Additional Resources

 Websites

This is a website link from Western Kentucky University where I received my BA:

Child Care Resource and Referral   www.wku.edu/ccrr/

This is another website that is of interest to me:

American Academy of Pediatrics    http://aap.org/

Quotes 

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth."  

~Dan Rather

If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job. 
~Donald D. Quinn

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theater.  
~Gail Godwin


A teacher who is attempting to teach without inspiring the pupil with a desire to learn is hammering on cold iron. 
~Horace Mann 

Course Resources

Position Statements and Influential Practices 

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al.  (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.

Websites:



Early Childhood Organizations

National Association for the Education of Young Children
http://www.naeyc.org/

The Division for Early Childhood
http://www.dec-sped.org/

Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
http://www.zerotothree.org/

WESTED
http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm

Harvard Education Letter
http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85

FPG Child Development Institute
http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm

Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/

HighScope
http://www.highscope.org/

Children’s Defense Fund
http://www.childrensdefense.org/

Center for Child Care Workforce
http://www.ccw.org/

Council for Exceptional Children
http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home

Institute for Women’s Policy Research
http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm

National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/

National Child Care Association
http://www.nccanet.org/

National Institute for Early Education Research
http://nieer.org/

Pre[K]Now
http://www.preknow.org/

Voices for America’s Children
http://www.voices.org/

The Erikson Institute
http://www.erikson.edu/ 

 Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
International Journal of Early Years Education

Quotes from Week 2

"Every day I go to work, look forward to it because I know the services I provide to children are to their benefit."
~Raymond Hernandez MD Ed

"I always wanted to be a teacher. My mother told me that instead of playing house, I would play teacher...I had a built in passion that it was important to make a real contribution to the world."

~Louis Derman-Sparks
 

Quotes from President Bill Clinton and T. Berry Brazelton, M.D.

Bill Cllinton

America just works better when more people have a chance to live their dreams. (speech at Democratic National Convention, July 26, 2004)

The best social program is a good job.

I do not believe we can repair the basic fabric of society until people who are willing to work have work. Work organizes life. It gives structure and discipline to life.

T. Berry Brazelton

Parents don't make mistakes because they don't care, but because they care so deeply.

Grandparents who want to be truly helpful will do well to keep their mouths shut and their opinions to themselves until these are requested.

Personal Childhood Web

Mary Watkins: My mother is the reason why I am the woman I have become and I love her for that.  Even after her death, she has inspired me. Not a day goes by when I am not reminded of her. When I was younger, I always seemed to be sick. My mom was always by my side. I remember having my gall bladder removed and the first thing she did was bring me an angel to sit with me while she was away.  Three days before I went into the hospital, she had been hospitalized and been diagnosed with diabetes so she was unable to stay with me like she wanted to. I love my mother with all my heart.

My Mother and Brother at my Graduation: Our last family picture before she passed away three days later.

 
Myrtle Watkins: My Grandmother has been my rock especially since the passing of my mother.  She has continued to push me to further my education since she was unable to do so. She has always given me all her love, attention, affection, and anything else I could ever want.

                                              My Grandmother and I at my graduation dinner.

Robin Watkins: My aunt has fought for me in ways that many others have not. She was really young when I was born but she has been there to watch me grow. I remember her trying to sneak me into BINGO when I was probably a week away from being 18. It made me mad at the time since they never carded before but now I laugh about it.

                              My aunt, or should I say "my twin"...atleast that's what I've been told.

Marcus Watkins: My brother inspires me every day. He is five years older than me but is still a big kid. There are days when I wish I could be just like him; extremely kindhearted, carefree, and blind to the evils that exist. I truly believe that his inability to see the bad in people has shaped the person that I have become. I see those characteristics that he does not see. I love my brother and would not change anything about him. We fought as kids over small things like watching the living room tv but through it all, we have looked out for each other.

My Brother, my Mom, and me.

My Boyfriend and his family have excepted me into their lives and have treated me like family from the beginning. Without them, I don't know how I would have made it through the loss of my mother and also through some of the other issues I have experienced. I truly believe that God places people in our lives for reasons and their reason was to save my life and to show me what unconditional love feels like.

       Birthday and anniversary celebration with my boyfriend's family. He always looks surprised.

Christmas 2008 with my boyfriend's family. It was a bitter sweet Christmas because I had just buried my mother nine days prior.

A story that touched my heart.

Friday afternoon, one of my parent came to get her daughter. I have been talking about finding another job because I am struggling financially. The mother looked at me and said, "Please don't leave, at least wait until after Abby's birthday. She really loves you. Matter of fact, she has been singing a song about you all weekend. All we have heard is 'I love Ms. Kim, I love Ms. Kim, I love Ms. Kim.' She has sung this song all day". 

Needless to say, this touched my heart. I never really thought I was making an impression on the kids, yet alone, the parents. I have a few parents who will not leave their children if I am not in the classroom when they come in.

Quotes that inspire me.

"If the child is not learning the way you are teaching, then you must teach in the way the child learns" - Rita Dunn

“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.”

- Author Unknown

My motivation.

My motivation and inspiration for teaching comes from my mother, Mary Watkins (shown in above photo). Three days after I walked the line to receive my BA degree, she passed away. Although I miss her, I know that her passion for teaching and education lives on through me. I love you and I will always miss you.