My Final Blog

Here we are! The end of a lot of hard work and sacrifice. I for one have sacrificed my yoga practice in order to study and complete assignments. I've also sacrificed a lot of sleep. I know you all have made plenty of sacrifices yourself to complete this degree. 

I want to take a moment to to thank each of you and my instructors for every discussion board response, blog response, compliment, and words of encouragement. These have guided, encouraged, and directed me each and every week. Some of our courses have been easy to grasp and others have required significantly more effort. I can count on all of you to push me further than I ever thought imaginable.  

            

                               

I have learned many valuable lessons in this program. First, I learned that I don't have to know everything. I just need to know how and where to find it. I have learned to research before I ask questions and in doing so, I want to pass along this skill to others. Teaching people how to research is something that is now being incorporated into my trainings. Second, I have learned that I am capable of learning from an online program. I know this sounds odd, but I was really nervous about using an online program at the beginning. Technology is not the issue. I am a face-to-face, conversationalist, so online is a little intimidating to me. Third, I have learned the importance of effective and productive written communication. This has greatly improved my written communication and allows me to set an example within my agency. 

I plan to to continue my work in early childhood education working with adults. My long-term goal in this area is to support and educate teachers in my agency in order to create a positive work culture. Along these same lines, I plan to complete my doctorate in education within the next eight years. This will enable me to work with adults at the college level in early childhood education. 

I also want to include a video for you. I used this video in our blog many months ago but I still love it. It reminds me of why we teach, why we work so hard, and why it makes a difference. 

International ECE Communities 

UNICEF 

UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN'S EMERGENCY FUND

"UNICEF works in 190 countries and territories to save children's lives, to defend their rights, and to help then fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence" 

(https://www.unicef.org/what-we-do). 

The ideals espoused by UNICEF create an overarching system of world-wide support for children concerning a wide variety issues for children and families. Whereas some organizations are concerned with specific issues, UNICEF is concerned with all issues related to children's well-being including child protection, child survival, education, emergencies, gender, innovation, supplies for children, and research. 

UNESCO

UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONAL

"[UNESCO] seeks to build peace through international cooperation in Education,the Science, and Culture. UNESCO's programmes contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals defined in Agenda 2030, adopted by the UN General Assembly" " UNESCO's mission is to contribute to the building of peace the eradication of poverty, sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. The Organization focuses, in particular, on two global priorities" 

(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/). 

UNESCO focuses of the alleviating poverty and war through education at an international level. UNESCO believes that education and awareness of other's cultures is the foundation for creating a peaceful world. Created after World War II which was steeped in anti-Semitic sentiment cultivated in a world that lacked education and cultural awareness, UNESCO seeks to prevent this type of future occurrence by ending the attacks on cultural diversity. 

SAVE THE CHILDREN 

"In the U.S. and around the world, we give children a healthy start in life, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When crisis strikes, we are always among the first to respond and the last to leave. We do whatever it take to save children, transforming their lives and the future we share. 

Save the Children works to meet the needs of children in crisis. These issues pertain to educational opportunities, child mortality, and children escaping violence and conflict. Save the Children specializes in responding to the needs of the most vulnerable children that have suffered the devastating effects of natural disaster such as earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods by providing medical supplies, food, and child friendly spaces for safety and recovery. 

WHY? 

I chose UNESCO and UNICEF as examples of organizations that respond the the global needs of children for the purpose of preventative services, effort, and initiatives in order to create a better current and future world. As wonderful and successful as their efforts may be, natural disasters and conflict are an inevitable reality in today's world. Save the Children is there to respond in these events in a thorough and efficient manner. 

Potential Jobs

As my role in Head Start increases, I am becoming more interested in Head Start director's positions. Throughout the United States, Head Start directors have a variety of responsibility over programs of all sizes from hundreds of children to thousands. Some are employed by Community Action Agencies and others by school systems or various non-profit grant holders. On the whole, and Masters in ECE is preferred and extensive knowledge of grants and grant writing is necessary. This is where I am lacking. However, I hope to gain this knowledge in my current position. 

References

Save the Children (2018). Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (2018). Retrieved from https://en.unesco.org/. 

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/