Web Resources, Part 3

http://www.acei.org/acei-news  Association for Childhood Education International

This week I chose to focus on a tab within the website.  The tab I chose is News and Publications.  Within that tab are several subtopics- ACEI News, Global News, Blog, ACEI Publications, Bookstore, ACEI Radio, and Enews.  A topic in ACEI news was actually a blog discussing positive childhood through play.  I especially liked a blog by Aileen Puurveen-Abma:  

The guiding principles specific to global educational policies and practices therefore, must equally consider each particular developmental area in the context of the whole. 
“S” social development “I can learn to reach out to others, share and have friends”
“P” physical development “I can learn to move my body that best expresses my abilities”.
“E” emotional development “I can learn to believe in myself and love who I am”.
“C” Cultural development “I can learn and celebrate who I am in the context of others”.
“I” Intellectual/ cognitive development “I can learn to succeed to the greatest of my ability”.
“A” Artistic development. “I can learn to freely express myself through the arts”.
“L” Language and land development. “I can learn to communicate to others and to the earth itself”.

(Puurveen-Abma, 2012)

In the Global News section, there was a great article about the importance of early childhood education and its connection to health.  In a paper within the Global News section many of the same issues and solutions we have studied this week are also said to be relevant for communities around the world.

 ACEI Radio had several webcasts that were interesting including “The Impact of Media on Children” and “Appropriate Goals for Learners in Pre-Education for All Global Monitoring Report: pre-K and Kindergarten”

Pre[K]Now: A Campaign of the Pew Center on the States
http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/initiatives_detail.aspx?initiativeID=31672

On this website this week I chose the Research and Analysis tab.  There was a great report about funding for public pre-k titled “Return on Investment: Monetary Benefits and Cost of Evidence-Based Public Policy”.  It was stated that because state aid and property taxes are going down, school divisions are losing funding.  This causes school divisions to either lay off staff or cut programming and/or benefits.  It also mentioned that the number of male teachers in early childhood is decreasing because of the economy. 

There was also a section on webinars.  One that looked particularly interesting was the home visiting webinars.  Because this is one of the new hot topics in early childhood, I looked at opportunities to participate in those webinars.

I am really enjoying reviewing the websites.  There is so much great information to support the cause of high quality early child care.  This is important as we seek to find new funding sources for our programs.

References

Education for All Global Monitoring Report . (2012, April ). Expanding equitable early childhood care and

education is an urgent need.  Policy Paper 03.  Retrieved from

http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0021/002160/216038E.pdf

Puurveen-Abma, Aileen. (2012, June 7). Promoting a Positive Childhood. [Discussion group comment].

                Retrieved from the Association for Childhood Education discussion group:

                http://www.acei.org/blog/entry/attacks-on-education-1.html