Exploration of beliefs as a Early Childhood teacher

Exploration of beliefs as a Early Childhood teacher The purpose of this essay is to explore my beliefs as a teacher and how these beliefs will shape my practice as an early childhood teacher. The metaphor I have chosen is A Guardian Katiaki of a Flax bush Pa Harakeke. I will discuss my personal history and teaching beliefs in relevance to the metaphor I have chosen. There will be an emphasis on the importance of family and culture in my life and how it shapes my teaching practice and beliefs. I will also discuss some theories that support my practice and also talk on my image a young child. References to support literature will evident throughout this paper. The metaphor I have chosen that I believe best informs my beliefs as a teacher is A Guardian Katiaki of the Flax bush Pa Harakeke. I chose this metaphor because to me it symbolises the growth in life and in the early childhood profession. Before I can be refer to myself as a guardian, I consider myself of being in the life cycle of the Pa Harakeke. The Pa Harakeke is recognised within Maori society as a symbol of family and protection (Pihama and Penehira, 2005). It is also a visual representation of the importance of parents and elders as protectors. The centre shoot te rito symbolises the central importance of a child. The Harakeke is believed to have three inner layers which represent a family. The new shoot represents a child te rito which is protected by the next inner layer that represents the parents awhi rito. The outer layer symbolises the grandparents or ancestors tupuna. To me, this symbolises my childhood and how I grew up under the care of my parents and grandparents. I refer myself as a guardian now because I believe it is my responsibility to nurture for the child in the absence of their parents. I see this as a very significant role, because I can image how hard it must be for children to stay away from their parents for such a long period of time. As a guardian, it is my number one priority to make the child feel as safe, cared for and well looked after. Ministry of Culture and Heritage (2011) describes a Kaitiaki as a person who is recognised as a carer, protector, guardian or conserver. Another reason why I chose to describe myself as a Guardian of the flax bush is to emphasis my beliefs about seeing each child as an individual. The flax bush family has many different species, and varieties of flax. This symbolises children as individuals and unique in their own special way. It is the guardians responsibility to be knowledgeable about the different species, including its need for growth of each flax bush. Same thing applies to me as a teacher. To be a teacher, who sees children as affirmed individuals should have some depth of knowledge about each childs likes/dislikes, dispositions, strengths, health concerns etc. A great source to find this information is from the family. Families can provide valuable information on the child, which will help teachers get to know the child better. This is will help build trusting relationships amongst family, teacher and children. As a guardian it is also my responsibility is to nurture and promote the growth of the child as a whole in a safe/trusting environment. This makes significant links to the New Zealand Early Childhood Curriculum. It relates to the principles of Empowerment (Whakamana) where the child is encouraged to become independent and is provided with resources which will enable them to direct their own lives. There are also links to the principle of Holistic Development (Kotahitanga) where all dimensions (such as physical, social, cultural, spiritual emotional and cognitive) of human development is considered in understand the child as a whole (Ministry of Education, 1996). It is a personal belief that I have learnt from my own culture that to understand wellbeing every aspect of development must be considered. Duries model of the Te Whare Tapa Wha illustrates the four dimensions of Maori well being. These are physical health Taha Tinana, spiritual health Taha Wairua, family health Taha Whanau and mental health Taha Hinengaro. It is believed that our physical being only supports and protects us from the external environment and is one aspect of health well-being. Spiritual health relates to us as individuals or as a community about who/what we are, where we have come from and where we are going. Traditional Maori analysis on physical illness will focus on the the Taha Wairua to determine whether harm here could be a contributing factor. Family health relates to the importance of family. It links to our ancestors, our ties with the past, the present and the future. This dimension makes significant links to the Pa Harakeke. It relates to the importance of family in the health and well being of a person. The last dimension concerns mental health as thoughts, feelings and emotions are vital ele ments of the body and soul. It is about how we see ourselves in the world, our ability to communicate and to feel that our mind and body are inseparable (Durie, 1998). Another health model which is relevant to providing depth in understanding holistic development is Rose Peres model of Te Wheke. The concept of Te Wheke (the octopus) is a symbol used to represent family. Each of the eight tentacles represents a dimension of well being. The tentacles of the octopus are overlapping and interwined to symbolise the interconnected and inseparable nature of the dimensions (Pere and Love, 2004). These Maori health models relate closely to the concept of focusing on a childs well being as a whole. Both models include the valued importance of family/whanau and their contribution to a childs health and wellbeing. The life