ECEs Eager to Work in True Collaboration with Teachers: Early Childhood Educator (Part II)

Part II in a series examining the changes to early learning in Ontario from the perspective of early childhood educators (ECEs). Part I featured an interview with Julia Lipman of the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario. Part III will allow others who are passionate about early learning to have their say as well.

In part II in this series, Pat Dickinson, program director for the Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies, Charles Sturt University (Ontario), shares her views on the future of early learning in Ontario. Her responses focus on the power imbalance between certified teachers and early childhood educators and the fact that the McGuinty government has an opportunity to resolve this long-standing power imbalance.

What would ECEs consider to be the ideal staffing arrangement for full-day kindergarten?
 
PAT DICKINSON: I think ECEs would accept any staffing arrangement that reflects a true partnership between themselves and the kindergarten teachers.  The recommendations in the Pascal report [a.k.a. Early Learning Advisor's report] were a big step in helping to resolve the power imbalance between certified teachers and early childhood educators which is a pervasive international issue in this field.
 
What do ECEs want parents to know about the strengths/capabilities of early childhood educators?
 
PAT DICKINSON: Early Childhood Educators have had two years or more of intensive education and practice working with children in this age group and have earned a diploma or a degree that is an indication they have demonstrated competence in this regard. They have entered this profession because of the satisfaction they receive from interacting with children and parents on a daily basis, as opposed to other rewards such as financial remuneration or status.

"In order for the profession to continue to attract Early Childhood Educators
and to help them better meet your needs and those of your children,
they need to be given professional recognition and status for the specialized education
they have received and the competence that they demonstrate on a regular basis."

What do ECEs want to say to parents as the Ontario government is set to make really key decisions about the future of education in this province?

PAT DICKINSON: In order for the profession to continue to attract Early Childhood Educators and to help them better meet your needs and those of your children, they need to be given professional recognition and status for the specialized education they have receive and the competence that they demonstrate on a regular basis.
 
Have ECEs and teachers traditionally functioned as allies/partners? Do you think a misstep by the Ontario government has the potential to damage relations between members of the two professions? What would be your advice to the people who making these decisions?
 
PAT DICKINSON: There has always been tension between these two groups because they both feel that they have rights and responsibilities in relationship to this age group of children. It is hard to enter into true partnerships unless there is a recognition of equal status, or at the very least, the respective strengths of both groups.

It is critical that the issue of staffing of full day early learning programs take these tensions and imbalances into account when making decisions for the future.  Early Childhood Educators are eager to create partnerships that will better meet the needs of children and families, and would welcome working in a true collaboration with Kindergarten teachers.
 
Do you think ECEs’ knowledge of the very early years and the holistic approach they take to understanding the needs of the entire family would serve them well in the kindergarten setting?
 
PAT DICKINSON: I have taught four and five year olds in both kindergarten and preschool settings and I have worked with early childhood educators and kindergarten teachers throughout my professional career. I have met exceptional early childhood educators and exceptional kindergarten teachers, but I have long advocated for the need for more specialized education for kindergarten teachers that is consistent with the type of education provided to early childhood educators. I know from working in both faculties of education and colleges of early childhood education that teachers receive very little specialized education in how to best support the growth and learning of four and five year olds.   

We've Heard from Teachers, Politicians: Now Let's Hear from Early Childhood Educators (Part I)

We’ve heard from the teachers. And we’ve heard from the policy-makers and the politicians. But how early childhood educators (ECEs) feel about the changes that are being made to early learning isn't being heard quite as often or as loudly.

After reading Kristen Rushowy's article last week and discovering how close the Ontario government is to making its final decisions about full-day kindergarten, I felt that parents really needed to hear what early childhood educators have to say about the role they hope to play as the province acts on the recommendations of the Early Learning Advisor (the so-called Pascal Report). This three-part series is the result.

PART I: INTERVIEW with JULIA LIPMAN, AECEO

Julia Lipman, Communications and Marketing Manager for the Association of Early Childhood Educators of Ontario (AECEO), responded to a series of questions I posed about the future of early learning in Ontario. Her answers focus on the professionalism of early childhood educators; the specialized training they have received in dealing with young children; and the long-established tradition ECEs have in working in partnership with teachers.

