Code of Ethics

We shall...

Demonstrate in our behavior and language respect and appreciation for the unique value and human potential of each child.

Appreciate childhood as a unique and valuable stage of the human life cycle

Appreciate and support the bond between the child and family

Build relationships with individual children and families while individualizing the curricula and learning environments to facilitate young children’s development and learning.

Engage in ongoing and systematic reflective inquiry and self-assessment for the purpose of continuous improvement of professional performance and services to young children with disabilities and their families.

Continually be aware of issues challenging the field of early childhood special education and advocate for changes in laws, regulations, and policies leading to improved outcomes and services for young children with disabilities and their families.
                                                                                                                                             NAEYC/DEC

Each of the areas I chose to focus on have to do with respect for the child and family. Respect in the way we communicate, our willingness to get to know the child and family and plan interventions based on individual needs; respect for the bonds of family, regardless of our personal view; our willingness to examine ourselves and our methods to best meet the needs of children and families; and our diligence in staying current and advocating for change. I have been recently challenged in these areas myself or witnessed a lack of respect in our local system prompting attention. I am, and will continue to be, a voice for children and families.

Course Resources

• Children & Nature Network: http://www.childrenandnature.org
• Michigan's Great Start System:  http://greatstartforkids.org/
• Center on the Social Emotional Foundations for Early Learning: http://csefel.vanderbilt.edu/
• Head Start Body Start:  http://www.headstartbodystart.org

NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap 

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf 

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf 

NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf 

NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf 

NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf 

Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53. 

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller 

FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf 

Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

Early Childhood Organizations

 National Association for the Education of Young Children http://www.naeyc.org/

The Division for Early Childhood http://www.dec-sped.org/

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families http://www.zerotothree.org/

WESTED http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm

Harvard Education Letter http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85

FPG Child Development Institute http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm

Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/

HighScope http://www.highscope.org/ 

Children’s Defense Fund http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Center for Child Care Workforce http://www.ccw.org/

Council for Exceptional Children http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

Institute for Women’s Policy Research http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm

National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/

National Child Care Association http://www.nccanet.org/ 

National Institute for Early Education Research http://nieer.org/

Pre[K]Now http://www.preknow.org/

Voices for America’s Children http://www.voices.org/

The Erikson Institute http://www.erikson.edu/  

Websites:

• World Forum Foundation
  http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
  This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage
• World Organization for Early Childhood Education
  http://www.omep-usnc.org/
  Read about OMEP’s mission.  
•  Association for Childhood Education International
  http://acei.org/about/
  Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.  
Publications
• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

Words of Inspiration & Motivation

              








 Victor with Jean-Marc Itard
  

"The opposite of play is not work, it is depression."

  Brian Sutton-Smith

Check out this inspiring video on PLAY from the National Institute for Play:
http://nifplay.org/index2.html

1799- Jean Marc Gaspard Itard was advised by his mentor not to waste his time trying to help the wild boy named Victor because he was a “hopeless Idiot”. 

                                             

                 But Itard PERSEVERED.
                                                                                       



 

                        
                                                
Sue Bredekamp, Ph.D.

 

"Research indicates that many strategies can work. Good teachers acknowledge and encourage children’s efforts, model and demonstrate, create challenges and support children in extending the capabilities, and provide specific directions and instruction. All of these strategies can be used in the context of play and structured activities."

                                                                                                                            Dr. Sue Bredekamp

Speaking of the Perry Preschool Project, Ypsilanti, MI

"The reason they weren't succeeding had nothing to do with their innate intelligence but had to do with the fact that they needed the tools to be able to  survive and thrive in the public school system."                                                         

                                                                                                             Louise Derman Sparks

                                                                                                             Professor Emeritus

                                                                                                             Pacific Oaks College, CA

"It's not all about you. You gotta take your ego out of it and think about what's best for the child and you care about them enough to help them transition to what comes next."

                                                                                                            Renatta M Cooper

                                                                                                            Program Specialist

                                                                                                            Office of Child Care

                                                                                                            L.A. County Chief Admin. Office

"When I think of the word passion and the meaning of the word passion, what comes to mind is what are my values? What are my beliefs? what are the ideas that lead me to action? What do I do so naturally that perhaps seems natural to me but challenging to others? What's in my heart?

                                                                                                             Leticia Lara, LCSW

                                                                                                             Regional Manager

                                                                                                             Outreach and Professional Dev.

                                                                                                             Zero to Three