WK1DQ

Learning Resources

This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be sure to scroll down the page to see all of the assigned resources for this week. To view this week's media resources, please use the streaming media players below.

Required Resources:

• Course Text:  Morrison, G. S. (2013). Early childhood education today (11th custom ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
  
  
  • Chapter 1, "You and Early Childhood Education," pp. 2–25, 28–2 9
  • Chapter 2, "Current Issues and Public Policy," pp. 32–45, 48–57
  • Appendix A: "NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment," pp. 507–513
    
    

Media:

• Video: Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). The early childhood professional [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
  
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 20 minutes.
  
  Noted early childhood expert Barbara Bowman speaks to a group of early childhood educators about the attributes of early childhood professionals, characteristics of the early childhood profession, and some of the major changes that have transformed early childhood education in this country.
  Video: Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). A call for leadership [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
  
  Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.
  
  Barbara Bowman explains the need for early childhood professionals to become active leaders in classrooms, schools, programs, and society.

  Optional Resources

• Web Article: Early Childhood Leaders on Leadership
  http://www.naeyc.org/files/yc/file/200501/Scott.pdf
  
• Web Site: The National Children's Advocacy Center
  http://www.nationalcac.org/
• Web Site: Children Now
  http://www.childrennow.org/index.php/
• Web Site: National-Louis University's McCormick Tribune Center for Early Childhood Leadership
  http://cecl.nl.edu/

Early Childhood Professionalism

"An early childhood professional has the professional characteristics, knowledge, and skills necessary to teach and conduct programs so that all children learn, as well as the ability to inform the public about children's and families' issues. Professionals are those who promote high standards for themselves, their colleagues, and their students—they are continually improving and expanding their skills and knowledge. A professional is a multidimensional person" (Morrison, 2013, p. 4).

Reflect on Morrison's definition of an early childhood professional and consider what it means to be an early childhood professional and the roles you are expected to fulfill. How do you feel about this view of a professional and about being an advocate for both children and the profession?

Review the video programs and readings this week, in particular, "Goal 5: Becoming a Professional" (pp. 13–17), "Professional Dispositions" (pp. 17–19), and the "NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment" (pp. 507–513) in the text. With all of this information in mind, complete the Discussion as follows.

By Day 3:

Post your responses to the following:
Your ideas about what it means to be an early childhood professional, citing expectations set forth in the readings and video presentations

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• Your thoughts and feelings about Morrison's definition of an early childhood professional and anything you would add to this definition, citing references to the text or video presentations to explain your reasoning