Time Well Spent

It has been an amazing journey taking this course because I have learned to trust myself, be open to others,  stay focus on my goal  and work hard that I can achieve anything.  I still could not believe how I survived this course.  I started this course just daring myself if I can pass the admission part of the process and I did. Then I said to myself, alright let me try if I can survive one course, then the next and then the next and as we go on it became interesting because it is not about me anymore. Each course has drawn me to think deeper and  be committed to make a difference in each child, each family and it grew into our commitment to the whole society and the whole world as well. I never thought that this course will transform me into a different person.

I grew up believing and accepting that I will never ever take any higher education because I know that my passion and commitment is not enough to get me through academic excellence- you need to be smart / intelligent  to have a Master's Degree  or any degree and I prove myself wrong. I have learned that  hard work pays off, trusting and believing in your own self is very important and with the support of community of practice such as in this case- my colleagues and instructor made everything  and anything achievable. I would say that my family played a very important part too because without their understanding and sacrifices- all else will fall.

We started this course making a wordle and I would like to end this course with another wordle that I created . All the words I put in there represents the feelings and lessons learned from this course. I made it all in the present tense because I would like others in our field to always look what is needed to be done now and to continue to look forward to improving the field of early childhood education.  

 

This has been a life changing experience for me because I never thought I will survive this course. I thought that being of different culture will be a disadvantage for me but I have found strength in being different because you have respected my point of views and I really appreciate you all for accepting me for what I am.  I am also thankful for your comments whether you agree or disagree with my opinion, I just happy knowing that you understand my postings (did you?) even with limited English word on hand for me (hehehe but seriously,  it is not easy being a second English language learner).  I still could not believe it....I MADE IT, WE MADE IT! Without your help and your encouragement through our discussion board and blog assignments, I would not be able to survive this course. I am really grateful to all of you and to our instructor- Dr, Teri, who is a great motivator, and supporter. Thank you for your patience and your guidance. You led us in every step of the way until the end of the Capstone project. You challenge us but also inspired us to believe in ourselves and because of that I am really thankful for you.

 It is true, we are done with our Capstone Project, we will receive our transcript and diploma, everything we accomplished will now be on papers. It is very important that we think now, what  are we going to do next. It is my strong hope that we not forget what we learned and apply it in our work and in our life. I have found Maya Angelou's quote which is nice to remember and also applicable to our advocacy cause.

"It is Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning". Maya Angelou .    

Now that we are equipped with tools we need to serve our children and families better, it is about time to put into practice what we learned and make a difference in the society and the whole world. It is truly a time well spent with all of you. Wishing you all the best and I am hoping that we will cross our path one day. Maraming Salamat Po (Thank you very much) and ALOHA TO ALL MY ECE OHANA ( (Thank you to my ECE family)!

You may keep in touch with me through my e-mail address: anabel.hermosura@navy.mil and my phone number is 808-203-0777/ 808-472-0294.

Week 6: Blog Assignment: Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

I was particularly drawn into looking at the site of the International Step By Step Association (ISSA) because I would like to know more about it. This is the first time I heard about this association and I am curious about the work they do for the early childhood field. The ISSA was established in 1999 in Netherlands. It is  a membership organization that connects professionals and organizations working in the field of early childhood development and education. It promotes equal access to quality education and care for all children, especially in the early years of their lives. It provides comprehensive set of educational services and advocacy tools to influence family reforms  for families and children focusing on children zero years old to primary school (http://www.issa.nl/index.html).

Job opportunities available  were Finance Manager, Office Coordinator,  Program Manager  and Senior Program Manager. I am more interested with Senior Program Manager. The Senior Program Manager works closely with the Program Director in coordinating the development and implementation of the ISSA programs. He or she supervises implementation of ISSA’s programmatic activities and ensures high quality performance of the organization. The Senior Program Manager holds management responsibilities and reports to the Program Director.

Qualifications needed for this job: You should have a Master's Degree or equivalent academic qualification in a related field or Doctoral Degree is an advantage, knowledgeable in the field of early childhood education  and ISSA's profile and programs is an advantage and should have good understanding of young children and families in Central Eastern Europe (CEE)/Central East Asia (CIS).

