My Research Journey

The topic that sparks my interest to research if funding for early childhood programs.  I have narrowed this into the following sub-topics: ways to obtains grants for early childhood programs, how early childhood programs ensure young children are school ready, and the influence of community based family support services that will help train parents how to build a strong foundation for learning. 

I have a personal interest in this topic because I am a Prekindergarten Teacher at a public school.  Since Prekindergarten is not a mandatory program there are limited amount of spaces available.  There are specific criteria that a family must meet in order to get into the program.  The criteria is: children who currently have an IEP, economically disadvantaged, and or language deficient.  The entire community lives in poverty so each child automatically qualifies based on income alone.  The problem then is that there are more children that should be enrolled in the program then spots that are available.  This means children are then placed on a waiting list and may be enrolled in the program if a spot becomes available throughout the school year. 

As an early childhood educator this is heartbreaking for me.  Building a strong foundation is necessary for children to be successful in school.  Every dollar invested in young children has a high return in the future.  I think that every child should have the opportunity to attend a high-quality preschool program regardless of their families income and there should be enough classes that every child has the opportunity to attend.

Does anyone has any experience as to how to go about obtaining grants for early childhood programs?  If so, let me know. I would really appreciate it.

Sharing Web Resources

When exploring the prek now website there are many resources available on this website.  Some of the additional outside links in the media section there is a link that allows you to obtain contact information with prek experts.  You can contact an expert in the following fields related to prek: prek policy and implementation, prek research, economic benefits of prek, and pollsters. 

After exploring the family section in depth I found there is a check list provided to help parents find a high-quality prek program.  This information is also available in Spanish.  The section also encourages learning at home by providing tips how to engage children in developmentally appropriate activities that you can do together, as well as, providing resources on school readiness.  The last section is family profiles.  Within this section families that have been profiled share their individual stories about high-quality prek and how its impacted their children.


The e-newsletter this week discusses how children who do not have access to a high-quality early childhood education program are more likely to struggle in school and not be school ready.  This article discussed how it would impact all children who did not have access, not just a specific group such as ELL students.

One of the articles this week also discussed school readiness and how it takes more than one weekend to prepare a child for school.  Children begin learning at birth and to properly prepare them for Kindergarten it takes from birth to age five with engaging learning experiences that will provide a strong learning foundation.

As I continue to review the Prek Now website and read their newsletters I am gaining lots of beneficial information.  Specific information that seems particularly relevant to my current professional development is information about the race to the top challenge.  The county where I teach has decided to pilot this program for the next two years.  I am eager to see how this is going to work since I believe that prekindergarten programs are always overlooked.

A statement in an e-newsletter that I found to be controversial is how many states are facing budget cuts and the programs that are suffering the most are prekindergarten programs that serve at-risk children.  Research has proven over and over again that a strong foundation is necessary for future academic success, so it doesn't make sense that these programs are the first to get cut.

The prek now website provides information that adds to my understanding of how politicians support the early childhood field because there is an entire section dedicated to policy makers.  Some of the information in this section includes federal initiatives, fact sheets, policy maker profiles, advisory councils, and governance.

Some other insights I gain from the newsletters are policy makers are trying to do the right thing by doing what ever it takes to make sure prekindergarten programs do not get cut so every child has the opportunity to be provided with a good education by qualified teachers and other professionals

Sharing Web Resources

The website I chose it PrekNow: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States.  The web link is www.preknow.org

The main focus of this website is to inform everyone the importance of Prekindergarten and how investing early is the best way to go.  Children who attend Prek are more likely to be ready for Kindergarten and are less likely to repeat a grade.  The website offers information for parents and educators.  I did subscribe to their newsletter and the most current issue that is being discussed is The Race to the Top.  Many people are concerned that creating assessments for such young children is unhealthy since Prekindergarten is supposed to be a hands-on and holistic learning experience.  The assessments are not paper/pencil, but based more on observations.  The assessments are designed so teachers can enhance individual students learning experience and will not be used as a reward or punishment in any way.  Even if students do not perform up to expectations they will not be denied entrance into Kindergarten.

