Communication Skills

The two essential communication skills I find important to embody when leading policy change are listening and writing skills.  It is important to be able to effectively listen to others in order to understand different perspectives and gain information.  Writing skills are important in communicating policy changes, also.  Having the ability to write letters, emails, and making social media post are essential to communicating policy ideas.

I'm very skilled at listening to and considering other people's ideas and perspectives.  By using my listening skills, I'm able to process and gather information which will help me to better understand the perspective of others.  Likewise, I exercise daily my writing skills by composing emails, newsletters, flyers, and posting to social media.  When communicating in writing, it is important to be concise while covering the policy thoroughly.

In the Communication Anxiety Self Assessment, I was identified as being comfortable communicating and confident in situations where I have to communicate with others.  My ability to listen to others and communicate with others in writing will have to bring about policy changes.

Social Media's Influence on Policy Issues

Social media is the modern form of mass communication.  Newspapers, television, magazines, and letter writing were major ways in which people shared and retrieved information.  Even though people still use those medias to communicate, the second by second dissemination of information is done through social media.  Social media can be instrumental in communicating policy issue to stakeholders as well as the general public.  

The two forms of social media I would use to communicate professional development policy issues would be Facebook and YouTube.  Facebook and YouTube are mass social media outlets with large user bases.  I will be able to disseminate timely information to a large groups of people.  The social media outlets would allow me the opportunity to educate others about professional development policy issues.  Audiences which would use Facebook and YouTube would be educators, administrators, directors,  policy makers, advocates, and education students because relevant, timely, research based information would be shared with all subscribes. 

One advantage of using Facebook to communicate my professional development policy issue is the ability to link early childhood professionals to other people through postings and dialogue.  People would be able to discuss professional development policy issues constantly.  This type of dialogue could lead to understanding changes needed to improve the professional development system.  A disadvantage of using Facebook to communicate my professional development policy issue would be attracting interested people to liking the Facebook page.  I would be limited to the people whom liked the page, and dependent on them to share the page with others.  

One advantage of using YouTube to communicate my professional development policy issue is the ability to share videos such as lectures, seminaries, or presentations on my topic.  A disadvantage of using YouTube to communicate my professional development policy issue would be trying to promote the YouTube channel, and making sure those interested were able to find it.

GPG: Goals Professionalism Growth

Goals are essential to my professional growth as an early childhood educator.  I am currently working on three goals in my effort to provide the highest quality of service to my students and their families.  My goals are advocacy, professional development (PD), and public policy.  These goals are paramount to servicing my community.

 

Advocacy in early childhood education gives a voice to young children.  Educators must use their knowledge and expertise to communicate to the world the importance of providing high quality programs to young children and their families.  Early childhood programs not only serve as the beginning foundations of formal learning, but these programs also connect families to resources which enhances the lives of the children and their families as seen in programs like the Perry Preschool (Schweinhart, Montie, Xiang, Barnett, Belfield, & Nores, 2005).  I'm striving to be the voice that my children and their families need to promote and bring awareness to the importance of early childhood programs.

 

PD is important to my work because it provides the avenue for me to grow in my knowledge of young children.  Educators have to stay abreast of the latest research on teaching and learning.  Within the field of early childhood there are so many different positions, and the level of education varies, also.  But through study groups, coaching, mentor programs, teaching team, and continuing education programs; early childhood educators can learn and grow professionally.  The benefits of learning best practices and strategies creates the high quality learning environment all children have a right to (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2015).

 

Public policy is the lifeline to early childhood programs surviving.  I tell my college students all the time how important it is to be involved in politics.  I stress that I'm not asking them to declare their allegiance to one political party over the other.  I'm asking them to share with the elected representatives their views of early childhood programs and experiences working with young children.  Politicians are the policy makers.  Advocacy and public policy work together.  Early childhood educators have to be the voice of early childhood education issues, and the resource for shaping public policy. (National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2015)

 

References

National Association for the Education of Young Children. (n.d.)  Position statements. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.naeyc.org/positionstatements

 

Schweinhart, L.J., Montie, J., Xiang, Z., Barnett, W.S., Belfield, C.R., & Nores, M. (2005).  Lifetime effects:  The high scope perry preschool study through age 40. Monographs of the High Scope Educational Research Foundation, 14. Retrieved from http://highscope.org

 

 



I was excited to start this course, Influences Family Culture Society.  I felt like the class was going to be about what I love about early childhood education.  Because to me, early childhood education is about the relationships I build with the people I come in contact with everyday.  This course allowed me to dig deep into my beliefs and be reflective of my practices. 

There were three assignments that really helped me to reflect on my practice.  The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman, the research on my course project, and the Laureate Education videos featuring Shuan-Adrian and Marsha. 

The Spirit Catches You And You Fall Down helped me to reflect on how I perceive situations concerning my students and their families.  I also thought about the manner in which a communicate with my families.  I questioned whether I create a environment in which my families are valued and not judged.  I have always tried to foster a positive relationship with my students and their family.  But after reading this book, I wondered how I could improve upon my relationships with the children and their families.

