Sharing Web Resources

     While viewing the International child resource institute (ICRI) I came to find some relevant information on child advocacy.  They provide a page to learn more about advocacy through a book, “Six Steps to Successful Child Advocacy: Changing the World for Children.”  The guide is to give important talents through a confirmed method which has been brought about to educate child supporters and generate common modifications world-wide.  The approach is appropriate for less support for one child, moderate encouragement for a society or collection of kids, and a huge support at a local, national, or international level.  The useful content gives skill-building activities and contains suitable subjects for example, how to use social media for encouragement.

     Child homelessness and poverty in the U.S. is a much unnoticed crisis, and countless civilians of the U.S. cannot seem to comprehend how frequent it is.  ICRI provides information on “Invisible Child” which shows data, pointing out that 1 in 5 American kids are now living in poverty, bringing the United States to be the highest child poverty rate of any nation excluding Romania (ICRI).  Child poverty and homelessness is not a difficulty referring to rising nations; it is occurring in our own cities and communities.  Tons has been made of the behind test scores of students from the U.S., mainly when contrasted to the added strong scores ordinary across Europe and East Asia, and the poverty rates of children in the U.S. is surely a provider to these struggles.  Statistics show the effect poverty has on students’ test scores, and as already expected, the scores of children in poverty, who have a lot more to worry about than standardized test, are lower than those of their more wealthy peers.  This brings up questions about the course the U.S. is headed toward, and the world we are moving in.  How can we expect to the lead the world in our children’s education when the most vulnerable sect of our society is not being taken care of (ICRI)?

Reference

International Child Resource Institute (ICRI).  Retrieved from http://www.icrichild.org 

Getting to know your International Contacts

Again I was not able to come in contact with any professional educator so went the alternative route.  The website www.childhoodpoverty.org does not come up as an official website.  I was able to view an article from the child poverty action group [CPAG].  The child poverty action group shows there are 3.5 million children living in poverty in Great Britain today (CPAG).  Labor does not offer a certain path out of poverty in Great Britain.  Two-thirds of children growing up in poverty live in a family where at least one member works (CPAG).

People are unfortunate for various reasons.  But clarifications which put poverty down to drug and alcohol reliance, family breakdown, poor parenting, or a culture of unemployment remain not supported by the realities.  Child poverty scars a child's upbringing.  Being raised in poverty for say, freezing, starving, unable to link in leisure's with peers.  Statistics show that 61% of families from the bottom income would like, but cannot afford, to take their children on holiday trips for one week a year (CPAG).  Child poverty has lifelong effects.  By 16, children getting free school meals achieve 1.7 grades lower than their wealthier peers (CPAG).

Child poverty inflicts a cost on larger civilization, projected to be at least 29 billion a year (CPAG).  Governments waive future revenues as well as obligate themselves to offering services in the future if they do not bring to halt child poverty in the present and future.  Child poverty dropped intensely between 1998 and 2011 when 1.1 million children were elevated out of poverty (CPAG).  This decrease is recognized in large part to measures that increased the levels of single parents working, as well as real and often major increases in the level of benefits paid to families with children (CPAG).  Under current government policies, child poverty is likely to increase from 2012/12 with an anticipated 600,000 more children living in poverty by 2015/16.  This upward trend is expected to continue with 4.7 million children likely to be living in poverty by 2020 (CPAG).

What I have learned so far from on poverty is it does not seem to be getting any better.  Several organizations out there are attempting to decrease the number of children and families in poverty but it is so much greed from the upper class I do not see a decrease happening anytime soon.  It is just not fair for these children because of how the system is ran.  Poverty is a huge deal and there are tons of families out there who really need assistance and guidance to a better life.  I know for a fact I was in that low-income group as a child and still struggle at times by myself as an adult.  I have no children and it is hard for me to make ends meet based on my salary, I know it is hard out there for single parents to work for nothing basically and try to provide for a plural amount of children.  Poverty has been chopping at the bits for a while now and hopefully it will decrease as the future comes along.  

Reference 

Child poverty action group (2000-2013).  Fighting the injustice of poverty.  Retrieved from
     
        http://www.cpag.org.uk/child-poverty-facts-and-figures

Sharing Web Resources

The organizaton I chose was the International Child Resource Institute [ICRI] found on http://www.icrichild.org/ website.  ICRI work to develop the lives of children and families.  They concentrate on early childhood care and education, children's rights, empowerment of women and girls, maternal/child health, and grassroots community development.  Their programs progress local leadership and encourages public teamwork.  Since ICRI was founded in 1981, they have created or worked over 300 programs in over 50 countries, having the aim to empower the community to educate children.  They are a highly entrepreneurial organization, and always open to collaborations with other organizations or partners interested in supporting early childhood care and education.  In some occassions this organization is able to offer fiscal sponsorship to emerging or organizations that serve children and families.  They provide volunteer opportunities for those able to demonstrate a strong level of cultural sensitivity and awareness of local culture and willing volunteers for at least a 3 month period.

Something that caught my attention is ICRI has implemented early childhood education centers and teacher training in Ghana that is having a powerful effect throughout.  ICRI has taken over many operations and brought along success.  One for example is the Heart Leap School.  This Berkeley child care center has been recognized both locally and internationally as a model early childhood program.  Hearts Leap utilizes a discovery-based emergent curriculum.