What do ECEs want parents to know about the strengths and capabilities of early childhood educators?

JULIA LIPMAN: In addition to their commitment to parental engagement and play-based learning, registered early childhood educators work in a regulated profession. Early Childhood Educators, under the newly legislated Early Childhood Educators Act (2007), must be registered members of the College of Early Childhood Educators to use the professional title of Early Childhood Educator or Registered Early Childhood Educator. Members of the College are held accountable to a complaints and disciplinary process and standards of practice. Under the Act, registered early childhood educators have a mandated scope of practice to plan and deliver “inclusive play-based learning and care programs for children in order to promote the well-being and holistic development of children.”

Have ECEs and teachers traditionally functioned as allies/partners? Do you think a misstep by the Ontario government has the potential to damage relations between members of the two professions? What would be your advice to the people who making these decisions?

"The two professionals ultimately have a shared interest in
what is best for children, and registered early childhood educators
embrace the potential to serve children and families through
an equal partnership with certified teachers in a
full-day early learning environment."

JULIA LIPMAN: There are many examples across the province of learning environments in which registered early childhood educators and certified teachers work together in equal partnerships for the benefit of children and families. These programs result in happy learners and families, but have also produced very positive and professionally fulfilling relationships between registered early childhood educators and teachers. The two professionals ultimately have a shared interest in what is best for children, and registered early childhood educators embrace the potential to serve children and families through an equal partnership with certified teachers in a full-day early learning environment. The AECEO strongly urges the Ontario government to respect the research and expertise of the Early Learning Advisor’s report by implementing the vision of a blended team approach.

What do ECEs want to say to parents as the Ontario government is set to make really key decisions about the future of education in this province?

JULIA LIPMAN: Ontario’s families are diverse in many ways, and their needs are individual. The new early learning and care system outlined in the Early Learning Advisor’s report would support children and families with a continuum of learning and one-stop resources including health and nutritional guidance, developmental assessment and support resources, community connections and parental engagement strategies. These services would be widely available and open to all those involved in the care of young children, not just to families who utilize full-day learning programs for four and five-year-olds.

The time has come to take a fragmented system of valuable programs and resources and turn it into a cohesive system that works for Ontario’s families. In order to do that, the Early Learning Advisor’s Report must be implemented in its entirety. This is an interdependent systems approach. If the Ontario government follows through on this plan, our province will become an example of innovations in early learning and care on the world stage.

The Quick Guide to Canadian Maternity Leave -- and the Mom Who Wrote It

The moment I found out Amber Stroecel was writing a Quick Guide to Canadian Maternity Leave, I knew I had to interview her about her project. I mean how many people, out of the goodness of their heart, write a gorgeous and informative go-to guide about Canadian maternity leave -- and offer it to people for free?

Well, it turns out that Amber has been the go-to girl for questions about Canadian maternity leave for quite some time, hosting Mat Leave Mondays on her blog and fielding questions from Canadian parents who want to know The Rules for staying home with baby.

I tracked down Amber on Twitter and talked her into an interview. Here's how our conversation went.

ANN: What inspired you to want to put together your Guide?

AMBER: The company I worked for through both of my pregnancies had a really fabulous intranet with detailed info about all of its policies and benefits, including maternity leave. I love to plan, so having access to that information was great.

I started blogging about maternity leave during my last maternity leave, which just ended in August. It was a little project to keep me busy and thinking while I was at home. What I discovered is that a lot of people have questions about maternity and parental leave and no good place to go for answers. I remembered the info my company had and thought that a brief guide might be helpful to them.

ANN: Is this the first time you've created something like this?

AMBER: This is the first time I've created a guide like this one. I was laid off during my maternity leave, and I've been considering what I want to do next. It's still taking shape in my mind, but I've found that being out of a job has been a huge growth experience for me. I'm asking myself questions and considering things I haven't thought of before, or haven't thought of in a long time. Wherever I end up, I would like it to involve writing and helping others. This guide is my first foray in that direction outside of blogging.

ANN: Were you involved in sharing information online before you became a mom? Has becoming a mom intensified that?

