My International Contacts

I have not heard back from the international contacts I attempted to make a few weeks ago. However, I did email a friend of mine from New Zealand and also a past colleague who now lives and teaches in Sonora, Mexico. Both of them responed to my emails and have agreed to collaborate with me.

Ali Lilley- A personal friend of mine. She was born and raised in New Zealand. As a young woman she moved to California, Hawaii and finally Arizona. I met her in 2008 through a mutual friend. Ali works as an assistant Speech Pathologist for a small school district servicing children in grades k-12.

Questions I asked her this week-

1. Can you describe some of the differences you have experienced between young students in the United States versus New Zealand. Her answer -The biggest difference I have noticed is how much more informed about worldwide issues the students in New Zealand are compared to the ones I work with in the U.S. From a very young age, students here are taught about worldwide history and important issues around the world. This early awareness seems to instill in them an interest that grows as they get older. I was very surprised how little the students in the U.S. seem to know or care about world events or history. The school year is from January to December. The students are off in the months of January and August. Many of the students work out in the fields helping to harvest crops.

2.Regarding Poverty- Can you describe the poverty levels in New Zealand vs. The United States. New Zealand has people from all over the world. Many of the families are farmers and/or working in the field of agriculture amongst other things.Poverty is certainly in New Zealand, like anywhere else. Something that New Zealand offers to everyone is free medical care.





The second Professional colleague I contacted is Angel Trejo. Angel previously worked in the same school district as myself. We did not teach at the same school, however I met him several times at District meetings. He is from a small town south of Sonora, Mexico. A few years ago, he moved back to Sonora to work with students in the school system that came from the United States but were now living in Mexico.

Questions I asked him:

1. What are some of the differences you have found between students in the United States versus those in Mexico. Answer:The students in Sonora, Mexico are not much different than those in southern Arizona. Most of their families are very poor so they don't have all the video games, cell phones and material items that my previous students have. However, they are the same in that most of them enjoy school, and have dreams for a better future.

2.What challenges have you had working with very poor families in your school? All of the children where I teach come from very poor families, so they all fit in. It's not like it was in the U.S, where the very poor students are stigmatized because they are different from middle or upper class students. Most of the students where I teach come from families that love them deeply and care about them getting a good education. The students have fun at school and use the resources given to them. Clothing styles are not that important when you don't have any choices. Most of the children here are thankful for what they have. The biggest challenge I have faced is working with teachers who don't know how to speak English. We have several students here who have lived in the U.S. and want to continue using their English languge skills. However, it is difficult for them when they rarely get to use English.

3. Does your school offer any special services for families that need extra help? Many donations come in from organizations outside of Mexico, mostly from the U.S. These donations of clothing, school supplies and shoes are evenly distributed to the students and their families. There is a medical clinic here that offers free immunizations and check-ups. They come to the school on a regular basis. They are funded through private donations. Often times, Physicians from other countries also come and visit and offer their free services.

4. Just our of curiosity- are you more satisfied working in Mexico than you were in the U.S? I enjoyed working in the U.S. and have continued to maintain my teaching certifications there. Mexico is my home and I feel a great peace here with my family. There are very few opportunities for young people here in Mexico. If I had children of my own, I would probably choose to educate them back in the U.S. There are many challenges living and teaching here. However, the satisfactions I receive from my students far outweigh any desires I have to go back. My students are very responsive to learning new things. Most of them do not even realize how poor they really are. It's a way of life and they accept it for what it is. Many of them dream of a better future, possibly in the U.S. Their priorities are simple and life is much slower here.

That concludes my interview for this week.

