Positive Research

I love the way that medicine is helping children to survive.  I couldn't figure out how to get a post from the place I work, but wanted to share how 80% of pediatric cancer patients are now surviving.  This is so awesome and rewarding.  Although there have been plenty of negative research in the past, there are some positive aspects to research as well!!


http://www.medicaldaily.com/precision-medicine-drives-success-pediatric-oncology-80-children-cancer-cured-326856

My Research Journey

Have you ever wondered about a topic and just needed the time to complete research on it?  Not ever truly working in the field of Early Childhood Education, I have always been curious about the differences between Montessori School and standard daycare.  I have spoken to different parents and educators, but they each gave their own perceptions of the benefits.  So I decided that I would want to compare efficacy of each style.  Which child would perform better once they advanced to kindergarten?  Which teaching style is most effective when promoting development? What are the differences in a child's peer interactions and social emotional development?  I am very intrigued by each style of learning, so dissecting the information would be very interesting.

This week I am will hopefully find articles about the efficacy of the styles of teaching.  Knowing that I have to remain open minded, I will seek articles that have both qualitative and quantitative information.  Please point me in the right direction if you know of websites that could help with this search.

I had previously looked into researching other topics, but I believe this one would be most impactful for my career.  I am not a big research fan.  It intimidates me and most other people.  I enjoy learning, but the style of writing for most articles has bored me in the past.  I do however, appreciate the research that has been done in the past.  I have been able to apply the information that I have learned to several areas of my life. I can recall the days that I have completed research and felt like the women below.  Hopefully the class in the information that I receive will change my outlook on the experience.

Final Post for EC Issues and Trends

(I love pictures that explain my thoughts)

Learning about International Early Childhood has been enlightening and humbling.  I have learned that other countries are going through some of the same issues that we in the US are experiencing.  There are also other children and families that have it far worse than we do.  Childhood inequity, poverty, and protection are some of the challenges faced daily.  

  

After reaching out to an EC professional in Australia, I can see that there are problems with governmental policies and education are all around the world.  They are struggling with equity and quality just as we are.   According to my EC professional contact working in Greenway and Tuggeranong Australia, the government is decreasing access to EC for some of the most vulnerable children.  The governmental jobs for families require additional EC services.  The need for facilities would require for some children to be eliminated or not have access to the programs.  It is like the children’s families are being put on a ranking system to see who gets service and who doesn’t.  Also, quality education would be compromised to accommodate for the lack of facilities.   

Childhood poverty is an ongoing issue in many countries.  The scarcity of food, clothing, healthcare, and the lack of education have caused millions of children to die prematurely.  The situation has caused many organizations to get involved when others turn their backs.  I have also learned that UNICEF is a great resource for information regarding issues in the world regarding children.  They provide shelter, food, clothing, education, and so many other supplies to not only children but their families as well.  I recently read about UNICEF providing protection and healthcare for children susceptible or previously involved in trafficking.  Their experiences are horrendous and very few people reach out to help them escape. 

My personal and professional outlook on various issues has made want to do more. Sending clothing to another country isn’t enough if they are worrying about if they are going to eat.  I have a personal goal of increasing my giving and volunteer time.  Many people can give their money, but fewer people give their time.  In my opinion, time can be more valuable than money.  I am very blessed to be in my current situation, but I always have to remember that I too could be in their shoes.  Many people forget they may only be 1-2 paychecks away from being in the position that you look down on.