Communication Skills

“If you improve your communication skills, I guarantee you that you will earn fifty percent more money over your lifetime” –Warren Buffet

➜It is my belief that communication is a very important skill in life when trying to understand and connect with the world.  Communication is a skill that creates: Respect, trust, resolve differences and fosters environments where problem solving, caring affection and creative ideas can thrive (Reference.com, 2016). 

➜One way of communicating is through public speaking.  As a public speaker it is important to deliver information to your audience.  In order to be an effective public speaker it is essential to implement the 7 C’s of Communication to ensure your intended audience receives your message: Clear, Concise, Concrete, Correct, Coherent, Complete, Courteous (MindTools.com, 2016).

➜Another way of communicating is through body language.  It is imperative that your nonverbal communication walks hand in hand with your oral communication.  E.g. if your message is talking about beautiful flowers, your body language should not represent anger.  Both types of communications should match.

➜My personal experience with public speaking communication is very interesting.  I actually enjoy public speaking.  I began public speaking and singing in the church as a child.  As I continued to matriculate through the years, my interest on improving became one of my goals.  One of my strengths is that I believe in myself when I public speak and one of my weaknesses is that I would like to expand my vocabulary, implement transition words with my word flow and how not to “draw blanks” when I get in front of an audience.  Further, my goal is to join a Toastmasters Communication Club in my area so I can learn more about how to formulate an effective story with introduction, body and conclusion.   

References

John Millen.  (2015).  Leadership, public speaking and confidence.  Warren buffet’s secrets

of communication.  Retrieved from http://johnmillen.com/blog/warren-buffett-5-communication-secrets

MindTools.com (2016).  The 7 c’s of communication- a checklist clear of communication. 

Retrieved from https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newCS_85.htm

Reference.com (2016).  Effective communication.  Retrieved from

https://www.reference.com/world-view/effective-communication-28822756433c3f67

Social Media’s Influence on Policy Issues

Hi Colleagues,

I would like to use Facebook and Twitter as a platform while building my policy issue on Early Intervention Advocacy for infants and toddlers who have been diagnosed as ineligible to receive services but yet appear to have a developmental delay.  When an infant or toddler is evaluated, there is a possibility that a mis-interpretation of assessment data occurs (Sage Journals, 2016).  Early Intervention is a very crucial during the brain development milestone of zero to three years old because a child produces 700 new neural connections every second (Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University, 2016).  Early Intervention deals with the identification of a developmental delay in a child at an early age, evaluating the identified delay, receiving, a diagnosis and then receiving treatment/therapy in the following areas:  Physical, cognitive, communication, social or emotional and self-help.  Catching the developmental delay early is the goal, which affords the child an opportunity to get on the task and be successful.  The following are two influential and world-wide social media outlets that will help me in implementing my policy:

Facebook- 

Facebook is considered a platform to implement any advertisement, policy or information to millions of people all over the world.  Facebook can be used to target all and specific audiences that have a connection with a group, page, event or organization.  Facebook affords the opportunity for individuals or organizations that want to make improvements in: Education, Communities, Families, Health Management, Politics and Economics.  This site allows dialogues, photos and videos to help influence, persuade or entertain a specific audience.  A hash- tag used on face book permits users to view what is trending and.  Facebook affords the opportunity for users to: Follow, add as a friend, like and comment.        

Twitter

Twitter is a social media site that allows similar businesses to connect and engage in advertisements, invitations or introductions about specific topics.  Twitter is used by millions of people all over the world and can be accessed from any electronic device that offers wifi.  Twitter allows users to access the lives of many celebrities, politicians, authors, athletes, prominent organizations and other famous individuals of stardom.  Twitter affords the opportunity for users to: Follow, retweet and comment.   

References

Center on the Developing Child (Harvard University).  (2016).  Numbers to remember about early child development.  Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/resources/five-numbers-to-remember -about early-childhood-development/

SageJournals.com (2016).  Comparing apples and oranges: the mis-measurement of young children through the mismatch of assessment purpose and the interpretation of results.  Retrieved from http://tec.sagepub.com/content/early/2014/03/07/0271121414524283

Goal Setting For Me! Dynamics of Early Childhood Policies and Systems.

Greetings Dr. Winterbottom and Colleagues!  I am motivated toward acquiring knowledge on the policies and systems that help shape and positively impact the Early Childhood Field.  The following are three goals that have really inspired me to be the best teacher that I can be!  In addition, one of my future goals is to own my own (small) Day Care Academy in the next 3 years!  

I have three reasons why I am certain that this Degree Program will afford me the opportunity to become a scholar of change.  My reasons are as follows  1.)  It is my belief that the critical stages of a child's life begins from birth to age eight and my  hearts desire is to ensure that the next generation is prepared for society.  It is imperative for educational programs to be accessible, affordable, resourceful, dependable and consistent for children.  

2.)  The exploration of my research in Policies and Systems will consist of me being a voice "crying out" as an advocate of a "Systems Building Approach" to help fund families live the lo that are in need (whether it is for the parents, children, extended family members) along with health benefits, tutoring, mentoring, extra curricular activities, tutoring, technology, food and so much more.  

3)  During my research I anticipate learning more about preschool slots being offered in the underpriviledged community.  It is essential for children to become kindergarten ready to ensure they are academically successful as they matriculate during each of their milestones. (Nationswell.com, 2016).  This will be a great experience!

Nationswell.com., ( 2016).  How can we fix early childhood education?  Retrieved http://nationswell.com/ask-experts-can-fix-early-childhood-education/

Final Thoughts on my class entitled, "Influences of Family, Culture, and Society in Early Childhood

Greetings Dr. Edwards and Colleagues,

During this course my goal was to discover ways to impact single parent families in a positive way.   I wanted to find out if there were any resources, establishments, organizations or individuals in society that would share suggestions and ideas.  My desire and what I connected with the most was geared toward how we can help remove the stigma of a child not feeling socially accepted by society because they were brought up in a single parent family.

The literature I discovered during this research is considered information that has helped me justify actual practice and assisted me in connecting the dots of how children develop in environments that often become challenges to them because of their family marital or socioeconomic status.   The beginning of the course I learned about the foundation of contextual factors and how children are shaped by the environment they are developed in.  Whether it is a single, two parent home or in a dis advantaged or affluent community; children begin to experience certain types of stress, anxiety or trauma.  Throughout the matriculation of a child’s development I have learned that families from past history with Marsha Hawley (Laureate Education (Producer), 2015) and her Japanese American family were afforded the opportunity to develop resilience when faced with biases and microaggressions during their time in the internment camps.  In addition, the Japanese American family modeled hope for families in society today that you can endure and be successful even when faced with challenges of being a single parent family.

What I thought to be surprising is how single parent families are stereotyped and are struggling with the way society has channeled the value of their family.  I'm glad that I researched this topic on single parent families because it affords me the opportunity to share the importance of society, communities and families working together to treat everyone, everyone with equity and to prove that all families are valuable (Derman-Sparks, L. and Edwards, J. O., 2010).  

Through this course I have been enlightened by the following: Contextual factors, how single parent families experience stress and trauma, the low points and strength of internment camp experience, biases and microaggressions, cultural dissonance, research and interviews (Laureate Education (Producer), 2015).  This research project is considered a resource in helping to create a positive impact on single parent families.  In addition, this project shares how optimism has the ability to influence the affect on academic development of a child, self-esteem, behavior in and out of school, the future of a child and the perspective from a child on school related business.  Together as a society we can make a difference in the life of each child and two parent families going forward    

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves.                  Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013). Introducing Marsha Hawley [Video file]. Retrieved from 
             https://class.waldenu.edu