Sharing Web Resources

The specific section(s) or information that was particularly relevant to my current profession is the work which ACEI does with children with disabilities.  In my current profession, I work with children with disabilities and oftentimes, they are not given the same opportunities for quality education as many other children, especially globally.  ACEI seeks to provide those opportunities to all children regardless of their abilities. 

Their affiliation with organizations such as The Global Partnership on Children with Disabilities (GPcwd) which through UNICEF is a network of more than 100 organizations, including international NGOs, national/local NGOs, Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs), governments, academia and the private sector, working to advance the rights of children with disabilities at the global, regional and country levels. They promote a rights-based approach that provides a platform for advocacy and collective action to ensure the rights of children with disabilities are included and prioritized by both the Disability and Child Rights Movement.

The inaugural Forum of the Partnership (more than 240 participants) was held from 14-15 September 2012 at UNICEF House in New York, where for the first time the Partners came together to discuss ways to advocate for an inclusive post-2015 agenda; establish four task forces with the aim to influence the mainstreaming of disability rights into global child-focused agendas namely in nutrition, education, humanitarian action and assistive technology; and discuss collaboration at the country level in Haiti, Rwanda, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Malawi, Mozambique, and Bangladesh.

Their statements and resources allowed me to look at the work which is being done with children with disabilities outside of the U.S. in different ways.  I have always been a strong advocate for the rights of people with disabling conditions, but this organization has given me a more worldwide view of the work which happens with children with disabilities.

ACEI through its radio broadcast, newsletters, conferences, events and research journals provides information, proven data and opportunities for advocacy, opportunities to make recommendation for teachers, policymakers and economist on what they can do to ensure that more students have the skills and motivation to succeed in higher education.

ACEI conducts conferences, symposiums and events around the world to give people from all cultural and diverse backgrounds a chance to present research, information and events that are all used to promote quality educational opportunities for children on a global as well as local scale.

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

Although I have still not heard from my conversation partner, the website I chose to follow is that of ACEI (Association of Childhood Education International), which is an organization focused on the education, development and well-being of children worldwide.  They also seek to influence the professional growth of education and the efforts of others who are also committed to the needs of children in an ever changing society.  This programs works closely with the United Nations in making sure children in every nation will have access to quality education which helps them to become responsible citizens.

 I have long been an interest supporter of this organization because of the work which it seeks to do with children throughout the world.  They are a global organization which reaches out to children throughout the world in hopes of providing educational opportunities for all children.  Their "Love Me, Teach Me" campaign is what drew my attention at the beginning.  ACEI's cornerstones are:

1.  See Me:  The Child's Right to Identity
2.  Hear Me:  The Child's Right to Participation
3.  Love Me:  The Child's Right to Security, Stability, and Protection
4.  Teach Me:  The Child's Right to Education.

Their 10 Pillar of a Good Childhood are:

1. Safe and secure places for living, with learning and access to health care, clothing, and nutritious food
2. Strong families and loving, consistent caregivers
3. Social interactions and friendships
4. Creative play and physical activity
5. Appreciation and stewardship of the natural environment
6. Creative expression through music, dance, drama, and the other arts
7. Education that develops the full capacities of the child—cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and ethical
8. Supportive, nurturing, child-friendly communities
9. Growing independence and decision making
10. Children and youth participating in community life.

Sharing Web Resources

             

The names of one of the organizational newsletters which I subscribe to for updates in the Early Childhood Education field is NAEYC ( National Association for the Education of Young Children) which is an organization with a strong commitment to the education of young children. 

It’s overall goal to me is expressed the following statement, “All children have access to a safe and accessible, high quality early childhood education that includes a developmentally appropriate curriculum; knowledgeable and well-trained program staff and educators; and comprehensive services that support their health, nutrition, and social well-being, in an environment that respects and supports diversity”.   The news release I recently received was regarding the future of Early Childhood Education and the cuts of funding provided to programs such as Head Start to provide quality education to preschool children by the President.  

The second organization which I subscribe to is ECKLC Head Start Association which is a program committed to providing comprehensive services to children and their families from ages birth to five that supports children’s cognitive, social, emotional, health, nutrition and social development.  The same article in the NAEYC newsletter was also discussed in the ECKLC newsletter about the cuts to Head Start and how it will affect the program’s ability to provide services to children and families.

The last program with I subscribe to is ACEI,( Association for Childhood Education International), which is a worldwide organization dedicated to educating children around the world and to promoting social and global change by advocating for the rights of children through cultural diversity.  The most recent article which caught my attention was one in the Winter Quarterly regarding homework for preschool children.  This article wanted to determine if homework for preschool children was developmentally appropriate and could it be used as a tool for more family engagement in education in helping to ensure children are school ready.  It is a very controversial subject which has strong arguments on how to shorten the gap between home and school by engaging parents more in the learning process for their children.

References:

NAEYC. Retrieved from:  http://www.naeyc.org/academy/primary/updates.

ECKLC.  Retrieved from:  http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc.

ACEI.  Retrieved from:  http://acei.org.