*** MY TOPIC***

 The topic I chose to speak on is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the early childhood education field. I've been teaching early childhood for 3 years now and love it! I've taught children/students from ages 3-17 for 10 years or more. I've also seen, heard, and touched so many children's lives by the love, conversations, and lessons learned we've shared. To make my point sweet but quick I'm furthering my education by getting my masters in early childhood education. My goal is to find out why it's so hard for researchers to find a secure way to deal with autism.

  As an educator I've came to realize that autism in the classroom is something that's hard for teachers, parents, and the child with ASD. Most schools (private) won't except a child with ASD. Their number one reason for not doing so is because their teachers aren't equipped to deal with autism in the classroom.
 
   Public schools are legally bound to use an IEP to guide the education of a child with an ASD. IEP stands for individualized education plan.  In early childhood most feel the needs IEP's and testing is  too early foe 3 and 4 year old children. If these type of programs are in public schools why not have them in early childhood education it would outline therapy and educational programs that will be provided to help ensure a child's educational success. Therapies might include speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and behavioral therapy. The IEP might also define the time your child will spend with a special education teacher.

 Topics~
* What is the best way to help a child with ASD learn?
* Why certain schools don't accept ASD children?
* Will schools continue to be difficult when dealing with ASD children?

~ MY SUPPORTS ~

 I am very thankful that my life is filled with support. When I decided to continue my education I was hesitant. I feel I was hesitant because I felt I was too old. All the long I needed support from the people I loved the most. Having their support really made my transition much easier.

In my daily life I get support from my parents, husband, son and Walden University instructors. Without their support I don't think I would have been able to go back to school. I can truly say Walden University has offered me much support by making my transition to school easier.

My instructors at at Walden have been very helpful and considerate whenever there is a problem. My family has been supportive by encouraging me to do my best and  allowing me the uninterrupted times I have needed to complete my work.

In conclusion, we all need a support in our lives because it makes your life much easier. Having a support system helps me to be a  better person. I couldn't imagine not having any support in my life than I would be very unhappy. 

~ MY CONNECTION to PLAY~

   The two quotes that summarized what play represented for me in childhood would be PLAY is our brains favorite way of learning by Diane Ackerman- Contemporary American author, and children need the freedom and time to play. Play is a necessity by Kay Redifield Jamison-Contemporary American professor of psychiatry. As a child I enjoyed playing board games such as connect flour checkers and tic-tac-toe. Playing these games has always relaxed me. I've always liked to swing and the slide made me feel free and also eased my mind. Playing on the three or with the three made me feel great.


                                                  


    My supportive family has always been there for me when play is involved by making sure I had enjoyable things to do at home. My parents and sisters would play with me as well. As a child I had a swing set in my back yard. Play was very important to my entire family. I've always been the type of child who loved to play on the slide, swings, and merry-go-round while at school.

                                               


     In today's world play has changed somewhat because people value play as much today as they did when I was younger. Play is filled with electronics and this allows children to have less physical exercise because of all the electronic items available now.

    In conclusion, play has always been important in my life. I've learned many things from play. Play has also helped me to relax. Play is a very important role in a child's life today.


                                                        

~ RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION~

I have a adorable, caring, loving, respectful and trustworthy relationship with my family. The people I consider a positive relationship with are my parents, hubby, my one and only son, my 3 sisters, brother, and my in-laws. The ways in which each of the relationships I have with them are indeed positive and I maintained each relationship by welcoming them in into my life and my entire world!!We adopt techniques of how we approach one another. I observe and listen to each and everyone of them. I don't judge I'm open to all my family members equally.

I've learned to be very caring, warm, and responsive in all relationships with each person in order to continue our partnership. My characteristics of a relationship with my family is respect, trust, support, honesty and accountability, shared responsibility, and just love one another. My experiences with relationships/partnership would work effective with early childhood professionals because of the skills and practices that would allow me to enhance the positive development of the children in our care.

~THREE CONSEQUENCES~

***Three consequences while making contacts with others; I had to search sites and listen to global podcast....


1. The effects of Changing Demographics and Diversity on Children, Families and the EC professionals ~ Impact on Schools- Children of immigrants have lower rates of preschool enrollment at younger ages.

2. The Harlem Children's Zone, The Baby College and the amazing number of people that graduate form this college. Awesome programs they offer for parents and expectant parents.

3.The quality or equity~ New information related to the early childhood field. The many things that are going on across the nation and other countries.


*** My goal is to continue the master's program and being the best educator I know how to be, I will continue researching, reading, and learning more about NAEYC.

~ Internatinal Contacts Part 3~

Issues regarding quality and early childhood professional where I live and work will be getting the proper education and state issued license. In the state of Mississippi the standards for Literacy: Reading-Language Arts/ Early and Middle Childhood the core mission of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is to create field specific standards for accomplished teaching that are in the Five Core Propositions and that articulate the actions that accomplished teachers employ to advance student learning. With the National Board Certification a teacher must hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, have a minimum of three years teaching experience and where it is required, hold a state teaching license.
My professional goal is to complete my master's degree in Early Childhood Education. Then some day become a director of an Early Childhood Center or Head Start.

~SHARING WEB RESOURCES~

I chose to follow Harlem Children's Zone. According to the article back in April, Rheedlen Centers for Children and Families changed their name to The Harlem Children's Zone  changing their name made them better by the place they were in life and what they do as well as who they are. After, looking at The Harlem Children's Zone and seeing they services approximately 450 full and part time employees. The name only changed because they are still big at heart. They continue to improve the lives of poor children which lives in the most devastated community in America. Another interesting program they offer that I found was amazing is The Baby College. This college offers a nine week parenting workshop to expectant parents and those raising a child up to three years old. I'm amazed because not all city, states, nor communities offers baby colleges. It would indeed help young mothers to become more responsible and would really slow down or stop the large number of teen pregnancy in the world. This college provides workshops which promote reading to the children and verbal discipline over corporal punishment. Harlem's Baby College has a large number of people to graduate from this college.
By age three, children from families on welfare have cumulative vocabulary of 525 words; (Betty Hart and Todd R. Risley, Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children, Paul H. Brooks Publishing Co., 1995).

My insight as a professional is that positive things can happen in a city, state, or community while living in a devastated area.

http://www.hcz.org