AMBER: I have blogged at Strocel.com since 2003, and my first child was born in 2005 so I was casually involved online. However, I would say that I lacked direction and didn't take it that seriously. With the birth of my second child I started my Mat Leave Monday project, where every Monday I wrote about maternity leave. Originally I intended it to be more personal - about my experience being on maternity leave. Very quickly it became bigger than me. People wanted information, and they didn't know where to find it. I became interested in and passionate about maternity and parental and adoption leave. I think that being a mom intensified that because I doubt I would be thinking about these issues in the same way if I hadn't lived through them. I would like to say I'm more altruistic than that, but I think most of us take interest in things that affect us personally on some level.

ANN: What type of software did you use to produce your guide?

AMBER: I just wrote the guide and created the graphics in Microsoft Word. Then I had the final PDF professionally designed, which cost a few hundred dollars. I think that it's less a question of the technology than the design experience. My background is in computer programming, and so while I am very technically literate I am not very good at making things 'pretty'.

ANN: What advice would you offer to other parents who have a lot of knowledge or expertise about a particular topic but who don't know how to share it with the world?

AMBER: Over the past year I have become a very active social networker. This doesn't come naturally to me, but with time and practice I have become pretty good at it and I've come to love it. I think that the best place to start sharing your message with others is Twitter. There are so many people to connect with, many of whom probably have common interests or questions you can answer. Having a blog with a regular publishing schedule is also great, because then readers know where and when to find you. Either way, the key is to engage in conversation. Reply to people on Twitter. Ask questions. Visit other blogs. Comment. The more you share your message, the more that your people will find you.

ANN: Has sharing content online become part of your life? I notice that you've also provided some excellent instructions for handmade craft projects, you've been a guest-blogger on various social networking sites, you've written for various blogs, etc.

AMBER: Sharing content online has become part of my life. As I mentioned, I am hoping to find a new career that involves writing and helping. Sharing content online is one way to do that. It's also good practice. The more that you do something, the better you become at it. Also, when you're doing something that you love it doesn't feel tedious. I can put in a lot of time creating content because I love to do it, it gives me energy and I am happy to take time away from other interests to pursue this one.

ANN: What has been the reaction of parents to your Guide? I know there was a lot of anticipation.

AMBER: So far the reaction has been positive. I got a lot of sign-ups on the first day, and those who responded thought that it was a great idea. There just isn't a lot of easily accessible maternity leave information out there for Canadians. Many new parents might work in fields or roles where not many people have taken leave, and not every employer provides ready access to policies and procedures. So I think that many people see a need and a use for a guide like this one.

ANN: Do you plan to publish other guides as time/inspiration permits?

AMBER: I do plan to do more publishing, but not necessarily guides like this one. My next project at Strocel.com, now that Mat Leave Mondays are over, is called Crafting my Life. It's about finding balance as a mother, and creating a life for myself. I have some ideas about things I want to publish in this area. It would be more in the vein of inspiration and motivation than information. When you download the guide you're subscribed to my email list, and I will be following up with my ideas and plans for future projects on the list as they become a little bit more concrete. This guide was a big project, and so I am just taking a moment to re-group before I launch into the next thing. I also have a very active 13-month-old at the moment, so that does impact how much time I can spend writing. In fact, at this very moment he's pulling all the toys of the shelves and trying to climb them. And he's playing his kazoo - he loves his kazoo.

Parents turning to Twitter for advice and recommendations: Time-pressed moms and dads tap into the power of crowdsourcing

Twitter isn’t the flavor of the month. “It may be right up there with e-mail in terms of its communication impact,” says Jim Jansen, associate professor of information science and technology, College of Information Science and Technology, at Penn State University, and co-author, earlier this year, in a study which looked at Twitter as an electronic form of word-of-mouth.

I believe it. A lot of parents are turning to Twitter to tap into word-of-mouth recommendations for everything from baby gear to green school lunch kits to healthy (and easy-to-prepare) meal ideas.

The online gurus have coined a term to describe the act of gathering wisdom from the crowd: crowd-sourcing. The best thing about crowd sourcing is that you are the one in charge of choosing which information gets acted upon and which gets filed away for future reference -- or permanently trashed. Only you can decide which pieces of wisdom apply to your family’s situation and which are a total mismatch. (There’s nothing worse than trying to make square wisdom apply to a triangular situation. Very frustrating.)