Another organization that caught my attention is the UNICEF . It is an organization that advocates for the rights of the children, influencing decision-makers and the variety of grass roots levels to turn the most innovative ideas into reality. They are part of the Global Movement for Children - a broad coalition dedicated to improving the lives of children, encouraging young children to speak and participate in the decisions that affects their lives

There is temporary appointment for Education Specialist- Peace Building and Emergency Preparedness for UNICEF Office in South Asia available for those people who are passionate and committed to making a difference in our children's lives. Working to advocate for the rights of the children all around the world. Qualification for the job includes strong management skills and ability to conceptualize and negotiate for issues relating to human and social development , ability to communicate- speak and write in English language and experience in experience in Social Cohesion is an advantage.

 I am particularly interested in this kind of job because I would like to be a part of an International Organization that is looking after countries around the world particularly in Asia because I would like to go back to the country where I grew up and help reform their early childhood policies or advocate for the rights of the families especially their children.  

The only concern I have with these job opportunities  is being assigned abroad. The ISSA is situated in Netherlands while the UNICEF is in South Asia. If I will be assigned to the Philippines where I grew up, it would be much easier because I can work as the coordinator or translator. It will help get the accurate information and sending the message to families and children would be easier. I am not closing my options about moving abroad, given the opportunity to bring my family with me, then I will take any opportunities that offers working for the benefit of children and families.

Reference:

International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.issa.nl/index.html

United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.unicef.org/

                                                      

 

 

 

WEEK 4: Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Children's Defense Funds, Commander, Naval Installation Command(CNIC) particularly The Fleet and Family Readiness and National Military Organization were the three organizations or community of practice that appealed to me. I chose these organization because they advocate for the rights of the families especially the rights of children.

The Children's Defense Funds which expresses deep concern about the number of children growing in poverty, poor health, housing, poor education and family and community disintegration. I would like to be a part of the committee that works directly with families and children, probably a liaison, program field coordinator or become a child advocate lobbying for children's rights. Promote legislation related to child care, quality care and education for every child, inclusion program for children with special abilities, housing and health care and employment opportunities for families stricken by poverty.

I also chose CNIC particularly the Fleet and Family readiness because this community of practice is directly involve with military families. They support both active and inactive military soldiers, single or dual military, retired, veterans providing education, training programs, readiness programs, housing, child care, recreational programs and counseling. I would like to become a Military Family Life Consultant (MFLC). The MFLC program augments existing military support programs by providing short-term, problem-solving, non-medical counseling to service members and their families(MHN Government Services, 2012). Specially trained on military-specific topics, MFLCs provide education and information on a variety of issues that warriors and their families may face throughout the deployment cycle (http://www.realwarriors.net). I would like to be a counselor, helping families and children develop an action plan addressing their problems or behaviors on issues that occurs within the family lifestyle. These includes: common stress reactions to deployment, relocation, separation, loss or grief, resiliency and other emotional or behavioral concerns which are common to military families and children to experience.
In the previous blogs we have, I mentioned about  serving military families whether it is a paying or non-paying job. I would like to be a volunteer at the National Family Organization which supports military families and children by providing support system, scholarship grants to military spouse, counseling, recreational program such as the Operation Purple and sending troops support letters and food and items from home to show our appreciation for all the sacrifices they do in order to enjoy the freedom we have at home.  
These jobs mostly require an experience working with families and children, a background in social work or psychology. Working in a military facilities or program a veteran or military spouse preference is always the priority and if you are already within the organization. You should also have a Master's degree or Doctorate degree in the field of Psychology, Social Work , Early Childhood Education or any related field that deals with human relations. Volunteer work for National Military Family is open to anyone who is willing to support or give donations and time for the organization. Some of the jobs do not specify the background clearance but I believe that jobs or employment working with families and children should be required whether it is a paying or non-paying job for the safety and security of families and children.
Reference:
http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/
(http://www.realwarriors.net).

