This week's blog entry calls for us to discuss our adventures in contacting other education professionals internationally, introducing our new acquaintance, sharing what we have learned from them thus far, and so on. This has been one of the most challenging assignments I have had to date with this Master's program. In an attempt to establish contact with an international professional, I had e-mailed 12 different representatives from countries all over the world. After two weeks, I have still heard nothing in response. Luckily, one of my colleagues in my district, our ELL teacher, shared a contact with me. She often Skypes with a Kindergarten teacher in Mexico that she established contact with via Facebook two years ago. Her contact was willing to e-mail me and discuss various things so I was happy to establish my first contact! I am still in the process of working on my next contact, as I have reached out to someone in Ghana (also connected via a colleague from my district) and two teachers who teach abroad (relatives of my best friend's new husband) and am awaiting a reply from them within the next few days.
The contact I was able to establish is a Kindergarten teacher in Mexico. Her name is Myrella Gomez. She is such a positive and enthusiastic educator who I am happy to have made contact with. We have planned on possibly Skyping with our classes this spring for Cinco de Mayo, since I have a few students who have family from Mexico and she would like them to see how this is celebrated in Mexico. I am looking forward to this opportunity! She has explained that she teaches her students the English language as part of her daily schedule, as well. I am curious to see her response about this week's topic of poverty as I have not received response just yet. She explained this is a busy week and would get back to me by the weekend. I will gladly post an update when it comes in. :)
Being able to establish contact with educators from all over the world is an exciting experience for me. Myrella is providing me with insight to a culture I am very curious about as I have had several students with Mexican heritage over the past three years in my district. She is helping me brush up on my Spanish skills, as well, which is always helpful! I am curious to see if Mexico and other countries have similar issues and trends in the field of early childhood education, such as poverty becoming a more important issue or changing demographics and diversity being a new trend. If so, how will they handle it compared to our country? I am anxiously awaiting Myrella's response.
The topic of poverty this week has opened my eyes and my heart. I live and work in a town that is now a mix of middle class and low-income families. I see students coming into my classroom daily, hungry, tired, and stressed. I worry and want to reach out and help these children and families but was unsure how. My district began a Village Shoppe to help these needy families. This week's resources have provided me with information, knowledge, resources, and confidence to make a change in the lives of these children, however small that may be, even just within my own classroom. The brief information that I received from Myrella on the topic shows me that poverty is a concern in Mexico, as well. As mentioned in the multimedia presentation in the first week of class, for many families in Mexico the husband/father works to provide for the family only. The extended family is then a close-knit bunch who share whatever it is they do have and make the most of their time together. While it seems poverty is a concern, family is important and helps get through the difficult times. Culture plays a huge role in this difference between the two countries, which Myrella helped to confirm for me.
I am hopeful to receive additional e-mails with information on the topic in regards to Mexico, as well as either Ghana or elsewhere, to update this posting within the next few days. I am extremely curious to learn more about these countries in terms of their cultures, education systems, and the issues and trends impacting children in education as compared to what we discuss and face here in the United States.
Returning soon with an update. Until then….
-Ashley
Ashley, I am so happy to hear that you were able to establish one contact. The other will soon follow. I too believe that this is an excellent experience learning about children, culture and communicating with teachers from other countries helps to broaden our horizon. In the weeks to come, I look forward to learning more about your new connections and things you have learned in the educational field.
ReplyDeleteAnn
Ashley, I too am enjoying my connections with other professionals in the field. It a great way to learn about issues, trends and parenting and teaching styles from others' point of view. I enjoyed reading about your Mexico connection. What an interesting experience. I look forward to reading about your future conversations!
ReplyDeleteWhile I loathe the fact that it seems so many of the assignments in this course seems to depend on outsourcing responsibility for my grades on the whims of strangers I do like the idea behind this assignment. Establishing international contacts has already proven an eye opening experience. I am s glad you were able to find one. I know even though I had thought my contacts were established I was really sweating it when they did not respond to my emails I sent on Monday until yesterday morning. Good luck with establishing your contacts the perspectives they have on poverty is uniquely different then ours.
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading this post! I am so glad you made contact with your contact in Mexico. How interesting! I think it is really awesome that you are planning a Cinco de Mayo skype session. I think it will be an awesome experience for everyone involved. It's so important that kids get at least a glimpse of other cultures and now because of your communication two classes will get this glimpse! Awesome job.
Thanks.
Danielle
I just don't understand how we can expect kids to learn when they are hungry. Their brains are literally starved of nutrients that power thought. I read an article that stated school breakfast could realistically be moved from the cafeteria to the classroom and teachers could do opening days tasks while the kids all ate. This way everyone is assured of a meal despite late bus schedules, stigma of being in the cafeteria, etc. Daycares are required by law to provide three meals and three snacks - but we expect our growing kids to maybe have breakfast, get an inadequate lunch and then shrug if they go home to a food insecure family. It breaks my heart, since my children have faced food insecurity when money was tight and we fell though the SNAP red tape. There should be a bowl of fruit in every classroom. And maybe as part of school supplies we could ask parents to donate non perishable juice boxes and dry snacks so kids don't go hungry.
ReplyDeleteI always liked the organization donorschoose.org because I felt that I knew exactly where my money was going when I donated. I wish I could feel comfortable donating money and items to organizations overseas - but I just feel like there is no way of knowing whether the people in charge of allocating donations really has the best interests of the children in mind. . . .
ReplyDelete