Big Bang for Your Buck

On February 14, 2013, President Barack Obama spoke in Decatur, Georgia about early childhood education.  He stated, "The earlier child begins learning, the better they are down the road."  He did not elaborate on how young children are learning (play or academics) ,but Obama said that children across America are going to kindergarten on the first day behind.  Only 3 in 10, four year old children are enrolled in a highly qualified preschool.  If America invest $1 in early childhood education, we will save $7 later in the child's life.  Obama declared we get more bang for our buck when we invest in early childhood education.

While visiting Decatur, GA, Obama visited a classroom at the College Heights Learning Centers.  I thought if the president visited this early childhood center, it must be a special place.  However it was not the center that impressed me, it was the story on how they came to be.

In 1998, over 2000 Head Start children in the Atlanta area were attending facilities in deplorable conditions.  After realizing the need for a safe environment for children to learn, a group of philanthropists formed the Early Learning Project Management (ELPM) in 1999.  

ELPM’s mission is to build high quality early learning centers primarily in disadvantaged neighborhoods that provide high quality education and nurturing programs birth through five years old.   Over the past 12 years ELPM has purchased, renovated or constructed 13 high quality early education centers located in Fulton, DeKalb, Greene, Gwinnett and Paulding counties which has service over 15,000 children and families.  ELPM works with the community to allow potential owners to either buy or lease the property.  ELPM has formed also partnerships with colleges to form teaching labs at the facilities across the Atlanta area.  With these partnerships, a greater amount of centers benefit causing them to become better centers. 

Better centers, better children. Better children, better future!

If you would like to hear Obama's speech on early childhood education, click here: http://youtu.be/ZQco0ScAJRg

If you would to find out more about the Early Learning Project Management, click here:  http://www.elpm.org/index.php

The Value of Play from a Guyana Immigrant Father

Recently, I read an article about Indo-Carribbean immigrants and their belief about play.  In the article, it discusses how parents in the Caribbean require young children to sit still for long periods, be neat and avoid messy play.  Parents in Guyana, Jamaica, St. Vincent and Grenadines expect preschoolers to write, to dress themselves, to read, to express themselves verbally, to identify numbers and count, to take care of themselves, and be courteous – or display manners.  In the article, they interviewed parents from these countries who had immigrated and lived in the United States for ten years raising preschool children and asked them about the value of play.  Mothers tended to believe that play had academic benefits while fathers sought out play with physical benefits.

As I read this article, I thought about a friend who is from Guyana.  He came to the United States twenty years ago and is raising his five year daughter in the United States.   As I observed the two interactions, I noticed rough and tumble play like egg fight in which they throw plastic eggs at each other or how they threw small balls up and down the stairs.  He limited her playtime and encouraged her to calm down often.  However, I also observed the importance of academics.  He allowed her to use the computer to play educational games on websites like PBS Kids and Starfall. 

My hope is to one day interview him and see how his views of play have changed throughout the year, but for right now, it is not possible.

Here are the questions that I have for him:

1.       What was play like in Guyana? 

2.       What kind of toys did you play with?

3.       What types of things did you play?

4.       Did your parents play with you?

5.       Was there a combination of play and academics when you were younger after school?

6.       Did you play with J. when you arrived in the states?

7.       What was your view of play when you first came here?  Did you think children could learn through play?

8.       How have your thoughts of play changed since you came to the US?

9.       How much time is M.  allowed to play when you have her?

10.   How much time is devoted to academics?

11.   Do you think play promotes learning?  In what ways?

Reference:

Roopanarine, J. & Jin, B. (2012).  Indo Caribbean immigrant beliefs about play and its impact on early academic performance.  American Journal of Play 4(4), 441-463.

Play Time

How has play influenced your life?   Did your parents play with you as a child?

I grew up in a household with two brothers and one sister.  There was always someone to play with and always someone to get in trouble with.  I remember playing "snake" one Sunday after church.  We were probably not much older than this photo.  We had made paper snakes in Sunday School.  My mom was counting money in the backroom while we we were running in the sanctuary with the paper snake.  It was Christmas time and the church was decorated.  Can you see where this is going?  I'm not sure which one of us did it, but someone ran into the tree. CRASH!  The tree fell and the handmade ornaments were destroyed. Needless to say my mom was not too happy, and she was not too thrilled to tell the elderly lady that we wrecked her ornaments.  

My mom was busy while we were growing up. She had cooking, cleaning, laundry etc to do for the family. She rarely played with us.  However, even though she did not play with us, it was not her that I longed to play with us.  It was my dad.  I was jealous of dads that did things with their kids. It was apparent when my uncles would visit. They would be wrestling or playing basketball or going on bike rides with us. Where was my dad? Who knows?  Probably sitting in the living room reading the newspaper or taking a nap.  

Kids desire rough and tumble play.  Normally, you receive this type of play from your fathers.  However, I did not.  To this day as I look for a mate, I look for someone who will play with their children. Play or the lack of play impacts us even into adulthood.

Introduction

I started this blog as an assignment for my class.  You see I am a doctoral student at Walden University.  I am studying early childhood.  I haven't decided what I am going to do with this degree, so for right now, I am going to just enjoy the ride - and not stressing over it too much.

But enough about my assignment.  Let me tell you about me.  I am a pre-Kindergarten teacher in southern Maryland. This is my first year teaching Pre-K.  I taught kindergarten for nine years.  I love my job. I have a great group of students and a terrific assistant. I really don't know how teachers work without one. 

I am not married nor do I have any children of my own. But I do have three adorable nephews. The oldest one aka My Buddy is in kindergarten this year.  Being an aunt is great, it is like being a grandparent but you are still young.  You can spoil them, do cool things with them and then let the parents handle the rest.  I tried to see them as often as I can. They grow up so quick.

I love football.  My favorite team is the Steelers even in Maryland.  The Redskins fans have not converted me yet.  I don't watch any other sports, so when football season is over.  I am a little sad. 

When I have a little free time - ha - I like to go shopping.  I like to cook.  I like to find recipes and try them out.  My life is busy.  With studying, church, and a second job, time is of the essence. 

Whew... getting tired just typing this.  Here it is:  the life of a doctoral student....