“To often we give children the answers to

remember rather the problems to solve”

                             Roger Lewin

 

 

“Children do no care how much

you know until they know how much

YOU care”

Teddy Roosevelt

Stephanie Humphrey

www.advocate4lyfe.blogspot.com

 

Rosana Covarrubias

 

http://roco13.blogspot.com/

 

Stephanie and Rosana, 

During the past few weeks so I have enjoyed your well thought out and informative blogs. I feel as though I have learned and receive information from both of you that has given me a clear perspective of your thoughts about the information and resources this course has provided. Together we have begun to form a solid foundation with our knowledge of the developing child biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial development. Once again I would like to thank you both and I look forward to having you in future courses during our Walden journey. 

 

Standardized testing is part of the American education system for many years. As a child I remember taking those test.  With the system children struggle to understand the material, some children test wonderfully and others fall behind. I am a firm believer that standardized tests does not give us a full picture of what our education system is lacking. I believe as educators we can become of one of our nation’s biggest assets, teachers and school districts must focus on educating “the whole child” socially, cognitively, emotionally, and yes of course educationally. I think until we come up with a plan to teach children with different learning styles we will continue to fall short every year.  

 

Sweden assesses the students much in the same ways we do in the United States.  They’re testing is in grades 3 6 & 9 students are given these tests for diagnostic and career planning purposes. There testing is called Mandatory national subject tests.  The Swedish Education Act from 2011 changed their education system. Sweden government wanted to promote greater knowledge, freedom of choice, and student safety and security.

·        Schooling is free in Sweden, except for nursery schools and higher education, which are only partly government-funded

·        Sweden invests a total of 6.3 per cent of GDP on education while the OECD average is 5.7 per cent. Only six other OECD countries invest a greater percentage than Sweden.

·        Compared with students in other countries, Swedish students have good reading skills. In several international studies, Sweden was ranked among the very best for both younger and older children.

·        In the international TIMSS study conducted in years 4 and 8, Sweden has the highest percentage of students who feel safe at school. Ninety-five per cent of upper secondary students and older students in compulsory school say they always or usually feel safe at school.

·        Sweden was the first country in the world to prohibit corporal punishment of children, in 1979, and, in 1990, was one of the first to sign the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

·        A national timetable specifies the minimum amount of time to be spent on each subject in compulsory school. This covers Swedish (or Swedish as a second language), English, mathematics, science, social studies, religious studies, arts and crafts, physical education and health.

http://sweden.se/society/education-in-sweden/

 

 

 

 

 

Childhood stressors can happen at any time to any child and in turn, can effect child's development. When I was reading through all of the topics I decided to make my post about childhood diseases. I choose childhood diseases because I have a first-hand story about my own child. In February of 2012 my child had had a very bad case of the stomach flu. I took her to the local Children's Hospital during the time with doctors were treating her for this illness they found a mass on her right hip. It was an ABC Bone Cyst (Aneurysmal bone cyst is a benign, blood-filled growth that occurs in the bone. Fibrous cysts that expand the bone and can cause pain, swelling and fractures) in her right hip socket. The cyst was the size of a half a slice of Wonder bread. During the better part of 4 months Lizzy had so many doctors’ appointments, with her pediatrician, and specialist at the local Children's Hospital. it was been decided that what she needed to be transferred to the Children's Hospital in Seattle where there was a specialist that specialize in this type of cystic tumors. During all of the doctors’ appointments, tests, and procedures that they were performing on her, she seems to be ok. We talk about what was happening along the way but I received very little feedback from her. And I assumed that she was okay. Elizabeth has always been my tough basketball playing, swim 60 laps, and get out of my way, type of girl. so I was caught a little off guard when Elizabeth’s counselor for from school called and told me that was she has been talking to her about what was happening and wanted a little information about what it was that we were dealing with. I was very happy that she expressed yourself to someone. . I tried to talk to her she said, “She did not want me to worry about her worrying.” I told her that she was in good hands and that her doctors knew what they were doing, but I was feeling the same way, so unsure of what the outcome. After a very painful bone marrow procedure failed, and the pain getting worse her oncologist decided the bone cyst would have to be removed. So in June of 2012 they cut her open (an incision that goes from her bellybutton to the middle of her back.) She was in the hospital for 9 days and had whole year of recovery ahead for her, yet she still did not talk much about what was going on. I learned a lot about her strength that year and with more than two years after all of the craziness she has found her voice and is able to talk about it now, and is back to her old self. You know that, very tough, basketball playing, get out of my way, type of girl stuff. Parents are the support system for their children, but Because of her strength I have become a better, stronger person and parent. and I thank God every day for her.