Crowd-sourcing is magical. It’s like having an entire research department at your disposal. Of course, you don’t just take: you give, too. You repay those wonderful volunteer researchers with gratitude and a willingness to be generous with your own ideas, life experience, and misc wisdom. What goes around comes around, after all, as my mother-in-law likes to say.

Twitter can also act as your online communications department, keeping you connected to your key contacts and your family members with much less hassle than email (assuming that your nearest and dearest have signed up for Twitter accounts).

You can use Twitter to

let your partner know that you managed to pick up milk or bread or books or other life essentials

keep your entire extended family updated in the event of an emergency (e.g., an elderly relative is in the hospital);

announce your baby's arrival (and let people know when visiting hours are scheduled so that you don't have to field non-stop visitors around the clock);

send a flirty note to your partner (sometimes that’s all you have time or energy for if the kids are sick, you’re on deadline at work, and one of you has to do the grocery shopping tonight);

problem-solve with your partner (is this the part we need to fix the washing machine? did you reschedule the dentist appointments?) In-box cluttering emails can feel like overkill when all you need is a one-word response;

give your partner a heads’ up about a parenting decision you made (so that he or she doesn’t accidentally say “yes” when you said “no” -- or vice versa);

zip your partner a link you know he/she will love. (It may not be the same as those Sunday mornings of yesteryear, but it’s another way of saying, “I was thinking of you.”)

 
Twitter is also a great tool for connecting with your unofficial parenting board of directors (those friends and family members you turn to for information, support, or a listening ear when you’re grappling with a parenting issue that’s driving you around the bend). TIP: You can make this Twitter account public or private -- but remember that anything you put on the Internet should be treated as being one click away from becoming headline news. So don’t put your deepest, darkest secrets on Twitter, private account or not.

Ready to take the plunge. Here are some of the Canadian parents and parenting resources I follow on Twitter. You might want to consider following some of them, too:

@babyfacts  @babyvibe  @besthealthmag  @canadianfamily  @canadian_living  @caringforkids @CBCHealth  @familyanatomy  @invest_in_kids  @mississaugakids  @parentclub  @parentchildcomm @parentsource  @ParentsDigest  @savvymomdotca  @sickkids  @sweetmamaca  @todaysparent   @TVOyourvoice   @womenshealthweb  @weewelcome  @yahoocanadalife  @yummymummyclub  @alysonschafer  @andrea_mcd  @anthonyfloyd  @averygoodyear  @bfmom  @bweikle  @cathythorne    @crabbykate  @crunchycarpets    @curiousdad   @dadcamp @danigirl   @dsfq   @desireefawn  @doulamama   @ewiller   @justd2004  @karengreeners @kathybuckworth  @leftcoastmama @lisaborden @noflashcards  @playcon  @phdinparenting  @rebeccacoleman  @scarbiedoll @westenddoula  @yoyobelly  @yoyomama_van

Note: I tweet about parenting-related resources @themotherofall. For tweets related to writing, life, social justice, etc., you can find me @anndouglas.

Back-to-School Parenting: A Roundup of Back-to-School Parenting Resources

‘Tis the season when everyone has back-to-school on the brain, so I figured this was a good time for a paernting resources swap. I've pulled out some of my favorite resources related to kids and back-to-school. If you have other helpful back-to-school parenting resources to share, please post the details in the comments section below. Or blog about them in your blog and post the link below.

How to....

...Be Brave When Your Child Starts Kindergarten

The first day of kindergarten can be pretty tough, whether you’re a parent or a kid. Some parents find it's tougher on them than it is on their kids. The secrets to getting through the early days and weeks as the parent of a kindergartener? Hang tough on that heart-wrenching first day; and remind yourself that you will still have an important role to play in your child's education for many years to come.

...Prevent or Deal with Cyberbullying

A study conducted by Faye Mishna of the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Social Work revealed that 50% of kids in Grades 6 through 12 had been bullied over the Internet. Online bullying has become such a problem for students that the Canadian Federation of Teachers would like to see cyberbullying treated as a crime under the criminal code. Here’s what you do to reduce the odds that your kids will be bullied online and to take steps to stop the bullying if the bullying has already started.

...Give College-Bound Kids Some Helpful Advice About Cooking

Two of my kids headed back to college during the past four days. And they each took that next giant step on the path to total independence: they’ll be cooking for themselves this year, as opposed to relying on a residence meal plan or living with mom and dad.

