Reflection

Journal #1

Olivia Pierce
08/29/19
Chapters 1 and 8
Bulletin Board Quote: “Second, all across the united states, educators have developed research-
based programs and curricula that enable children to learn literally from the beginning of life.”
Pg. 4.

A. I’m thinking about...
Professionalism is a skill that I have been working to perfect ever since I first started working as
a camp counselor years ago. I always thought that I had to make sure I acted mature and was
able to handle myself in any type of situation, but reading about being an Early Child
Professional made me realize that there is so much more to it. In each of the six standards
outlined in chapter 1, the main recurring concept in each one was the aspect of connecting with
each individual family. Reading this made me think of my summer camp opening and closing
days, when I had to greet and interact with all of my campers’ families. I distinctly remember
conversing with parents and realizing how each family was a just a little different from the
others socially, and culturally.
The other piece of this reading that really stuck with me was learning how early childhood
education has changed in so many ways. I didn’t fully realize that curricula had been developed
to help children learn from the youngest age, nor had I realized that the Economic Opportunity
Act of 1964 was the basis for the early childhood program we have today. In a matter of
decades this act went from helping those in poverty to find work, to setting newer standards
and creating resources to help every single child succeed even if they fall behind. I had learned
about core standards before in my education classes, but until I read this chapter I was unaware
of the huge achievement gap they presented between different races, and it made me sad to
see such a large hole.

B. The reading connects to my practicum...
When I start working in the classroom, I know professionalism will be the first and foremost
skill I need to master in order to build relationships with each of my students and my
corresponding teacher. I’ve thought about how every student in my class will be different,
perhaps some will be proficient in basic skills while others learn better in a more hands on way.
Regardless, I know I will need to keep the six standards in mind when I evaluate my students on
several occasions so that I can develop the best practices for them to learn from. As a teacher, I
also know I will need to remember the standards for whatever grade I am placed in and I need
to keep them in mind as a goal when it is my turn to design activities for my class. My number
one priority is helping my students reach the next level, and if my activity is fun, but not quite
getting them to where they should be, they I know I need to change it a little. Knowing the
basics of where my students should be achieving is important for me as a teacher so that I can
use them to create developmentally appropriate activities for every student.

C. New insights I have...
After reading both chapters in the book and seeing the many ways early childhood education is
changing, I realized that I want to see this kind of god change continue throughout my years as
an educator. When I read for example, how policies and several politicians are supporting early
education more and more, I realized I want to have an impact that can reach not just my
students or their families but so many other schools and students everywhere. I want to be a
teacher that my students can look back on and say that I did something to change their lives. In
fact, I want to be able to communicate with families effectively as well and I want them to be
able to understand better and better the benefits of education at the earlier ages. It is my
belief that if parents and families can continue supporting early childhood education, we can
keep that pendulum swinging in this positive direction. In short, reading about the change in
early childhood education and seeing how I can connect to students and families as a teacher
made me see that I just want to be a part of it all.


D. My muddiest part...
For the most part I understood everything in this reading and there wasn’t anything that
particularly confused me. I understood the six NAEYC standards of professionalism and how
they can be used to help interact with families and I understand how laws surrounding early
education have made a lasting impact over the years.