When I Think of Research…

My simulation is of the importance of family involvement in the classroom is essential to the field of early childhood because it has to do with the success of children’s whole development and future. The knowledge that I gain within my study of the field should be shared with families and backed up with evidence of proof and understanding. When families have an agreement that the relationship that is built among the teacher, student, and parent the more significant of the outcome. When families are involved with their child’s academic, that child’s self-esteem is more likely higher, grades and or tests scores are higher, and the child attends school more. It a way to show children you respect and value their efforts and your expectation are known by the child. Setting examples and being involved early in their life provides the foundation of teaching the valuable lesson that will help children later in their life. In the end, the parents, children, and teachers all benefit from the simulation. As a team, our goal is to give every child the chance to develop and succeed in every area of their lives, and it starts in their early years of childhood.

This course has given me a new level of understanding of research. The importance of how to conduct a successful study to share with families and co-workers. The resources, knowledge gained new definitions, and different websites to use to implement the research geared towards early childhood and my profession. This course has given me the opportunity to promote my awareness of research and continue to provide families and their children with meaningful experiences and opportunities in a rich environment.

Thank each of you who have offered suggestions, ideas and a different view of the subject throughout this course. It is always an advantage to learn from others and be open to sharing my experiences with. Your support has not gone unnoticed. Let’s continue to move forward as the voices for children and provide them with our best.

Research Around the World

A few of the current international research topics listed from European Early Childhood Education Research Journal (EECERJ) is Early Childhood Care and Education at the Margins, Early Childhood Education and Change in Diverse Cultural Contexts and Vygotsky’s Theory in Early Childhood Education and Research. Each providing facts, insights, and new ideas about early childhood. There is insight on providing contextual accounts of ECCE in Africa to build multiple perspectives and to promote conscious thought and actions (EECERJ, 2018). Facts are examining how the educational systems in different countries respond to this change agenda, what they prioritize and how they deal with the adjustment process in a change in diverse cultural contexts. Drawing upon in-depth analyses of Lev Vygotsky’s theories of early childhood and investigating how his ideas are reflected in contemporary educational settings, this book brings into sharp relief the numerous opportunities for preschool learning and development afforded by Vygotskian approaches (EECERJ, 2018).

EECERA members who wish to engage in cross-national collaborations around a particular theme, form Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These collaborations can be just for dialogue and deliberation or have a specific focus such as a research bid or an intended publication (EECERJ, 2018). EECERA has created the role of ‘EECERA Country Coordinator.’ It is intended that this EECERA appointed local officer will establish a network of EECERA members in their countries by supporting and coordinating activities that might be beneficial to EECERA. The aim of the EECERA Country Coordinator is to:

1. Increase the national participation and activity of EECERA members in the Country Coordinator’s country or region;
2. Raise the visibility, status, and impact of the EECERA in each country;
3. Create an EECERA supported an international network of EC researchers, practitioners, and policymakers;
4. Be an intermediary for local EC colleagues to EECERA and its journal (EECERJ, 2018).

The information listed is geared towards the early childhood field that is helpful in providing facts, resources, new ideas within the international early childhood websites.

Resource:

European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA). Retrieved fromhttps://www.eecera.org/journal/

A positive example of Research

In possessing the means and having the knowledge to research the early childhood arena, I have chosen to provide children and their families with the outcome of the positive contributions of children’s free play. For I have learned, “everything we do, see or come in contact with is the subject of research” (Trochim, Donnelly & Arora, 2016). It has been proven throughout my successful research that play is the road work of a child’s learning and that road leads to their future success. As every parent and or families enter into the classrooms of their children, they will understand and approve of their child’s play thriving and developing and not “just play” as to doing nothing.

Play has many benefits that showcase children’s learning and development. On the roadmap is the brain, which play stimulates healthy brain development. The turn of corners alines during play, where children learn about their world they live in and can explore, use their imagination, be creative and problem solve and figure things out. This powerful tool of free play leads down the avenues to build children’s self-regulation and control which leads to future success in their lives. The groundwork that the families build with the partnerships of the professionals leads to success in reading, writing, mathematics, and science. For it is well known that the parent is the first teacher of their child and they lead the way to which takes priority in the home to play.

