Testing for Intelligence?

I personally believe that children today are being overly assessed due to the demands of a changing world; however, all this assessing has been misdiagnosed many children. Placing labels on children allows others to judge and isolate them which aids in a child thinking he is different or not as smart as the next child. In early childhood, I think the physical and mental development of a child should be assessed because it provides the parents and teachers the information they need to help that particular child later on. If the physical and mental development is assessed early enough, the child may have a chance to get tested and treated which can assist the child in his or her learning capabilities to be successful in school.  

In Jamaica, many researchers conduct literacy tests on the elementary and high schools students and study the students during the course of their school years. To date, the students are assessed to understand why one group of privileged children are reading at the country level and the underprivileged are not reading at the country level. Most of the researchers believed that the socioeconomic status affects the learning capabilities of the Jamaican children. In this particular case, I understanding assessing those children because if one group is not doing well, it is important to find out the reasons (Lewis, 2010). 










Reference

Lewis, Yewande Eleene. (2010). Literacy in elementary school in Jamaica: the case
of the grade four literacy test. Retrieved from http://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1883&context=etd.

Violence as a Stressor for Children Around the World

Growing up, I had a few friends who experienced domestic abuse or violence within the home. In middle school, a child was killed by their relative due to neglence of the family members fighting. A child lost his life because adults were not able to control their emotions especially in front of children. Domestic violence is very prevalent in the United States, and many children witness or are targeted by violence.  One of my close friends experience violence from a family member and sometimes she would come to my grandmother house to hide out until her family member calmed down. Most times, her family member was drunk and took their frustrations out on her. We were in elementary and middle school. The violence lasted til high school and then her grandmother decided to take her out the home, which was the best thing for my friend. However, it did affect her emotionally growing up. She was very quiet and afraid to speak up to people because she was afraid that she may get hit or have to defend herself in a fight. As I was conducting research on this topic in other countries, I came across an internet article stating how the number of domestic violence cases against children in Australia are fairly high. This is very alarming.

In Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (2005) Personal Safety Survey found that of all women who had experienced partner violence since the age of 15 years and had children in their care during the relationship, 59 percent reported that the violence had been witnessed by children, 37 percent that the violence had not been witnessed by children and four percent that they did not know whether the violence had been witnessed by children in their care (n=11,800). The Australian component of the International Violence Against Women Survey found that of women who had experienced partner violence and had children living with them at the time, 36 percent reported that their children had witnessed a domestic violence incident (n=1,730; Mouzos & Makkai 2004). Taylor’s (2006) analysis of data from the ACT’s Family Violence Intervention Program database revealed that for the year 2003–04, children were recorded as being present at 44 percent of domestic violence incidents (n=2,793).  A number of estimates about the extent of children’s exposure to domestic violence have been made in recent years. Pinheiro’s (2006) report for UNICEF estimated that between 133 million and 275 million children around the world witness frequent domestic violence each year. Those numbers are very high and globally something should be done to prevent such cases (Richards, 2011).





Richards, Kelly. (2011, June). Children's exposure to domestic violence in Australia.[Abstract]. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, 49, 401-420. Retrieved from http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/401-420/tandi419.html.

Breastfeeding

According to studies conducted, breastfeeding is very important for the baby, mother, and the society. How is breastfeeding important for the health of the baby? Well, breastfeeding protects the baby immune system as its body is growing. This milk is very rich in nutrients and antibodies to protect your baby. Plus, breast milk is easier for the baby to digest which helps protects the baby from any diseases or illnesses. The benefits for the mother is that it is cost savvy, it helps the mother bond to her baby, and it is also great for the mother's health as well. The nation benefits overall when mothers breastfeed. Recent research shows that if 90 percent of families breastfed exclusively for 6 months, nearly 1,000 deaths among infants could be prevented. The United States would also save $13 billion per year — medical care costs are lower for fully breastfed infants than never-breastfed infants. Breastfed infants typically need fewer sick care visits, prescriptions, and hospitalizations.

Breastfeeding also contributes to a more productive workforce since mothers miss less work to care for sick infants. Employer medical costs are also lower.

