Time Well Spent

A journey of 10miles begins with a step...

Rome was not built in a day...

I am so excited doing my last assignment for this program. It has been a journey of learning and discovery since I started this program about two years ago.
So far, I've been able to familiarize myself with 'Grammarly' that has helped in my writing within and outside Walden. A major lesson I learned is in the area of communicating with adults. I found this class interesting because it helped me in overcoming my shyness. Second is Bronfenbrenner's relationship theory. It baffled me how children could survive and develop wholesomely in the midst of healthy relationships. This lesson is helping me see every child as part of a community and I am trying hard to see that I become a part of a healthy support system to every child I meet. The Research class was an eye opener to me. Though it was quite challenging, the lessons and methods of research I learned will always be treasured. I hope to carry out a ground-breaking research in ECE in the nearest future!!

To Dr. Ernst-Darragh, I say a huge thank you for sailing along with me in this journey. I enjoyed the classes we had together and will not forget the experience of the Research class. You are such a wonderful person and I hope to meet you someday soon. Again thanks for your support and understanding when I most needed it.

Thanks to my creative and intelligent classmates. The discussion board unfolded everyone's ability and I was always looking forward to reading your posts. I am glad we are succeeding together and I wish everyone the very best of bests as we continue in our life endeavour.

I am most grateful to God...

Indeed, it was a time well spent!

OTEH Toluwalope
lopeztolu2003@yahoo.com

Jobs in the ECE Community: Internationally

Doing this week's blog assignment got me learning about ISSA- International Step by Step Association  http://www.issa.nl/index.html. I am hearing about this organisation for the first time and fell in love with their mission. ISSA concentrates on making every child have equal access to quality education by involving families, communities and other stakeholders. In their quest for equality, diversity is highly appreciated and treated with respect. Their major duties are centred around advocacy for children, awareness on quality education and liaising with other organisations for the betterment of children.
Though I did not see any vacancy per se, I will like to work with this organisation as a Program Manager because I love their concern for the less privileged children. I presume a second degree and a substantial number of work experience will do.

As an African, I have always heard about UNICEF http://www.unicef.org/
 because they are known for their assistance to African countries during disasters. But, I never thought working with them will be of great benefit to me. UNICEF is known for her support for giving children their rights. Aside this, UNICEF works to encourage every child to participate in their countries decision making on political, social, and economic matters. By so doing, UNICEF encourages inclusion, child's education, children's well being and equality of human rights. As a well established and recognised organisation, there are various categories of jobs on International and National levels. I will prefer being an international staff but I did not see any vacancy that interests me currently.

Save the Children  http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm is another organisation I admire so much. I am a donating member presently and like that they provide life essentials for child in dire need and provide protection for them as well. Looking up in their career page, I saw some interesting job positions that might land me to learning other languages like Arabic. One of such is Education Technical Program Manager. This job position is in Turkey and I see it as an opportunity to learn about other cultures. I live in France at the moment and will want to use the opportunity to work around Europe. A second degree in Education is required and a minimum of three years experience in a managerial position.

Roles in ECE National Level

National Institute for Early Education Research NIEER http://nieer.org/
WESTED  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm 
High Scope http://www.highscope.org/
National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education NCRECE http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/

I have chosen the above organisations to be part of my community of practice because they all have on-going research projects on the challenge I am working on presently--Standardised testing and assessment.

Again, the job opportunity I am looking forward to aside being a Director of child care centres is to be a Research Assistant. It is the era where principles are carried out in early childhood settings based on research results. The basic requirement is my interest and a degree in my field of interest.

Hence, while I read and utilise other research findings, I will like to have to my credit some findings too. 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

Communities of practice have a huge impact on our knowledge content, and I am opportune to be part of some Early Childhood communities of practice.

Looking around my local environment and considering my project topic, I am looking forward to working with the Federal Ministry of Education, Nigeria. This ministry is of interest to me because its staff are the primary policy makers in Nigeria in terms of children education. Therefore, for me to make a change, I need to belong here. Though I did not see any position of my choice, I think I will function well as a Director of Early Childhood Department. Qualifications required could be a degree in Education and a minimum number of years of experience.

I have always admired ZeroToThree and her mission statement http://www.zerotothree.org/. I will like to work as a Graduate Intern in order to familiarise myself with their principles. What is required is to be a graduate student.

Head Start Cook Road, Houston, Texas is also a place I admire so much maybe because of their staffs' friendliness. I was there sometime last month for class observation. The centre manager was very open and ready to help as she patiently answered my numerous questions. I admire her position and wish I could function in that capacity someday in a federal facility like head start/early head start.

I am looking forward to working in a French child care centre also. It will be my pleasure to put together all knowledge and experience garnered from my 'International tour'  when I begin my child care centre in Nigeria. So, after my maternity leave, I will be picking up an internship position in a French school since my French  is not perfect yet. I will have to be fluent in French for me to pick up a teaching position and of course a degree in early childhood studies.

Finally, I would not mind being a research assistant in Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute http://fpg.unc.edu/. Though I dread research but I think this will be an opportunity for me to work closely with researchers. I like their mission statement and their organisational chart. I like their role as children development researchers.

Thank You!!!

I am saying a huge thank you to every member of Group 2. We worked together as a team and together we 'arrived' at the final week of this course. Thanks to God for His sustenance and guidance.

Wishing every one of us a successful journey as we forge ahead in our endeavour in life. For me, I am taking a two-month summer holiday to resume in September, so, I can spend quality time with my family. Until then, do have a blissful time watching the world cup.

ADJOURNING

I will say adjourning is an essential ingredient of a team because it allows us celebrate our successes, amends our mistakes, form friendships and forge ahead in life.


I had to leave a former school where I was teaching because I was almost due for delivery and my husband preffered I stayed at home with our first child. Initially, it was not easy telling the school management because I thought my husband might have a change of mind. I finally let the cat out of the bag and almost immediately the school management started planning for the send forth ceremony as it was close to the end of a session. The day of the ceremony was filled with emotions and memories. I remembered how I joined the school and how as a new teacher I had to blend with my pupils, teachers and management. And now it was time to leave these same people that took me sometime to understand and flow with. Sincerely, on the other hand I was happy to leave knowing that I will have anough time with our expected daughter. Some of the teachers said they will miss me and some did not express any emotions.


I gained experience while in the school, no doubt, yet I was eager to go share my experience with some other new people. I enjoyed the school especially the pupils I taught. Some of the pupils and teachers came along with me to know my house promising that they will be coming after my delivery. Some of them kept to their words and we were able to establish friendship (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2012).
For my masters program, i am yet to think of any adjourning plans because it is my first on-line course and will want to make enquires if there are any specific ways of doing that. But, I hope to exchange email addresses at least for a start and hope that friendships will be formed from there.






Reference
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Managing conflicts

One of the strategies to manage conflicts I learned this week is respect for others. When I respect people and their cultures, it will help me approach them properly whenever there is a conflict. In doing this, I will express my feelings, observations and request with all sincerity (http://www.cnvc.org/)


Subsequently, I will listen attentively to whatever explanation that would be given.


Conflicts in the home are most times inevitable. I have decided to show my husband and children more respect because we often underrate people who are most familiar to us. Though I keep falling short of my new approach especially with my kids; I look forward to interacting and relating with them in nicer ways. For instance giving my children the allowance to be children when we are outside and to hear their views or opinions when decisions are to be made at home.