Time is spent daily in the home with children and their parents, allowing for engagement in an unstructured play. It has been proven through this research the importance of play and how the parent observes children’s play and challenge them to thrive. Families provide their children with age-appropriate play materials and add new types of play as children develop. In this world of play, families pay more attention to academic and enrichment activities than video games and “screen time.” The imagination lane is in play at all times, allowing for children to create and play outside. On the road of play, children build healthy brain development which leads to mastering skills they use to have a prosperous education future. Lead to productive adults who live in the world and offer their best to society.

Resource

Trochim, W. M., Donnelly, J. P., & Arora, K. (2016). Research methods: The essential knowledge base (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.

My Personal Research Journey

In moving forward with my topic to further my knowledge of supporting families and their children I have decided to research the topic of the effectiveness of family engagement in their child’s early education classrooms. The tree subtopic of my subject choice is (1) why families should establish their home environment to support their child’s learning as a student; (2) how effective forms of communications about school programs and their children’s progress and (3) how learning at home helps students with homework, curriculum-related activities, goal settings and decisions of future success. My personal experiences have geared my in this direction because I have witness families not taking the time to support their child’s learning and development. I want to work with families and provide information that we prove that their involvement is critical to their child’s success in school.

From constructing the research chart, I have learned that I have to make sure the information that I use is meaningful and share in various issues to present for family awareness. There are steps that to be taken to find and prove the topic. Observation, background research, and even a simple experiment can help in the aid of the research. I have to know my audience, know if the information’s is valid and well-researched, and does the work update other sources, substantiate other materials you have read (Ormondroyd, J., Engle, E., & Cosgrave, T. 2009).

I believe this assignment will bring about a new perspective of how the family’s involvement is important. It will create bonds that will, in the end, provide what is best for both children’s achievements and their families success. In conducting this research, I have an opportunity to shape my professional development and to validate, affirm, and improve my practice in the early childhood field (Henderson, Meier, Perry, 2012). I think it is a team effort and I accept all resources, thoughts, and ideas you may have to share with me in moving forward with my research topic. I look forward to also supporting and sharing ideas with each of you along this journey.

Resources

Henderson, B., Meier, D. R., Perry, G., & Stremmel, A. J. (2012). The nature of teacher research. Retrieved from https://www.naeyc.org/sites/default/files/globally-shared/downloads/PDFs/resources/pubs/Nature%20of%20Teacher%20Research.pdf

Ormondroyd, J., Engle, E., & Cosgrave, T. (2009). Critically analyzing information sources. Cornell University Library. Retrieved from http://guides.library.cornell.edu/criticallyanalyzing

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Recently I was discussing with a guy about the woman doctor and others who was shot by her ex-fiance at their place of work, the hospital. In his response, he said, “I bet you the gunman was white because the police used less aggression in their capture and more strategic methods used versus just using deadly force.” In the news of gun control and Black Lives Matter movements and the assignments from this class, I might not have disagreed with his statement. The microaggression happened in the context of his feeling of black men, and all that has taken place with shootings and actions taking of people of color in some of the results being of a different race is the suspect of the shooter across America. We talked about microaggression, and even after explaining the situation to him, his view was still his view. He shared it is what he has seen and also the field of work, a probation officer. Apart of me understood the frustration and aggression, but then I wanted for him to see that is is the same way that the other races treat people of color, he was doing the same to another race.

I think we as a people have come a long way from discrimination, prejudice, and stereotypes of people, but we still have a long way to go. In just the last two years I think I have seen or heard of more stories and incidents of my life. Some people are letting out their true feelings of how they feel about others in negative ways. We can learn and share our differences, but until we accept each other as individuals and become open to the differences, we will continue to remain in the same positions. As I continue to learn about microaggression, I hope I can share and have a conversation with others at the time it is displayed and all parties can find understanding of each other’s thoughts and feelings of the topic at hand.

Resources:

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggression in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https//class.waldenu.edu

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

In talking to with others about their definition of culture and diversity, all were on the same page of thinking as me. It was a sensitive subject for two of the people I discussed the topic. One’s definition of culture was stated as “the behavior of a society; customs (holidays), language, and behavior patterns”. Another one said culture meant “social heritage of a group of people”. In discussing their meaning of diversity, one said, “the differences of religion, race, age, gender, different from others in a range of things”. Another one said diversity is a mix of different people of cultures, background, educations, and class. I shared my points as my understanding that people are unique and we should respect the differences and recognizing our individual differences. It is for us to find understanding in others and get pass the simple tolerance to taking in and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity within each of us as individuals.

