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Viewpoint - The Official Newsletter of The Virginia Association for Early Childhood Education

Viewpoint is a high-quality, two-color newsletter published three times each year. It reaches our 3,000+ members and contains vital news, creative articles and member services.

Sample articles from our most recent edition:

 

Inspired by Children: Asking about Apples

 

Letter from the President

By Edyth J. Wheeler

 

Working with and on behalf of children brings us inspiration in many ways.

 

Children inspire us through their everyday activities as we share their wonder, their joy and sense of accomplishment as they discover the world. We are inspired by their smiles and laughter and by the words that they find to describe the world around them as they see it. We are also inspired by the challenge they face, their frustration and their times of sadness, and we work to help develop the resilience to overcome these obstacles. We can find ourselves inspired by their example and try to see the world as they see it. What a privilege we have as early childhood professionals.

 

Are there ways that we can “return the favor” and inspire children ourselves? Recently, I heard Dr. Bob Pianta, a researcher in early childhood at the University of Virginia , speak about the findings of a recent study he has conducted about factors that contribute to the improvement in pre-kindergarten children's academic and language skills. What he discovered was that the strongest predictor was the quality of the teacher-child interaction. Teachers who provide emotional support and engage children in meaningful learning can make a difference in their learning. We can learn from the example of the teachers and children in the infant centers and preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy , that truly listening to children provides them a sense of meaningfulness in their learning and gives us a window into their thinking. Another way that we may inspire children's learning is through meaningful or “important” questions. Instead of “what color is an apple?”, we can wonder with children why one apple is green and by another one is red and why some of them will change from green to red and why others will stay green and what's like to hang up in a tree till you fall down anyway? Try that sort of conversation and not only will you inspire children but I can almost guarantee that you will be inspired by them!

 

Children inspire us to learn more about our field in order to be more effective in our work. Let's talk about ways that we can share what we know and grow in our profession. Probably the first thing you should do is to check with your local affiliate to see what is happening in your area right now. If there is an event, bring a friend or colleague! Visit the NAEYC website for resources that you can also shore with families, such as Early Years Are Learning Years articles in English and Spanish, There are position statements on important issues, information about federal issues and about the national conference in Atlanta , November 7-11. If you are able to go to the NAEYC Conference, please come to the VAECE Networking Reception at the Marriott Marquis on Thursday, November9. from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. At the VAECE website, you will find out about current issues in our state as well as state and local conference events. Be sure to note the announcements in this issue of Viewpoint about the VAECE Annual Conference, “The Wonder of It All,” which will take place on February 22- 34 in Norfolk .

 

VAECE as an organization is inspired by children in our mission statement to speak and act on behalf of children. We have a unique opportunity to guide important policy decisions over the next few years as the state moves toward a plan for pre-kindergarten that will be ultimately be available to all children whose families would like to have it. Many VAECE members are currently involved in task forces as part of the Governor's Start Strong and Smart Beginnings projects. Our dedicated Public Policy Co-chairs, Meg Sewell and Jean Chase, have given us more details in this Viewpoint issue. There have been, and doubtless will continue to be, opportunities for public comment around the state and on-line, so please share your thoughts.

 

In closing, I would like to thank two of the many people in VAECE who have inspired many of us through this newsletter. Steve Fairchild who has inspired us to wonder about math and science in his many Viewpoint articles, will be moving out of state and will be greatly missed. Toni Cacace-Beshears, an inspiring wearer of many hats, has been our Viewpoint editor for as long as many of us can remember and is hoping to recruit someone to follow her in this role. Thanks to you both.

 

Thanks to all of you who work with and on behalf of children. Let us always be open to the many ways that inspiration happens when we are with young children.


SCIENCE GUIDELINES:
How Do You Measure Up?

By Steven Fairchild


CThe following recommendations, which grew out of the Science for All Americans report, suggest ways of increasing students’ proficiency in science. Consider your approach to helping children develop scientific understandings by reviewing this checklist and comparing it to your program’s approach to science. Science for All Americans, which hopes to encourage scientific literacy for everyone, suggests we should:

1. Begin investigations around questions students are currently asking themselves, probably questions about nature.

2. Engage students actively; they should have real items to observe, weigh, measure, compare, count, categorize, etc.

3. Concentrate on the collection and use of evidence; integrate science with writing and other forms of expression.

4. Use a team approach to learning.

5. De-emphasize the memorization of technical vocabulary; focus on contextual understanding, adding vocabulary for communication purposes.

6. Welcome curiosity, creativity, and a healthy spirit of questioning.

Reference: American Association for the Advancement of Science. (1990). Science for all Americans. New York: Rutherford, F. J. & Ahlgren.A.

 



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