GETTING TO KNOW YOUR INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS PART I

Because I have had no luck making contact with someone from another country, I am going to attempt to share three insights that I have learned about poverty in another country. 

After reading the article in "CHIP", I  noticed that in "Asia more than 90 million children goes to bed hungry every night" (www.childhoodpoverty.org).  This is a tragedy, but the article also informs us that 10 million children under the age of five dies from preventable diseases.  These diseases can be avoidable if poverty level was not up.  The article also stated that "most children who grow up in poverty usually becomes adults who live in poverty.  Poverty in China as declined some due to the transition from a centralized planned unto a globalism market but it has created new form of vulnerability and poverty (www. childhoodpoverty.org).

Poverty is a sad situation and need to disappear all together.  In the article, I noticed that Poverty denies opportunity to people of all ages (www.childhoodpoverty.org).



Reference

http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/

SHARING WEB RESOURCES

The organization I selected is Pre-K now.  The link is http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org.  This organization focus is to make sure that all children gain the social skills that they need as well as receive the necessary school readiness skills needed to be successful during their school endeavors.  Since I am employed with a Head Start/Pre-k program it is always interesting in finding information that can be useful in maintaining a safe and productive class.  The article from this web-resource that I thought to be most interesting was the article on "Transforming Public Education Pathway to a Pre-K -12-future".  This article was interesting as it focused on closing students achievement gaps. 

If anyone gets a chance I think that this would be a very enjoyable article for you to read.

Erica Hines

ESTABLISHING PROFESSIONAL CONTACT

For this assignment, I had to make contract with someone outside of the United States who is in the Education field. I have not heard back from the people whom I emailed to make contact with because I just attempted on Friday.  I decide to try to contact someone from Africa because I am really interested in how the Education system work there since all we ever see in the media is that children in Africa does not have the opportunity that American children does when it comes to education.  The second person I wanted to reach out to is someone in Hong Kong, since their education system is stated to be one of the more elite systems.  I wish everyone the best with this quest to learn about other Education systems across the world.

Erica Hines 

MY SUPPORT

As I reflected back on what the terms support means to me, I realize that I am very blessed to have a supportive family, co-workers, church family, community, and school-mates, and my students.  These people are very supportive in many ways.  Some are supportive on a daily basis while others are supportive when needed.  My family are supportive in many ways.  They are always there when I am up or down.  They provide me with words of wisdom, financial, emotional, physical support. My co-workers provide me with the support I need while on the job.  At the job, we are encourager's, advisers, and helpers to one another.  My classmates provide the necessary encouragement I need to get through the classes and assignments.  My students are more supportive than I can ever imagine.  They say just the right things at the right time.  They support me by provide me with the comfort of knowing that the depend on me. 

When I think about not having the support that I mentioned above, I just can not imagine how my life would be.  I don't feel that I would be as successful as I am with hearing "You can accomplish anything you but your mind to".  I believe that it would be very difficult to be motivated without the support of the people who means a lot to you.

The challenge I chose to imagine was being paralyzed on one side from a stroke.  I really don't know how I would be able to recover without the encouraging words from my parents, siblings, or children.  How would do daily activities without the initial assistance from the people who support me.  I just can not imagine the impact this would have on my life.

I am very fortunate and grateful to have the people in my life that support me the way they do. 

Erica Hines

MY CONNECTION TO PLAY

As a child, I was very happy with  riding a bike and playing football with my older cousins.  Through play I learned what teamwork was and I learned that play helped to build character.  When I was growing up there was things that girls could play and things that boys could play.  I was always getting in trouble because as a girl I was not suppose to be playing football with the boys but I was suppose to be playing with my dolls and girl cousin or watching my Granny make a quilt.   As  an educator I can say that the way things are a little the same is that there are still gender based play.  In our classroom we encourage the children to explore all types of play regardless of gender.  

Here is a quote from The National Institute of Play, that I really enjoyed reading:  " The ability of a young child to create their own sense of their mind, and that of others, takes place through pretend play, which continues to nourish the spirit throughout life, and remains key to innovation and creativity" (2009).

RELATIONSHIP REFLECTION

As I reflect back on positive relationships and the people whom I had these relationships with, I realize how blessed I am to have encounter such meaningful people in my life.

As always my parents James and Shirley Hines have had a great impact on my life.  They taught me how to be me and alway love me regardless of circumstances that occurs in my life.  Our relationship is a positive in so many ways.  If I want the truth regardless of how hurtful it may be I can count on them to give me that.  My parents are very supportive of all of my dreams and goals.  They are biggest cheerleaders.

The other people who have been positive in my life are my children Taylor and Jaylan.  They help me to push on when I feel as if the fight is gone.  They encourage me to be the best that I can be.  All I do, I do for them.  I think that our relationship is two-sided, they encourage me as I show them that dreams are reachable and that if they are going to dream, dream big and anything is possible.

My sibilings, Scottie, Anthony, and Creshauna are the other people who support me whether or not they believe in what I am doing.  They are a supportive team. 

I have several friends that have I have great relationships with as well.

On my job, I feel that my co-teacher and I have a great partnership.  We feed off of each other.  We have one goal and that is to make sure that our children are learning in a safe and nurturing environment.  We constantly support each other by encouraging each other to continue our education, give advice on raising our children as single mothers, and making sure that our classroom has a positive atmosphere.

Some of the challenges of maintaining a relationship would be lack of communication and not have the same goals or aspirations.

I am grateful for the people whom I have built these relationships with.  They are very supportive and encouraging.

Erica Hines

A NOTE OF THANKS

THANKS TO ALL WHO READ AND RESPONDED TO MY POSTINGS.

I would like to take this time to personally thank all who have read and responded to my blog.  This blog page has helped me to share my thoughts and my understanding of things that I had questions are thoughts about.  To all who have read my blogs thanks for taking the time out to read and comment on my page. 

Thank You for all you do and I hope that your journey on this road to success is accomplished.  Trust in yourself and your abilities and you will succeed.

Thanks to all,


Erica Hines