I have gained from my participants all aspects of diversity that has been covered thus far in the course. Their view of the differences of culture groups, class, education, and how we must and should accept and respect those difference as individuals, which all cover the aspects of diversity and culture. Thinking back on the conversations with the participants, I think their definitions of the culture and diversity provides how they understand their culture. Everyone’s meaning will be unique to their way of living.

My Family Culture

In the wake of a major catastrophe which almost completely devastated the infrastructure of my country and I had to uproot and move to another country the three items I would take along to share with others would be: music and dance routines, family photos and recipes. The best blessing from the tragedy is that I am with my family and we can make the transition together.

In meeting and becoming comfortable, by sharing my items with the people of the land, I would explain that I brought the music and dance routines because it brings about laughter and unity within my family. Music to me is a form of expression and one that can get you out of any mood or put you in a mood. My favorite is gospel, but I listen to R & B Soul, Hip Hop Rap, and some country music. From the dance routines to free dancing it will show them how my family bonds and have fun together. Family photos are just the visual of the memories created. I have pictures of my family back from my great-grandparents to our generation of the family event, births to deaths of members, celebrations, and trips. Having them will provide some comfort of those memories. My grandmother and mother family recipes would also shed some light on the transitions. Food for my family is love. The time of preparation and gathers provide learning and reminiscing of our family traditions. To share my items with other will give an insight into who I am.

Upon arriving and being told I could only take one item, I would decide to take the family recipes. Food offers comfort, unity, and Love. I have learned many lessons, heard family stories, and taught my children how to cook while cooking together. It is said that food tastes better with family, well with being with my family and creating new relationships, I think sitting around the table will bring about an understanding of others and openness of diversity and family culture of the people my family will rebuild and start living again, which will also bring about the importance of finding understanding to be understood.

When I think of Research

My simulation of the importance of family involvement in the classroom is essential to the field of early childhood because it has to do with the success of children’s whole development and future. The knowledge that I gain within my study of the field should be shared with families and backed up with evidence of proof and understanding. When families have an agreement that the relationship that is built among the teacher, student, and parent the more significant of the outcome. When families are involved with their child’s academic, that child’s self-esteem is more likely higher, grades and or tests scores are higher, and the child attends school more. It a way to show children you respect and value their efforts and your expectation are known by the child. Setting examples and being involved early in their life provides the foundation of teaching the valuable lesson that will help children later in their life. In the end, the parents, children, and teachers all benefit from the simulation. As a team, our goal is to give every child the chance to develop and succeed in every area of their lives, and it starts in their early years of childhood.

International Research

A few of the current international research topics listed from European Early Childhood Education Research Journal (EECERA) is Early Childhood Care and Education at the Margins, Early Childhood Education and Change in Diverse Cultural Contexts and Vygotsky’s Theory in Early Childhood Education and Research. Each providing facts, insights, and new ideas about early childhood. There is insight on providing contextual accounts of ECCE in Africa to build multiple perspectives and to promote conscious thought and actions (EECERA, 2018). Facts are examining how the educational systems in different countries respond to this change agenda, what they prioritize and how they deal with the adjustment process in a change in diverse cultural contexts. Drawing upon in-depth analyses of Lev Vygotsky’s theories of early childhood and investigating how his ideas are reflected in contemporary educational settings, this book brings into sharp relief the numerous opportunities for preschool learning and development afforded by Vygotskian approaches (EECERA, 2018).

EECERA members who wish to engage in cross-national collaborations around a particular theme, form Special Interest Groups (SIGs). These collaborations can be simply for dialogue and deliberation or have a particular focus such as a research bid or an intended publication (EECERJ, 2018). EECERA has created a role of ‘EECERA Country Coordinator’. It is intended that this EECERA appointed local officer will establish a network of EECERA members in their countries by supporting and coordinating activities that might be beneficial to EECERA. The aim of the EECERA Country Coordinator is to:

The information listed is geared towards the early childhood field that is helpful in providing facts, resources, new ideas within the international early childhood websites.

Resource:

European Early Childhood Education Research Association ( EECERA). Retrieved fromhttps://www.eecera.org/journal/

Play Research

Reference

Trochim, W. M., Donnelly, J. P., & Arora, K. (2016). Research methods: The essential knowledge base (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.