cycle of the Pa Harakeke consists two major parties that are central to the child te rito, these are the parents and grandparents. This metaphor was very relevant to me because my parents and grandparents were the most important people in my life from birth. They played the role of a guardian, protector and carer, but also as my first teachers. I have always had a very strong bond with my parents and grandparents, which is still there till this day. Claiborne and Drewey (2010) explain how love and acceptance generated towards children by adults/family can positively impact on their health and growth. My family plays an important role in my life. They have always been there for me, and it is because of them of their encouragement and faith in me that I am doing this course. Sometime I feel as though my family are like a group of cheerleaders. They cheer me on, when I am about to loose hope, they give me the support and confidence to keep on going, and for that I am very grateful to have a family that is so loving and supportive. My teaching philosophy is based on building respectful relationships with each childs parent/family because I believe they are the first teachers in every childs life. My ultimate goal is to achieve close relationships with parent/families and stand alongside them in partnership to assist and provide experiences that will best support their childs learning and development. Fraser (2005) suggest that through collaborative partnership between teachers and family children experience a sense of continuity and care which encourages them to learn and grow. This metaphor also highlights the concept of culture. It indicates my knowledge and understanding of bicultural awareness. I believe biculturalism is important in the early childhood sector and that all children should be given the opportunity to develop knowledge and understanding of the cultural heritages of both partners of the Treaty of Waitangi (Ministry of Education, 2010). One reason why I chose to use the metaphor of A Guardian of the Pa Harakeke is because; to me it portrays my achievement in learning about the Maori culture and understanding a different perspective on how we see the world around us. I believe that every child should have the opportunity to learn Te Reo Maori because it is the language of our land and we need to be teach children to be proud of it. I have made it a personal goal to learn as much as I can about Maori culture to further my knowledge and understanding. In order for me to teach children about Maori culture, I need to know about it myself. Culture plays an important role in my life as student teacher and it influences my teaching philosophy daily. Wong (2005) states children learn through cultural tools available to them which include childrearing practices, language, customs and rituals. I believe this quote is very important to me, because I have learnt to be responsive, and caring through seeing my little cousins being bought up with such love and care. Culture is all around us and we can see the different cultures through our multicultural society. Every culture will be different in the ways it transmits cultural knowledge because cultures have different goals for the development of children and different ways of communication knowledge to children (Claiborne, 2010, p160). I was born in the Fiji Island and my nationality is Fijian Indian. My ancestors are from India, therefore as a child, my parents/grandparents taught me a lot about my culture and my ancestral background. I also learned about the Fijian culture be cause I consider Fiji as my motherland and I am very proud of my country. However when I was ten years old, my whole family migrated to New Zealand. When I moved to New Zealand, I experienced a multicultural community. I had to adapt to the diverse culture/lifestyle of NZ, but I also retain the roots of my cultural beliefs. A major theorist that focused on the interlocking systems of family, culture and environment is Bronfenbrenner. Bronfenbrenners ecological systems model emphasises the influences of society and culture in an individual childs life. The immediate relationships and surroundings around the child is called the Microsystem. In this layer the most important influence would be parents/family and also the early childhood centre the child attends to. In the childs Mesosystem the child experiences a sense of connectedness between home and early childhood setting. The excosystem relates to the childs connections with larger social systems. It does not have an active role in the childs immediate context but does have influence the child Microsystem. For example a parent who is employed, is able to provide resources for the child, however if the parent was to lose this job it will cause fiancial stress associated to the provision of those resources and this is likely to cause negative impact on t he parent-child relationship (Wong, 2005).The Macrosystem relates to the large cultural patterns which include cultural values, customs and laws. For example cultural contexts that value children and families may manifest ideological and organisational structures in society, which result in the provision of good quality, affordable and accessible childcare (Wong, 2005, p18). Language acquisition is also a complex component of cultural system (Crain, 2011). According to Wong (2005) every culture has its own language and it holds knowledge about the uniqueness of being in that cultural community. Vygotsky argued that language is the most vital symbolic tool in development. I believe that language is an important part of cultural norms. Through language, we can express cultural views and relate to each other within the same community. I am trilingual, being