 

Looking back at my childhood and thinking about how and what I eat my eating habits now are very much connected. I was part of the generation of the “Clean paper Club”, we ate what was put in front of us. I remember as a child, my family ate at the dinner table every night. I have two brothers and out of the three of us I am the only one that has carried on that with my family.  

Nutrition in the United States for children has become very worrisome, with the percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing, and with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight. (livestrong, 2013)  Because of today’s American family busy lifestyles and convenient fast food, sitting and enjoying the company of the family coming a thing of the past. Many Families just don’t have the time.  Unfortunately the norm has become, eating during the evening TV shows or grapping fast-food on the way to Boy Scouts. …. Playing outside, and riding bikes are being replaced with high-tech gadgets and video games.   

As adults it is our responsibly to adapt the way family eats and exercises, allow children to come into the kitchen, learn about foods and what humans get out of these tasty treats, letting children experiment with different foods, talking and preparing the evening meal together can teach them the importance of healthy eating and living.  Helping Children lead healthy lifestyles begins with parents who lead by example.

I began looking into other countries with some of the same obesity issues.  There is only one country with a higher obesity rate then the US. In 2010 the obesity rate in Mexico was the highest in the world.  The United States toke second place.  Many of the world’s largest countries are facing a rise in childhood obesity. Countries like New Zealand, Australia, and United Kingdom also rated high. (livestrong, 2010)

http://www.livestrong.com/article/347190-obesity-in-america-vs-other-countries/#ixzz2evn6zopx

http://www.livestrong.com/article/347190-obesity-in-america-vs-other-countries/

Extra resources that I found

http://www.eatright.org/Media/content.aspx?id=6442452566#.UjUe7iTn_wo

http://kidshealth.org/parent/general/body/overweight_obesity.html

 

Elizabeth Haley Franzello……. 5lbs 14oz……. May 18, 2001

I named her Elizabeth Haley Franzello and with her birth my life changed forever, but before I get into the details of her birth story I must explain the time frame of events. I found out that I was pregnant on October 25th 2000, I remember this date because it was also my ex-husbands birthday. I remember telling him a few days later and at that time he informs me that our marriage I'm 9 years is over and he does not want to be a father. 

 

So Elizabeth’s birth journey begin

 

I had a very rough pregnancy. I spent most of the 33 weeks I was pregnant throwing up (not sure if it was morning sickness or stress or both) I have been put on bed rest because of my blood pressure during week 28. I remember going to my now weekly doctor’s appointment on May 17th, 2001. my appointment was at 3:30.so I have decided to spend the day resting but I sell strange all day I remember thinking it must of ate some bad, food poisoning maybe. I went to the appointment and the same ritual as last week......pee in a cup......blood pressure taken.....Miss Franzello lay on your right side...your blood pressure is really high. I was laying on the table the door flew open with a very concerned Doctor before me...she said I was very dehydrated and she wanted me to go to the hospital she was going to have me stay in the Hospital for 24 hours and give me some fluids. When I got to the hospital they had a bed waiting for me.  I remembering getting into the bed, my doctor coming in and telling me that I had preeclampsia and ready or not I was going to have a baby. My doctor told me I needed to get some rest.   It was a very long night and the next day was even longer.  Sometime in the early evening I was told, I was ready to start pushing.   It seemed to go on forever at the time, but looking back, I feel has I just blinked and she was in my arms. May 18, 2001 at 9:18pm, Elizabeth Haley Franzello let the world know she was here.  She had to be reminded to breath with a little air pillow. But otherwise she was perfect.   

After reading about other cultures and how they look at child birth. I wonder if my child or I would have even made it through my pregnancy if we lived anywhere else.   I read how unlike the United States most of the world looks at having a baby differently. I the US giving birth in a Hospital is just part of the progress. It just the way it is. American’s view childbirth as a highly medical. In many other countries that I just not the case. For example in Holland Medication during childbirth is unheard of. Most births in Holland are still done at home with a midwife.

