Further Exploration of NAECTE

In the past few weeks as I have begun research and go through the NAECTE website, I have discovered several important pieces of information. For my professional growth and in order to receive the very most from this web resource I will have to join as a member. I have considered this as an option in the past for career purposes and now as I am truly delving site, I can see there is so much more for me to learn and attain through membership. 

I have begun to make great use of the "links to related organizations" page through the NAECTE site, one of the sites that I have found very interesting is the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education or AACTE. Through the AACTE site and their resource library I have begun to find read what they feel are the current issues and policies facing teachers. The Teacher Leader Model Standards https://secure.aacte.org/apps/rl/res_get.php?fid=488&ref=rl , is a comprehensive and in depth at how through leadership by teachers is essential to serving the needs of students, schools and the teaching profession. To that end, the Teacher Leadership Exploratory Consortium has developed these Teacher Leader Model Standards to codify, promote and support teacher leadership as a vehicle to transform schools for the needs of the 21st century. 

By beginning to look and research into AACTE, I am beginning to develop a broader perspective into issues facing educators, and how to develop myself into a an educator who is aware of the the issues but is willing to learn and grow as well. In order to bring about more effective change.

Poverty in Malawi

Malawi is one of the poorest nations the world. It is one of the least developed as well.  Over  50% of Malawians, the majority being female-headed households, live below the poverty line. Many Malawaians deal with hunger and malnutrition, conditions that plague much of the continent of Africa. Most Malawians rely on subsistence farming, but the food supply situation is precarious and the country is prone to natural disasters of both extremes - from drought to heavy rainfalls - putting it in constant need of thousands of tons of food aid every year. For much of Malawi's villager's collect water from wells and streams to cook with. Diseases such as malaria, measles, tubercles and pneumonia  are common place.

To compound the issues of this under developed nation 1 in 10 adult  Malawains it is believed contract and die from the virus AIDS. The epidemic is further worsened by the silence and shame that many feel while battling this disease. Tens of thousands of people die from the disease. 

The government of Malawi along with world aid organizations have begun establish programs which may help to combat many of the issues that this nation has been been facing for so long. However in a country with so much to deal with is will be a long up hill battle. It has been very enlightening to learn about the plight of Malawians, I have known through media about the issues that face much of the African Continent but toe delve in to and look deep into Malawi as a nation is shocking. This is nation that it would seem that the rest of the world seems to have forgotten. 

http://www.our-africa.org/malawi/poverty-healthcare

 http://www.raisingmalawi.org.

(www.bbc.com).  

Save the Children- Expanding Resources

In researching and exploring through the two sites Save the Children http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_ and The Global Fund for Children http://www.globalfundforchildren.org/.  I am choosing to focus my attention and time as of now the site, Save the Children. Through their site I have found their blog, with the stories writings various individuals involved with the organization. One story " A  Heartfelt Letter of Gratitude"  was written by Lorren a former save the child "child" who was saved through the organization. She is now a college graduate with a Bachelor's Degree. As a child she had dreams that she hoped would one say be fulfilled and through Save the Children, she has been able to accomplish her goals. Truly an inspiring story. 

Sharing Web Resources: NAECTE

I have decided to focus on National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators http://www.naecte.org.

NAECTE Purpose:

•                   To promote the professional growth of   Their membership •                        To discuss educational issues specific to  their membership •                        To advocate for improvements in early childhood teacher education •                        Provide a forum for consideration of issues and concerns of interest to educators of early childhood teacher educators •                        Provide a communication network for early childhood teacher educators •                        Facilitate the interchange of information and ideas about research and practice •                        Use, as vehicles, the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education, conferences, resolutions, position papers, and other publications •                       Cooperate with other national and international organizations concerned with the study and education of young children In most recent E-Letters, or newsletter as I have researched  I have not seen much mention of current issues and or trends in Early Childhood Education in terms of diversity or demographical changes in the United States.

Issues and Trends- Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

Establishing Professional Contacts :

Over the previous week I have begun my attempts to establish professional contacts outside of the United States. As of yet I have not had opportunity hear back from the professionals that I have reached out to via email. I am confident that to have such resource in various parts of the world will be invaluable.  I am hoping to hear soon from one or more of these perspective contacts over the coming days, however if not I will move forward with in terms of my blog with the alternative assignment.

Expanding Resources:

Over this past week I have begun to explore two different websites to begin to use over the next coming weeks, I have narrowed my choices to Harlem's Children's Zone 
www.hcz.org & 
National Association of Early Childhood Teacher Educators
http://www.naecte.org.

Both hold a vast amount of resources for early childhood educators. I am familiar with both sites on a professional basis, in a limited basis. I have always wanted the opportunity to fully delve into both and fully immerse myself in to all their resources.