EDUC-6990 Final Blog Post

 The first meaningful thing that I have learned from this program is the importance of being a good leader. “Effective leadership in early childhood education requires individuals to be in touch with the prevailing sociocultural attitudes in their communities regarding child care and child development.” (Scott, 2015). He goes on to talk about how a leader has to understand the science behind childcare and policies. He also talks about the importance of communication and team-building skills. I have learned so many good skills that will help make me a great leader. The biggest thing that has been in every class I have taken is the importance of communication. Being a good leader means that I know how to communicate with my team.

The second meaningful thing I learned from this program is the importance of a budget and how much it costs to run a childcare center. A budget for a childcare center is so much more than just bills; there are hundreds of things to account for. Sorenson & Goldsmith, 2018) taught me how to create a budget that aligns with my mission and vision statements. They taught me that budgeting is not simply about money, but it includes how the center is run and what my goals are for the center.

The third meaningful thing I learned is the importance of forming relationships with not only my staff but other people in this field. I learned the importance of collaboration which is something I still talk about to this day. Collaborating with my colleagues is one of my favorite things to do because I know they have great ideas that I have not thought of. Collaborating helps each one of us learn something new and gives us the opportunity to learn.

My long-term goal is to get a job that focuses on creating policies and procedures for childcare centers. I want to create policies that will help create a high-quality learning environment with high-quality teachers.

I truly cannot believe this is the end; it feels like I started this program just yesterday with all of you. Thank you to all the instructors who were with me during this time and taught me things that I will put to good use in this field. My colleagues throughout this experience have been amazing, and they have taught me so much. I hope I am able to keep in touch with some of you as we continue our careers in the early childhood education field. It would be an honor to work next to each and every one of you. I will definitely miss interacting with everyone weekly.
Reference

Scott, D. (2005). Leaders on leadership: How do you envision leadership in early care and education in 2015? YC Young Children, 60(1), 20-22.

Sorenson, R. D., & Goldsmith, L. M. (2018). The principal's guide to school budgeting (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

EDUC 1990 International Organizations

 The first international organization that appealed to me is the International Child Resource Institute (https://www.icrichild.org/). The first thing that I noticed when I found this organization is that they have a world map on their home screen. By clicking on any part of the world, it will take you to that place and give you more information. They even have different symbols that pop up when you hover over that place. There are different things that they focus on, such as childcare education, children’s rights, empowerment of women and girls, etc. I clicked on India and found out that this organization has been working with India for over 10 years to fund education. You can also find different projects they are currently working on and past projects that they have completed.

The second international organization that appealed to me is Grace Children’s Hospital International Child Care (https://www.internationalchildcare.org/). I love that the home page was blunt and straight to the point, informing you about the statistics in Haiti. If you continue to scroll down, it gives 2 options either give or learn. When I clicked on to learn, it gave so many resources and information about the work that they are doing and why they are doing it. I the how straightforward their website is, and it gives you all the information you need to know.

The third international organization that appealed to me is the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (https://www.unicef.org/). This organization appeals to me because they are focusing on child protection, survival, education, etc. They are activists for children and give children a voice everywhere; under their what we do tab, they say, “We never give up.” That line sticks with me because we can never give p on the children; we have to stand up for them.

One job opportunity that interests me is a senior policy analyst position. I am interested in developing and analyzing policies to ensure everyone is receiving high-quality education. This position requires me to have a degree in education, be knowledgeable in policies, and have strong communication skills. 

EDUC - 6990

 The first organization I chose is the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) (https://www.naeyc.org/). I chose the NAEYC because it is a very popular organization in the early childhood field and has great resources. They promote high-quality education and give teachers the opportunity to learn more about this field. Many childcare centers are accredited by the NAEYC, which tells parents that the center is up to certain standards and requirements. They even have a section to help teachers find jobs in their state or simply give them job ideas.

The second organization I chose is the National Child Care Association (NCCA) (https://nationalchildcare.org/). I chose this organization because they are a resource for child care centers. They believe all children should be able to attend a high-quality program that is affordable. They are a voice for childcare centers and children. I was drawn in by the fact that they are advocating and being a voice for this field. They are raising awareness for issues in this field such as high cost, policies, and program successfulness. They also have helpful webinars that benefit directors, teachers, and parents.

