Saturday, March 21, 2009

Hi Suzanne!
Like you I have been out straight all week doing mid-term evals and dealing with crisis after crisis at school. Working two full time jobs can be stressful at times. However, I was able to put the first assignment together and have adapted it to kind of follow the same structure of yours - by the way you have two wonderful assignments!! I love them!! I also agree with the grading policy so that's done as far as I am concerned. Here's my assignment:

Chapter 1 Starting The Process
Reading Assignments: Pgs. 2-33
Discussion Board by midnight Friday:
After reading the assignment, complete the following:
1. Introduce yourself and tell us why you are taking this course. Have you already taken Early Childhood Education? What are three things you expect to get out of this course? How can you best accomplish that goal? List a few things that work well for you.
2. If you are going to explain what you do in a classroom to families, colleagues, and administrators, then you need to have knowledge about the contributions of early childhood education history and theorists to the profession. In the discussion forum, discuss how this information gives you deep roots (the confidence that what you know is based on hundreds of years of experience and research) and also the ability to fly (the knowledge that what you do is best practices for young children).
(I have added some great links that you may also go to for assistance with Chapter 1 materials).
3. “A child’s foundation for behavior and learning for the rest of his or her life is laid
in the early years.”
What is the implication for an early childhood educator in this statement?
4. Children need “a predictable schedule and secure environment.”
Why? If creativity involves spontaneous and free expression, isn’t this a
contradiction? Why or why not?
5. Professional early childhood education organizations emphasize advocacy on behalf
of children to all individuals working in this field. Considering the current level of support and funding given to early childhood education, why is your participation as an advocate crucial? Is it useful for all people in the field to join professional organizations? Why or why not?

This assignment is relevant to Essential Objective #1: Discuss the historical influences and evolution of early childhood education as it connects to curriculum development, theories, and practices.

By midnight on Sunday: Respond to at least 3 of your peer’s posts in a substantial way.

Initial post and 3 substantial posts potentially worth 10 points.

Here's the links for chapter 1 as well ( I can post the page of links for each chapter so we have them all in one place under documents)

Chapter 1

Additional Related Web Links
1. The American Association for the Child’s Right to Play
http://http://www.ipausa.org
2. Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)
http://www.acei.org
3. Child Development Institute
http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com
4. Children’s Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org
5. Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition (CDA)
http://www.cdacouncil.org
6. National Association of Family Child Care
http://www.nafcc.org
7. National Network for Child Care (NNCC)
http://www.nncc.org
8. National PTA’s Building Blocks: Importance of Children’s Play
http://www.pta.org
9. Theory of Multiple Intelligences
http://www.ibiblio.org
(In the Search box, type in “Theory of Multiple Intelligences” )

I think our next immediate step is the Course Description - we need to get that up and open so we can entice students to take our class - it would be great to get the syllabus completed as well. I am working of the course description and will post what I have as soon as I complete it.
Lynn



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