My classmates blogs I chose to communicate with this week were:
Lydia Oppe
http://bepresentforchildren.wordpress.com

1. Donna DiMillio | January 27, 2013 at 04:33 | Reply
2. Lydia- It made me sad to read about the statistics in India pertaining to poverty. Last summer my neighbor visited India whilst on a mission to “find a wife”. He is a wonderul man who reads about faraway places, then travels to these places in the summer months (great life I know ha).When he returned he told me that he decided against bringing a “wife” back with him as she would have a very difficult time adjusting to the United States, especially the quiet desert area where we live. When I questioned him why- He told me the cities were so crowded and dirty (piles and piles of garbage everywhere). There were very young children running around the streets begging for food, looking like they hadn’t had a bath for most of their young lives. He showed me the many photos he had taken and I was amazed at how many people live in the environments that they do.
   DonnaCancel reply

Julie Villers
http://julievillers.blogspot.com

Julie- I really enjoyed your post this week. It was interesting to compare the answers side-by-side to two educators from entirely different parts of the world and environments. Yes, I agree with you that many educators are not trained properly or are not interested in knowing how to work respectfully with low-income poor people. We can almost certainly tell when someone is not really sincere. Children are not exception to this rule. In order to be the most positive and productive educators, we must truly care about those that are less fortunate than we are.

NAEYC- My Favorite Resource

 

Click on the song above and you will see just one fabulous and fun resources the NAEYC provides.

 

(These songs apply to the current issue of bringing changing diversity and culture into the classroom. The first song is a wonderful song to teach young children a learning song whist learning both English and Spanish words)



 

I have been a member of the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) for many years. They have a national chapter and also many local ones. The resources available on their website are endless. From world-wide issues, to national issues to local issues all pertaining to children. There are materials available for both professionals and parents and even children. You can read an aritcle pertaining to almost any topic out there about children and the lastest teaching methods or issues around the world.

 

This site contains many policies and other specific resources to study. Many of the issues covered are from the latest trends, recent scientific studies, world-renowned authors and subjects. Those that write for this organization come highly qualified with multiple experiences and credentials.

 

In my opinion, NAEYC is one of the leaders in the field of early childhood education as far as covering international issues and national issues such as changing demographics and diversity in the U.S.

 

Many times I have found ideas for lesson plans or upcoming meetings on their website. My students and children use the website for the many resources available to them.

 

My dream is to someday have something published thorough NAEYC

 

Feel free to click on the NAEYC link below to see some of the many resources they provide:

http://families.naeyc.org/content/naeyc-songs-of-the-month

 

 







Handwashing can save lives......

The Wiggles donate a song to UNICEF for first Global Handwashing Day

© The Wiggles/2008

Australian children’s entertainers, The Wiggles, have donated a song to UNICEF for the first-ever Global Handwashing Day. The Wiggles are Anthony (Blue), Jeff (Purple), Sam (Yellow) and Murray (Red).

By Saira Saeed Khan
NEW YORK, USA, 9 October 2008 – The popular Australian children’s musical entertainers, The Wiggles, have produced and donated a song to UNICEF to mark the first-ever Global Handwashing Day, to be observed on 15 October.
This simple and catchy tune seeks to motivate millions of children around the world, to transform the simple act of handwashing with soap from an abstract and seldom practiced behaviour into an automatic and enjoyable habit.
Every day, approximately 5,000 children die as a result of waterborne diseases. Washing hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet can help reduce the incidence of diarrhoeal diseases by almost 50 per cent.
UNICEF Australia Goodwill Ambassadors
The Wiggles appointment as UNICEF Australia Goodwill Ambassadors reflects their commitment to the world’s children.
Since being named as Ambassadors in February, the group has embarked on a number of fundraising initiatives – including concerts to help raise awareness and support for vital UNICEF water and sanitation projects.
“UNICEF gives all children, regardless of race or religion, the best start in life. For that reason, we feel deeply honoured to be asked to take on the role of Goodwill Ambassadors and work with UNICEF to help improve the lives of children around the world,” said Murray Cook, the ‘Red Wiggle’.
Success and partnership
The Wiggles, often called ‘the world's biggest pre-school band’, have achieved worldwide success with their children's albums, videos, television series and concert appearances. By 2008, The Wiggles had earned 17 gold, 12 platinum, 3 double-platinum and 10 multi-platinum awards.
Global Handwashing Day is an initiative of the Public-Private Partnership for Handwashing, which is spearheaded by UNICEF, USAID, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Bank Water and Sanitation Programme, Unilever and Procter & Gamble.
 Resources-
http://www.unicef.org/wash/australia_45881.html

https://www.facebook.com/UNICEFAustralia?ref=ts

At a glance: Haiti

Haitian students spread the message of hand-washing, a critical measure in the fight against disease

FRECHOU, Haiti, 16 October 2012 – Derilus’s mother nearly died of cholera last year in this small mountain village just outside Port-au-Prince.

