Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Part 1:
I was interested in learning more about Argentina and their education practices. I sent an email to them through their Unicef website. I am looking forward to finding out more about education in their country and getting an international contact. I think this is a great opportunity to learn more information on how teachers in another country think about diversity, teaching practices, and other valuable information they can share.

Part 2:
I chose to focus on the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organizaion (UNESCO). I think website has a lot of great information and I am looking forward to finding out more information from it. I chose it because I have used a lot of the other resources in past classes and would like to explore a new resource.

Daily Supports

   I am very fortunate to have a big support system in my life. I am very thankful to have the support of Jeremy and my two children. My family has always stood behind me and believed in me. I am thankful for their support. I have friends that shown support of me and my accomplishments. I am also thankful for the support of my colleagues who offer support. 

   Support is very important at times. Sometimes you need the motivation that can be offered by a friend or colleague. I honestly do not know where I would be without the support of the people in my life that have believed in me when I did not believe in myself. I would not know what to do if I did not have the people in my life to support and believe in me. I think that I am very fortunate to come from a big family and have the support of the people I love most in this life.

   While going to undergraduate school, I was fortunate enough to have my Mom and my Mema to keep my two children. I am so grateful for all they did to enable my to obtain my degree. If I had not had this support it would have made it a lot harder and more expensive to get through school. As I work toward this degree, I still have the support of Jeremy, my kids, family, and friends. I am truly blessed to have the supports I have in my life.

My Connections to Play

When I think about play, I think that it's importance has been lost by some.  These are some great quotes to get you thinking about the importance of play.
  

   Children learn so many things from playing and apply the knowledge that we teach them on a daily basis. An example that comes to mind is students will come to me and say "Look Ms. Beck, I made an octagon or a triangle". This shows me they are learning and applying what they are learning in their world of play. I also see children pretending to read to each other, teach each other the letters, etc.
In my younger days we play outside for hours. I have a younger brother and we would play hide and go seek, tag, ride our bicycles, swing, build forts, etc. The essential items for my childhood were the great outdoors, my bicycle, swing set, and imagination.
    

Relationship Reflection

 When I think of a relationship, I think of being connected to someone or something. I think these relationships can play a significant role in how we live our lives. Relationships are an important part of a person's life. There are many reasons that people make an impact on our lives. We can have relationships with our children, parents, grandparents, pets, friends, students, etc. 
I can think of so many people and relationships that mean a lot to me. The older I get the more meaningful the relationships I have with people are. I have learned in life that people with come and go. Some people are meant to stay in your life and some are not.
I would have to say the relationships between my two children, Jaleigh and Joshua are the two most meaningful relationships I have. The love I have for them is immeasurable. They fill my heart with so much happiness and joy. I am so thankful to have been blessed with these two precious children.

                               

                                                                     

My relationship with Jeremy is very important to me. He has taught me about true love and how true love can endure all things. He is the love of my life and the father of my two precious children. I am so thankful to have him in my life. 

Jeremy and I

My relationship with my family would be the next most important relationship. They have stood by me through thick and thin. They are always there for me when I need them. They mean the world to me. 

 

These are just some of the relationships that I have had and still have. There are many people that have an effect on my life and have an important role in my life. I think it it important to maintain these relationships and to never take anyone for granted. These relationships help us to work with others in our work environment. As educators it is important to help instill healthy social skills and relationship building skills in our students.  It will help them to develop relationships and maintain healthy relationships in their own lives.

Quote about Children

This is so true. It is very important to teach children to make the right choices from an early age. Children are like little sponges and they absorb everything good or bad. As educators, we must help to prepare young children for their future education to be scaffolded upon. It is important to model positive behavior, because children are the future leaders of this country and the world. 

Testing Intelligience

     I think that in today's society people are quick to point out differences and compare children to one another. How do we test intelligence? I think that the holistic approach is the best way to assess children. I believe it is necessary to take into account the social, emotional, physical, and psychological development. These are important factors that play into standardized testing. The testing results are used to identify strengths and weaknesses.

     England and Steffy (2001) talk about standardized testing and the effects it can have on students and teachers. I did my student teaching in a 5th grade classroom and there was so much focus on the CRCT. Most of the time I spent student teaching, I was helping to prepare the students in for the test. I saw the fear, anxiety, and worry among the students as it got closer to testing time. I think the test are great, but they is so much focus on the test. I agree children should be tested, but some children get anxious taking test that have so much at stake. Here in Georgia the students can be held back by failing the test in certain grades. My son is in 3rd grade and he has been stressing for two weeks about the Georgia Milestone test he is going to take this week.

     The country I chose to research was China. I wanted to learn more about the ways they assess their students. In China they have testing prep schools. According to Larmer (2014), the students in China can spend 16 hours a day preparing for the tests. It is know as a "cram factory" Larmer (2014). They have a very long day of working on memorization for the test. I think this is good and bad. These people have so much pressure and spend so much time preparing for the test. The good thing is the students are learning, but I think 16 hours a day is way too long to be preparing for tests. Its like working 2 eight hour shifts.

      Here in America, the students are assessed, but they do not have to spend 16 hours a day in school. I think China and America have similar ideologies. Both countries are extra focused on test prep. I have noticed a lot about the the testing being a teacher. Even in Headstart, children are tested for their abilities and put into different categories based on the criterion base. The results and statistical information of their scores is put into a spread sheet to see if they are developing properly. As a teacher, I think testing is important, but their intelligence should not be assessed only by testing.




References:
Larmer, B. (2015, January 3). Inside a Chinese Test-Prep Factory. Retrieved April 11, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/04/magazine/inside-a-chinese-test-prep-factory.html?_r=0



Steffy, B., & English, F. (n.d.). Google Books. Retrieved April 11, 2015, from https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=6g4InO8-QZIC&oi=fnd&pg=PR5&dq=testing intelligence of children high stakes testing&ots=CyKBtnNAFh&sig=ylrLf62FPHFFpjC_8JcMzB7ut54#v=onepage&q=testing intelligence of children high stakes testing&f=false

Poverty-Seen Around the World

Poverty is a topic that comes to mind. I personally did not grow up in poverty, but I teach for Headstart, and many of the children that come through our program are living in poverty. Poverty as described by Merrium-Webster, is the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possessions (Webster 2015). I see many of my students lacking what society would think of as the socially acceptable things. Headstart provides these students with access to two free meals a day and a snack. They also provide other access to assistance that may be available through agencies in the community. 
The country I chose to research was Indonesia. Indonesia has a high poverty rate. According to the information I read, people are trying to get by on $1-2 per day. Indonesia's per capita rate is around $3,000 per year according to (J.C. 2011). This is hard to fathom. In Indonesia they do not have the same access to clean water and good nutrition that we have hear. There are no programs like Headstart to help their underprivileged families receive good nutrition and free education. 
Indonesia is not the only country that has this problem. There are people all around the world and here in the USA that are living in poverty. It is a global problem. There has got to be some way to help these families. I think if we each pay it forward a little at the time we can make changes and help the world the best we can. As educators, it is our duty to do the best we can to inspire others to make a change. Together we can make a difference.


References:
To make a million people unpoor. (2011, August 3). J.C.
Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2011/08/indonesias-poverty-line

Merriam Webster
Retrieved March 28, 2015, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/poverty