Blog Post 4

Whom you observed and interacted with in your setting during this module 

I observed the interactions that took place between my supervisor (Michelle) and her daycare parents.  She was very particular to be the only person to interact with the families.  I have not worked in this facility for very long and because of this assignment I asked Michelle if it would be a problem to communicate with family members.  She said that it would not be an issue.  She has been open to the idea but with direct supervision.  I get the feeling that she has had issues in the past between her staff and daycare parents.  I did ask her why interaction between the teachers and the families were prohibited and she gave a generic response that did not make much sense.  She stated that "she owns the business and feels that it would be more personal to be the first person and the last person they see each day".  Either way, the families seemed really warm and welcoming to Michelle discussing day to day issues such as feeding times, future scheduling for care, and sometimes behavioral concerns.  When I interacted with the parents we discussed surface topics such as the weather or how their weekend was.  I feel I am still in the process of building a foundation for the parents so we can communicate more often.  Michelle does provide daily activity sheets that lists diaper changes, nap times, the food they have eaten, what kind of day their children had in terms of behavior and any specific notes of what their accomplishments/likes/dislikes were.

Any special learning experiences you may have had or an experience that provided you with insight about children and families including advocacy effort

I ran my own licensed daycare for 6.5 years and I have learned (especially through this tough economy) is that families are stretched thin.  Not just in terms of financially, but in terms of their emotional and physical abilities as well.  Some parents are working two or three jobs and have no health insurance.  I found this very unfortunate and bothersome.  Also, with the prevalence of autism, I noticed that more families have to deal with the fact that extra time and attention are needed in order for the children to feel safe and secure.  When dealing with children who had behavioral issues, I always mentioned the arts and music as a way for the children to express themselves.  Some parents agreed and some were not even aware that the arts could even help their children behaviorally.  I tried to include the arts the best I could into my program and found that the children truly thrived and enjoyed learning through the arts. 

At least two insights gained from your observations of, and interactions and experiences with, children’s families regarding advocacy efforts and needs related to your area of interest within the field of early childhood

I learned that in order to communicate with families effectively, it is imperative to understand the family unit as a whole.  Understanding their resources, their family dynamic, and their children's needs are all important factors to consider.  A second insight I gained was the fact that families thrive if given the appropriate tools.  Working as a team to insure that the families are utilizing all the resources available in their community helps strengthen the relationship.  Also, once trust is established parents become more open and I found that they are the biggest contributors to advocacy because they are the most vested into their children's future. 

Blog 3

I work in a group daycare home where the owner implements a preschool curriculum.  The ratios are one teacher for every four children and I find this arrangement beneficial to the staff, parents, and children.  While observing Michelle, the owner, I noticed that she over extends herself often.  I am not sure if it is because she has a hard time asking for help or if she does not trust others with her business.  I believe it is a little bit of both.  Michelle is responsible for her staff of three teachers and a part time assistant (a high school student who is available after school).  She handles payroll, cleaning, and curriculum planning.  Michelle also maintains various records such as child information, receipts for expenses, and documentation that is needed for Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS).  There has been scheduling issues recently because Michelle has a difficult time communicating effectively with her staff.  I do believe its due to the numerous changes in staff she has endured recently along with not being able to let go of some responsibilities.

Needless to say, it was quite difficult to talk to her about additional advocacy plans that she has initiated in the past or her plans for the future.  Michelle did advise me that she attends regulation meetings quarterly that is held by the Department of Child and Family Services.  She represents all of the group daycare homes in her county.  Michelle provides valuable information about what changes  needed to be made in group daycare homes in regard to the safety, concern and health concerns of children in her care.  I am writing my paper on how to integrate arts and music into core content areas.  One big issue that I observed is the time involved.  Michelle simply does not have the time to plan lessons  and communicate with her staff on how to implement her curriculum effectively. 

The second topic that I am interested in is how the arts help children's brain development.  Michelle has been in early childhood for over 22 years and just recently scientific research has been conducted to see the validity of teaching for the sole purpose of enhancing brain activity.  Michelle was honest in the fact that she was not familiar with any studies and the strategies of teaching for brain development.  Last but not least, my third topic question entails parent participation in the arts and how it can influence a child's success.  Michelle is a strong advocate of communicating with parents about the progress of their children.  As stated in my previous post, she provides daily sheets informing the parents of the food they ate, the activities they participated in and the mood that they were in that day.  Also, a section for additional notes is included for supplies that may be needed or for circumstances that were beyond the children's norm.  I learned that Michelle is committed to the children and families that she serves but I want to be able to earn her trust in order to help her with her day to day operations.  She is very creative and talented to see the individual learning styles of the children and it would be beneficial for her to get back to curriculum planning in order to enhance her daycare environment.