Sissi's blog

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Thanks for all of you sharing your wonderful thoughts with me

Thank you for everyone who shared your ideas and commented on my postings. I learned many new things from doing the blog. I liked reading your postings every week to sharpen my thoughts. I would like to address my thanks to two people here.
Lois Wachtel
Hi Lois, I would like to say thanks to you here.
I liked your shining ideas that you shared in your blog. Every time I go there, I learn something new. I liked the design that you did for your blog, as I can tell you are passionate about our study and you are a good kindergarten teacher at creating the nice environment for children. I should say by reading your postings in your blog and your discussion I benefit a lot. Your opinion is really sharp and accurate. Once I read your writing I can summarize something else that I did not realize before. You always comment on my posting which makes me feel valued. I like your insight at looking at the issues that I am posting. You are very calm and confident. I feel like whenever I have a question, you will be the person that I can count on to help me out.  I am so happy to be with you studying together in the same program. Thank you for your wonderful contributes!

Stephanie Clift
Hi Stephanie, I would like to say thank you for your support at my blog and the smart ideas that you posted in your blog too. I like your blog as I like how neat and sweet your blog is. We are sharing the same experience in our life and study too. I am learning my master degree as while working full time as well. I know how hard it can be. I have seen you doing the course work always ahead of the time which impresses me and encourages me to do the same as you do. I do not want to give up my study using work as an excuse. Reading and commenting on your blog postings make me feel how good you are at your time management which I need to improve at. I liked your own childhood web, and I am happy to see that you like Dr. Seuss. I hope we can help each other in the upcoming course as we do for this one. Thank you for your wonderful thoughts and postings!

Friday, December 16, 2011

The Code of Ethics

1: We shall honor and respect the diverse backgrounds of our colleagues, including such diverse characteristics as sexual orientation, race, national origin, religious beliefs, or other affiliations.

That is meaningful for me as I am in the environment of the diversity. I know the importance of understanding the differences between each other, and values their culture and belief will build a healthy relationship with the colleagues. Team work comes from the basic understanding and trust among the team members. We are here to study together, so we are the community members, which means we are supposed to be team players. At work, I have to consider the diversity of backgrounds even more carefully. It helps me improve my teaching better, and it inspires me of creating more interesting ideas in my work too.

2: We shall continually be aware of issues challenging the field of early childhood special education and advocate for changes in laws, regulations, and policies leading to improved outcomes and services for young children with disabilities and their families.
That code touches my heart, as I always have special need children in my class and I can tell the desperation in parents' eyes. I know parents would like to hear the professional  advise from the teachers, and they would like to help teachers at school as well. Therefore, as a a teacher, we should care about those special needs children too, as they have the equal rights to be educated and accepted. Although the special needs children will have various causes or actions, we need to keep ourselves updated with the research of the special education. We do not want to give up any child or disappoint  parents. I am really feel sorry for the parents who struggle with the special need children at home, and I would do whatever I can to help them. At the same time, I can tell the joy and hope in parents eyes when my suggestion works with their kids, which make me happy and satisfied too. Therefore, this code is significant for me to be a caring teacher for every child I know.

3: We shall respect, value, promote, and encourage the active participation of ALL families by engaging families in manful ways in the assessment and intervention processes.
 I liked that code, as I should say that is what I am practicing and what I need to improve in the future too. We are practicing it, as school want to let parents know that we really values all cultures and backgrounds, and we try to be more open-minded in the international level. We invite families from different cultures to share their beliefs and culture with us, or involve the culture in our teaching in certain units. What I want to improve is, I hope our practice can be more naturally and consistently not just doing a unit or talking to children to be friendly to others.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Other resources

Early Childhood News    http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/    http://www.earlychildhoodnews.com/earlychildhood/article_view.aspx?ArticleID=548

Early Childhood Research and Practice    http://ecrp.uiuc.edu/


PBS Teachers Early Childhood    http://www.pbs.org/teachers/classroom/k-2/

The resources


Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices
Part 2: Global Support for Children’s Rights and Well-Being
Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week’s Application assignment.
Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations
Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library
Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to “How Do I...?, select Tips for Specific Formats and Resources, and then e-journals to find this search interface.) 
  • YC Young Children
  • Childhood
  • Journal of Child & Family Studies
  • Child Study Journal
  • Multicultural Education
  • Early Childhood Education Journal
  • Journal of Early Childhood Research
  • International Journal of Early Childhood
  • Early Childhood Research Quarterly
  • Developmental Psychology
  • Social Studies
  • Maternal & Child Health Journal
  • International Journal of Early Years Education

Friday, November 18, 2011

The quotes that I like about.

Education is not a problem. Education is an opportunity.
                                                                                     By: Lyndon B. Johnson

Do not feel entitled to anything you did not sweat and struggle for.
                                                                                    By: Marian Wright Edelman

Make sure that all children were taught in environments and in ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and to develop their fullest ability.
                                                                   By Professor Emeritus  Pacific Oak College CA

Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.
                                                     By: Anthony J. D'Angelot the Chief Visionary Officer 

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Personal Childhood Space

Xiang Wang: He is my dad and friend. When I was a kid, China was still very conservative. However, my dad decided to raise me in a different way. He thinks happiness and responsibility are the most important things in my life. He encouraged me, when I failed in my academic exams, communicated with me every night to discuss what happened on that day, and created a very friendly and cozy living environment at home for me. I had a happy childhood. I will never dodge my responsibilities in any situation now! My dad always says: you need to be thankful for the things that happen to you to make you happy!
Ms. Xu: She was my kindergarden teacher, and the first teacher that I remembered since I was a kid. She taught me dancing and singing, which made me feel that I can be an artist when I grew up. She helped me to built up me the confidence in doing things in front of the audience.
Qingui Zhang: She is my mom. She believes that traveling is one of the best ways for children to explore the world. She took me to different places when I was on holiday, and she made me into a small traveller. I was popular in school, as I always had funny and interesting stories to tell them. And now I am still a traveller!
Keru Hu: She was my grandma, and died when I was 15. I grew up with her. She babysat me, showed me how to make traditional Chinese hand crafts, and told me the stories about her old days and the folk stories about Chinese culture and celebrations. Now I still can remember how to paper cut the "double happiness" this Chinese character for Chinese New Year, and I will do it for my family. I also share the stories that she told me to my cousins and my students at school.
Aunt Lan: She is an old friend of my mom. they have know each other for over 40 years. She lives on the countryside, and she is a farmer. The most exciting thing for me in Chinese New Year or in spring was to visit her family. I would go to the field to pick up the fresh vegetables, and to the garden to pick up the fruits. As we did not have any fields in city, that was almost the only chance I could enjoy the nature and the green. I felt I was like a butterfly in the fields, running around the flowers and breathing the fresh air there. I was happy and relaxed in the field by myself. I would forget everything that bothered me. Nowadays I still go there from time to time, her smile and her warm family atmosphere are the most relaxing thing to refresh myself!

Friday, November 4, 2011

Kid, You will move the Mountains! By: Dr. Seuss

Oh! The Places You Will Go! By: Dr. Seuss
This is my favorite children's book.
I am working in an International school. People's coming and going is the most common thing happening in our school. Therefore, I read this story to the children on the last day of school day every year. It is a farewell book to send your all the best wishes to the children who are going to start new adventures in great new places and also encourage children to be brave to face the difficulties and challenges in the future.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

My first try of blog

Today I had my first go to try to use blog. This is my first small step, and I hope it will lead me to a broad path to open more new windows for me in the future.