I have made multiple attempts to contact an
international early childhood professional with no success. I have opted to use the alternative
assignment to explore Harvard University’s “Global Children’s Initiative”
website. The information I found
interesting is Un Buen Comienzo “A Good Start” project in Santiago, Chile that
was established to improve early childhood education through educator
development. The main focus of the
project is building children’s language and literacy skills along with parental
involvement and child health because 20 percent of Chilean children are
affected by pollution related respiratory disease and obesity issues.
I found some of the same issues in education that
exist in the United States also takes place in other countries such as low-income
families having lower levels of reading comprehension. The aim of Un Buen Comienzo is to help
improve literacy in children by encouraging parents to get involved; Gehrman,
2008 stated fifty percent of parents from different social classes report never
reading books to their children.
The second insight I found interesting is the
training was not limited to the educators but to everyone who worked in the
classroom to encourage more of a team approach than the traditional. I think having every individual on the same
page working towards a common goal is the best approach which leaves no room
for error. Research indicates a
high-quality education is one of the best investments a country can make for
the future of its children (Gehrman, 2008).
I found the information indicative of what are the concerns
in our education system here in United States.
Chilean professionals realize that reading is an important factor in learning
for their children and they have chosen to create a project to ensure children have
a fair chance in receiving a quality education.
Reference:
Center on the Developing Child at Harvard
University. (2010). Global children's initiative. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/
Gehrman, E. (2008, February 7). A good start:
Childean early childhood program makes a difference. Retrieved from http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2008/02/a-good-start/
Hi Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteI too, have had issues keeping people from other countries involved in communication. I actually had two women communicating with me-one from Nigeria and one from the Philippines, but they both stopped unfortunately. I am fortunate because I work with a paraprofessional that is from the Philippines originally and still has most of her family there. She has agreed to communicate about the education system and share other knowledge with me.
I found the information about low socioeconomic families having lower reading comprehension levels interesting. This year I have a kindergarten student that did not even know how to hold a book properly let alone any letters or sounds. I wonder if he was ever read to before school started. He is learning at a very slow level, but his confidence is improving each day. I am excited that he is learning, but I worry that he will never catch up to his peers.
Cynthia,
ReplyDeleteThe program in Chile sounds so promising! I hope other countries can take the results, which are bound to be good and use them as an example. Parental involvement and group training are excellent ways to improve learning. The fact that ess than 50 percent of parents were reading to their children is so sad. What wonderful, intimate moments they are missing. I sincerely hope that number improves. Sitting on my mom's lap while she read to me were the most influential aspects to my success in school. When reading and comprehension are mastered, all the other subjects are more easily learned.
Great post and interesting reference article!