ECDVU sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

ECDVU sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)

 

Hello Class, in my last class one of our assignments for our blog was to get in contact with an early childhood professional from another country. This was to learn about early childhood in their country and to get their insights on issues in early childhood that we were having here in the U. S. Unfortunately after sending numerous e-mails to countries of my interest I only received one and that was from an early childhood professional in Japan (UNICEF). However the professional kindly stated that there was no one in their office that could assist me this semester because they were busy dealing with other issues. All of the websites that were provided for this assignment were very interesting. The one that I choose to explore and learn about their research in early childhood is http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/pub.php.

I hope to one day visit Africa and maybe even do some student teaching there, after my children get a little older. I know it will be a rewarding experience for us both. The website http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/pub.php the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) which is an innovative and multifaceted approach to addressing ECD capacity building and leadership development in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The ECDVU is supported by a range of international, regional and local organizations, including the employers of participants. It is a unique training and results-oriented program that uses face-to-face and distributed learning methods including: residential seminars, web-based instruction, CD and print material support, and a 'community of learners' strategy within and among cohort countries (http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/pub.php). The student at this college have done a tremendous amount of research and studying on issues dealing with early childhood education. Below you will topics that they have researched thus far

Tanzania	Building Community Leadership for Quality Sustainability in Madrasa Preschools: The Case of Madrasa Preschools Post Graduation Support
Zambia	Pilot Study of the Adaptation of an Established Measure to Assess the Quality of Child Services in a Selected Orphanage in Zambia: The Inclusive Quality Assessment (IQA) Tool
Nigeria	Assessment of the Caring Practices in Two Motherless Babies’ Homes in Abia State, Nigeria and the Development and Delivery of a Nutrition Training Program to the Staff of These Homes to Improve Nutrition of Children in Their Care
Ghana	The Status of Coordination and Supervision of Early Childhood Education in Ghana
Malawi	Coordinating the Development and Implementation of the 2003 – 2013 National Action Plan (NAP) for Children in Malawi
Malawi	A Community-driven Rural Early Childhood Development (ECD) Project, with Emphasis on Culturally and Developmentally Appropriate Exploratory Learning Concepts
Ghana	Parents’ and Other Caregivers’ Perception of Early Childhood Development Needs and Quality: A Study of the PLAN-Assisted Programmes in Bawjiase, Ghana
Nigeria	Integrating Indigenous Knowledge in ECD Training and Services
Uganda	Utilizing Indigenous Stories in the Promotion of Early Childhood DevelopmentPrograms in Uganda
Eritrea	Improving the Quality of Childcare Through Parenting Enrichment and Training of Trainers: The Eritrean Model
Nigeria	Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development
Nigeria	A Guide for Effective School and Parent Collaboration: A Cooperative Development and Delivery Approach
Tanzania	Improving Multisectoral Cooperation and Coordination in Support of Early Childhood Development Programs in Tanzania
Malawi	Assessment of Interaction and Stimulation in Single-Mother Low-Income Families
Tanzania	Leadership Skills Training for Administration and Parent Support Training for Caregivers
Uganda	Professional Associations in Support of Child Well Being in Uganda

(http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/pub.php).

I really like how the staff at this University is diverse, I know they all bring so much experience and knowledge to the table. This is a plus to students as well because they get learn about their country along with the experience of their professors thanks to their diverse backgrounds. When I read an research paper authored by Abeba Habtom in the city of Eritera, I found it very interesting that China is one of the countries that emphasizes parents and family education. It recognizes the family as the very first environment that the children grows up in, and parents as the very first teachers in the children’s progress into life (Habtom 2004). I always knew they were very serious about their education. I then read the research paper of Chalizamudzi Matola on the town of Malawi, Twenty-seven percent of the population in rural areas of Malawi have never attended school. Access to early learning opportunities offered through preschools in rural areas is at 6 percent (National Statistical Office, 2002) (Matola 2004). Even the opportunity to attend preschool in Malawi is low I still found it interesting that they even had had any type of preschools in that area. It is good to know that at least some of the children get a head start on formal education. I know that parents who don’t get a chance to attend school themselves or their children do their very best to educate their children the best way that they know how. If you follow the link that I provided you will find a lot more research topics and studies that students have done, so if you’ll have time you should check them out.

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/pub.php

Habtom, Abeba (2004) Improving the Quality of Childcare Through Parenting Enrichment and Training of Trainers: The Eritrean Model  retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/pub.php.

