Research around the world

I chose the link http://www.wcdvu.org/ssa/majorreports.php
this site was based on research done in Africa. I saw that research done there dealt with everything from adminstration,teachers and professional development, parents and caregivers, the community, nutrition,and curriculum development. These are the same issues that we look at in the United States pertaining to research. I found it amazing that Africa being so far away that they are interested in the same issues we are. It just goes to show that education no matter what contry you are from is still very important. One topic that caught my eye was Involving Fathers in Early childhood Care and Development. In the school where I work we are constantly coming up with ways to get fathers into the classroom. We see the mothers all the time but hardly ever see the dads.
I learned that just because a country does not have the same as we do here in America, the education of thier children are still very important.

Research

If I had the power and means to perform a research for the early childhood field my research would be on how a culturally resposnive classroom enhances learning and creating a classroom family. This research would benefit children and families in becoming a part of the classroom family. All children would benfit from being in a culturally responsive classroom by learning a new language and learning that children celebrate and have different family and life experiences. I think this is a research topic that should be done because some places such as the city I live in do not have many children from different cultures, and this would help in preparing for different language . I also think this would help because culture does not always mean that you are from another clture. We have so many children with different backgrounds that man classrooms are culturally diversed.

Research Subtopic

The subtopic I chose was Can play enhance a child's ability to learn the content standards within the early childhood classroom. I chose this subtopic because next year I will teach Kindergarten and I am a handson teacher and believe that students need to move and use the social skills to learn instead of sitting and only doing worksheets.
I have not had much expereience with research. When I attended Brewton Parker College and was doing my student teaching I had to do an action research on the effects of a pre-test and post test. However I have never had to come up with research information on my own beside a few for science paper. T

Eventhough we have only been in class for two weeks, I have learned alot. The major things I beleieve I have learned would be to make sure that my information is current, unbias and written by an author who is connected to to the issue .
The advice I would give to my classmates would be to stay on top of assignments and to help each other when we can. I believe that feed back is a great asset to any class. Good Luck.

Consequences of International Correspondence

The first consequence I would say would be a benefit is the fact that learning that teachers around the world are also interested in continuing their learning about children thorugh professional development courses.
The second beneficial consequence is the understanding that schools around the world are facing the same exact issues. this issues could pertain to finiancial restraintents, diversity and poverty issues. I was amazed to learn that within one country two school had a totlly different economic make-up.
The third consequence I had was not a good one. I had one teacher that would not get some of my responses to her post. I guess that is the joy of technology.
A goal I would like to see for the international field would be a web site where teachers around the world could conversate with one another. This website would allow teachers to discuss issues within their schools and maybe find way that other schools have used to help solve the problems. The site could also be use as a teacher resource for new lessons or teaching ideas.

PArt 3 of Exchange with teachers

 I discussed with the teachers with whom I correspond with about the requirements we have for our professional development. In Pre-k we have to attend training once a year plus some for our school board. In pre-k it is mandatory for 2 people to be in the room at all times so we have to have subs on the days of training and when we are absent due to sickness.   

 Jackie from England stated that  in their district,they have less short courses at our local teacher's center due to monetary constraints - no money to release teachers!  However, there are lots of opportunities for CPD through our universities and we currently have three teachers studying for masters - one in the 'every child a writer project' , another in maths education and a third in family learning.   Our head and the board of governors are very supportive of any extra training any teacher wants to take on and some has been part-funded in school. Within school, we have peer observations and mentoring projects to support both new and existing staff- you're never too old to learn new things!

 Kathy who teaches at an airforce base in Japan stated  that the teachers there  have to renew our certification every 5 years and you must have 10 credit hours in your field to renew.  We have in the past had Scholastic courses offered that were paid for by the school.  None offered this year though.  We have a University of Maryland and University of Phoenix school here on our base that offers some graduate level education course.

 I think it is neat that they have Unniversities there on the base.  I also find  it very pleasing to  see that teachers around the world  continue their learning. I like the idea of having peer observations and the mentor projects, I think this would benenfit every school as well as teachers.

Web site and Newsletter

 I went to the resource tab on the Prek now website.  The tab gave many sub links I feel could be very beneficial to an early childhood edcuator. There were many articles that dealt with  the issue of Pre-k in Education reform.   On the newsletter from Pre-k now there is an article that continues the discussion on Pre-k and funding. The article states the Governor of Iowa want to replace the state preschool program with a schlorahip program which would be based on finacial need. Again this brings into account the equity of  children who attend preschool programs.  According to PAul Gausman a school superintendent of Iowa, there is concern on this issue, not for the high-poverty level or the middle -upper students but those students who are in the middle. In the article it gave an example of a family of 4 who make 67,000 a year would not recieve any state help for preschool.
 As I view this newletters because I get one daily, I find that as we all have know since the beginning edcuation truly evolves around funding. I get frustrated that our governement wants to cut our early childhood education but can afford other things that are not necessarily important to the state as a whole.

http://www.preknow.org/

Issues of equity

  I have only got a reply back from one of my contacts. Mrs. Kathy Sanders a teacher in Japan states  that all Japanese schools insist that students wear uniforms and there are restrictions on hair length for boys and girls.  They pretty much have the same haircut.  Japanese students attend school from 8-4,  Monday through Saturday.  They pretty much want students to all look the same, boys and girls.  No hair color, jewelry, ect. Ultimate conformity.  I am sure this cuts down on distractions .   How do tink our students would like to go to school on Saturday or our teachers?
 As soon  as I hear from other two contact I  will post their answers.