In cholera-affected Haiti, awareness about the benefits of hand-washing is saving lives. UNICEF correspondent Thomas Nybo reports. Watch in RealPlayer

Since then, the 14-year-old boy has learned how simple hand-washing with soap can protect him and his family against cholera and other infections.
“Having such germs is very bad,” he tells a visitor to his school.
New school becomes clean, new start
Derilus’s school was destroyed by the devastating earthquake of 2010. In its place, UNICEF has built a new school, along with new latrines and a hand-washing station with soap.
Students have been taught that hand-washing with soap is the most effective way to reduce falling ill with diarrhoea. It is also a critical hygiene measure in the fight against cholera, which has affected all of Haiti.

© UNICEF Video

Children attend a Global Hand Washing Day event in Haiti. For the next month and a half, demonstrations are taking place in camps, neighbourhoods, children’s residential centres, and health facilities.

Global Hand Washing Day and Beyond
To celebrate Global Hand Washing Day, Derilus’s school hosted an event that featured top government officials and UNICEF staff, including country representative Edouard Beigbeder.
“This school now has excellent sanitary facilities, so today the students have the ability to wash their hands with soap, and will benefit from hygiene-promotion activities, so they can better prevent contagious diseases like cholera,” said Mr. Beigbeder.
For Haiti, Global Hand Washing Day is more than just one day. Over the next 45 days, activities like the event at Derilus’s school are taking place all over the country.

© UNICEF Video

Derilus, 14, has learned how simple hand-washing with soap can protect him and his family against cholera and other diseases.

The campaign is led by the Ministry of Public Health and Population and the Ministry of National Education and Vocational Training and the water and sanitation body DINEPA, with support from more than 40 international NGOs and some 30 community-based organizations.
Hand-washing demonstrations are taking place in camps, neighbourhoods, children’s residential centres, and health facilities.
The lessons are often carried home and passed along to parents.
“As soon as I go home, I tell my parents to wash their hands before doing anything, especially before eating,” says Derilus. “If you want to avoid cholera, wash your hands with soap.”

Resources:

 

http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/haiti_66191.html

 

 

http://www.unicef.org/haiti/french/

 

https://www.facebook.com/UNICEFhaiti

 

For my blog assignment this week-Part 1, the countries I chose to contact pertaining to earlychilhood are Australia and Haiti. For both of the countries, I went through UNICEF. I sent emails to both countries through their UNICEF email addresses. I also became a member of each countries websites and "Likes" their Facebook pages. At this time, I have not heard a response back from either country, but will continue to follow-up in the next few days.

 

Part 2 of the Blog Assignment carries over with my Part 1 assignment- I am in the process of immersing myself in the UNICEF websites specifically for Australia and Haiti. I have started reading their Facebook pages and making comments on subjects that I find interesting such as the ones I posted above- Handwashing-such a simple thing to do and can save thousands of lives. Recently at my school, we launced a campaign about washing hands. It's interesting to read about and watch videos on how countries such as Australia and Haiti cover this important topic as well.

 

I am very interested in understanding more about early childhood issues in Australia for  personal reasons too. I have an online business called www.tutugarden.com Many of my customers come from Australia. Also, the Wiggles- a musical group that entertains young children is one of my children's favorite groups. We have seen them many times here in Arizona. It was fascinating to read the UNICEF article about how they donated a song called "Handwashing" to UNICEF and have also been ambassadors for this incredible organization- YAY Wiggles!!!!


my blog address is: http://www.blogger.com