers expressed that his behavior has been significantly challenging and at times effected the classroom environment. I feel satisfied with the interactions that I got to experience during this observation and hope to get more in depth insights from a professional’s point of view that associate to Child Obesity.

Blog Journal 1

Insights gained from your interviews regarding current advocacy efforts and needs in your area of interest within the field of early childhood. I interviewed two early childhood teachers and they thought that people knowing how important the early years of education and the amount of resources were two areas of interest to them. one of the professionals experience that parents who have their children in early childhood centers or school look at it as if it were a drop off center. Majority of the times parents do not understand how important early education is for their child and felt that advocating for ECE as a whole includes the importance of it. The other professional felt that she was not given enough resources including time to get her work done. She felt that HEAD START and NAEYC guidelines dictate what she has to do and doesn't have the freedom to coach students with child development education in mind. How these interviews may have influenced your decision about which area of interest and topics to choose for your research paper. These interviews were very helpful in making my decision about my interest area, but I still feel that there is more out there that is more important when it comes to advocacy in early childhood education. Teachers express the importance about the well-being of children. The topics they discuss were important but I think that as educators we need to take a deeper look at why children are having difficulties in school and beyond? Which area of interest you are thinking of focusing on for your paper as well as the related three specific topics. I am thinking of focusing my paper on childhood obesity I feel that lately this is a big concern across the board, families need to understand that many illnesses are related to obesity. This epidemic is affecting children of different ages. It is important for educators to have families well inform about the many different healthy choices they can make to provide healthy meals to their children. Questions you have for your colleague’s related to your area of interest and/or three topics. I would like to ask how you all feel about childhood obesity related to early childhood education. Do you feel that childhood obesity in early childhood education programs is even something to advocate for?

advocacy

Hello Classmates! I would be advocating for obesity in young children. I am new to blogging wish me good luck.

testing

can some one let me know if this is working. thank you