Helpful 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, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://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, from http://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, from http://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, from http://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, from http://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 video 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/about/
Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

More Quotes from Early Childhood Experts

"I am not here to save the world I am here to make a difference in the community that I am working"

-Raymond Hernandez-

"I see early childhood education, all education, really, as a civil rights issue"

-Renatta Cooper-

Inspirational Quotes

“Part of being who you are has to do with feeling your feelings, which means you'll have a wide range of emotions--not just constant sunshiny happiness.” 

 -Janet Gonzalez-Mena-

Doing what's right isn't the problem. It is knowing what's right.

-Lyndon B. Johnson

PERSONAL CHILDHOOD WEB

The person who most influenced my life and cared the most about me was my mother.

Marta Vazquez- was my mother.  She is not between us anymore, but I can still feel her presence and the influence she made in my life.  She raised me an independent, strong and caring woman.  Many things that I do are because I learned from her.  We had a special connection, and we truly loved each other.

Josefina Feliciano-She was my grandmother.   My grandmother was not a very affectionate woman, but that was not necessary for me to feel that she cared about me.  She would always cook me my favorite food and bought me candies.  She provided me with advice when I needed.  She taught me the values that govern my life.

Edith Vazquez-She was my aunt.  My aunt supported me with my education.  She helped me to study.  She was a seamstress, and she always sews clothes for me.  I spent many vacations with her and my cousins.  She is one of the people that guided me to choose education as my career.  In the present time, she is one of people that must encourage me to continue my education and professional growth.

Fraya Vazquez-She was also my aunt.  When I think about my aunt, immediately comes to my mind a little girl sitting on her aunt’s lap.  She used to let me sit on her lap and read stories and sang songs to me.  I believe that she is the person that initiated my passion for working with children and families.  She was very nurturing, caring and sweet to me. She has always supported me during the rest of my life.  When I am around her, I feel that little girl again.

Evelyn Velez-She was my mother’s best friend.  She loved me and cared about me.  We went on vacations, and trips together, and I spent a lot of quality time with her children and husband.  She was just my mom’s friend, but I loved her like an aunt.  She helped and supported me during difficult times of my life.

Quote of the week

Research has shown time and time again that infants who receive the high-quality child care and early education programs do better in school, have more developed social skills, and display fewer behavior problems.

-Judy Biggert- 

Martita

Hello!

This is a picture of me when I was around 4 years old.  My family used to call me Martita.  Martita means little Marta.  I want to take advantage and talk about Martita and How Martita and the Marta that I am now being similar.  Martita was very curious and loved to explore the world. She was always mischievous, and her mother always had to keep an eye on her.  Also, Martita was very caring specially with her younger brother.  Martita helped her mom to change diapers, feed and play with her younger brother.  One day when the baby brother was crying in the crib.  Martita went straight to the crib and took the baby brother out the crib and put him on the edge of the bed.   Her mother panicked when she saw what she did, and she became very sad because she was just trying to help.  Martitaloved to play with the dolls, and she used to use her brother as a doll and dress him up and pretend that she was the mommy.  Martita attended school for the first time for Kindergarten.  Even though she did not have  experience with day cares or pre-school she did not have adjusting issues.  Of course, she loved to play in dramatic area, but she also enjoyed music time.  She was not that interested in books and stories.  Over the years, Martita became more interesting in helping her mother to take care of her siblings and all the little kids from the neighborhood always wanted to play with Martita.  From playing with dolls in the dramatic area, she became interested in playing teacher, and of course, she was always" the teacher".  Martita became a mother when she was only 16 years old.  She stopped being Martita and became Marta.

It was a surprise for some people that, at a very young age, I was not overwhelmed with the baby.  I did not know a lot of things, but taking care of someone it was innate to me.  I graduated from high school, and  I was admitted to college into the computer science program...LOL. I laugh because I did not know what I was doing when I chose that program.  After one year in the computer science program, I was not doing good, and I withdrew all my classes and took a semester break.  One day I was talking to one of my aunts about school, and  suggested me to switch my major to Elementary Education. I was like "what", "teacher" and she said, "yes teacher".  She asked me, if I am not realizing that all my life I am always being around children that I am always trying to teach and help others, and she said that she could tell that I would do very good in the field of education.  That made me think in all the things that I did in my life prior to that point in my life, and I decided to give it a try to education.  In my first semester, in the program of Elementary Education, my grades improved.  I was highlymotivated to my new courses.

I graduated with a BA degree in Elementary Education and taught Science and Social Studies to children in 4th, 5th and 6th graders until I moved to Tampa, FL.  When I moved to Tampa FL I needed a job immediately, and I chose to look for jobs in day care centers.   I got a job in a day care center as an infant teacher.  That job switched my path again.  I felt in love with early childhood education.  During the years that I have worked in early childhood I found the Martita in me. The little girl that enjoyed playing, caring, and teaching other children.  I am not making as much money as a Computer Programmer, but I am happy and very proud of what I do.  I encourage everyone to find that little child in you, and do the things that you are meant to be doing, and you will live a happier life.

It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw

I love this book because every child is familiar with milk.  That one thing makes the children  interested in the book.  Also, the book allows the children to use their imagination and creativity.  Usually I would plan an art activity along with the book.  I would give the children blue construction paper, and white paint and I would encourage them to make their own " Spilt Milk Book".  We had a lot fun every time we read the book and made our books!

Infants and Toddlers

As you all can see I  posted a picture of infants and toddlers.  I decided to post that picture because I am passionate about that age group.  The infancy and toddler-hood of a child is the most precious treasure.  So many connections happen in those first 2 years that amazed me. Quote:
"For infants and toddlers learning and living are the same thing. If they feel secure, treasured, loved, their own energy and curiosity will bring them new understanding and new skills."

 Amy Laura Dombro

Welcome to my blog!