Time Well Spent

From the bottom of my heart, I would like to say that this program, M.S. in

Early Childhood Studies with a specialization in Administration, Management, and Leadership, has

1.     developed my skills that I need to operate a high-quality child care center with effective programs and practices.

2.     increased my knowledge deeply and broadly of child’s development and learning, family engagement, team development, leadership building, etc.

3.     made me aware the need to be an advocate for children and families in order to foster their well-being.

And, this program has motivated me to set a couple of long term goals:

1.     to continue to develop myself to be an early childhood professional by reading widely, engaging in a variety of related conferences and seminars, and networking with others for enhancing my professionalism.

2.     to be an effective agent of positive social change by collaborating with a various of communities of practice that can promote the well-being of young children and their families.

Before parting, I would like to thank my instructor, Dr. Dartt, for her valuable feedbacks and comments to my weekly assignments, and motivation and instructions through her weekly newsletters.  All these inputs have made my learning of this course fruitful and enriching.  Besides, I would like to say a big Thank You to my colleagues: Thanks for your support and encouragement that you have given me in our weekly discussions and blog assignments.  Your kind words have inspired me to move forward to complete this program of study, and motivate me to achieve my professional goals. 

Here is quote I would like to share with all of you:

“Education is all a matter of building bridges” --- Ralph Ellison.

I would like, therefore, to connect with you after parting from this program.  I believe each of us can be a valuable asset to one another.  Let’s get in touch, and please do contact me if you have an interest to work in China as an early childhood administrator, supervisor, or teacher.  My personal email address is:  kokboonwww@yahoo.com.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Many existing international early childhood organizations really impress me for what they have done and are doing to foster the wellbeing of children, families, and the early childhood field.  Among these organizations, three of them appealed to me the most:

1.     Save the Children (http://www.savethechildren.org).  Its mission is to create a world in which every child attains the right to survival, protection, development, and participation (Save the Children, 2011).  I chose this organization because it resonates with me, as it is a non-governmental organization that promotes children’s rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries.  My country, one of the developing countries, needs such an organization to improve the lives of children through better education and health care.  At the moment, Safe the Children has no job vacancy for my region here, but I can serve as a volunteer by being a fundraiser or spreading Save the Children message through social networks.

2.     United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF, http://www.unicef.org).  Formed on December 11, 1946, headquartered in New York, it provides long-term humanitarian and developmental assistance to children and mothers in developing countries.  I really appreciate what UNICEF has done for the communities of children and families all over the world.  It deserves my salute and tribute.  Currently, UNICEF offers a job opportunity in my region with a position as a Chief Education.  This interests me as it offers opportunities to work in partnership with government and a range of development partners providing leadership and strategic direction to the education sector reform process to deliver quality and equitable results for children (UNICEF, 2011).  However, I need to increase my skills and experience as the job seeks for at least ten years of relevant work experience at national and international levels in field programs relevant to Education programs.

3.     International Step by Step Association (ISSA, http//:www.issa.nl).  Established in 1999, ISSA is a membership organization that connects professionals and organizations working in the field of early childhood development and education (ISSA, n.d.).  I liked this organization as it promotes equal access to quality education and care for all children, especially in the early years of their lives. At present, there is no job opportunity available in ISSA, but it invites individual practitioners to become Friends of ISSA that dedicated to exploring and improving quality, equity, and access in early childhood education and care through innovative initiatives and partnership projects.

References:

International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.issa.nl/index.html

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/O fficial_Site.htm

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/

Job/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

       One national early childhood organization that appealed to me is the Association of Early Childhood Educators, Malaysia (MAPECE, http://www.mapece.org).  The establishment of this Association is to call upon the society in Malaysia to acknowledge the importance of early childhood education and to accord due recognition of those who perform the crucial task of laying the foundation of the child’s development. I chose this organization because it has an objective of acting as a catalyst and coordinating body for parents, members of Association, government, non-government agencies and early childhood educators to communicate with each other, discuss issues pertaining to children's development, care and education, and work with each other for the promotion of quality child care and education through hosting public forums.   I am interested to join in its Professional Training Committee as it wants to raise quality and professionalism of early childhood educators by organizing forums, courses and training workshops on new frontiers in early child care and education, skills and issues pertaining to ECE. 

        Another federal organization that attracted me is National Association of Early Childhood Care and Education Malaysia (NAECCEM).  A non-profit and nongovernmental organization, NAECCEM aims to promote the inherent rights, education and well being of Malaysian children through competent, trained childcare professionals in the home, school and community. It wants to promote and provide opportunities for consultations and professional development for those charged with the care and education of young children.  This interests me as I have the passion to share with others what I have learned so that they can develop professionally in the field. 