The final organization I chose is the Child Care Aware of America (https://www.childcareaware.org/about/child-care-aware-of-america/). One thing I am passionate about is having high-quality childcare that is affordable to all families. Child Care Aware of America is a great resource for this. They are making sure all families are offered the same high-quality care without breaking the bank. They have a search system for families to use to help them find child care and resources in their state. They help educate parents on childcare centers and even give them the link to licensing inspections. I think this is a great place for parents to do research on child care centers in their area.

I would be interested in working for Child Care Aware of America; I cannot find a specific position I would want. I think that some of the required skills would be experience working in early childhood education and possessing a degree in child development.

EDUC-6990

 The first state organization that appeals to me is Tennessee Association for Children’s Early Education (https://www.tacee.org/). I chose this organization because they are working towards a better world for children. They focus on identity, and they have defined their identity as an anti-racist organization. There are some children who are not exposed to other races until they start attending childcare; I like that they are tackling this issue at a young age. They also focus on the importance of play and the huge part that it has in development. 

The second state organization that appeals to me is called TN Voices (https://tnvoices.org/programs/early-childhood/). I chose this website because they focus on educating both parents and teachers about early childhood education. They offer support for almost anyone who has or works with children and focus on children being educated. This is important to me because I think that all parents should be required to take some child development classes. I think they would benefit all parents so that they understand what their child is going through. 

The third local organization that appeals to me is called the Nashville Area Association for the Education of Young Children (NAAEYC) (https://www.naaeyc.org/ ). I chose them because the first thing they mention is high-quality learning for call children. I love what they are promoting and that they focus on high-quality care because that is very important to me. Their vision is all about children thriving and learning so that they have the best shot to become the best version of themselves

I am still deciding what job that I want to pursue, but there are a few that interest me. They are childcare licensing evaluator, early education professor, or academic advisor for education. The skills and experience that I need for a child care licensing evaluator is experience working in childcare, and the skills I would need are the ability to use a computer, ability to drive, flexibility, and knowledge of licensing rules and regulations. The skills and experiences I need to become a professor are oral, writing, and communication skills and experience in higher education; these are the same things I would need to become an advisor as well.

EDUC 6165 Final Blog Post

 This course has focused on communication, such as how we communicate and its importance. Over the past few weeks, I have found great information and new ideas from some of my peers, Dorothy; you always bring new insight to our discussions. I have enjoyed reading your blog throughout this course and can't wait to see your posts in the future; please check it out https://dorothyavant.wixsite.com/website. Virginia's blog is another one I found myself drawn to every week, I made sure to check her blog for her thoughts on the current topic. It is a place that we can be open with each other; thank you for sharing your personal stories. Here is the blog link for Virginia  https://gingeroo6418.wixsite.com/website; I suggest everyone takes a look. Finally, thank you, everyone, for your support and comments throughout this course. I love reading each one and learning from them. 

Groups

 I believe it depends on the type of group you are in, whether it is easy for hard to leave. I have been in many high-performing groups, and some were easy to leave; well, others were hard to leave. I think it has to do with how much you participate and whether or not you like the group. I think it is easier to stay in groups that have established norms, but some people like unpredictability and may prefer those types of groups. One group that was hard to leave was the group I studied abroad with; we took a semester-long class together and spent 2 full weeks in Thailand. We formed a great bond together, but when the trip ended, the group was over. It was hard to leave because we had this amazing life-changing experience together, and nobody else would be able to understand it. The closing ritual that I would have like to experience was a proper goodbye. This ritual would include us sharing pictures and memories of the group and would end with everyone be able to say goodbye. I imagine that I will adjourn from my colleagues from the program bittersweetly. I will be very excited to have completed my degree, but I will also be a little sad, not interacting with my colleagues weekly. I will miss the diverse ideas that each and every person brings to the group. I think adjourning is essential because it means you completed your goal.

Conflict Resolution

 Thinking about disagreements I am currently experiencing, I believe that a comprise would be a great solution. I have always been a big fan of comprising because I think it is a great way for both people to feel like they "win." I think it is effective because no one likes to lose an argument; I also think when a comprise is brought up, both parties can input ideas and work together to come up with a comprise. The second strategy that I believe might be effective for these disagreements would be incorporating the three Rs into the conversation. Conversations that include respect will have a better ending rather than when we disrespect each other. I also think that conversations simply aren't effective when we are not reciprocal or responsive. How have you learned to be a more effective communicator regarding conflict resolution skills?