Breastfeeding is also better for the environment. There is less trash and plastic waste compared to that produced by formula cans and bottle supplies (womenshealth.gov).  Also it is very common for women in third world countries to breastfeed due to the costs and also for the benefits for the baby. It just makes sense if a woman does not have the monies to buy the formula to breastfeed.

This topic is dear to me because I breast fed my 3 year old for the first couple months. I recovered well from the hospital. Also, my son has not had to go to the emergency room for any illness. Every once in a while he may get the sniffles but he has not had a severe cold, earache, or any illness. I have been very blessed to not have to go through the doctor visits and emergency visits. My 3 year old could not be any more healthier than a big child or an adult. 

For additional information on breastfeeding, visit www.womenhealth.gov.

First Births in Australia

In Australia, three main settings are available in which to give birth: hospital, home, and birth center. Nineteen women participated in the study . They were recruited using purposive and theoretical sampling. Purposeful sampling occurs where the phenomenon is known to exist. Theoretical sampling is the process of data collection for generating theory whereby the analyst jointly collects, codes, and analyzes the data, and decides what data to collect next and where to find them in order to develop the theory as it emerges. Unlike statistical sampling, theoretical sampling cannot be predetermined prior to the outset of the study, and sampling decisions emerge as the study progresses.
 Evidence suggests that women select their place of birth according to the level of choice and responsibility they wish to take in the birth: Women who choose out-of-hospital care tend to want more control over decisions regarding themselves, their bodies, and the birth environment compared with women who choose hospital care. 
According to the data that was collected, women who had given birth to their first baby were initially identified in the postnatal ward of a large tertiary referral hospital and asked to consent to being interviewed 6 weeks later. Women who had their first baby at home were contacted by their independent midwives and asked if they could be approached to participate. One first-time mother who had given birth in a private hospital, two first-time mothers who had given birth in a birth center, and two multiparous women (one hospital birth and one home birth) were also identified and invited to participate. Each potential participant received an information sheet that explained the purpose of the study and what would be required of participants. Each participant signed a consent form. Only one woman (planned hospital birth) chose not to participate.
The participants ranged from 19 to 37 years of age. Women who had had home births were on average 30 years old compared with 25 years old for the women who had had hospital births. All of the women had partners. Three women had university degrees (one in the home-birth group and three in the hospital-birth group). One of the home-birth women was transferred to hospital and had a forceps birth. All of the women who gave birth in hospital—except for one (forceps birth)—had normal vaginal births. Most of the women attended formal antenatal childbirth education (all of the home-birth group, and 5 of 8 in the hospital-birth group).  Compared to the women who chose home birth, the women who chose hospital birth seemed less concerned about personal decision making, more dependent on their caregivers, and more trusting of the medical system. As two women noted: Women who chose a home birth viewed medical interventions as negative and dangerous, while those who chose a hospital birth viewed medical interventions as positive.

Reference
Budin, Wendy C. (2008). Preparing for the First Birth: Mothers' Experiences at Home and in Hospital in Australia. Journal of Perinatal Education. Retrieved January 12, 2012 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2582407/.

