As I searched globally with anticipation and angst for a professional in the early childhood field I was little overwhelmed with where to begin. I my search I thought about people I knew, the countries from which my ancestors came, people I knew who knew other people, websites given to me by my early childhood professor, the early childhood departments in universities around the world, and Facebook connections. Well, if that wasn't enough in and of itself to overwhelm me, I actually had to begin my search to find someone. The internet as we know it for communication is a wonderful tool and resource as long as things are working, for instance e-mail addresses. I know I've changed mine a time or too.
So began my search...
- I e-mailed beginning with the country of my ancestors, Bohemia then Czech Republic today. After all, there's a lot of teachers in my family. Unfortunately, that e-mail was returned undeliverable.
- I then decided well Canada is close by I'll give that a try, then I tried Mexico, and African countries. I had many, many returned undeliverable e-mails.
- I decided there had to be another way. So I told my husband about trying to contact someone to find out what the field of early childhood was like in another country. He knew a couple of people so he began calling.
- I turned to Facebook. I posted what I was attempting to do and I got a few responses.
I'm a little nervous about the reliability of my contacts as all said the time would be a challenge. For some the amount of time for others the time-zone.
I have made a contact in South Korea, Finland, and a director for ISS (International Step by Step Association) in Budapest that is contacting someone else she said, "I have contacts in 29 other countries and I'm sure you will get at least one positive response. I can not help because I do not have the time." Here's hoping!
I am open to suggestions from anyone as to how to establish a connection with someone globally. Maybe if you are reading this you know someone, have found another way to make a connection, etc. I would love to hear your ideas. Or if you have previously connected with someone and are unable to continue discussion with that professional I would be interested in continuing a conversation about early childhood with them. You may refer them to this blog.
Getting to know your international contacts-part 1
Contacts from ...
Australia, Azerbaijan, Finland, & South Korea
updated January 21, 2012
My conversation partners are as follows....
- John Tower who works as an ESL instructor in an academy in South Korea with 3-5 year olds. Also, has previous work in vietnam.
- Uliviyya Milailova in Azerbaijan who is an early childhood professional. "I represent Center for Innovations in Education, a local non-governmental organizations specialized in Early Childhood Education. We work in this area since 1998. CIE is one of the leading agencies in this sector. I am Director of CIE."
- Brenda Lempinen from Finland I have some lessons at the Turku Christian Institute. She is working to find another willing contact that works at the institute, and was unable to respond this week do to previous obligation.
- BoMi KWon -"Hi, my name's Spring! I heard that you need some help about your new plans for studying. I hope it is not late." She works in kindergartens but is not in a permanent place right now. Was also unable to respond this week.
- Scott Denkman - Holds a degree in Outdoor Education and is currently studying Law at The University of Melbourne, Australia - reading local news shared what the talk about early childhood education is there. There has been a lot in the news there on upcoming changes.
I learned that there is a big holiday coming up over the next two weeks in South Korea that may make correspondence more difficult. It is the Lunar New Year, which is huge for their country in spending time with their families. This is troubling because so far this has been the most contact.
This assignment has had it's ups and downs. One minute people are able to respond the next minute their not, and the friendliness of it has left me feeling a little down. I have also found difficulties in communication due to timezones.
World Time Zone compared:
Me - Tennessee U.S. 6:00 p.m. Saturda
Australia - 11:08 a.m. Sunday
Australia - 11:08 a.m. Sunday
Azerbaijan - 4:00 a.m. Sunday
Finland - 2:00 a.m. Sunday
South Korea - 9:00 a.m. Sunday
I would like to share a couple of correspondence responses.
But First...
I did not mention this at the beginning of this blog post, but this idea of global contacting is from my class I am currently enrolled in. I enjoy talking with people of all backgrounds so I was ok with trying to make these contacts. However, this assignment as proved to be more difficult than first anticipated.
I received several undeliverable e-mails and then I received this one.
Dear Mrs. Renfroe,
during the last courses we had some enquiries of similar type. At that time I tried to interest some of our professional experts to get in contact with participants of your course, but unfortunately they didn't have the time to do this once a week.
Nevertheless I wish you lots of success with your course.
Kind regards.
Claudia Linsel
during the last courses we had some enquiries of similar type. At that time I tried to interest some of our professional experts to get in contact with participants of your course, but unfortunately they didn't have the time to do this once a week.
Nevertheless I wish you lots of success with your course.
Kind regards.
Claudia Linsel
Not too bad so I thought well I'll keep trying, and I did. I must admit now that you never know who you know that might be in foreign places or who you may know that knows someone else. Nevertheless - Try and try and you shall succeed.
A look at Global Poverty
issues and trends
From Ulviyya in Azerbaijan: I'm not sure if this will be a continuing contact based on the rest of the e-mail. I'm hoping so, but I will have to wait and see.