I would like to thank all of you for your informative discussion posts, personal blogs, and sharing what you are passionate about. I feel as though I have made tremendous progress in my educational journey and you have been had a part, and for that I am truly grateful.

National Association for the Education of Young Children.

 School readiness requires access to opportunities

• All families of young children need access to resources that will allow them to give their children the nurtur­ing relationships and experiences that promote school readiness.

• High-quality early education programs provide the foundation for school readiness and must be available to all young children and families.

• Early intervention efforts support children who may be at risk for later school failure. These efforts are most effective when they offer comprehensive servic­es rather than simply addressing isolated skills.

 

 School readiness must be flexibly and broadly defined

• Young children develop in different ways and at dif­ferent rates. Readiness does not happen at the same time or in the same way for all children. For example, one child may develop language skills rapidly while being slower to gain social competence. Definitions of readiness must consider these variations.

• All areas of children’s development and learning must be included in definitions of readiness. Readi­ness is more than basic knowledge of language and math, important as these are. Readiness expectations should include all areas: physical, cognitive, social, and emotional competence as well as positive atti­tudes toward learning.

• The concept of readiness includes much more than children’s readiness. As defined by the National Edu­cation Goals Panel, the School Readiness Indicators Initiative, and others, readiness includes ready chil­dren, ready families, ready communities, ready early care and education, and ready schools. All are neces­sary so that all children will experience success.

 

In is this article by NAEYC it talks about being committed to giving all children a strong foundation with a clear and reasonable expectations for children become ready for kindergarten. In this Section of NAEYC it talk about the importance that all children are not expected to thrive in the same areas academically I like the way the expectations are set forth and teachers have leeway on how the materials can be taught. (NAEYC, Readiness) this is a very important part of what I do every day I want my students become successful learners try to adapt the learning environment in my question to help all children graduate early concepts of reading writing and I come out as soon as they are well prepared for the kindergarten journey.

 

On child abuse prevention

 NAEYC’s position statements “Prevention of Child Abuse in Early Childhood Programs and the Responsibilities of Early Childhood Professionals to Prevent Child Abuse” (1996) and “Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment” (2005) and other NAEYC publications clearly outline that early childhood programs and professionals should:

 

1.      Adopt policies and practices that promote close partnerships with families.

2.      Promote standards of excellence for early child­hood programs.

3.      Provide families a variety of supportive services.

4.      Advocate for children, families, and teachers in community and society.

5.      Collaborate with other professionals in the com­munity.

6.      Understand their legal and ethical obligation to recognize and report suspicions of abuse.

 

Adopt policies and practices that promote

 

Families, especially about difficult topics, is crucial if educators are to provide support to families. This kind of communication is much easier when a sup­portive, reciprocal relationship already exists. Early childhood professionals should also:

 

1.      Acknowledge and build upon family strengths and competencies;

2.      Respect the dignity of each family and its culture, language, customs, and beliefs;

3.      Help families understand and appreciate each child’s progress within a developmental perspective;

4.      Help family members enhance their parenting skills; and

5.      Build support networks for families by providing op­portunities for interaction with program staff, other families, community resources, and professional services (NAEYC 2005).

 

 

I believe that as educators we have to be aware that child abuse and neglect is very will problem in the United States. Helping these children being there.... being their voice is a step in the right direction to ending these crimes against children. there is an organization called CHILDHELP that has been committed for 25 years to ending this problem, changing the lives and helping these children heal from the injustice done to them. I want to work for this organization I believe being the voice for these children would be life changing. 

Resources

Meier, J. H. (1985). Childhelp, USA/International-A Comprehensive Approach to the Identification, Evaluation, Management, and Prevention of Assault Against Children (From Assault Against Children, P 241-269, 1985, John H Meier, ed. See NCJ-98549).

 

NAEYC. 1996. Prevention of child abuse in early childhood programs and the responsibilities of early childhood professionals to prevent child abuse. Position statement. Online: www.naeyc.org/position­statements/prevention

 

 

National Association for the Education of Young Children. (2009). Where We Stand on School Readiness. Retrieved from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf