Sharing Web Resources

           The name of the organization that I selected was the National Black Child Development Institute and the link is http://nbcdi.org/. The NBCDI is an organization mission is to help improve and advance the lives of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education. Along with our affiliate network – composed of volunteers from across the nation – we have worked to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and provide vital information regarding our children’s health (NBCDI, 2013).

          After I looked at the website, the one thing that stuck out to me was the fact that the organization will be holding an annual conference this year in my hometown, which is New Orleans Louisiana. This caught my attention because I know that my city needs this kind of attention, especially the young black children. There is so much that is going on in New Orleans right now and in this time of need the children need every  opportunity that they can get to become successful. 

Reference:

National Black Child Development Institute. (2013). Retrieved from http://nbcdi.org/.

Getting Ready—E stablishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I didn't get to far just yet int establishing communication because I had to use the alternate assignment. So I have to wait on a response from the websites that I chose to get in contact with. I sent them an email since I don't have a way of calling them. 

I ended up choosing the World Forum Foundation. I chose to pick this organization because I like the fact that they deal with diversity and want to help in spreading ideas and giving help to children who are in need and that are of a different diversity.

The first thing I did  to locate and contact the two professionals, was first I looked on the website and then after I looked at the recommended websites, I sent them an email so I can keep in contact with them for the upcoming blog assignments and to learn more about there programs and to see what its like and do they enjoy doing what they do.

I really don't have any helpful tips that I can share with my colleagues. 
I would like to know what are some things that my colleagues are looking forward to learning from this assignment.             
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

My Supports

          My mom is the biggest support factor in my life. She taught me so much in life. She is the reason why I am the woman I became and the reason that I strive to excel and always push for the best. She also teaches me how not to be lazy and to make things happen because if you sit around waiting for things to happen then they will never happen. My grandparents are also support factors in my life. They are truly a blessing in my life and without them; I wouldn't be where I am today. They helped me through college along with my mother and fiance. They also helped me look at family from another perspective. If I didn't have these two people in my life I would definitely probably would have not gotten far in my journey through life.  My fiancé is a support factor in my life because he is the one who helped me become a stronger person in life. He helped me to also open up and become a better communicator. Before I met him, I was the type of person who never really said much and says what was on my mind when it needed to be said. Now, saving the best for last, God is the main support factor in my life. Sometimes in life I let things distract me and get in the way of what I am suppose be doing and he always get me back on track. He helps me find peace and make me feel loved when no one else does and he always assure me not to feel and to know that everything happens for a reason.

              

           I feel that it would be extremely difficult to exist without these supports. It would difficult because they are the ones who help me get through life living with no regrets. If I would have never known them my life would probably be a complete mess, but they help me stay on track like I need to be. I wouldn't have a clue as to what was going on in life if I didn't have them in my life. I would probably always be that person that everyone would get over on and not only that, I would have probably never made it to where I am today. They are the main reason I live and do what I need to do in life to get where I need to go. They push me and help me to strive for excellence. Although I am not the best I can be yet, I know that one day I will get there. I am a working progress. I truly appreciate each and everyone of them for being in my life and being a support factor to me because without them, there would definitely be no me.

MY CONNECTIONS TO PLAY

TWO QUOTES SUMMARIZED WHAT PLAY REPRESENT IN MY EARLY CHILDHOOD

Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood. 

 ~Fred Rogers

"Education is a natural process carried out by the child and not acquired by listening to words but by experiences in environment.
 ~Maria Montessori

The first quote relates to my childhood because there was no other way to learn in school unless it was taken seriously. I felt like it was okay to play in school and learn but you have to take your studies serious if you wanted to get through life. If you learn to study hard while you are young, it will be easier when you get older because you already have an habit of doing it. The second quote represents my childhood because this was just another type of way to learn. In order to learn not only do you have to listen but you learn by going through life experiences making mistakes, only to get better the second time around. That is why I love the statement You Live and You Learn, which is a form of play to me.

TWO OR  THREE PICTURES OF ESSENTIAL PLAY FOR YOUNGER SELF

SOFTBALL WAS A VERY FUN SPORT THAT I PLAYED FOR THE PARK AND I ALSO PLAYED  IT FOR SCHOOL AS I WAS GROWING UP. IT WAS MY FAVORITE SPORT.

MY SIBLINGS AND MY COUSINS AND I ALWAYS PLAYED BOARD GAMES WHEN WE WERE YOUNG. WE WERE BROUGHT BOARD GAMES EVERY YEAR FOR CHRISTMAS, SO WE COULD PLAY THEM AS A FAMILY.

PEOPLE SUPPORTED PLAY IN MY CHILDHOOD

      The way that people supported play in my childhood was by encouraging me to study while I was in school and helping me along the way by letting me make mistakes. They made sure that I stuck to my dreams and stood behind me 100% and this was mainly family and some teachers that I really admired pushed me a lot. For example, my mom always told me to read books and she helped me with my homework when I needed help and my teachers encouraged me to ask them questions or go to the tutors if I needed help with my work.

MY THOUGHTS REGARDING THE ROLE OF PLAY THROUGHOUT LIFE

     My thoughts throughout life regarding the role of play were very to the point. Play in my childhood showed me that I learned by reading, engaging with other children and by using objects to learn. For my adulthood, play taught me by allowing me to make mistakes throughout my life. After making those mistakes, I learned not to make the same mistakes to many times. Also I learned more of using play in my adulthood was by using way more resources to learn things that I didn't know, especially the internet.

BRIEF ENTRY ON HOW YOU FEEL TODAY IS SIMILAR/DIFFERENT FROM PLAY

     I feel that play is both similar and different from the play in which I engaged as a child. I feel its the same because I'm still in school learning and having to use resources to help me out. For example, while I was young, I used Reference books to help me learn things, but now I use the internet for everything. Also it's the same because I'm still living and learning from my mistakes, the same as I was doing when I was young. The only difference for play for me now is that I'm learning more in depth and now making my own decisions. My hope for young is to go through life making sure they learn from their mistakes and to make sure that they try not to make them to many times. Also my hope for them is to make sure they stay encouraged, even if they have to encourage themselves and to remain positive because there is no reason in being mad because it won't solve anything. It just going to feel like it makes life worse. So, they just need to keep a smile on their face, but if something is wrong talk about it.

Relationships Reflections

     The relationships and partnerships those are important to me because they show you who you really are in my opinion.  I feel like sometimes it is important to have relationships with other people because everybody needs somebody no matter how much you think you don’t need anybody. They can help you and lead you in the right direction. Sometimes people need guidance to help stay on the right track.
     

     The challenges to developing and maintain relationships that I have learned from my experiences is communication. That is the most important aspect in any relationship. I feel like communication can either make or break a relationship and honesty and trust are also good too. I feel like some special characteristics that make them is having love for one another and being able to listen to one another and letting each other take a turn and talk and listen. I learned that not listening to gossip can also help a relationship He said she said stuff because that was how me and a friend fell apart so if I didn’t see or hear it with my own eyes then I don’t believe. I feel like this could impact my works as an effective early childhood professional because it would help me to know how to deal with children and listen to them when they need to talk. It will also help me to make them feel comfortable around me. Also it will also help when it’s time for me to interact with the parents. I will need to be able to listen to them and value their opinion so would trust me with their kids.

My mother
     Her relationship is so important to me because she is my biggest supporter and I value her opinion so much. She is always there for me and she encourages me a lot. She has never ever put me down and she is a very hardworking woman and I would love to work just as hard as her and be as strong as her. She is also loving, caring, and has the best attitude anyone can ever have despite the many circumstances that she faced in her life. She overcame so many obstacles and I really love and appreciate her for that. She taught me what life is all about and she is still teaching me. She shows me how to love and appreciate the small things in life. She is the best mother that anybody could ever ask for. No matter how many times I fall she is always there to help pick me back up. She will always be the woman’s attitude I would love to have. If she could help the world I know she would because she is just that loving. She gets her attitude from her mom and I appreciate my grandmother for raising her to be the woman she is today. Without my mom I don’t know what I would do and where I would be. She pushed me and always wants the best for me.

Grandparents
     Where do I begin with them? They are also the most precious people who I will always cherish and love no matter what happens. They have been there for me and my sister from day one. They helped us out through so much.  They helped my mom put us through college and they are helping us now as we are in Medical School. They are really the best grandparents that I could ever ask for. They help any and everybody and whenever I need something they are there for us no matter what.  I love the conversations I am able to have with them whenever I need to talk they are there to listen.

Twin Sister
      She means the world to me. Not only is she my twin, sister, but she is also my best friend. No one could ever break the bond that I and her share and no one could ever replace her. She is always there for me whenever I need her. She is the best sister and I wouldn't trade her for anybody else. She helps me when I m in need and she is a very giving person. She always has my back no matter what the circumstances are. She is a big supporter as well as the other people that I mentioned.  We may have our differences, but we let them go and start talking like nothing ever happened. She motivates me to do things when I don’t feel like it and the same goes for her. 

Fiance

    He is the best. I wouldn't ask for anybody better. If I ask for something he will give it to me with no hesitation. He is my best friend. He tells me the truth and keeps it 100% with me. Sometimes I don’t like what he has to says, but I do reflect on it and I appreciate him for saying it to me. I have so much fun being around him and I enjoy being in his presence. He has helped me become a better communicator. He encourage me so much and he always help me to stay positive and remain that way. He know how to put a smile on my face, no matter what type of mood I am in.

Famiy

     From my uncles, aunts, sister and brothers, and my family, I love them. I love the relationship I have with them to. They support me and my twin sister to the fullest. If we need something and they have it then we have it too. I feel that the reason that I am where I am today is because of their support. I love the relationship that I have with each and everyone of them. We are very close and I can talk to them no matter what time of day it is and this holds true for each person that I've listed.

A Quote from a Child

Anonymous

"Children are great imitators. So give them something great to imitate."

Testing for Intelligence?

Testing for Intelligence?

Children are growing every day whether its weight, walking, crawling, or talking. When they are growing this is something that should be assessed because it shows how the child is suppose to develop by a certain age and where they are suppose to be at that age. Some children may grow faster than others but in a certain age range children should be at or around the stage the other children are at. For example, during the age range seven-eleven the children are at the stage where they should now starting to think logically and start to do abstract thinking. So I feel that the way a child develops should be assessed. In school the child should be assessed because the teachers should know if the child is on the same level as the children of his or her age or below so that they could know what to do to help that child.

In Cuba the children are assessed depending on the way that they can read. Since education is the number one thing in Cuba the people there make sure that the children who are there learn to read. For example, in Cuba all the schools closed down for a long period of time so that the children could learn to read, so that one day they could all become successful and have a better life. The teachers in Cuba would make sure of it by going to the houses where the children stayed.

I think that children should not be assessed when it comes to entering into a college or graduate school because to me a student could be smart but when it comes to standardized test they don’t do as well. For example, the SAT, ACT, the MCAT and whatever else requires students to get accepted into another school or pass to another grade like the LEAP, or GEE. Now I believe the IOWA is okay because it’s just testing to see where the children are but it does not hold them back if they don’t pass.