Sharing Web Resources

The website is: http://www.preknow.org/  Newsletter: http://www.preknow.org/

What specific section (s) or information seemed particularly relevant to your current professional development?

All of the information from the pre[k]now website were relevant for my current professional development. The reason I say this is true because the website offer me a variety of information that will be helpful for me as a developing and growing educator working with young children in pre-kindergarten. In addition, the website keeps me updated on the current issues in the early childhood education. For example, the section on Educators provide for teachers information about pre-k-standards, virtual pre-k classroom tour, and articles about exceptional  teachers who are making a difference in their student lives.

Which ideas/statements /resources, on the e-newsletter, did I find controversial/or made me think about an issue in new ways?

With the recent cut backs in pre-k, this article: NC Pre-K Programs Still Up In The Air by Melvin, (2011) have only thirty-four days and counting until the new school year, and thousands of parents in Greensboro, NC, do not know if their kids can go to school. With the budget cuts most Pre-K families would have to pay part of the cost to send their children to school. These budget cuts means fees will be set on a sliding scale fee based on family income and limits the number of students who can enroll. The state legislature is going back in session and the education committee will sit down with the lawmakers and work on the budget to try to fix the Pre-K Program before hundreds of kids are supposed to start school (Melvin, 2011). This article helped me think about pre-k cuts back in a new way. In the school where I work with pre-k, the funds were cut, but the Board of Education decided to pay the extra funds for pre-k programs to run the entire year. I am grateful because the pre-k program in my community could be going through the same uncertainty as the families in Greensboro, NC. In addition, the article showed me how important the pre-k programs are for children to start learning and developing at an early age.

What information does the  e-newsletter contain that adds to your understanding of how economists, neuroscientists, or politicians support the early childhood field?

According to the article, Education funding  a vital investments by Zucker, (2011), talks about how the country and state are neglecting to provide funding that provide education for children and train future workers are in trouble. With cuts to local, state and national education budgets are putting limits for highly educated and motivated individuals who will be future parents and leaders. In addition, we must educate and train children to compete globally in a complex world. Our future as a nation is being determined by the quality of education and training we provide today. Especially, in the areas which we have been weak: science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Economists, neuroscientists and politicians must continue to work together to invest in education funding because supporting education should not be a hard decision (Zucker, 2011). Families, children, educators, and health providers are supporting and depending on them to help save our educational programs throughout the country.

What other news insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did I gain from exploring the website or newsletter?

The pre[k]now website: http://www.preknow.org/ : under the Fact Sheets, I learned about the benefits of high quality Pre-k provides for children, their families, and their communities. Pre-k benefits are: successful students, responsible adults, stronger communities, and pre-k improves efficiency and productivity in the classroom. In addition, the pre[k]now website: http://www.preknow.org/: offers a fact sheet for Pre-K and Latinos. Our country future commitment to provide high-quality early childhood education programs for all children. Especially, the Latino population which includes: demographics, school readiness gap, enrollment, English Language Learners (ELLs), and assessment. This section on the pre[k]now website provided me a lot of  information about working with Latino children is a trend in the early childhood field that I needed to learn about.

Reference

Melvin, L. (2011), NC Pre-K Program Still Up In The Air, Retrieved July 22, 2011, from http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/183759/57/Pre-K-Program-Still-Not-A-Go

Zucker, A. (20111), Education funding a vital investment, Retrieved July 22, 2011, from http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/jul22/education-fundinga-vital-investment/