The organization that I have chosen to study is the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). At this stage in my professional development, the section that seemed most relevant is the research section. This conclusion is based on the fact that this section highlights a wide cross section of topics that I have been recently exposed to and that are critical in the area of early education. Topics such as quality and curriculum, access, assessment, English language learners, and special education to name a few are available for reading. It is important to be informed on the latest research-based practices that are producing positive yields in the early learning classroom. With this information, educators can make choices that will offer the best opportunities for the children in their classroom.
One statement that I found to be quite controversial on the website came in an article under the ‘What’s New’ section. It covered a report on a study by Vanderbilt University that followed pre-kindergarten students in Tennessee and found that the students showed only initial academic achievement compared to their peers, but that this faded out by third grade when these students were seen to perform worse than the same peers. The short-lived impact on the children is now the cause of many persons questioning the quality of the programs. This study is shedding quite a controversial spin on the idea of early childhood education benefitting our children and having a long lasting effect on their formal school years.
Within the website’s research window a section is devoted to economics and finance. As a result, I was able to gather information on how economists and politicians support the early childhood field. A report entitled ‘The Economics of Early Childhood: Lasting Benefits and Large Returns’ gave detailed information on the effects of a quality early childhood education throughout the nation when compared with children who were not privileged to receive an early childhood education. Also included was a report on investing in early childhood from a global perspective. There were more than 9 pages of different reports and articles under the umbrella of supporting early childhood education from a political or economic point of view.
As I browsed through the website there seemed to be a recurring theme of children maximizing their learning in the outdoors. Listed was an upcoming conference entitled, ‘Nature at Play’ which promised to inform attendees about the growing research about the connection between the time a child spends in nature and his developing brain.
Dellarece,
ReplyDeleteMy perspective of play as it relates to the outdoors is this, I believe children can develop critical thinking skills when they are able to engage in outdoor play with nature. Furthermore, children can discover the majesty beauty of nature, and learn about the importance of its existence.
For example, as a young child, my grandmother allowed me a space in her backyard to plant my very own green bean garden. It was so exciting to watch the development of that garden. To my surprise, after the green beans were ready for picking, she took them into her kitchen and cook them for our family. What an experience that was for me. I will never forget that period in my childhood.
Theresa