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

The three local or state organizations or communities of practice that appealed to me were the Hawaii Association for the Education of Young Children (HAEYC) , National Family Association and the Commander , Navy Installations Command . I chose  HAEYC which is an affiliate of the National Association for the Education of Young Children because they shared the same vision of making sure that quality education and care is accessible and affordable to all families and children especially those who cannot afford it. I would like to be a part of a committee which creates policy for families and children making sure they get the funds for quality life and education programs. Another community of support I would like to join or be involved is the National Military Family Association. I would like to be a part of their Operation Purple Program which aims to empower military families and children to develop and maintain healthy connection and relationships (http://www.militaryfamily.org). We all know that military families make great sacrifices of being away from each other because of deployments and this is one way we can support them. This program also serves the children and families of wounded soldiers. By sharing my experiences hopefully will make them feel they are not alone on this journey. Lastly, I have chosen the Commander, Navy Installation   Command or CNIC because of their Family and Fleet Readiness Program.) They are  responsible for policy development, resourcing and oversight of quality of life programs for Sailors and their families. FFR enables a ready Navy force through programs such as Family Readiness, Fleet Readiness and Housing programs. I would like to be a part of the Family Readiness division which provides programs and services to family and fleet such as relocation assistance, information and referral, financial management counseling, spouse employment services, family advocacy and the transition assistance program (http://cnic.navy.mil). Child and Youth Programs including child development homes and centers as well as school age centers were also a part of this program.

Any job opportunities that will cater to families and children always interests me because I would like to help out and make transitioning easier of families and children. Whether it is  employment or volunteer work, it always inspires me because I know how it is to be in their shoes. I had the support I need when I was a military and spouse and now that my husband is retired, I would like to give back the support I got- making sure they get the help and support they need.

To have the first priority in hiring is always being a military spouse and already working within the organization. The minimum requirement to work as a Child development provider is a high school graduate, with CDA, Associate degree or Bachelor's degree, experienced working with children and most especially having a cleared background clearance. Sometimes the experience can make up for the education or the other way around. The good thing about having a higher education is the ability for professional growth. I can apply for Program Director, Asst. Director, Trainer or Coordinator whichever I prefer but for me the most important qualification is being able to reach out and communicate well with the families and children.  As what I have mentioned, it does not matter to me whether it a paying job or a volunteer work, I will accept an offer just to give back to the community of practice who has given me and my family the support we need when we were deployed.

Reference:

http://cnic.navy.mil/CNIC_HQ_Site/WhatWeDo/FleetandFamilyReadiness/index.htm

http://hawaiikeiki.org/public-policy/critical-issues/

http://www.militaryfamily.org/our-programs/operation-purple/

Week 8 : Maraming Salamat Po sa Inyong Lahat (Thank you very much to all of you)

As an educator we always plan ahead and think about the things we can do to help our children learn things about themselves and things around them.  This course has given us a the importance of anti-bias setting and the implementation of programs that promotes equity and diversity no matter who you are or where you came from. It has given us tools or strategies to use to create an anti-bias setting and programs that will help children speak up for themselves, be proud of who they are and do something to eliminate stereotype or biases.  For us it is all about our families and our children which is a very good thing, then I stopped and started asking myself, what else is there to write about the lessons learned from this course? As I reflect upon the things we do for others, something came up and thought about myself as an educator. I remember that I should do something about myself first before I can help others. It is true that we have to know ourselves better, understand our own responses to children and families I worked with.  I need to learn about my own biases and make some changes on the way I perceived families and children. I have to be open minded and learn how to respect and accept other cultures that are different than mine and only then that I can create an anti-bias education.  It also takes a lot of passion and commitment to create it.

Now that this course is about to end, I am hoping that we continue to reflect on the things we do for our children and families and it is my strong hope that we do not forget what we learned here on this course. Giving our families and children an opportunity to share who they are and work together  for the benefit of our children. I hope we continue to seek learning about ourselves as well as about the children and families we serve and learn how to deal with them in many different settings.

I would like to thank you all for your contribution in making this course very educating and interesting. Your discussion post and remarks or comments on our discussion board and blogs inspired me to keep on going and finished this course with you. I am really grateful to have met you and the bonds we share is like friendship in reality-supporting each other and working together even if we do not see each other  in actuality. I wish you all good luck and hope you will have a happy holidays to come.

To Tammy, thank you too for all your responses to our discussion board and your positive comments on our grade book. Your encouraging remarks made a lot of difference. You also kept us from going and going until the end of this course. I wish you good luck and hope you continue to inspire more educators to pursue their quest for higher education.

To all of you, Maraming Salamat Po (Thank you very much)!