Dear Virginia,
Thank you for asking. Everyhting is fine with me.
So re poverty in Azerbaijan-statistics and other information you could find through internet. Re poverty affecting me as a professional- it is difficult to tell, in general, it does not affect. But poverty affect principle of equal opportunities for all children especially for those who have disabilities, are refigee or IDPs, from low income families and etc. There are excellent UNICEF Innocenty center researches on that for the whole region of Eastern and central Europe and CIS. I would recommend to look at it. I attach some old one, but there are more recent versions.
Thank you for asking. Everyhting is fine with me.
So re poverty in Azerbaijan-statistics and other information you could find through internet. Re poverty affecting me as a professional- it is difficult to tell, in general, it does not affect. But poverty affect principle of equal opportunities for all children especially for those who have disabilities, are refigee or IDPs, from low income families and etc. There are excellent UNICEF Innocenty center researches on that for the whole region of Eastern and central Europe and CIS. I would recommend to look at it. I attach some old one, but there are more recent versions.
Good luck,
Ulviyya
Ulviyya
The article she refers to is Almaz_Education for some more than others
From John in South Korea: We were able to hold a conversation very late through the use of facebook. There were many strong points so I chose to include the conversation. ENJOY!
"I haven't had much experience with it here in South Korea. My big thing here is that kids that are in public schools don't have access to the best education that after-school/ private academies provide. Those kids may get their English education at a public school, but if the family income is low, that's their only education; whereas others get public school education and then private school education in the later afternoons and weekends as well."
Vietnam experience a statement "i saw a good bit in vietnam, but those people smile so much, you wouldn't notice their in poverty half the time".
John: There's not much here. i definitely saw a lot in Manilla a few years ago
Me: Humm. That's probably because the government keeps it hidden I don't know. It doesn't have to be just income though like i said. It can be families that look middle class but have no food at home. That's a growing trend in US
John: sometimes i think the kids come from it, but most kids usually wear the same clothes to our little academies
yeah, i've noticed that in the media
kids always wear the same clothes since they wear uniforms to public schools
Me:What is their health care like? You said a child came to school with chicken pox? What happens when they get it and come to school how are they treated and what about the kids that can't get treatment or is health care affordable for everyone there?
Does everyone work there?
John: health care is really affordable here. but kids always come to school sick, momma just sends them to school with a mask on
Me: is there child labor?
John: which doesn't make a lot of difference (in regards to the mask)
very rarely is there child labor
in family restaurants there may be somekids are always in school so they wouldn't have much time middle schoolers and high schoolers are in school from 6 or 7 am to almost 10 pm daily
Me: what about families having jobs and going to school like adult education
John: well grandmothers are involved a good bit here too there is usually three generations living together not much adult education unless it's business folks learning english or college kids getting extra classes
Me: Do a lot of moms or dads attend school and work? Education seems very important there so it's probably not that big a deal
John:rarely the moms usually spend their time shopping or with other stay at home moms the dads usually spend so much time at work they aren't very involved in their kids' lives
Me:what about other parts. Are all school like that?What about food for students at school?
John: i work at a place that runs afternoon and evening classes
the first place i was at always provided food for the kindy kids but the parents paid a large chunk for that place camps always provide the kids with a snack or two on top of the lunches
Me:Ok sounds like you are in a place where the families are fairly well off and doing ok but is there a place in education there or with children where they are struggling, and parents both work things like that. Depression, anxiety.
John: oh, i just thought of something! this country does have a high suicide rate
Me: a kid loses or a kid misses a few on a test, they just start crying
It seems in this regard students are punished and degraded by the whole family for not doing well in school. I believe this could lead to poverty situations.
How early does this start the school what age do they start doe you notice competition between siblings?
John: probably about 8 or 9, siblings are usually two years a part, almost always
Me: My notes say that poverty on children between 8-10 is harder to overcome.
John: i can see that
here's something you may want to include as well
we usually have to give these tests weekly to the students at this ESL place where i work in making these tests though -- this manager lady checks them and makes sure they are so easy that all kids make good grades
Me: That's not fair but ok
John: because if a kid is making low scores on the test, then parents call and complain, and they may pull their kids out of the academy, so they really aren't learning to differentiate much
Me: Are families involved there?
John:hard to say involved, because you only see families together on holidays or maybe saturday nights and sondays
John has always taught in an urban setting and has never been in the rural setting. He says he very fairly sees parents. I asked about his view of world poverty and he said he really had not experienced much. After we talked about the different faces of poverty he began thinking of different things he has seen places and hopes that children do not have to work and they have a clean place to live. He will be traveling to Bulgaria soon for a short vacation over the Lunar New Year.
From Scott in Australia:
Early Childhood has been in the news a lot their lately. He is new to the area and was only able to share that they are trying to find more funding for it because they believe the children are being underserved. That was good news.