able to speak Hindi, English and Fijian. I am fluent in all three languages and I believe it is a great advantage in this field of work. Parents/family that speaks the same language may feel more comfortable conversing more openly about their feelings and what they except of their childs learning. It can help in expressing and talking about concerns in a more comfortable manner. Vygotskys sociocultural cognitive theory is an emphasis on how culture and social interactions guide cognitive development (Santrock, 2009). Vygotskys believed that child development occurred as a result of natural and cultural activities. He referred to cultural activity as social processes through which we learn to use cultural tools and to think (MacNaughton and Williams, 2009).He argued that children need to be directly taught new concepts rather than waiting for them to make their own discoveries (Crain, 2010). Vygotsky introduced the concept of Zone of Proximal which was a term used to differentiate between a child actual development levels as determined by independent problem solving and the advanced level of potential development as determined through problem solving with the help and guidance of a skilled adult (Claiborne, 2010). According to MacNaugton (2009) good quality scaffolding allows for joint problem solving. This concept provides great depth and understanding on how childrens knowledge and understanding can be extended. As a teacher I want to be able to provide children with opportunities for exploratio n but also guide them to extend their learning. I believe that the reason why Vygotskys concept of Zone of Proximal is appealing to me is because I remember I was guided through task I was not able to do. One significant memory that I have, which is an example of the concept of Zone of Proximal is when I was five years old, I got my first pair of lace up shoes. Every where I went I wanted to wear them and my parents always had to put them on for me. One day I decided to do up my laces on my own, I tired and tired for a long time but I just couldnt do it, my mother was standing on the side, watching me try and tie my lace up. So as soon as I was about to give up, she intervened and helped me do them up. She went through it with me step by step. It took me a few days until I independently did up the laces myself, it memorable moment for me because I was so proud to be able to do it all by myself. Therefore I want to become a teacher who gives children opportunities to feel proud of their achievement knowing that they did something a ll by themselves. I want to be able create an atmosphere where they feel they are valued and have a sense of self worth. My image of a young child is that each child is an individual have unique qualities that define them as who they are. Before I started my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education, I didnt know what it would be like. I decided to do early childhood because I simply enjoyed being around child. Through the past 2 years of ongoing research, and attending lectures I have really learned the importance of the early years of life and the meaningful learning and development that occur during this time. After my two years in training as a student teacher, I have a more clear vision of a young child. A young child is strong, powerful, and competent learners who need to be challenged and encouraged to form their own working theories about the world they live in. I believe that play is very valuable to childrens learning and development in the early years. Through play children have the opportunity to engage in open ended exploration (Gonzalez-Mena, Widmeyer Eyer, 2007). In conclusion, the metaphor of Guardian of the flax bush, explained my personal beliefs as a teacher. My teaching beliefs are formed from my childhood experience. I learnt the importance of family and culture as I was growing up, and till this day it plays a major role in my life. As a teacher I believe that children should be experience a safe, secure environment where they are cared for and their needs are met. As a student teacher, I have learned to recognise the childrens health and well being as a whole. This means recognising all dimensions of well being. The two models that provide insight on the importance of all dimensions of health are Peres Te Wheke and Duries Te Whare Tapa Wha models. Children are our future and my aim is to provide each child with the opportunity to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicator, healthy in mind, body, and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society (Minist ry of Education, 1996, p9).

Organization Strategy and Structure Essay

By now, it should have been clear that there is no such thing as the one right organization. There are only organizations, each of which has distinct strengths, distinct limitations and specific applications. It has become clear that organization is not an absolute. It is a tool for making people productive in working together. As such, a given organizational structure fits certain tasks in certain conditions and at certain times. Given this perspective, as organizations tend toward more efficiency and effectiveness, so does the structure. For example, one hears a great deal today about â€Å"the end of hierarchy. † This is blatant non-sense. In any institution, there has to be a final authority say, the boss – someone who can make the final decision and who can then expect to be obeyed. But, what is the right organization to handle crisis is not the right organization for all tasks. Sometimes the team approach is the right answer. In fact, the pharmaceutical industry used this strategy long before â€Å"team† became a buzzword in the organization community.

