Time Well Spent

While thinking back on my experience and all that I have gain from taking this course, I am complete amazed at all the knowledge I have received. Three things that I feel I have learned from this course would be how to identify a goal and provide in depth details for how to accomplish that goal. Another would be how important it is to have good leaders in your program in order to accomplish shared goals. Lastly I learned how to be a leader myself. The course has challenge me the most requiring to me to think outside the box and provide those necessary detail that can make a program successful. One long term goal I have is to continue to accept challenge rather than avoid them. I thank you Dr. E for your patience throughout this course. You have proven to be a professor that want to see her student succeed. I greatly appreciate all that you have done for every student that has and will take your course.

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Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally​​​​​​1

Alysia Spencer

Walden University

EDUC 6990 CAPSTONE: PRACTICAL APPLICATION IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD

​This course has increased my interest in Early Childhood literacy.  I am now interested in teaching on a larger scope in hopes of decreasing the illiteracy rate and increasing the percentage of college graduates. Education starts with our youth, it is important that we start teaching the basic fundamentals such as reading and writing in early childhood centers and elementary schools. Literacy is an issue that impacts nations globally. It is also an issue that should be addressed globally instead of being ignored when it comes to the minority. My educational experience has been limited to only teaching in the Atlanta Metro area. I have yet to educate children internationally. So far, my teaching background has been in a classroom setting at various early childhood centers and elementary schools in Atlanta. When I began a career in early childhood education, I assumed traveling was not part of my job description. Howeversince taking this class, I have found a few organizations I would love to work with to improve literacy internationally. One organization is the World Literacy Foundation (WLF). This particular organization was founded after CEO Andrew Kay discovered the high illiteracy rates in a United Nations article (Kay By 2003). Kay founded the World Literacy Foundation to transport and distribute books to Africa. Kay wanted to create an online resource of eBooks available in different languages. The World Literacy Foundation also provides tutoring services and multiple literacy resources to students (Kay, n.d.).  The fastest way to be involved in the initiatives of the World Literacy Foundation is by organizing my own pop up library and by hosting local book drives. I am also to work remotely as a Blog writer for the WLF that is accessible worldwide. 

​An interesting point I discovered in developing countries is that only twenty- five percent of young people can actually read. This lack of basic fundamentals has caused a systematic legacy of illiterate generations (Provost, 2014). I am deeply disturbed by that because low or no literacy has detrimental effects on the quality of life. An organization that shares the sentiment in regards to literacy and its effect on quality is Save the Children. This global organization created a program called the Literacy Boost which aims to ensure all children are equipped with the ability to read, write, and perform basic mathematics (“Children’s”, n.d.). Similar to my COP, the Literacy Boost program has realized that students do not always learn the skills they should in the classroom. Because students are not learning as expected, Save the Children has created a supplemental program to improve literacy development. The program involves the community in the process by providing libraries, literacy resources and supplies, and assesses reading skills (“Children’s”, n.d.). The program services over thirty countries throughout the world. There are several ways to be involved with Save the Children. One way is to create an online account with Save the Children which will allow me to log on and read to my children. This approach will give children access to books around the world allowing to broaden reading skills. A more hands on approach to join Save the Children is to become a skilled volunteer. As a skilled volunteer, I am able to work between ten and forty hours a week in selected states within the USA.Although the positions are not paid opportunities, I will allow to build my professional knowledge base and professional relationships in this field of work. 

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References

Children's Literacy Programs. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/global-programs/education/literacy-boost

Kay , A. G. World Literacy Foundation Home . Retrieved from https://worldliteracyfoundation.org/

Provost, C. (2014, January 29). One in four young people in developing countries unable to read, says UN. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jan/29/illiteracy-education-young-people-developing-countries

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

           

Alysia Spencer

Walden University

EDUC 6990 CAPSTONE: PRACTICAL APPLICATION IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD FIELD

One federal organization I researched was the U.S. Department of Education. Their Innovative Approaches to Literacy Program (IAL) is one I was drawn to because of their goal to offer literacy programs to high need communities. Within my challenge, I intend on offering some similar resources to families at Flat Shoals Elementary. Flat Shoals Elementary is a school that has a high population of students from low socioeconomic areas. The IAL also seeks to replace learning material with up-to date resources for communities that would not have access otherwise (Graham, 2018). Within my community of practice,  my intention is not to replace the current materials; my intention is to educate parents on how to use them with their child. The IAL also desires to prepare students to compete not just locally within the U.S., but also globally. There is a job opportunity available to work as a Human Resources Specialist. In order to qualify for the position, you must be either a former or present federal employee.

            ProLiteracy is a non- profit organization that advocates for literacy to break the poverty cycle from parent to child. My community of practice shares the desire to offer the home environment conducive for learning. ProLiteracy determined approximately thirty- six million Americans have difficulty with basic reading and writing (“What”, n.d.). Considering that I know home literacy impacts students before they ever reach elementary school, I realized my challenge would also be to educate parents. Although most of my students' parents can read and write sufficiently, some basic skills may be the difference in how successful the student is in the future. Pro Literacy also provides customized resources that are innovative and fun for students of all ages, including adults. With ProLiteracy, you can apply to be an advocate for adult literacy that urges politicians and officials make steps of action to address the deficit. There are not any major requirements to become an advocate other than applying.

            For hesitant or uncomfortable early readers, motivation to read or even see value in it may be a discouraging obstacle for some students. My community of practice will support students, teachers, and families. It will also use strategies to make reading fun for students who have difficulty reading. Books for Kids organizes literacy opportunities with young children under the age of five. The literacy events Books for Kids facilitates include fun reading activities that encourage engagement from the young listeners. Books for Kids also host a Story Time Program which includes parents/ guardians in the activities engaging with early learners (“Books”, n.d.). The Story Time would be an excellent resource to share with my community of practice. Story Time uses puppet shows, arts and crafts, and group reading activities that engage students that could be helpful for the teachers included in my community of practice. Books for Kids has an overall mission that addresses low income students that are preschool aged (“Books”, n.d.). Although there are not any job opportunities listed, Books for Kids does take donations to assist in their mission.

Resources

Books For Kids » Literacy Programs. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2019, from https://www.booksforkids.org/programs/literacy-programs/

Graham, M. (2018, August 07). Innovative Approaches to Literacy. Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/programs/innovapproaches-literacy/index.html

What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved July 25, 2019, from https://proliteracy.org/What-We-Do/Overview