Matola, Chalizamudzi (2004) Assessment of Interaction and Stimulation in Single-Mother Low-Income Families Retrieved from  http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/pub.php.

(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unicef.org%2Fearlychildhood%2Fimages%2FRevolution-in_ect-735x370.png&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unicef.org%2Fearlychildhood%2F&docid=HZZT45oNBpLT6M&tbnid=ia7XyTg6K-dMuM%3A&w=735&h=370&bih=612&biw=1301&ved=0ahUKEwjhwpW57rrPAhUFziYKHS23A9UQMwggKAIwAg&iact=mrc&uact=8)

(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unicef.org%2Fearlychildhood%2Fimages%2Fpreschoolchildren_carousel_rev.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.unicef.org%2Fearlychildhood%2F&docid=HZZT45oNBpLT6M&tbnid=wpJ7AuDIlk3OFM%3A&w=735&h=370&bih=612&biw=1301&ved=0ahUKEwjhwpW57rrPAhUFziYKHS23A9UQMwgiKAQwBA&iact=mrc&uact=8).


(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvi.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Farticle_full%2Fpublic%2FECD%2520class%2520with%2520teacher_web.jpg%3Fitok%3DXMHmh3-A&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wvi.org%2Feducation-and-life-skills%2Farticle%2Fproviding-good-start-children-through-early-childhood-care&docid=odvE72A7kz2XMM&tbnid=KfheOckfG6WkeM%3A&w=620&h=372&bih=612&biw=1301&ved=0ahUKEwjhwpW57rrPAhUFziYKHS23A9UQMwg8KBQwFA&iact=mrc&uact=8).

 

 

 

 

Mental Illness in Young Children

Mental illness in Young Children

 

Since I have been an early head start teacher, I have come into contact with many different types of personalities. The children that I work with may be young but it seems as they are the ones that are full of the most surprises. They are a joy to work with and sometimes teach me just as much I teach them. During my time as an early head start I have also seen an increasing number of children with behavioral/ mental health issues. ADHD has been one of the most common ones that I have had experience with. So if I were to be able to choose a topic to research that would make a major positive contribution to the well-being of children and their families, it would be mental health illness in young children with an emphasis on ADHD.

I have taught children as eighteen months that were diagnosed with ADHD and on medicine. While it was a challenge it also made me curious to know as to what really causes ADHD, and what are some techniques that can help those children and their families to cope. I feel that a lot of times parents are so frustrated with whatever issues their children might be going through, they don’t even seek to get help because mental illness is the last thing that crosses their mind. Unless there is family history of mental illness, most times I guess parents feel they will grow out of whatever may be going on. Which is why I like early childhood education so much because we focus on intervention for things like ADHD. I know of a mother who sent her young son to live with his father, because she couldn’t control him or his behavior. Later on the father took the son to see a mental health provider via the request of the school. It was then that he was diagnosed with ADHD, and given meds to help control it.

I feel like research on mental health in young children would help parents to be more aware of the sign that their children might display if they are having mental health issues. Which would hopefully encourage parents to seek professional help for their children, so these issues won’t hinder children in their adulthood.  An estimated 15 million of our nation's young people can currently be diagnosed with a mental health disorder. Many more are at risk of developing a disorder due to risk factors in their biology or genetics; within their families, schools, and communities; and among their peers (http://www.apa.org/pi/families/children-mental-health.aspx). Hopefully my research findings would bring about more parent education programs that focused on mental health in young children. I also hope that from my research there could be more strategies for teachers to use in the classroom with the students along with their parents. I also would hope that it make therapy and counseling more known and available to parents. Maybe even being about more free mental health clinics in schools and the surrounding communities. Most of all I just would help that there would be more prevention and intervention programs created to with mental illness in young children.  

 

Please take second and watch this video, I found it to be very interesting you will find the link below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GET9g8NKw2g 

 

References

http://www.apa.org/pi/families/children-mental-health.aspx

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GET9g8NKw2g

(

(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadahelps.org%2Fmedia%2Fyoungones3.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.canadahelps.org%2Fen%2Fgiving-life%2Fconnecting-with-charities%2Fmyth-busting-5-myths-about-youth-mental-health-and-addiction%2F&docid=DE2HxEbisFd8PM&tbnid=dEo7Ctme77l4ZM%3A&w=816&h=695&bih=643&biw=1366&ved=0ahUKEwjgranY9JbPAhWJxYMKHSQoB2wQMwgiKAQwBA&iact=mrc&uact=8)