Studying Abroad and Learning Finance

studying abroad the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad and learning finance in different countries Research Paper The studying abroad is becoming a hot topic, which concerns by more and more parents. In this modern and competitive society, many wealthy families and even working families all will strive to work in order to save the cost of the tuition of their children’ overseas studying. When their children grow up and start to enter universities or even they are in primary schools, they will be sent to accept more professional knowledge in foreign and developed countries than the domestic.Because this situation happened, these parents, especially in developing countries, believe that foreign educational philosophy and methods are more advanced than their countries, a number of students choose study abroad has been growing in recent years. However, under this situation, we should think about whether studying abroad is suitable for these students. Moreover, as we k now that it is true that a large proportion of students will choose to study finance in foreign countries’ universities. So what advantages and disadvantages does studying finance in foreign countries have.Some people agree that children should conform to this trend and go to overseas to study as long as their families have enough economic ability. Finance could tell students how to manage and earn money, which might lead students to have a satisfied job and beautiful future. In contrary, I have a view that sending children to study abroad and choosing finance as major blindly is not a sensible decision. Depending on some reports, the number of children who go outside to study that will result in brain drain, in particular for some developing countries, like India and China. Studying finance lindly only causes that students lose the interesting and influences students’ schoolwork in universities. So this essay will discuss the benefits and weakness about studying abroa d and studying finance in different countries. First, there is no denying that overseas study and learning finance in foreign countries could bring a lot of demerits for us, but it is an effective and good way to train children’ the ability of independent living and studying that let children stay away from their parents and study in other countries. Although, at the beginning, many children will feel lonely and afraid hen they come to an unknown place, meet people of different races and speak another language for the first time, it is these experiences that could teach these international students how to develop themselves and careers in the future without the assistant from their parents. These hard and unforgettable experience will become a valuable wealth. Besides overseas learning can expand the children’s horizons. Basically, living a long time in foreign countries could result in children speaking the second language fluently and learn about another country†™s culture and custom deeply.Learning finance overseas that could allow students to better understand and use the knowledge of this subject. For example, in China, it is generally acknowledged that students can only learn some theoretical knowledge from textbooks. The more worrying thing is that university’s living is relaxing and wonderful for Chinese students. After they try to learn in high schools, pass the cruel entrance examination and enter the ranking top universities. The thing they do not know is that university education is more useful for their future than the learning from high schools.So this is the different point between Chinese and western education. It is important that professor will combine of practical and theoretical in foreign finance learning. For instance, universities will give a chance for students to use virtual money to buy and sell stocks to help students truly understand the stock market. In addition, the tuition of international students coul d develop local economies. For example, as we know that the financial crisis lead to the weakness of the US economy, the property market downturn and high unemployment. So education, especially education for international students, become a new ndustry in America. Secondly, it is obvious that studying finance will give us some demerits in diverse countries. For example, there are many differences in learning finance between at home and abroad. So these students need to understand, adapt to and solve this problem. As we know, it is more difficulty for international students to study in foreign countries than native students. This includes this subject finance. We could take the china as a typical example to prove it. In China, finance contains two parts: money banking and international finance. Interestingly, these parts re not called finance in foreign countries, where we learn corporate finance and asset price in finance classes . So if we would like to learn this subject well, we should abandon the domestic point of view and accept diverse foreign thinking. It is harder to give up our own original thoughts and views in mind for these transfer students. This adaptions could need a shorter time for some students who have strong ability. However, it also could be unfortunate for thous who need a long time to adapt, which will lead to students losing confidence and then dropping out.Moreover, international students should learn the business or finance environment at home and abroad. When they graduate from universities, they will naturally face the serious problem looking for jobs. If they would like to find satisfying jobs, they will need professional knowledge and rich work experience. As an international student, it is beneficial that they have many choices in looking for jobs at home