Capstone - Week 6 - International Agencies

This week we are charged with finding three international early childhood agencies that interest us.  Then we need to explain why they interest us and list at least one job opening in one of the agencies.

The first international early childhood agency that I found interesting is the World Bank Group because their mission is to work to reduce poverty.  Poverty effects so many children around the world and it is such an important topic for the field of early childhood.  The website is:

http://www.worldbank.org/

The second international agency that interests me is the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI).  They state their mission as follows:

"Our mission is to promote and support the optimal education, 

development, and well-being of children worldwide, 

and to influence the professional growth of educators 

and the efforts of others who are committed to the needs of children

 in a changing society. We have consultative status with the United Nations."


This is a mission I can support fully.  Their website is:

http://acei.org/ 

The last agency I found interesting is called Learn 4 Good.  It is an international job finding website for early childhood.  The link is:  http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/e/98136/employer/search/  

There are many jobs listed at that last site but I am more interested in local openings.

There actually is a director position open in a small town near my hometown.  The only requirement I do not meet is a minimum two year requirement for supervising people.  Officially (meaning a paid position), I have not supervised anyone.  This is the only area where I am not qualified for the position.  I still think I would apply if the timing was right.  The link for the position is: http://www.careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Jobs/JobDetails.aspx?Job_DID=JHS80M6ZHWR05TYVSWZ&siteid=CBSIMPLYHIRED&showNewJDP=yes&ipath=EXGOO

Capstone - Week 4

If I were going to choose any three national or federal early childhood organization to work for, I would choose the following:

1- The Center for the Childcare Workforce

 http://www.ccw.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=41

The reason I would like to work for them is because I have a desire to change the field of early childhood for the better, not just one child at a time.  Right now I am a preschool teacher (which I love) but I know I do not want to be a teacher for ever.  There is much that could be improved in the field and I would love to be a part of that (especially the wage issue).

2- The second national agency I would love to work for would be NAEYC (The National Association for the Education of Young Children).  The reasons are self-explanatory because of who NAEYC is and who they have been for the early childhood field I appreciate them.

http://www.naeyc.org/

3- The third agency I would like to work for would be the Association for Early Learning Leaders.  Their focus is to promote and support leadership qualities in early childhood and in turn, they support high quality programs.

http://www.naccp.org/

If I were going to picture the ideal job for me in the field of early childhood, it would be related to advocating for the teachers in the field.  I also would love to be the person who comes in to help motivate teachers or better yet, administrators who need encouragement and focus.  We all know that people do not get into this field for the money. We all want to make a difference for a child or for a family.  Based on what I have been learning, it seems like people in the field who are unhappy and complaining about the money, have lost their passion and focus.  I would love to help people regain their passion because I feel like the best way to improve the quality of early childhood everywhere would be to have professionals in the field who are devoted and focused on high quality interactions, education and relationships with children and families.  

In order to have a job like this, I believe I would be qualified now.  The thing I lack is a history of speaking on topics related to the field of early childhood.  Most of the public speaking experience that I have had is related to motherhood not early childhood education.  That being said, I believe I would be able to speak on any topic, I would just need to prepare.

Another job I would be interested in would be a behavioral interventionist.  Or at least I think that is what they are called.  The job description I am thinking of would be someone who comes into the classroom to help with a behavioral issue of either an entire class, or a specific class.  I know where I teach now, some of the teachers, who did not have any kind of behavior modification training or classes, have a difficult time with class management.  Simple techniques would really help them with behavioral issues that could change the environment of their entire classroom.  I may be qualified for this job now but I would have to learn some techniques for observing and for documenting.  I actually have the opportunity to do something like this in a classroom next to mine so I will be able to see if I like it or not.  If I do, I will either need training, or maybe just research.  I am truly a behaviorist at heart so I am looking forward to my future.

Week 2 Capstone

Communities of Practice that appeal to me:

1- Torrington Early Childhood Collaborative - http://discovery.wcgmf.org/partners/communities/torrington

I chose this group because they are in my area and their mission is something I can identify with.

2- Connecticut State Department of Education - http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/site/default.asp

State Dept of Education seems self explanatory

3- Connecticut Early Childhood Alliance - http://www.earlychildhoodalliance.com/

One of the best parts about living in a small state is that each of these organizations is close enough for me to visit and hopefully small enough to call and interview someone.

Job Opportunities that are Available:

Most of the job opportunities that are posted on normal job searching websites are for early childhood teaching positions.  I am qualified for basically all of them.  The problem is, the job I want is probably not even listed and if it is, I do not know where to look because I don't know what I want.  Right now I know I want to be a part of the positive change in early childhood in my state.  This week I will be attending a forum that is related to my capstone project and I am so excited because I would like to meet some of the people who do what I think I want to do.  Right now I am qualified to be a head teacher (as I am a co-teacher for head start right now) but I do not think I want to teach anymore.  Time will tell!

Here we go!!

We are finally there.  The last eight week class before we graduate.  I hope you all are looking forward to it as much as I am.  Here we go!

Week 8 of Communication and Collaboration

I do not think I am alone when I say this class has been very eye opening for me.  I have learned so much about my own communication skills (or lack there of), the communication skills of those around me and the purposes of collaboration.  I feel so fortunate to have been able to take this class and I believe I will review the resources regularly as I continue on through my career.  Thank you to my colleagues for reading my discussion posts and my blog and for sharing your insights and experiences!

I appreciate you!!

I hope to see many of you in my next class but for those of you who are moving on to a different journey than mine, good luck and I hope you do well!  We are the future of this field and I am proud to share that responsibility with many of you!  See you soon!

Adjourning Week - 6

This week we have learned about being a part of a group and the 5 different stages that are involved in a group's development.  The last stage is the adjourning stage when a group's members dissipate and move on to the next group or project.  Right now I am about to leave the group of women I have worked with for the past two years.  An opportunity has surfaced for me to change jobs and I am going to take it!  I have enjoyed working where I have been but it also has been difficult at times and I am actually looking forward to leaving even though I love the women themselves.

Since we have been learning about groups this week, I have been thinking about the many groups I have been a part of.  I have played sports, worked for restaurants, had roommates in college, lived in a close knit family and now I have my own family who is my primary group.  The hardest group I ever had to leave was the family I grew up in.  My senior year of high school my older sisters both moved to Virginia and my younger sister and mom moved to Florida.  Saying goodbye was very difficult, not because I would never see them again, but because things would never be the same again.  This is not a bad thing all the time, but it can be hard.

I suppose that as we adjourn, we become enabled to learn from a new experience rather than staying in the same group.  I guess we may be able to say that it is our moving on, that helps us grow.

Conflict Resolution Wk 5

     This week was all about conflict and conflict resolution.  We were challenged to examine a conflict we have had at work or personally and to see if we would handle it differently now that we know what we know.  I think for me the answer is "YES!!"  I am currently involved in a long-term conflict with a family member and knowing what I do now, I definitely would have handled things differently if I could do it over again.
     Unfortunately, I am afraid the damage has been done and the relationship involved may be forever damaged.  If I could do it all over again, I would focus on common goals and needs and I would stop the conversation if communication turned to insults.  Unfortunately, many insults were made and many feelings were hurt and now, I do not even know if the work to fix the relationship would be worth the shadow of a relationship we used to have.  Maybe it is possible.  I believe it would take a miracle to heal the damage that has been done.