My research on childhood obesity allowed me to learn so much about the epidemic in this country.  I also gained valuable research skills which I believe will help as I continue my journey in education in using research to inform my practice as an early childhood professional.  Research about best practices and strategies will help to continue to develop as an early childhood professional.

The stories of the journeys of Shaun-Adrian and Marsha in their personal and professional lives was meaningful and inspiring.  You never realize the struggles and journeys others have gone through.  Nor do you realize how those struggles can shape the people they develop into.  Both of their stories demonstrate that experiences (directly and indirectly) can have a positive outcome in a persons life.

Childhood Obesity Interview

The two ladies I am interviewing have many years of experience working with children and families.  One as a school lunch coordinator and the other as a program director.  I am interested in their view on childhood obesity, but more importantly what they feel their role is in curbing childhood obesity among young children.  Through my research, I have found that the early childhood years are most critical in developing and sitting lifestyle habits related to health, nutrition, and exercise. 

First Lady Michelle Obama has pushed for healthier changes to the school lunch program across the country.  As these changes have been made, the children in many schools are not liking nor are they eating the healthier lunches.  I wanted to ask the lunch coordinator about her views on the changes to the lunch program, and what changes she thought still needed to be made.  She is not allowed to cook the food with any butter or salt.  She cooks the food with basically water.  She says that the children are not used to bland food, and simply won't eat it.  My thoughts are that this is not what the First Lady meant by healthier food.  There are lots of herbs and spices that can be used to season the food that are health for children.  In many districts, the food that children receive in school is their only meals of the day.  It is important that our children eat at school.  But at the same time it is important that they eat healthy meals at school.

What are your thoughts about healthy eating at school?  What kinds of healthy seasonings have you used in your own cooking?  What healthy recipes do you think the school lunch programs should implement?

Read more about the lunch program debate at:
www.westernjournalism.com/students-join-forces-using-twitter-hashtag-blast-michelle-obamas-role-terrible-lunches/#TBc6ZrvkTKqOy3Gj.97
www.politico.com/story/2014/05/michelle-obama-school-lunch-nutrition-changes-107121.html

Childhood Obesity

I've selected childhood obesity as my course project challenge.  I chose childhood obesity because I see some many children and families living with obesity.  First Lady, Michelle Obama, has worked on initiatives such as Let's Move Campaign and the National School Lunch Program to help address childhood obesity. 

I believe a healthier lifestyle which includes fresh fruits and vegetables, home cooked meals, and exercise will improve the lives of children and attack childhood obesity.  I see a lot of families which frequent fast food restaurant, consume a lot of high sugar drinks, and have limited physical daily activities.  The busy life styles of many on the go families can contribute to an unhealthy life style.

What kind of barriers do you feel families face concerning childhood obesity? 

Just a few of my thoughts

"Don't underestimate me.  I know more than I say, think more than I speak, and notice more than you realize."
- Author Unknown

These are two simple sentences with such a powerful messages.  When we think about young children, most of us often think of them as empty vessels to fill.  But in reality, young children know so much more than we think.  They are natural explorers and gain knowledge through their daily experiences.  Adults often do just what the quotes says "underestimate" children.  They are capable, rational, thinking human beings full of knowledge, potential, wonder, and discoveries.  They know and understand so much more than the questions we are asking them.  Even though they might not communicate to us all that they know, they still are knowledgeable.  Adults have to recognize the potential and capabilities of young children.  They know things and can teach us some things, too.  But more important than that, they are watching us and forming opinions about us, themselves, and the world around them based on their interactions with us. 

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has"
-Margaret Mead

Advocates, early childhood professional, parents, children, and the global community all can have an impact on the direction of education around the world.  It is a must that concerned individuals get together and speak out and for appropriate education for young children.  Because if we do, we can change how the world treats and appreciates the learning and development of young children.

Websites to put into your favorites
www.lessonslearnedinlife.com - full of inspirational quotes
www.acei.org - international early childhood site featuring current global issues, research, publications, & advocacy issues
www.naeyc.org - early childhood education site features policies, research, topics, professional development, & standards for parents and professionals in the United States
www.TED.com -features various topics in different languages of global issues
www.edutopia.org - educational site showcasing articles, blogs, videos on all topics from prek-12 grades
www.bridgemi.com -a news website featuring educational stories by Chastity Pratt in Michigan

Current research that made me say, "ummm"
Arnett, J.J. (2008).  The neglected 95%:  Why American psychology needs to become less American.  American Psychologist, 63(7), 602-614.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer).  (2013c). Cultural responsiveness [Video].  Baltimore, MD:  Author.

Chabet, A., Billot, A., Rouxel, C. (Producers), & Balme's, T. (Director). (2009).  Babies [Motion picture] Universal City, CA:  Focus Features