Examining Code of Ethics

From the Mission Statement of the NAYEC:

• All children have access to a safe and accessible, high quality early childhood education that includes a developmentally appropriate curriculum; knowledgeable and well-trained program staff and educators; and comprehensive services that support their health, nutrition, and social well-being, in an environment that respects and supports diversity.
• All early childhood professionals are supported as professionals with a career ladder, ongoing professional development opportunities, and compensation that attracts and retains high quality educators.
• All families have access to early childhood education programs that are affordable and of high quality and actively participate in their children's education as respected reciprocal partners.

From the Code of Ethics of the DEC:

• We shall demonstrate our respect and concern for children, families, colleagues, and others with whom we work, honoring their beliefs, values, customs, languages, and culture.
• We shall recognize our responsibility to improve the developmental outcomes of children and to provide services and supports in a fair and equitable manner to all families and children.
• We shall advocate for equal access to high quality services and supports for all children and families to enhance their quality of lives.

Sources

Division for Early Childhood. (2009, August). Code of Ethics. Retrieved October 21, 2012, from Division for Early Childhood website: http://www.dec-sped.org/uploads/docs/about_dec/ position_concept_papers/Code%20of%20Ethics_updated_Aug2009.pdf 

NAEYC. (2012). Our Mission. Retrieved October 21, 2012, from NAEYC website: http://www.naeyc.org/about/mission 

Class Resources

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, fromhttp://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
• Websites:
• • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
  Dunlap, L.L. (1997). High Scope: One Program Model. Retrieved October 7, 2012, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/high-scope-one-program-model/ The Perpetual
  
  Preschool. (2004). What Is High/Scope? Retrieved from http://perpetualpreschool.com/highscope/highscope_info.htm
  
  

• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Words of Inspiration and Motivation

This quote by Bill Clinton sums up how I feel about education as it relates to the community. Education starts with the parents first. The teachers are supporters. Together, the parents and teachers are a team which works together to help each child succeed to the best of their abilities. Children will fail if one side of the team fails to do their part. This all begins with early childhood education.

"Individual character involves honoring and embracing certain core ethical values; honesty, respect, responsibility . . . Parents must teach their children from the earliest age the difference between right and wrong. But we must all do our part." -- Bill Clinton, 1998

Congressional Record: Proceeding and Debates of the 105th Congress, Second Sesson. (1998). Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=ku2KQGpJrXEC

In addition, Virgina Buysse opens her article titled Program Quality and Early Childhood Inclusion (2009) with,

"The quality of the early childhood workforce is a critical factor—and may be of overriding importance—in determining whether early education and intervention is of high or poor quality. Along with a safe and well-equipped early learning environment, it is the characteristics and behaviors of the practitioners themselves that likely contribute most to the quality of the program and its effectiveness for young children and families."

Buysse, V., & Hollingsworth, H. (2009, March 5). Program Quality and Early Childhood Inclusion. Retrieved from http://life.comm.fsu.edu/LIFEArticles/PD/Topics_ProgramQuality.pdf

If we want to set young children up for success, each practitioner within the field of early childhood education has to have a passion for furthering the education of young children. Preparation and involvement with parents is key to making sure that the children achieve everything can, and setting them up to succeed from a very young age.

Personal Childhood Web

Five People Who Have Nurtured and Cared About Me As I Grew Up:

1. My Mother, Patricia
   My mother was a stay-at-home mom who gave her everything as a mother. She sacrificed so much to ensure than my sister and I had everything we needed while we were growing up - and she still does today, even though I am approaching 30 and my sister is 24.
2. My Father, Mark
   My father was the "main bread winner" in our household, but he was also sure to make time for his children. He is brass and outspoken, he is passionate about the things he believes in, and he's a loving man, even if he has a tough exterior. I am every bit my father's daughter.
3. My Aunt Barb
   My aunt is my mother's sister. Growing up, she was always around to be another supportive female figure. Today, I can attribute a lot of my own beliefs, manners, and the way I conduct myself to the way she taught me.
4. My Grandma Judy
   My Grandma Judy married my Grandpa Bud shortly after I was born, so even though is not my real grandmother, she has always been my Grandma. To her, I attribute my strong sense of family and the need to keep them close - she loves to plan the yearly family reunion and is always diligent to remember everyone's birthday and/or anniversary, and sends them a card for every special occasion.
5. My Grandpa Bud
   My (maternal) Grandfather has always been a quiet man, but he has always been there for me when I need him - if I was ever in trouble or needed to talk, he has always been there.

Four Generations
Myself, my mother, my grandfather,
and my daughter; Summer 2012

Photo (c) PostSecret.com

I'll Love You Forever

Photo (C) 2012 Merideth G Photography

The photo above is of my boyfriend, myself, and our daughter when she was 6 months old (she is 9 months old, now). This photo was taken by a very good friend of mine, and was taken in front of the Detroit River, down near Hart Plaza. It is one of my favorite photos of us.

"I'll love you forever, I'll like you for always;

As long as I'm living, my baby you'll be."

The quote above is from my favorite childhood book, Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. This is a book I remember my mother always reading to me, and me always wanting my mom to read to me. It is a message that I want my own daughter to always know.

My own copy of the book, the one with the worn and crinkly pages from being read numerous times during my childhood, was a special gift to me at our baby shower. My mother also bought my daughter a brand new copy of the book, one all her own.