National/Federal Jobs in ECE

This week we were able to update our communities of practice list. I discovered that there are many resources available for both parent involvement and early literacy. I also heard from a fellow classmate who introduced me to new resources! Here are some that appealed to me and jobs that would be of interest to me :).

Zero to Three (National Center for Infants, Toddlers and Families) http://www.zerotothree.org/:
This website is full of resources appropriate for my parent involvement/early literacy issue! A job that appealed to me is the Technical Assistant Specialist. The TA will work in the "Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Technical Assistance Coordinating Center" and some duties/responsibilities are:

•  "Work with the Assistant Director, subcontractors, other TACC Staff, and consultants, as needed, to plan and support all levels of technical assistance activities to grantees."
•  "Monitor exchanges and postings on the TACC online portal. Respond and contribute as relevant with assigned grantees."
• "Support the development of universal technical assistance activities as appropriate such as webinars and e-newsletter."

(Zero to Three, 2012, p.1) 

This job requires a master's degree in early childhood--perfect :)! 

Project Appleseed http://www.projectappleseed.org/:
 This website is dedicated to parental involvement in public schools. I know my work begins before a child begins his journey in public school, there are still tons of resources available that can be used! I could not find a specific job--but under Staff, it described the Project Appleseed Leadership Team. The leadership team "work toward effecting systemic change in an individual school, school districts, and across entire states" (Project Appleseed, 2009, para. 1). That sounds like an interesting job! I'm sure this job requires a master's degree (at a minimum).

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library https://imaginationlibrary.com/:
This organization is a great early literacy program started by country singer Dolly Parton. This organization sends free books to children on a monthly basis. A program can be started in your community! I would LOVE to be on the book committee--how fun to find books to send to young children! Looking at the qualifications of the current book committee--I'm sure my master's degree would suffice!

References:
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. (2013). Imagination library's book committee. Retrieved March 
30, 2013, from http://usa.imaginationlibrary.com/book_committee.php#.UVcgMBxJOAg.

Project Appleseed. (2009). Our leadership. Retrieved March 30, 2013, from http://www.projectappleseed.org/leadership.html.

Zero to Three. (2012). Job posting. Retrieved March 30, 2013, from http://www.zerotothree.org/about-us/careers/jobs/ta-specialist-hv-tacc-01-13-rev_external.pdf.

Exploring Roles in ECE

"Communities of practice are groups of people who share a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly”                        (Wenger, 2006, para. 4).

Working with families and children, it is important to collaborate with communities of practice. These groups help gain resources and form relationships that benefit all involved. Some local/state agencies that appealed to me are:

Babies Can't Wait: Georgia's "statewide system for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families" (Georgia Department of Public Health, n.d., para.1). This agency provides in home care for infant/toddlers up to three years of age. Resources and parenting is provided to the families. A service provider or service coordinator would be a job that would interest me. A bachelor or master's degree in Early Childhood is required.

Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy: This "foundation strives to improve early childhood learning for every child regardless of income, race,  or religion, as any child is at-risk who cannot read" (Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy, 2013, para 11). This foundation provides free books to children in participating counties. Some children do not have "child-friendly" books in the home and this program provides "child-friendly" books to all children in the home birth to five. I currently serve on the Community Action Team (CAT) in my community. Our team coordinates fundraisers so all children (birth to 5) in Jasper County receive free books. I would love to be a CAT coordinator. I do not know the skills needed for this profession, but believe a master's degree would be sufficient.

Head Start: I currently work for our local Head Start program, but I included this because of the great services provided by Head Start. Programs offer parenting courses, early literacy, health, nutrition  mental health and disability services (to name a few). I enjoy working for Head Start and hope to remain in my profession for many years. A would love to be an Assistant Director or Program Director one day. A college degree is necessary--good thing I'm continue my education! 

References:
Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy. (2013). Program overview. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://www.ferstfoundation.org/programoverview.htm.

Georgia Department of Public Health. (n.d.). Babies Can't Wait. Retrieved March 16, 2013, from http://health.state.ga.us/programs/bcw/.

 Wenger, E. (2006).Communities of practice: A brief introduction. Retrieved March 13, 2013, from http://www.ewenger.com/theory/.

Passion to Action

This week I begin my final course at Walden University. My emotions are both happy and scared! We were asked to create a Wordle using words that represent our passion for the early childhood field. Please visit my Wordle link:

  http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/6454661/Untitled

Reference:

Feinberg, J. (2011). Wordle--create. Retrieved March 6, 2013, from http://www.wordle.net/create