I am coming to notice at least through my connections that poverty does not seem to be a top priority. It seems like people really had to search to find out what it was like for the children they work with and within their country. An awareness needs to be raised regarding this issues of poverty. The cause of poverty goes beyond the income and economy.
I look forward to reporting back from my contacts in a couple of weeks.
Me: what about families having jobs and going to school like adult education
John: well grandmothers are involved a good bit here too there is usually three generations living together not much adult education unless it's business folks learning english or college kids getting extra classes
Me: Do a lot of moms or dads attend school and work? Education seems very important there so it's probably not that big a deal
John:rarely the moms usually spend their time shopping or with other stay at home moms the dads usually spend so much time at work they aren't very involved in their kids' lives
Me:what about other parts. Are all school like that?What about food for students at school?
John: i work at a place that runs afternoon and evening classes
the first place i was at always provided food for the kindy kids but the parents paid a large chunk for that place camps always provide the kids with a snack or two on top of the lunches
Me:Ok sounds like you are in a place where the families are fairly well off and doing ok but is there a place in education there or with children where they are struggling, and parents both work things like that. Depression, anxiety.
John: oh, i just thought of something! this country does have a high suicide rate
Click below for more information on this. More in relation to bullying.
John: good example -- i've worked in camps or at school where maybe i was playing a game with the students -- spelling competitionMe: a kid loses or a kid misses a few on a test, they just start crying
It seems in this regard students are punished and degraded by the whole family for not doing well in school. I believe this could lead to poverty situations.
How early does this start the school what age do they start doe you notice competition between siblings?
John: probably about 8 or 9, siblings are usually two years a part, almost always
Me: My notes say that poverty on children between 8-10 is harder to overcome.
John: i can see that
here's something you may want to include as well
we usually have to give these tests weekly to the students at this ESL place where i work in making these tests though -- this manager lady checks them and makes sure they are so easy that all kids make good grades
Me: That's not fair but ok
John: because if a kid is making low scores on the test, then parents call and complain, and they may pull their kids out of the academy, so they really aren't learning to differentiate much
Me: Are families involved there?
John:hard to say involved, because you only see families together on holidays or maybe saturday nights and sondays
John has always taught in an urban setting and has never been in the rural setting. He says he very fairly sees parents. I asked about his view of world poverty and he said he really had not experienced much. After we talked about the different faces of poverty he began thinking of different things he has seen places and hopes that children do not have to work and they have a clean place to live. He will be traveling to Bulgaria soon for a short vacation over the Lunar New Year.
From Scott in Australia:
Early Childhood has been in the news a lot their lately. He is new to the area and was only able to share that they are trying to find more funding for it because they believe the children are being underserved. That was good news.
I am coming to notice at least through my connections that poverty does not seem to be a top priority. It seems like people really had to search to find out what it was like for the children they work with and within their country. An awareness needs to be raised regarding this issues of poverty. The cause of poverty goes beyond the income and economy.
I look forward to reporting back from my contacts in a couple of weeks.
Getting to know your international contacts - part 2
Harvard University's "Global Children's Initiative"
updated February 4, 2012
This week I am sorry to say my global contacts have not been in touch. I received one e-mail back and the response was they would reply by the weekend. This is very unfortunate because I believe I would have learned more through conversation with people than by viewing websites and reading articles. I enjoy the experience of having first hand knowledge. Should I hear from my contacts I will post their comments in relation to Equity and Excellence in their country. New Insights and Ideas
"Where you are at six predicts so many things in your life, and yet we have no way of comparing one country to another" - Gunther Fink
A health economist, Gunther Fink heads a research project in Zambia to help reduce childhood deaths caused by Malaria. This was the leading cause of death in Zambia, an African nation prior to Fink's research. In a campaign to attack the disease and improve the lives of children in Zambia many treatments were put in place. The anti-malaria initiative has had positive affects int he country. The rate of deaths has declined over the last six years. Fink has assessed children based on their physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development at age six. Currently the country determines their development by their growth in height - stunting. Fink and his colleagues developed a culturally appropriate way to measure that was suitable for this age child and began using it. Once results were seen they compared the measurements with sub-Saharan Africa. The biggest hurdle is the language barrier there, as there are over 70 languages spoken in Zambia. A partnership has been formed between the Zambia government and UNICEF. Through these efforts more children's needs are being met and it is helping to improve the economy and sustain the life of the country. "AGood Start" is a project located in Santiago, Chile. This project began in 2007. The project is an intervention strategy that works with teachers and educators providing professional development on improving education. Interventionist are working to improve children's health to improve school attendance as well as socioemotional development. There is an effort in the program to increase volunteers and parental involvement in the education of four to six year olds.
