This week my blog assignment was to chose three
organizations &/or communities of practice, either state or local that
appealed to me. Over the last several years, as I have learned about
organizations that support early childhood I have joined them. So as it turns
out I happen to be a member of each on of the organizations that I have chosen
for this blog. I have no doubt that Dr. Embree and my peers are very aware of
both the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC, 2015) and Zero to Three (Zero to
Three, 2015).
Many states also have State organizations affiliated
with NAEYC such as Oregon Association for the Education of Young Children
(OAEYC) and California Association for the Education of Young Children (CAEYC)
each State holds their own yearly conference, which is wonderful for those
members that are not able to attend the National Conference. I quickly came to
trust and depend on the resources and information that I am able to get from
this community of practice. The website holds a ridiculous amount of resources,
articles, suggested readings, professional development opportunities, training
opportunities and this is just the tip of the ice berg. You can have online
communication with individuals and when you are able to attend a conference it
is magical. At conference there are members from literally all over the world,
sessions on just about every subject of early childhood and a whole floor of
venders where you can try out manipulative, games and education resources
before buying. It is a fabulous experience that feeds my passion for working
with young children and always gives me new inspiration.
Zero to Three is a more recent find of mine (8 years
ago) and is just as useful and awesome as NAEYC only the focus is even more
confined to children 0-3. I have not run across any state chapters but I am
aware that they hold National conferences yearly (I have not been able to
attend any just yet). This organization too has a multitude of great information
and resources from pregnancy, nutrition, education, attachment, development,
early intervention, sleep, and just about any other support or concern you
might have. If you have a question they will be able answer it or guide you to
where you can find the answer. I live in a tiny rural town. Until I met the
local supervisor of our Head Start I had no one to talk to about my profession.
Many of my peers at Walden have heard me say that when I moved to this tiny
place I was offered a job at the county Mental Health where I soon discovered
that they would not see any child under the age of fourteen because they did
not believe that a child any younger would benefit from therapy! About three
years later we had a director change and this new director still not believe
that a child could be helped. However, by then the State was requesting that
Counties step up their services to include young children and he allowed me
take that piece on. Two years ago we had another change in directorship and
this director was a previous therapist that I had worked with for years and had
just recently had his first child arrive. He has fully supported my work and
his helping find a home that we can purchase so that all of our children’s
services will be separate from the adult services.
The last organization that I present to you is The
Early Learning Hub (Oregon’s Early Learning Hubs). I have been a part of this
community of practice since it’s inception. It took a year for the group to
move through the stages of cooperation, to coordination and a second year
towards collaboration. The Early Learning Hubs are a mandate by the State meant
to increase education, awareness, and resources to families surrounding the
health, development, and education of the young children in the state. What I
especially enjoy about this organization is that I can see how we are affecting
the local community; it feels good to be able to help make change and to be a
part of the decision making on just how this will be unfolding.
For the job
opportunities portion of this assignment I would have to mention a job title
that my Director has developed, Supervisor of Children’s Programs. Which is
pretty awesome coming from an agency that wouldn’t even give a child a second
look seven years ago. The prerequisite is a Masters degree, which I will have
completed soon.
Being perfectly honest the only
other job or title that I would love to have is that of a Certified Play
Therapist. From my research I would have to hold a masters in Psychology as
well and at this point in my life that is not going to happen. I am about to
turn 58 and am maxed out on loans to get this far. On the up side, I never
imagined that I would have been able to earn both my Bachelors and Masters in
my later years. I made a conscious decision when choosing my field of study for
my education. Early Childhood has been my passion since I was in Kindergarten.
I am content and proud of my accomplishments.
NAEYC, (2015). The national
association for the education of young children. Retrieved
Oregon’s Early Learning Hubs,
(2105). Oregon’s early learning hubs. Retrieved from
early-learning-services-hubs/current-early-learning-hubs
