Early Childhood Resources

World Forum Foundation
http://www.worldforumfoundation.org/wf/about.php
World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/
Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
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://www.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/

Additional Resources:

Office of Child Support Enforcement
http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs
School Menu
http://www.schoolmenu.com/
Big Brothers Big Sisters
http://www.bbbsa.org/
Gurian Institute
http://www.gurianinstitute.com/
National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch
Enchanted Learning
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/

Week 4 Words of Inspiration and Motivation

"Intelligence is what you use when you don't know what to do." Jean Piaget

"The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done." Jean Piaget

"If help and salvation are to come, they can only come from the children, for the children are the makers of men." Maria Montessori

"It became my lifelong work with early childgood education and passion to make sure all children were taught in environments and ways that truly nurtured their ability to grow and develop into their fullest ability." Louise Derman-Sparks

"We as professionals in the early chilldhood field have an opportunity to shape a child's life for the better." Sandy Escobido

Personal Childhood Web

My Mom, my first and still my most nurturing and caring person in my life. Not only did she help mold me to become a caring and loving person, she also taught me to be respectful and successful. I always have and always will look up to her for being a model to be a great person, teacher, and parent. As a child she always made me feel confident in the way I looked, and acted by letting me be unique and always telling me how beautiful I was (and still does!).

Me at age 7 (I think), looking beautiful in my own unique way! I came outside dressed up like this and said "Mommy don't I look beautiful?", and my mom's response was "Oh yes you do look beautiful!".

My MomMom was another very influential person in my childhood. She always made me feel very special, whether it was making me lunch which consisted of either lettuce, cheese, and mayo sandwiches or liverwurst sandwiches, or playing games with me and teaching me to play solitaire I felt that she truly was invested in my well-being. She always had special snacks for us too, which made her the best grandmother ever!, and she let us spend the night and sleep on her recliner! which was a very special treat for me. We used to watch Creature Double Feature on  Saturday mornings, and then eat her very soggy french toast! LOL! I loved everything about her! She and my Grandpop used to take us to the ice cream shop and let us sit on her lap in the car (looking back, that was so dangerous). She was very laidback, and took her time doing everything! I love and miss her very much!

My sister Michelle. She is three years older than me, but I always have looked up to her to see what kind of person I wanted to be. As a younger sister I was probably pretty annoying to her, but she tolerated me and occasionally let me play with her and her friends. Growing up she would usually let me tag along with her whether it would be to tell knock-knock jokes with and make silly noises on the tape recorder or as I got older going to the mall with her. I loved to watch her put on her makeup and do her hair. I spent hours trying to figure out how to do it, and then when I figured out how I wanted to look just like her. I would occasionally "borrow" her clothes and jewlery without asking her, and when she found out she would be upset, but never be too mad. I loved her fun-loving style and still do.

Here we are back when I was probably 11 and she was 14.

My Dad, Albert aka Big Al. He was the one I looked up to for my musical talents. He was and still is the one that was always listening to music, loved music, and educated me in music. He was a big fan of oldies music and always was playing his 45's and usually pretty loud! He loved (and still does) dancing, and loved dancing with my sister and I. Our song was "Chantilly Lace" in which he would pick me up, and spin me around upside down. Another cool thing that he did (even though he had back problems) was be the community pool carnival ride...he would pick up all the kids in the pool and throw them, all my friends thought that was cool.

Other influences in my life consisted of teachers, who truly invested their time in me and making sure that I succeeded in school and life. I loved all those special sunday school teachers too, who made sure that I felt special! I really felt like they truly cared about me and wanted to spend their time to help me.

Favorite Children's Book

Favorite children's book is kind of a hard one for me, but I would have to say any Doctor Suess book. I really like "Are you My Mother?" and "Green Eggs and Ham". I also really like "Where the Sidewalk Ends"(Shel Silverstein)but since I have gotten older I really like the Harry Potter series too.

Quote

Great quote from my handy dandy Teacher's Little Book of Wisdom (Bob Algozzine) is #65 "Show children how much you love them - first with words, but more with actions."