Time Well Spent

            Well everyone this is it! This is our last week together at Walden. I am privileged to have gotten to know all of my peers even just a little bit better over the course of our journey together. It gives me pride to know that so many people are going to be out in the world, some new and some continuing, in the early childhood field doing great things! I am thankful for the support and honest feedback that I have always received from my peers and professors here at Walden, this information has truly helped me grow. I am greatly appreciative of being able to have received such quality education on-line. I must say that I was a skeptic at first concerning on-line classes. I was converted to a believer as soon as I began. I have been enriched with knowledge and even more importantly I have gained another level of confidence, not just the confidence of specific knowledge (which is great) but also the confidence that I can research and find out whatever I may want to know. I am not mystified or afraid of scholarly writing or reading research, fearing that it is over my head. I still have the same passion, need to be a voice, advocate and nurture young children that I entered this journey with. I have always believed in the great importance of our infants, toddlers and children. I now believe that I have what it takes to truly help make a difference.

            As for my long-term goals…I will always remain a life long learner! I intend to continue my quest in gaining a Children’s Wing for the office that I work for, the children that we see need to be treated in a comfortable, home like environment, I will continue advocating and education until it is done. A goal I had set for myself last year about this time was that I was going to send my application for a 10K scholarship for a one year Post Graduate Infant/Toddler Mental Health Certification. I sent it off last Friday, so whether I receive it or not, I at least followed through with my promise to myself. Now I wait and see.

           I genuinely send my best wishes and congratulations out to all of my peers with the expectation that you will all do great things! To Dr. Embree and all of the other wonderful professors through this adventure I send my honest and sincere thanks for all of your guidance and character building, you are truly awesome!

Warmly, Jennifer Pore`

International Jobs in Early Childhood

              We are almost finished, but first we need to explore some International opportunities. So, here are my choices of interest. The first website that I want to talk about is one that I have used through out this class and I find new information every time I re-visit. Save the Children can be found at:

http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k8D6E/Official_Site.htm

Their mission statement states that they support children in war, natural disasters, poverty and forgotten communities by using their experience and expertise (Save The Children, 2014). They talk about “creating lasting change with improvements in policy and services that protect children” (Save the Children, 2015). I was so moved when I read about how in 2013; Save the Children was successful in reaching 21 million abused, neglected and exploited children through their programs. (Save the Children, 2015). I also read on their site “Honduras became the 37^th country to ban corporal punishments, including striking, strapping and caning children” (Save the Children, 2015). What an amazing social change for those children and future generations! I admire their ability and drive to make changes at policy and law levels, which make for lasting change.

           I looked up a job opening that was posted for East Africa. The job listing is for Save the Children Protection Advisor. I was unable to find any prerequisites listed. An article from a current worker listed some of the activities that were included in a typical day such as registering children that arrived and them getting them fed before trying to locate their family or find them a foster placement.

            My second investigation lead me to a job opening in Madagascar! This job opportunity was for a Food and Nutrition Technical Assistant for the Academy for Educational Development at http://www.aed.org/en/index.htm. Although I wasn’t able to locate the experience needed for this particular job, the description of the job intrigued me. In order to cause social change they go in and locate specific areas were they could implement change.

            I hesitated to check out UNICEF because I felt that I knew a lot about it. I was very wrong! I found it interesting that UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly in order “ to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential” (UNICEF, nd). UNICEF is active in 191 countries. I found a current job opening in South Sudan for an Education Specialist to “design, plan, implement and monitor education” (UNICEF, nd). The job requirements for this position are, eight years of experience and hold a degree in Primary Education. I think it would be awesome to do this job.

  Jenn Pore`

Academy for Educational Development. (2015). Retrieved from

     http://www.aed.org/en/index.htm

Save the Children, (2015). Retrieved from

         http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

United Nations Children’s Fund, (nd). UNICEF. Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org

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

            Hello Peers, this week we are researching National and Federal employment opportunities that intrigue us. I am anxious as always to see what others find. Who knows there may be an area of Early Childhood that I have not discovered yet that could be a great fit?

             One area of early childhood that I have always been interested in is Child Care Resource and Referral (http://rrnetwork.org). These are the folks that keep track of who is licensed and for how many children. They support families in finding safe and appropriate care. They also help support family childcare licensed homes by providing trainings, offering programs like the food program, where the provider can get reimbursed for serving healthy foods. The also having lending libraries where providers can borrow awesome resources without having to purchase all new items. I remember being jealous of the women that came to do home checks. I remember thinking how great it would be to have a job were you were you provided training and support to providers. I found information on a position of Program Assistant that required a B.A., clear background check and experience. I would assume a Program Director would require the same although with a Master.  

            My semi-retirement goal has always been to open an infant/toddler center with a good friend of mine. We talk all the time about what it would look like and all of the wonderful resources and programs we would have. The State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing  (http://www.ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl797.pdf) matrix lists: holding a Bachelors in ECE, plus six units of supervision an done year of experience in order to e a Program Director. Being the Director of a center is a big job requiring many skills. You need to know business, be an administrator, teacher, know the law and be able to build curriculum.

            For my third choice I chose a Family Specialist/Counselor. I know for a fact in Oregon the qualifications are: To hold a Masters in ECE, Psychology or Human Services, a clear background check and experience. Being a specialist or counselor allows you to counsel children and their families from behavioral and developmental issues to supporting children and families in subjects such as trauma and abuse.