       Last but not least national organization that appealed to me is the Malaysia Association of Kindergartens (PTM) ---the pioneer organization involved in preschool education in Malaysia.  It interests me because since 1973, they have made vast contributions towards the continual training and professional development of preschool teachers in Malaysia.  I hope I can be part of the training team to develop more practitioners in the region that foster the wellbeing of children and families.  

       In order to competently fulfill each of the roles as described above, it requires a master or doctorate in early childhood education and a number of working experiences in the field. 

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

One local organization that very appealed to me where I can apply my professional knowledge is my church.  The church is planning to establish centers of influence in the neighborhood to reach out people who are in needs.  Hence, the church is looking for candidates who can initiate or co-ordinate some centers that connect the church to the needs in the community.  This interests me as I have a passion to set up a parenting center in the region where I can apply my professional knowledge to guide families for appropriate ways in educating and caring their young kids. 

The current role that I am engaging now---a program director in an early childhood education center, also is appealing to me.  I have been enjoying doing this type of work and will continue to committing myself into it, as it is a fulfilling and rewarding career.  This role seeks for continuous improvement of knowledge, skills, and dispositions in the field of early childhood and management and leadership.

Another local level of role that interests me as well after I have completed my Master's program in early childhood studies, is to be a community college lecturer or a guest speaker related to early childhood education.  I would like to share my knowledge and expertise with others who have the passion in doing early childhood education work, particularly in the area of management and leadership.  With the degree of MBA that I have earned previously, I believe I have the competence to do the job well.

Selected Early Childhood Organizations' Websites

World Forum

Children's Well-Being

World Organization for ECE

Children's Well-Being

Association for Childhood Education International

Children's Well-Being

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

The Division for Early Childhood

WEST ED

Harvard Education Letter

FPG Child Development Institute

Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference

High Scope

Children's Defense Fund

Center for Child Care Workforce

Council for Exceptional Children

Institute for Women's Policy Research

National Center for Research on ECE

National Child Care Association

National Institute for Early Education Research

Pre[K]Now

Voices for America's Children

The Erikson Institute

My Personal Childhood Web

My parents played important roles in my childhood lives. They truly cared about me and nurtured me with great support and patience when I was a child.

1. My Father
Though my father had passed away, my love is with him. He loved me the most among the sisters and brother. He was willingly to spend all his savings for our education, sponsoring me specially to study abroad. Though not well educated, he believed that every child should receive good education. He was a very hard working man, doing all his best to earn a living for the family. No matter how busy in his work, he was not forgetting to fulfill our necessary needs by sacrificing his time and rest. He did not like to do a lot of scoring or "lecturing" to us when we misbehaved, rather patiently reminded us of our wrongs.

It has been eight years since my father had left me, but his words and actions are well remembered vividly. My behaviors and attitudes have the shadow of his words and actions. Those who knew my father could see my father's image in my body movements and interactions with others.

2. My Mother
My mother had breast cancer before she passed away at aged 58. I missed her a lot. Among the siblings, I was very closed to her. She did a lot of nurturing and disciplines to me when I was young. Her ways of teaching and correcting me were very different from my father. She would be angry and "lecturing" or punishing me whenever I was misbehaved and disobedient. On the other side, when I was awarded by school for my academic performance, she would buy me presents or nice food to eat.

My mother was not well educated, but cared about my study. She hired someone to be my tutor for my study. However, she often checked my homework to make sure that I was doing fine in school. She would willing to sit down and listen to me whenever I wanted to talk to her. And she would be very mad when people bullied me. She would defend and fight for me when she saw someone mistreated me. This defensive behavior of her somehow influenced me a lot up until today. I would get angry and be mad when I see something is done unfairly. I would even go and fight for it if necessary.

Collection of Resources

"The greatest genius will never be worth much if he pretends to draw exclusively from his own resources"

-- Johann von Goethe

DAP in early childhood program

Influence Practices

NAEYC on Child Abuse Prevention

Position Statement

NAEYC on School Readiness

Position Statement

NAEYC on Linguistic and Cultural Diversity

Position Statement

Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation

Position Statement

Early childhood inclusion: A summary

Position Statement

Infant-toddler policy agenda

Zero to Three

Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families

Influential Practices

UNICEF on Children's Rights

Children's Rights

Children's Ministries

Church's resources for children

Center on the Developing Child, Harvard University

Scientific resources on children

Dr. Lilian Katz's blog

Project-based learning

Quotes by Ken Robinson

School kills creativity