or abroad. So we should not only learn basic knowledge well, but also understand the domestic and foreign economic dynamic, which is helpful for students to know what talents an d skills this market needs.Thus, we should learn about more financial news around the world. Besides, if international students choose develop their career at domestic, they will bear more pressure than domestic universities’ students. Overseas returnee will become their new name. Most of people also will have this view that they should have better performance and stronger understanding ability due to the special overseas studying experience. So they will get different treatment from superiors and friends. Finally, another disadvantage is that overseas studying could lead to brain drain. The analysis starts with a simple decomposition of the brain drain in two multiplicative components, the degree of openness of sending countries (measured by the average emigration rate) and the schooling gap (measured by the education level of emigrants compared with natives). †(Docquier, Fre ? de ? ric. Lohest, Olivier, and Marfouk, Abdeslam) As we know many students decide by themsel ves or with their parents to go abroad to learn knowledge in recent years, but when they finish their school work, they are faced with a confusing problem, that to stay or come back. However, they usually choose the former.Take an example as China. A number of students will choose stay in foreign countries to develop their career. Because, in the general, Chinese students prefer to study in some more strong and advanced countries rather than in China. The result is that these students will be attracted by sound medical facilities, advanced educational philosophy, excellent living environment and high-quality people. It is a truth that there will be more pressure and vulnerability in developing countries. So by comparing developing countries with developed countries, these advantages will lead to students stay at oreign countries to work and live. This is also a great help on their next generation of education. Once they make a decision to stay, which will mean their homeland will ha ve in vain spent money and teaching resources to train them in the past two decades. Because when they are young and strong labor, they will do any contribution for development of their mother countries. This will hinder these countries’ development in education, technology and economic. On the contrary, these international students will purchase something for daily life to pay tax and find obs to work, which all promote local economic development unconsciously. So many countries take measures to draw overseas students come back in order to avoid brain drain. For example, some developing countries will make some favorable policies to give overseas students convenient and provide various research funding. And for advanced countries, like America, use on technology immigration policies to attract outstanding talent. In this way, it is helpful to reduce the incidence of brain drain. In conclusion, everything has benefits and drawbacks. Under this situation that more and ore stud ents go abroad, overseas students and education communication will become a trend. So this essay explains these overseas students will meet what advantages and disadvantages separately, when they go to study and learn finance in different countries. I agree that every student does not go abroad blindly, and if they choose to study outside, every overseas students could overcome these difficulties, regardless of knowledge or living. It is more important that these students could gain related result, find satisfying jobs and beautiful life, after xperiencing special and hard learning. Besides I believe that most of people are patriots and all want to make a contribution for their country. So the phenomenon of brain drain will reduce, every countries’ economic and education career will make a great progress. Work Cited Nguyen, Chi Hong. â€Å"Brain Drain or Brain Gain? The Revitalization of a Slow Death† Can Tho University. (2005). Print. Docquier, Fre ? de ? ric. Lohest, Olivier, and Marfouk, Abdeslam. â€Å"Brain Drain in Developing countries†. Print Iredale, Robyn. â€Å"Tackling the Roots of the Brain Drain. † 12, 08(2003). Print.

Adopting A Single Parent Family - 978 Words

In contemporary society, due to various factors, there are many children whose parents have died or cannot raise them as well as abandoned infants. In order to solve this inevitable situation, some couples and a single man or woman who have the ability to raise the kids will apply for the qualifications to adopt them. However, some people pose a question that should single people be able to adopt children as easily as couples. With a lot of attention, this topic has become a very intriguing argument. Nowadays, having two parents is not any more the essential condition of properly raising a kid. Children raised in single adoptive parent families can be just as progressive with the aspects of emotional, education and living skills as other adopted children who have two parents. The latest research indicates that the possibility of creating a perfect growing environment in a single parent family is the same as that of two-parent family, therefore, single people who have the ability to p rovide spiritual and material support for the child should be able to adopt children as easily as couples. One reason why some people oppose is that they think initiative to have a single-parent family is unconventional. I have to say that this concept is too conservative and out of date. In today s pluralistic society, some men and women are celibates but they also have the desire to raise a kid. The only difference between them and the couple is a lack of a