Hypothetical Family Situation

 

My husband and I have been married for quite a while and have tried to have a child for many years with no success. We are deep in the adoption process and have been notified by our social worker that a 2 yr. old little girl is up for adoption from Mexico.  After seeing her picture we fall in love and ask what we need to do.  The social worker says she needs to warn us before we move forward that the little girl is very healthy except for the fact she is deaf.  As a couple we decide with some guidance we still want to move forward. 

My husband and I both and make salaries that keep us both very comfortable.  We own our home, my husband works 8-5 Monday through Friday and I work 9-6 with the option to work from home.  It has already been decided I will begin working from home when we are able to adopt.  Our families live close and have already agreed to help in any way they can including daycare so I can either go into the office or have time to work at home with no interruption. 

The sector we will benefit the most from is Early Learning and Development and Support needing services that will teach us to communicate with the child preferable beginning before she comes home and continuing after her arrival  so that we as a couple and our family can become comfortable with the situation.  Specific services that will be needed is classes that will teach us sign language in order to communicate, and family classes so that our immediate family can have some knowledge as well since they will be involved in her care too. A support group that puts us with other parents in similar situations giving us the opportunity the make friends, ask questions, and build a support base that we can call and lean on when difficulties arise.  When the child arrives we need to have a child therapist in place that can work with the child on communication and interactive skills so that when she begins school she will have the basics necessary to communicate with the educators and peers.  With the help of our support system we will look for a pediatrician that can help us take care of the health needs of the child including making sure she is caught up on immunizations etc. after she gets home.

The Political Will to Improve Special Education

 

• The strategy that will help students with special needs is the charter program that the government is implementing allowing parents to choose the school their children attend based on the education provided and the needs of the children.   This will make it possible for schools to offer programs to families that can only be provided through the charter program.  Families deserve to have a choice in their children's education.  It will also inspire schools to try harder to employee the best educators that can help the students be successful increasing the success rate.  Right now schools are at a stand still and unable to improve the students success.  If families begin choosing other schools it can push the educators and leaders to strive for much more in order to maintain the number of students attending their school.  As an advocate it would be important to guide families towards the schools that would best benefit their needs.  Providing the family with options and guidance towards the educational environment that their children can thrive would allow advocates to feel like they are making a difference which is what drives every advocates heart.
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Benefits of Head Start

One mothers experience helped her work with her children especially a child that was  non verbal that other educators had already said he would not develop normally.  With the encouragement of Head start the child received speech, and occupational therapy he is now a 3.3 student and plays basketball communicating with his peers.  Another person learned how to encourage her family and other to have a higher self esteem and be proud of what they do.  Head start encourages parents to keep supporting the program and make sure their voices are heard while always believing "yes, we can."  

The involvement of parents and family members can benefit the children not just by showing support to the program and educators but also showing the children what they are learning and doing in class is important to the ones that love them the most.  Families can reinforce what the children are learning within the classroom.  The children will respond in a positive manner if those that interact with them regularly are are on the same page.

The government and policy makers can benefit because head start is a good starting point for any child providing the foundation to their education and laying the ground work for the child to be successful.  The end result will be better test scores and a lower drop out rate.

Importance of Quality in Education

                     

I wonder sometimes just how important education is to the government officials that run and guide our country and communities,  This question arises when educational programs such our public school are in need of funding and their requests are ignored or over looked.  In the community I am proud to call home our elementary schools have been over flowing with children for years.  There are hundreds of students that have to be bussed to another school everyday because the elementary school in their area is full.  These children are spending an hour in the morning and again in the afternoon which takes away from their time at home and time their could be either playing with their peers, studying, or resting for their upcoming day.  Not to mention the teachers that are required to teach overloaded classroom and do not have the time necessary to provide the one on one time children deserve and may require to be successful.   It would seem that money is the issue but rather than spend the money on fuel for the buses and money for other expenses involved over time why not add on to our existing schools and provide jobs for teachers.  Or if expanding our current selection of schools why not build a few more?  When there are decisions to be decided in local elections it seems like the community would rather see money spent on the arts and other community projects rather than investing in the futures of our children.  Over the next 5 to 10 years our community should reevaluate their priorities and put our children first. With the help of advocates and other professionals the needs can be explained so that maybe our community can see the importance of providing the best education possible to our children and families.

Why Become an Childhood Advocate

Children are innocent and deserve to have adults that watch out for their best interests and safety.  Not every child in our society have that and that is where childhood advocates come in.  I want to be the individual that a child can count on to care about them as an individual.  Advocates look at the situation the child is currently in and makes sure that the child is completely safe and experiencing the nurturing environment a child deserves.  Along with the child's well being and advocate can help educate the family making them aware of programs and parenting methods that could help their family as a whole and encourage love and interaction.  The main reason I have chosen this career field is because I have a heart for children and it is important to me to enjoy my career feeling like I am making a difference.

I believe it is important for early childhood educators to be skilled and educated so that they are fully aware of ways they can be helping children in order to provide the best support possible.  It is also important to have continuous education because as policies change it should be a priority for educators and advocates to be aware rather than in the dark.  The children and families count on us to help them and know how and in what ways are best for their family most importantly current ways and policies that need to be considered.

My goals at this point in my education are:
1. Learn the policies necessary to help protect children 
2. Learn as much as I can from my classes so that when I am in the field I can provide the best care for the children and their families.
3.. Find ways to do what I love that makes it possible to help my husband take care of our family.

Thank You

Another class has come to a close and we are that much closer to graduation. The information I have learned is going to help me make a difference in the future.  My classmates have been there to increase the amount I have learned and given me an opportunity to get to know a few building relationships that will last past graduation.  Whether is be brainstorming, trying to understand a concept, relieving stress, or just listening my classmates have been their for me.  I have had individuals tell me that I am losing out on the experience going to a physical land campus I would have to disagree.  I am gaining the knowledge and building the relationships what more could I ask for??  Thank you for all that were part of this class.

Team Development

When a group is getting along and working well together it makes leaving the group very difficult.  There are some many pieces to a team dynamic that is needed to accomplish success.  There have been teams that I have work with that the communication is open and clear making it so that everyone feels comfortable stating their needs and ideas knowing that the rest of the team will not judge.  This allowed for the team to know what others were doing and progress they have made in regarded to deadlines.   When teams are successful it is difficult to say good bye.  Teams needs a time where they can celebrate their success and evaluate what was done adjourning stage is a time to celebrate success and evaluate what happened.  After finishing the work allowing a time for the team to relax and celebrate in a casual setting can be a good ending that rewards the team for a job well done.