The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the first national organization coming to my mind. I like this organization, as it is a major one that I can always find almost all the information that I need. I should say NAEYC is really new to me, as I started to know about it two years ago. When I started my Master’s degree, I saw many resources are from here, and many colleagues talked about it. I started to pay attention to this organization, and I am really fond of it now. I regularly go back to their websites to look for the information that I need about Early Childhood Education, and the questions or issues about my study. I like how clear everything is about NAEYC, as I can see they truly want the best for children in early years. On the website, it contains the information in early childhood field for children, and educators. I do not think I will take any job that they posted on the website, as I am still new to early childhood field. All I want to do is to be an advocate in early childhood field as a teacher to be with children on a daily base. I wouldn’t mind working in one of the schools that is accredited by NAEYC, like Rainbow School or Children’s village child care, as those schools practice what I believe and want to achieve in early childhood field. I hope families and teachers can be a team in supporting children’s development together.
The second one I chose is the National Head Start Association(NHSA). This organization appeals to me, as it is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization. It stands up for the vulnerable children and their families, and most of time, those children do not have access to high quality early childhood education. It aims at providing high quality early childhood education to all the children, as they believe quality early education fundamentally transforms children and families. I share the same belief as they do, and that is why I am so into the collaboration with families in supporting children’s successes both at school and at home. I did not see any job openings in the website, so I do not know what I can contribute to this organization. However, the same, I can picture myself working in one of the Head Start schools someday to be a teacher there. I just love to have interactions with children.
The third one that I chose is National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators (NAECTE). This one drew my attention, as the members of this organization are from all the parts of United States and all over the world. I feel if we want to help children of diversity, we have to open to the news, trends, and issues around the world as well. We cannot just focus on our own classroom, but to open the eyes and ears to see and to hear what is going on around the world. Our children in the future are going to be global citizens. This organization offers the platform for teachers and educators in the early childhood field to grow, integrate, and communicate about everything happening in early childhood field. The more I learn in my Master’s degree, the better I understand the importance of collaboration. Therefore, I like how NAECTE does to provide the opportunities for early childhood teachers and educators to interchange of information and ideas, and to collaborate to serve children better as a family. From their job postings, I found there is a job to be the head teacher of Tufts University Eliot-Pearson Children’s School, I like it. As this children’s school is part of the university, so I would have the chance to work with undergraduate and graduate students. I think it would be fun to see what new generation of teachers think about early childhood education, while exchange the thoughts, insights, experiences, and stories with them at the same time.
I liked composing this blog, as I feel I can have so many resources that I can refer to about early childhood education. I also had a chance to explore the organizations in the country, which was fun.
Hi Sissi,
ReplyDeleteWhat interest me on your blog were the National Headstart Association and the National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators. I really which that we as professionals can form a Union and become International. I read recently that the Early Child Development teachers in New York formed a Union to get better pay. The problem with Headstart is that the pay is low and the teacher turnover is increasing since the teachers need a degree. I would like to know more about teacher salaries and positions where you are located. Someday I would like to teach in an international school but there would probably be a language barrier. Thank you again for your post. In my reference is a Headstart government site that I recently located.
Reference:
Headstart, Early Childhood & Learning Center; Office of the Administration of Children and Families & U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (n.d.). Retrieved June 1, 2013 from http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/
Hi Sissi! I enjoyed reading your post. You chose some good organizations. But this statement really stuck with me: "The more I learn in my Master’s degree, the better I understand the importance of collaboration". I couldn't agree more. I am looking forward to what's ahead after this because I am in the process of collaborating myself! It is an awesome and powerful thing to do! Two or more heads are always better than one!
ReplyDeleteHi Sissi,
ReplyDeleteI chose the same organization as you did, the NAEYC. I found it very helpful in providing teachers lots of opportunities for conferences and professional development. I included two other organizations from Canada because I am more familiar with the child policies and organizations in Canada. Thank you for sharing.
Lufei
Hi Sissi,
ReplyDeleteThe National Head Start AssociationIt is a great organization because they are standing up for the vulnerable children and their families, and those children donot have access to high quality early childhood education. Sissi I am Parent Educator I share the same belief as they do, and that is why I am so into collaboration with families in supporting children’s successes both at school and at home also. And it great that we can help some children before the get to Head start. Great post!!