Getting Ready—E stablishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Hello everyone,

In this weeks's blog assignment there are two parts to tackle in learning about someone's different educational experience in another country.

For part 1, I was not able to get into contact with anyone so I am choosing to take the alternative route and listen to archived and subscribe to current podcast's.  I believe I will retrieve valuable information for myself and others to take in as well in a timely fashion.

For Part 2, the organizations website I chose was the international Child Resource Institute.  After viewing the website it caught my attention and I figured it was a great place to find good sources.  As the weeks progress, I will be finding out as much information I can to share with everyone, so please come on by and view my blog to see how great the International Child Resource Institute is.

"My Supports"

When I think of support I look at a stable job, a roof over my head, water, food, family, and friends.  Without these life can be very miserable and can leave a very empty spot inside a heart, a feeling of not even wanting to live.  I have been blessed to have all this support in my life.

Stable Job:  The job I work at currently supports me by giving me an opportunity to make money so that I can have a roof over my head, water, food, and other "Needs" in my life as well as "Wants" that I can afford to buy from my hard labor.  This job also supports me by providing me a chance to do something in life I love and that is working with children, being a good role model and leader.

A roof over my head:  Of course having a place to live is vital to giving me a place to lay my head at nights and really do what i need to do on my free will.  With a roof over my head I am protected from weather, and have a place to store and cook food.  I am supported by a place to ensure protection, baring burglary.

Family and Friends:  A huge support system in my life and has been since day 1.  Even when my mother was going through her tough times, I was blessed with family members that stepped in quicker than a snap of the finger to provide and support me.  I grew up playing sports so support is what I really need to push my success over the top.  My family and friends provided me with that always coming to my games and cheering me on.  I had such a great supporting cast every time I think about it I get the chills and smile because having support is bigger than what a lot people give it credit for.

Many people who commit suicide do it because of lack of support.  I believe every one in life needs a supporting cast because life is surely not easy and trying to beat life alone is very stressful and hard without someone there to laugh and joke with and tell you "your doing good" or "you need to do better."  Even when people think they don't need support, really they do.  Without support life can be a spinning roller coaster leaving any direction for a person to fall.  Support will have someone or something in that spot to catch you before you fall.    

"My Connections to Play"

When I think of play these two quotes jump to mind for me:

•  "Play is our brain's favorite way of learning."

            by Diane Ackerman

• "Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning."

            by Fred Rogers

Pictures of Play Items:

As a kid I loved G.I. Joe action figures.

Toy cars was another thing I loved to have as a kid.  I could take them with me anywhere I went and I also had the race tracks to go with them.  Brings back great memories lol!!!!!  I know I'm such a kid at heart now as well.

Supporters of Play and how it differs from when I was growing up:

People supported play tremendously during my times of growing up because technology was not a huge factor.  Kids went outside to play all of the time.  It seems like back when I was young parents loved for their children to run and play but had to yell for their children to come inside, now parents yell for their children to go outside to play to get them off the video games.  Teachers even supported play and during school time there was more recess time even in middle and high school.  Now all of that is either being short changed or not happening at all.  Things have change big time when it comes to play and I don't feel like children are getting the necessary play time they need to exercise their brains.  Health issues are even coming up a lot more now because children are not "Playing" anymore.  Everything is about reading, writing, and math and less on how to explore the three in play.

 

Relationship Reflection

Relationships are significant to me because they are worthy for our physical health, but our spiritual and emotional health as well.  It is through relationships with other people that we mature and progress and how we extend and magnify our experience of love and importance.  Relationships construct emotions and help on how to communicate with others particularly people of the differing sex.  A good connection with someone is vital to humans as good nutrition and exercise.

Several people whom I have positive relationships with are for starts my girlfriend.  We just have that great understanding with each other.  We can talk to each other about anything and 5 years of building has really grown into a strong relationship.  The communication and teamwork is there as well.  She is my best friend and knowing our relationship is strong makes me go about my day in a positive manner.  

My mother is another person I have a positive relationship with.  Although I do not talk with her on an everyday basis like my girlfriend, we still have a very loving relationship.  She is always there for me and knows when I am feeling down.  We have been through some tough times, including my sisters.  Even with the hard times of no electricity in the house or cable, we really had to push through and come together with positive love.  My father and I also display a positive relationship.  He was the inspiration in my life that got me linked into the sports world.  We can talk about sports all day every day.  He like my mother is always there for me as even though they weren't together.  My father and I always found time to communicate.  He would take me fishing or to ball games and everything just felt positive.

Building a positive relationship with someone is challenging because everyone has their own thoughts about how a relationship really works so people bump heads with each other.  Trust is a big issue as well, because if two people want to be friends with each other but cant really trust each other, nothing positive will come out of the relationship.  I think by me understanding relationships will help me become a better instructor because I will have the experience of teaching children how to communicate and build positive relationships with other people.  Also my experience will help me when I am collaborating with other teachers.  Being in this field it is all about teamwork and communication and building a positive relationship with children, parents, as well as staff.