Thank you colleagues...

10:06 PM by Cortnee Ingram
Hi Walden friends! I am so glad I got a chance to work with you all. It has truly been a pleasure. I sincerely wish the best for your lives and careers! I encourage you to stay the course in the Early Childhood Field...I know you will touch many young lives!


Take care all...
Cortnee :-)
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Examining Codes of Ethics...

5:46 PM by Cortnee Ingram
The first two code of ethics I recognize to be of some significance in my professional life falls under the Ethical Responsibilities to Children section in the NAEYC's Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment article. The ideals are:


I-1.2—To base program practices upon current knowledge and research in the field of early childhood education, child development, and related disciplines, as well as on particular knowledge of each child. 

I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities, and potential of each child.

The reason I feel these are significant to my professional life is because they are the principles in which I base most of my professional goals. To make sure that program practices are up to date and culturally relevant is fundamental in any program. Also to recognize the uniqueness in the the children and incorporate that information into program practices brings a sense of belonging into the classroom for each child. Meeting the real needs of the child is crucial to a child's early education success.


The third code of ethic I recognize to be of some significance in my professional life falls under the Ethical Responsibilities to Families section of the the same article as above. The ideal is:


I-2.2—To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve. 

This ethical responsibility has significance in my professional life because I feel it is extremely important to build relationships with families in order to create the best learning environment for children. Having the families involved in their child's early education not only benefits the child but benefits the program and the community. Children have a lot easier transition when caregivers and families work together for the common good of the child. By working together, caregivers can create a more nurturing environment. 


Reference:
NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved December 17, 2011, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
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Words of Inspiration and Motivation

2:51 PM by Cortnee Ingram
One of the people that inspires me as an early childhood professional is Dr. Edward Zigler. He was a founding father of Head Start and is a great leader in the Early Childhood Field. One of the things I read about Dr. Zigler was from the National Institute for Early Education Research or NIEER. In an article titled Preschool Matters, Dr. Zigler was asked about whether preschool involves parents. His response was: 

"If you look at what really impacts children, what really influences their development, it's both the quality of the preschool experience and the parental impact. So you have to shoot for two things, to make sure that everything you do is quality and that everything you do is true to a model that includes parents, addresses the whole child and is of appropriate intensity" (NIEER, 2004).
Retrieved from
http://nieer.org/psm/index.php?article=90. 

This is a great answer. Dr. Zigler really understands what the impact is on children in the early stages of life and is trying to show how much the whole child is needing to be represented. 

Another person that inspires me in the early childhood education field is Dr. Susan Bredekamp. Dr. Bredekamp is a contributor to the NAEYC and their developmentally appropriate practices. In an interview by Early Childhood Today where Dr. Bredekamp was asked about the new definition of developmentally appropriate practices, Dr. Bredekamp said: 

"Developmentally appropriate practices are ways of teaching that vary for or adapt to the age and experience of the individual learner. So fundamentally the definition has not changed. Instead, it has been expanded to include the fact that not only do you have to consider children as individuals, but you also have to consider children as members of groups with their own cultural identities" (Early Childhood Today).
Retrieved from
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/ect-interview-sue-bredekamp-susan-neuman-learning-read. 

 I love this quote because it really hits the heart of children's needs with regard to learning. 

In the video presentation about The Passion for Early Childhood, I really enjoyed the segment from Renatta M. Cooper. She is a Program Specialist in the Office of Child Care at the LA County Chief Administrative Office. I loved to hear her passion about children and her desire to help them. One of the things she said was: 

"Working intently with children and families was almost like earning a doctorate, because every year there was always a specific challenge of, that I was in charge, I had to meet it. I had to meet it for me, I had to meet it in terms of what I was modeling for my staff, and what they would they would be taking away and incorporating into their own repertoire . And also I had to meet it for the families. I always felt that I owed the families my best."

I can identify with a lot of what she was talking about. Renatta seems to understand that you have to be fully engaged in not just children's lives, but also the lives of the people in their lives. 


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What Fuels My Passion in The Early Childhood Field...

3:54 PM by Cortnee Ingram

I had no idea when I began my journey as a learner and educator in the early childhood field that I would fall madly in love with making a MESS! That's right, you heard me, I love to get my hands (and everything else) dirty! 

Remember Carl's Jr.'s slogan...

    "If it doesn't get all over the place, it 
    doesn't belong in your face?"

Well, that's how I feel about early childhood education...

    "If it doesn't make a mess, it doesn't
    belong in your...Class!"

I have learned throughout my learning and teaching experiences that I can have just as much fun as my students. In fact, as one of my bosses expressed to me, if I am not having fun, should I expect the kids to have fun? Since being asked that question I have made it my job to make sure the kids are learning through play and getting their hands dirty along the way. We know that children learn through different experiences and learning styles. I love to get all the senses going and by doing so, the kids will have a foundation for learning that no one can take away! Every time they learn from that point on will actually build on these experiences. 

The person I credit for most of my silly, dirty, messy learning is called The Ooey Gooey Lady! That is actually the name of her website...http://www.ooeygooey.com/. Lisa Murphy (aka: The Ooey Gooey Lady) has traveled all over the country, written books, and is an advocate for early childhood experiences being fun, but also encompassing the learning needs as well. I have read her books and seen her at a conference, and I can tell you she is an amazing resource for the early childhood field. I use most of her ideas on a daily basis. They also have helped me to springboard from her ideas into more of my own. 

Without a doubt, Lisa Murphy has changed my teaching career, for the better! Make sure you check her website out!

Take care and have fun!
Cortnee :)

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Meaningful Quote...

3:23 PM by Cortnee Ingram
"Children make your life important."
~ Erma Bombeck ~

This quote is especially meaningful to me because I didn't understand what this meant until I had my first child. This has been the most life altering thing that has ever happened to me, and of course, the most important.

Since the actual birth of my son, I feel that teaching has become that something that makes my life important. Not because of how I teach, but the result that happens when a child first "gets it." 

There is nothing better...sweeter...

~ Cortnee :)
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The Giving Tree...

3:31 PM by Cortnee Ingram
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein




This is by far my favorite children's story. I read this when I was a little girl and I fell in love! It's a story about a boy and a tree that just gives and gives. At the very end of the boy and the tree's life they are still friends and enjoy spending time with each other. I love the relationship between the boy and the tree. Their relationship transforms as their lives do. I am not sure if this book made me be the giver I am today, or if I identify with the book because I love to give. But I feel the principles in this book are invaluable and should be passed on from generation to generation. Now, I love reading this book to the little ones and see how they identify with the book and its characters. 
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The Reason For My Blog...

5:14 PM by Cortnee Ingram

This blog is about my personal experiences in relation to learning, doing, and teaching in the early childhood field. It will chronicle my journey specifically through my early childhood studies at Walden University and their Master of Science in Early Childhood Education program. 
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