This website has been very helpful to me because the county that I teach in is piloting these assessments in the upcoming school year.  No one has provided teachers with any information, so I feel that I know have somewhat of an understanding of how the assessments are going to work.

Establishing Contacts

In order to establish contacts with early childhood professionals outside of the United States I used the websites provided and decided to e-mail a couple of people to see if they would be willing to keep in contact with me.  I have not heard back from them yet, but I am hopeful that they will get back to me soon.  If not, I guess I will have to use the alternative assignment. 

When reviewing the different websites I decided to study the website titled PreK Now.  I chose this website in particular because it provides fantastic information about Prekindergarten.  Since I am currently a Prekindergarten Teacher I feel that this website will provide me with the most up to date information in the field.  Some of the information provided on the website is how to adhere to best practices, how to engage parents, and how to meet standards.  The website is also designed to help families of young children.  It includes a checklist that parents can use to help them select a good Prekindergarten program for their child.  I signed up to get their monthly newsletter and I am looking forward to expanding my knowledge within the field.

My Supports

When I look at my life I have many different support systems.  Those systems include my mother, grandfather, sister, and a few friends.  My grandfather was the male figure in my life when I was growing up.  Everyday he would pick me and my sister up from school and take us to his house.  He would make sure dinner was on the table when my mom would get home from work.  He was the one who would attend all of the school fieldtrips, take me to my dentist, and doctor appointments.  Since I was a young mother he was also there to support me financially.  When I was in need of a car or money he was always willing to help me out.

  My mother has always been there for me emotionally.  As a young mother my life was extremely stressful.  I don’t know where I would be today without the support of my mother.  She has always been there for me to offer advice and support to me.  When I decided to start college I knew it was going to be a struggle.  I had two young children and worked full-time.  Through my mother’s support and encouragement was able to obtain a teaching degree.

My sister has always been a support system in my life.  She has helped me tremendously with my children.  She would babysit for me whenever I needed her too.  She also helps me with getting them to and from school.  She always teases me by saying “When I have kids you owe me unlimited babysitting.”  It has been a joke for years.  She is also there for to support me emotionally as well.  Sometimes my mom gives me her opinion about something and if I don’t agree with her I will ask my sister’s opinion.  She is the only sibling I have so we have a very close relationship.

Last but not least I have a few close friends.  Some of these friends I met when I started college and we have remained friends.  We helped each other get through school and are still supporting each other as we having started our teaching careers.

I would not know what to do without these support systems in my life.  I think that support systems work both ways.  I may support my systems differently then they support me.

My Connections to Play

A child loves his play, not because it’s easy, but because it’s hard. – Benjamin Spock

When children pretend, they’re using their imaginations to move beyond the bounds of reality. A stick can be a magic wand. A sock can be a puppet. A small child can be a superhero. – Fred Rogers

      

When I was growing up I was always encouraged to play either by myself, with my sister, or with friends.  I typically was engaged in outside activities such as playing in my friends’ tree house, riding bikes, playing tag, exploring in the woods.  If I did play inside it was either house or school.   I don’t recall adults playing with me.  I don’t know if it was because I always wanted to be outside or that my family viewed play as a child’s activity.  I do believe that my family wanted me to use my imagination and engage in lots of activities.

Play is very different today then it was when I was growing up.  For me I was always outside.  Sitting in front of a computer or video game system was not what I wanted to do.  Instead I preferred to explore the woods that were next to my house, or play games such as cops and robbers, or go bike riding.  I was free to engage in these activities without an adult right by my side.  In today’s word I feel that parents allow children to get so involved with video game systems, and watching t.v. because it is too scary to just send your child outside to play.  Parents have extremely busy schedules and find it difficult to watch their child play.  It is sad but it is the reality of today’s world. 

I think that being active as a child and having the opportunity to explore the world around me freely has really shaped me as a person.  Engaging in free play allows us to use our imaginations and be creative.  Now that I’m a teacher I feel that the way I played when I was a child has been able to help me be creative with my students by creating activities that they might not get to engage in when they are at home such as exploring outside.