My Personal Birthing Experience

On Christmas Eve of 2009, I was awaken by sharp pains at 6:30 in the morning. I took 2 Tylenol and the pain went away so I decided to go back to sleep because I was planning to wake up around 8 am to help fix a Christmas Eve morning breakfast for my friend and her family. We were vacationing in Gatlinsburg, Tennessee for the holidays. I was exactly 8 months pregnant and wanted to take a vacation before my due date on January 24, 2010 so one of my friends invited me along for her family vacation to one of the nicest log cabins in Gatlinsburg. I thought I was getting away for a quick retreat; however, other events took place which I was not prepared for. Around 8 am, the sharp pains in my back were stronger so I called my friend to my room and she went in retrieved her family from the living room. Her mother than replied, "You are in labor." I was thinking to myself, I have another month to go...I am not supposed to be in labor especially not on my vacation. I didn't have any baby clothes, bottles, car seat, or anything for the baby. The pain was getting worse and then my water broke. So my friend and her family rushed me to Fort Sevier Medical Center at 9:30 am. Everything was happening so fast. I asked for medicine because the labor pains were so strong but I had already dilated 7 cm when I arrived to the hospital. So I had to go through natural labor. Poor me! At 11:14 am, Gabriel Alexander Frost was born. He weighed exactly 5lbs and zero ounces. He was so tiny and so cute. Immediately after he was born, Gabriel was ready to feed. He gained a couple ounces before we left the hospital the day after Christmas. So I basically spent my Christmas holiday in another city and hospital. The staff was so very helpful, encouraging, and resourceful. As I was going through the labor, I had two nurses to give me massages for my back, legs, and feet. That really helped to keep me calm since this was my first pregnancy and I felt so unprepared. They offered clothes, a car seat, and other necessary items since I was a out of town visitor. Gabriel just turned 3 years old on this past Christmas Eve, and everyone calls him the miracle baby or Christmas baby. I will have an amazing story of his birth to tell him when he gets older. I can't wait to tell him how he crashed Mommy's Christmas Vacation!!1

Code of Ethics by the NAEYC and DEC

P-1.7—We shall strive to build individual relationships
with each child; make individualized adaptations in
teaching strategies, learning environments, and
curricula; and consult with the family so that each
child benefits from the program. If after such efforts
have been exhausted, the current placement does not
meet a child’s needs, or the child is seriously jeopardizing
the ability of other children to benefit from the
program, we shall collaborate with the child’s family
and appropriate specialists to determine the additional
services needed and/or the placement option(s)
most likely to ensure the child’s success. (Aspects of
this principle may not apply in programs that have a
lawful mandate to provide services to a particular
population of children.)


I believe this code is very important for educators to adhere because it is educators duties and responsibilities to make sure that each child in his or her classroom receive the same education as other individual children. We as educators are responsible for providing an environment where the children have access to a variety of resources and tools to help them grow academically in school. Also, communicating with the parents are key to ensure the child's success in the classroom.




I-2.3—To welcome all family members and encourage them to participate in the program.

I am happy that many schools and now child care centers or learning academies for preschoolers are now implementing parent/teacher conferences so that the teachers can meet with the parents and inform the parents about the academic progress of the child before they reach kindergarten or first grade. Having that one on one with the parents I believe is highly important to ensure the success of the child academic level later on.



P-3C.1—In decisions concerning children and programs, we shall draw upon the education, training, experience, and expertise of staff members.

I think that all staff members of a particular educational system should be entitled to voice their opinions, skills, training, and experience especially if it will benefit the children as a whole. I think when organizations are unified it teaches the children that teamwork is important for the success of any job or situation. Plus, when an organization are unified, it helps the educators, children, and families come together to provide an environment that is safe, positive, and trusting for everyone. I think each person has a talent or skill that they can share and it helps everyone. It does take a village to raise a child and takes a unified group of people to build a successful foundation.


 NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Additional Early Childhood Resources

www.education.com-This is a great website for parents who are very dedicated and interested in their child's education. It provides school readiness tools from preschool age to college prep. I think teachers can use this website also because they have workbooks and worksheets you can print out or purchase to help facilitate learning in the classroom.

www.pbs.org-My son, Gabriel, watches PBS on a regular basis and he can tell you the name of every single show that comes on and he sings along to the show's theme song. So, I figure why not check out the website. This website has a lot of great ideas for teaching young children. They also offer other web site links for additional resources to help make learning more interesting and fun for kids.

www.abcjesuslovesme.com-This is my all time favorite website because I have found so many great ideas and methods to help me teach my son his colors, shapes, numbers, ABCs and learn about Jesus at the same time. Also, this website has a curriculum for ages 2-6 years. 

www.preschoolplaybook.com-I really like this blog because there are posts that have wonderful ideas to plan and facilitate activities, learning tools, and tips for keeping preschool age to elementary age kids busy. I think teachers would enjoy this blog full of creative ideas.