Child Care Resource and Referral, (2015). Retrieved from http://www.rrnetwork.org

The State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, (2015). Retrieved from

     http://www.ncsl.org/research/human-services/early-childhood-101.aspx#Data

Communities of Practice

            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

     From www.naeyc.org

Oregon’s Early Learning Hubs, (2105). Oregon’s early learning hubs. Retrieved from

     http://oregonearlylearning.com/other-priorities/community-based-coordinators-of-

     early-learning-services-hubs/current-early-learning-hubs

Zero to Three, (2015). Zero to Three. Retrieved from www.zerotothree.org

My Appreciation to Peers & Professor

     I would like to take this time to thank all of my peers and professor for allowing me to have such a great experience in this class. There has been a collaboration of thoughts as we have learned together what it takes to be a team working toward similar goals. We all have different experiences, yet we all care and have a passion to help support children and their families as best we can. We are all working toward that big goal of completing our masters in varying specialties. I have received support from peers and professor throughout our discussion boards and feedback from the professor on graded work. All of which has been helpful. This class marks the time in my degree where I will be splitting off from the big group and will be finishing my classes in adult teaching. I look forward to seeing familiar names as I move forward. For those of you that I will not see again I wish you well in all of your goals. I have decided to continue with my blog even after I have completed classes at Walden as a means of continued communication, anyone that I have had any classes along the way has my address. Go forth and do wondrous things my friends!

Toodles, Jenn Pore`

Adjourning is Such Sweet Sorrow

           Saying good-bye can be so very sad. This week I am to reflect on my experiences of when a group that I have belonged to has disbanded. I will admit that I have belonged to some groups that I was relieved when they ended. The most emotional group and I think a great example of a successful and fruitful group was the group of peers that I went through my student teaching class with. The professor was awesome! She new her stuff and was excited and passionate about sharing what she new. The college had a preschool on campus for students and staff. Our classroom was just across the hall from the preschool. It’s been over 7 years since we all went our separate ways but I still think of them often. We shared information, experiences, fears, tears and laughter together. There were about a dozen of us that earned money through out the class and we traveled together to a CAEYC conference in Anaheim and a trip to Disneyland all in the same week. We traveled together in a small bus from the college, told stories and sang the entire 11-hour drive. What a magnificent time we had! The day before we were to drive back home I received a call that my daughter had gone into labor 3 months early and that the baby was going to be delivered. I was recently divorced and living without electricity in order to survive and be able to have gas money to get to classes. Every single one of those women put their money together bought me an airline ticket, drove me to the airport, gave me what they had left for food money and a big group hug. Never have I experienced such humanity. To this day I tear up when I think of what wonderful people they are. Had I not moved away I am certain that I would still be in touch with some of them.

            I have no doubt that the reason the class/group was so successful is because we were all very much of the same mind. Yes, we were a very diverse class but we had the best interest of children in common and it proved to be a great group of people that learned together, supported each other, and we cared what happened to one and other. I anticipate that to some degree I will experience a similar experience when I graduate from Walden. Even though this is a different type of communication and not in person, I have many peers that have been in almost all of my classes over the last year. That is a long time to interact and not feel a loss when it is over. I expect that it will be bitter sweet. I am excited to be nearing the end of this long journey and to finally have earned my masters. I believe that to be successful that we must keep moving forward. In moving forward our classes together will end and I will genuinely wish each of my peers good will. It is an honor working with such dedicated people for such a wonderful reason. I will let my positive memories give me strength when I may have a tough day.

Jenn Pore`

Choose Your Battles in Order to Win the War

            This week we are asked to share a couple of strategies that I have learned to use in order manage or control conflicts. Our text (O’Hair, 2012) states that there are 3 strategies to solve conflict management and those would be: “escapist strategies, challenging strategies and cooperative strategies. This week my boss had accidentally left my credentials off my name when presenting an employee tree to the State during our site review. It really hurt my feelings because it made me look like a nothing on paper. I knew it was an over site and I chose not to say anything. By the end of the next day the review panel had brought it to my bosses attention and it had been corrected. I am so glad that I had not whined or pouted, it would have made me look pretty small.
             I have come to learn this week that one of my standards, choose your battles, would fall under the escapist column. I’m okay with that because when I use this choice it is generally because I have evaluated the situation and environment and have decided that it is not the time or that a bigger picture needs to be considered and I chose to save my energy for the bigger conflict. Sometimes it is more important to loose or forgive on a few small battle hills in order to win the war.

            Another of my all time strategies falls under what I now know to be a cooperative strategy and that is compromising. I think of compromising as a very respectful and useful form of dealing with conflict. Early Childhood professionals have been using it for years. When we offer children two choices to accomplish a task that we want them to do. We are compromising on the fact that we may not get our first choice but we are modeling cooperation and teaching decision-making skills simultaneously. Another aspect that I like about compromise is that everyone gets something that they want. Everyone likes to feel that they have been heard and that there wants and needs have been heard and validated, compromising is a good way to accomplish that goal.

Jenn Pore`

O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real Communication: An Introduction. Bedford/

     St. Martin’s, Boston, New York.