partner. But that does not meanShow MoreRelatedArgumentative Essay About Gay Adoption1295 Words   |  6 Pagesbiological parents or a heterosexual couple, to do so. One positive view of gay adoption is that it gives the gay couple the chance to start their own family and give a child in care a new start to life in a loving home. This will allow the couple to love and care for the child just as much as they would if the child was living with their own biological parents. Gay couples who want to adopt a child will give the same loving family home just like a heterosexual couple or single parent would. ForRead MoreAdoption For A Child s Life1609 Words   |  7 PagesCommonly, a person can attend about any adoption agency as well as seminar of professionals or child-seeking parents and normally the attendees present are female. The ideal question focuses on the adoptive fathers’ role in the child’s life and if his role should be overlooked. In order to understand a fathers’ role whether birth or adoptive, one must understand each man’s route to adoption, unique circumstances, and characteristics (Siegal, 2003). Nonethele ss, there are many different routes toRead MoreAnnotated Bibliography Essay1443 Words   |  6 PagesPre AP English II Annotated Bibliography Stone, A.. Both sides on gay adoption cite concern for children. Usa today. Gannett Co. Inc., 2006. Web. 18 Apr 2012 The article is about a couple who is gay having to move in order for both gay parents to get custody of the adopted child. It talks about the statistics of foster care and the number of kids being adopted right now. The numbers are very low and even for gays, its extremely low. It also states that gays are some good candidates forRead MoreHow Children Can Be A Blessing1286 Words   |  6 Pagesearly foundation in New York. Each year people are having children and leave them uncared for. Other loving parents or partners who are willing to take in an unloved child and raise him or her as their own has to go through a long process in order to qualify. Unfortunately, not all children find the loving comfort that they need and are returned to the foster homes or are treated bad. Adopting children can be a blessing, but not all children receive the love. Charles Loring Brace was the son of twoRead MoreSame Sex Parenting is Just as Effective as Straight Parenting997 Words   |  4 Pagesa loving family since his past family decided to put him up for adoption. Then there is a same sex couple wishing to be able to adopt a child so their family can be complete, but sadly the same sex couple can’t adopt the child because of anti-gay groups that frown upon it. Think about it this way, would you rather have a sad and lonely child stuck in an adoption center, or a happy child with loving same sex parents that love him and keep him safe? Gay parents are no less of a good parent becauseRead MoreAdoption Is Not An Expensive Process1702 Words   |  7 PagesIn the US alone, there are over four hundred thousand children without permanent families and over one hundred thousand waiting to be adopted (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2015). Couples who cannot have children and are looking for ways for to have children can ad opt. Children in foster care are alone and in desperate need of someone to love them unconditionally, showing them that no matter what they are wanted. Adoption is one of the ways couples can have children, through theRead MoreThe Debate Over Homosexual Couples941 Words   |  4 Pageschildren will have more challenges in school compared to those raised by heterosexual couples; and, children will tend to have more homosexual behaviors themselves because of what they are exposed to at home. Gary Glenn, president of the American Family Association of Michigan, stated at a debate on same-sex couple’s adoption held by CBS Detroit that â€Å"healthy development of a human child requires having the role model and the care of a mother and a father. It should not be the emotional needs ofRead MoreShould Same Sex Couples Be Allowed to Adopt?954 Words   |  4 Pagesrights as heterosexuals, there should be no notion as to why two people of the same gender in a relationship cannot adopt. Homosexuality is starting to become more accepted into society today, but when it comes to homosexuals wanting to start a family which is an immense concern many people oppose to some people dont believe it is acceptable for homosexuals to be able adopt. There is a huge dilemma that same-sex couple’s homosexuality will influence (Marquardt), the children into becoming gayRead MoreBeing A Single Parent Or Not?1456 Words   |  6 Pagesthink of when you hear the word family? Webster dictionary defines a family as a group of people who are related to each other, a group traditionally consisting of two parents rearing their children, a spouse and children. This definition is now challenged, as the years have gone on the way we think and picture a family has changed. It is no longer a married stay at home mom and bread earning dad with their little son and daughter. Now a family can be a single mom, a single dad, a same sex couple or aRead MoreThe Advantages of Sibling Adoption i n Foster Care Homes over Adopting Single Children: A Comparative Analysis1363 Words   |  5 Pagessibling adoption in foster care homes over adopting single children and splitting siblings for home based adoption. Adopting a child is an important decision. There are two main ways in which child adoption takes place. Siblings can be adopted for the foster care while on the other hand, children with siblings are separated for home based adoptions. In this paper, it will be shown that siblings adoption is much better and more advantageous as compared to single child adoption (1). In most of the cases