 

(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mentalhealth.org.uk%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fchildren-young-people.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mentalhealth.org.uk%2Fstatistics%2Fmental-health-statistics-children-and-young-people&docid=pi8qQUGNMNP8MM&tbnid=WDRQcQhxpKylmM%3A&w=900&h=400&bih=643&biw=1366&ved=0ahUKEwjgranY9JbPAhWJxYMKHSQoB2wQMwgkKAYwBg&iact=mrc&uact=8)

(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.medicaldaily.com%2Fsites%2Fmedicaldaily.com%2Ffiles%2Fstyles%2Fheadline%2Fpublic%2F2015%2F08%2F03%2Ftantrum.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.medicaldaily.com%2Fusing-irritability-scale-predict-mental-illness-preschoolers-when-do-kids-tantrums-345812&docid=tPpMkwPW8wUJuM&tbnid=JrJe2OyWyjVfyM%3A&w=640&h=537&bih=643&biw=1366&ved=0ahUKEwjgranY9JbPAhWJxYMKHSQoB2wQMwgxKBMwEw&iact=mrc&uact=8)

 

 

My Personal Research Journey

Hello classmates, I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend. As many of you know the original topic that I choose to research is curriculum. Curriculum is something that has stolen my curiosity since I entered the early childhood field. It fascinates me how there are so many different ones to choose from, but at the same time they all have at least one goal in common and that’s to educate children whether they be younger or older. The three sub topics that I came up with for the topic of curriculum where as follows:

1.    Ways curriculum foster development in young children

2.    How curriculums coincide with different states early learning standards

3.    Qualities of high quality curriculum

Out of those three subtopics of curriculum, I choose to focus on ways curriculum fosters the development of young children for the stimulation. I choose this subtopic because I can explore the different was on how different curriculums help to teach young children different things. For instance each child is given an individualized plan for their education, so they are not rushed to learn something they are not ready to learn, nor do they have to wait for their peers to catch up before they can move forward. Since children are given choices in their education, they learn to pursue their own interests. The children learn to learn for learning’s sake, to find their own order, and respect their surroundings (http://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/curriculum-instruction/is-the-montessori-curriculum-model-effective/). Then there are others like Reggio Emilia, High Scope, Bank Street, creative curriculum and etc. All of these curriculum’s focus on different ways of educating young children, in very unique ways. Often when children get into higher grades teachers focus so much on teaching test material that they forget to fully focus on the different needs of each child. Which is what I like most about most early childhood education curriculums. They build on what the children already and most of the time kind of let them learn at their own pace.

So for this stimulation process I have just been researching in debt the origin of different curriculums used in early childhood. I have been looking at information on the qualifications of teachers that teach the different curriculums, and also how effective each of the different curriculums are.   The classroom structures for some of these curriculums have also been very interesting. It has been very interesting constructing the resource chart, but during the process I have learned a lot of different terms and their meanings. I have also learned about what research really is, how it is done, and why it is so important to the early education field. Classmates do you’ll have any advice that could help during this learning process? As a reminder about resources it is very important to make sure all resources are scholarly. Also use key words when searching data bases through the school, google also a very good search engine to use it even has a section for scholarly articles and journals on different topics. Happy Researching Everyone!

Resource

 http://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/curriculum-instruction/is-the-montessori-curriculum-model-effective/

(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foundationheadstart.org%2Fimages%2F831_Creative_Curriculum.JPG&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.foundationheadstart.org%2Fcreativecurriculum.html&docid=wnsHoK2MykqjHM&tbnid=mZRKE3w0zzNhgM%3A&w=831&h=623&bih=756&biw=1607&ved=0ahUKEwiGtLuWn4bPAhUFKh4KHaCxC6cQMwgeKAAwAA&iact=mrc&uact=8)


(https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fimage.slidesharecdn.com%2Ftypesofearlychildhoodcurricula-151029013723-lva1-app6891%2F95%2Ftypes-of-early-childhood-curricula-by-arianny-calcagno-med-5-638.jpg%3Fcb%3D1446082802&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.slideshare.net%2FAriannyCalcagno%2Ftypes-of-early-childhood-curricula-by-arianny-calcagno-med&docid=8d5j-ypDikszLM&tbnid=KUupyPklHzBnlM%3A&w=638&h=479&bih=756&biw=1607&ved=0ahUKEwiGtLuWn4bPAhUFKh4KHaCxC6cQMwgmKAgwCA&iact=mrc&uact=8)