Applying the Science of Early Childhood in Brazil
Global Children's initiative is working with the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard. Scholars in Brazil, policymakers, and civil society leaders are coming together to help form more effective early childhood programs in Brazil.. They will be looking at and studying the scientific data behind early child development. This will be an effort to increase policies and strengthen leadership. They will also be translating many of the center's existing print to meet the needs of their audiences. Currently they are seeking a student intern to support the implementation of the Brazil Initiative.
"Brain Hero" is a video that has currently been translated to communicate the science of EC development
Equity and Excellence is growing throughout the world. There are many partnerships being made through governments, universities, and the sciences. People like Fink who never thought they would be working with child much less in the early childhood field are making great strides in improving the life and education of children. Equity is growing throughout the field with more people looking at the importance of an early start rather than just looking at families or high school academic rates. The more people who get involved the more the benefit will be. In a few short years illnesses in countries have improved, they are far from gone but there is improvement. There are early childhood programs that were were being over looked and under run/ under staffed that are now seeing the benefits of quality staff and environments for quality education. This is the case in Brazil and also in Australia. Topics on Early childhood in Australia can be found on this blog as well. As an early childhood teacher I am advocating and striving for equity and excellence in the early childhood field locally, nationally, and abroad.
Information contained in this blog post can be found at Global Children's Initiative
More on contacts from Azerbajan for part two can be found on the home page.
Are there any issues in Azerbajan regarding quality and early childhood professionals?
Applying the Science of Early Childhood in Brazil
Global Children's initiative is working with the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies at Harvard. Scholars in Brazil, policymakers, and civil society leaders are coming together to help form more effective early childhood programs in Brazil.. They will be looking at and studying the scientific data behind early child development. This will be an effort to increase policies and strengthen leadership. They will also be translating many of the center's existing print to meet the needs of their audiences. Currently they are seeking a student intern to support the implementation of the Brazil Initiative.
"Brain Hero" is a video that has currently been translated to communicate the science of EC development
Equity and Excellence is growing throughout the world. There are many partnerships being made through governments, universities, and the sciences. People like Fink who never thought they would be working with child much less in the early childhood field are making great strides in improving the life and education of children. Equity is growing throughout the field with more people looking at the importance of an early start rather than just looking at families or high school academic rates. The more people who get involved the more the benefit will be. In a few short years illnesses in countries have improved, they are far from gone but there is improvement. There are early childhood programs that were were being over looked and under run/ under staffed that are now seeing the benefits of quality staff and environments for quality education. This is the case in Brazil and also in Australia. Topics on Early childhood in Australia can be found on this blog as well. As an early childhood teacher I am advocating and striving for equity and excellence in the early childhood field locally, nationally, and abroad.
Information contained in this blog post can be found at Global Children's Initiative
More on contacts from Azerbajan for part two can be found on the home page.
International Contact from Azerbajan - part 3
Updated: February 16, 2012
Quality of teaching? Or quality of performance of early childhood professionals? We will have some early learning and development standards for kids. There is no quality assurance system for any educational professionals. We used to have a teacher’s attestation system, but it was stopped in late 90th because government decided that there is no reason to conduct attestation if there is no much support to teachers (it was difficult time after break down of Soviet Union) and difficulty to develop clear and transparent criteria for evaluation of teachers. Now There is some system to evaluate education professionals based on a number of articles they have produced, presentations they made, master lessons (it is called here as “open lessons “) when teachers invite colleagues, methodologists, administration, inspectors to observe the lessons teachers deliver and etc. three years ago a special Presdiden award was introduced for the best teacher of a year (appr. 7,000USD), but preschool teachers were considered as not eligible to participate in that competition.
I just attended a pre-k conference at our state capital, as part of my professional development. Do you have any opportunities for workshops or professional development to help you gain new ideas and insights into the early childhood field or classroom?
Yes: each year before the school year start teachers conferences are conducted in each school/preschool/education district; conferences of exchange when teachers come together and share their innovations and ideas; study tours to the best performing sites; education journals where teachers publish their articles; in-service teacher training institutes (there are 12 in country) which offer regular courses; trainings offered by alternative training providers and etc
Some of my professional goals are to make sure my students are having fun while meeting standards also to involve my families/parents, and community in the learning environment of my classroom. I strive to form relationships and be a leader in the field.
Would you like to share any of your professional goals.
Unfortunately, I am not a teacher, I am a manager of the not for profit organization which is implementing various projects in the field of ECE and train early childhood professionals. My professional goal is to build a strong professional organization
What are some of your professional hopes, dreams, and challenges? Some of mine are that pre-k will be available to all students one day with enough for the students we have now, plus more. Bigger isn’t always better but even children with parents that work need these programs.
My biggest dream to have ALL (including those who are disabled, street children, from rural remote area and etc) Azerbaijani children educated in early childhood settings