While I know they’re each quite capable of whipping up the basics, I wanted to inspire them to try new things in the kitchen -- and not to live on heat-and-serve entrees from the frozen food aisle. (Not only is that more expensive than cooking from scratch. It gets pretty boring pretty fast.) So I went looking for an online cooking guide that included healthy, delicious, and easy recipes, as well as some basic tips on food preparation (stocking the kitchen, avoiding food poisoning, etc.)

I was thrilled to come across Good Eats: Quick and Easy Food for Busy College Students, a fabulous cooking guide for time-pressed newbie cooks on a budget by co-authors Suzanne Sonneborn, R.D., L.D, and Cynthia W. Harriman. If there’s a college-bound cook in your family, you’ll want to pass along the link.

...Connect with Other Parents of Boomerang Kids

Sometimes the only thing that helps when you're dealing with a challenging parenting situation is connecting with another parent who truly understands.

Last year, while researching a magazine story about boomerang parenting (parents coping with so-called boomerang kids), Rona Maynard put out a call to parents who might be willing to share their experiences. The stories continued to roll in long past her deadline and an ad hoc support group began to emerge. Some of the more active participants in the discussion are moving the support group to a more permanent home and they want other parents who are dealing with the challenges of sharing their homes with grownup kids (and sometimes grandkids, too) to know that such a group now exists. You can find it at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BoomerangSupport/.

What I Did With My Summer Vacation

September 1st is here, which means it's time to put the best summer ever series to bed. (This is Day 63, if you're still keeping track.)

The summer of 2009 may not be officially behind us for another 21 days, but there's something about the arrival of September that signals that it's time to shift modes.

Those of us who have kids heading back to school in another week (or who have already heeded the call of the school bus or the carpool) are already marching to the beat of the fall routine.

I like the routine and structure of fall, and yet I'm already missing the more improvisational rhythm of summer. I love the spontaneous, unexpected, the unplanned.

My main goal, this summer, was to indulge in the freelance writer's equivalent of a sabbatical (self-funded, of course). I set up a reading and writing program for myself, one that took me boldly where I had not gone before as a writer, but where I will be hanging out on a regular basis from now on. There's no going back once you've sample certain writerly delights, you know.

But before you get the idea that this summer was All About Me: well, reality check time. I'm still very much part of a family. (Status Update: Mom of four; married; many other relatives; etc.)

It was an awesome summer on the kid front. I had the opportunity to watch my four kids thrive and take bold steps of their own. My daughter decided to listen to her inner artist and start studying photography this fall, abandoning the college program that might have put money in the bank, but that would have made her miserable. My oldest son took a journey that demonstrated that he is willing to put heart and soul into going after what he really wants out of life. His passion really shone through as he found a focus – a motivation – to move him to action. My next youngest son demonstrated that he is able to juggle multiple commitments without missing a beat, online or offline. And my youngest son took a giant step from childhood to that in-between stage that will soon lead to the teen years. He can drive a boat, he can build benches and sheds, and he can advocate for himself and others in powerful ways. How far he has come in the past two years. I am so grateful to the people who helped cushion his fall and helped him find his way again.

My husband, who desperately needed some downtime this summer, managed to escape from the office every now and again to spend time at the cottage. He continues to try to cope with the pressures of being an only child caring for aging parents in another city (a complicated situation that won't be easily resolved). Maybe, now that all our kids are doing well at the same time (a major miracle in this family), we'll be able to enjoy more time as a couple this fall. Sure there are my pregnancy book revisions (very tight timeline) , his job (insanely busy at the best of times), and our volunteer commitments (we are both active volunteers in our community), but I have this feeling that we're coming back into our own again. It will be our 23rd wedding anniversary in October – and we've together since I was in Grade 10 and he was in Grade 11 (that was in 1978).

I think I'll make this my goal for fall: to find ways to spend more time with this fellow who gives so much to our family; to try to lighten his load a little; and to let him know in my oh-so-subtle ways (like that blackboard-sized neon pink heart that I drew on the blackboard in his Grade 11 math class one Valentine's Day long ago) that after four kids and all these years, I still want his coffee cup next to mine.

Best Summer Ever: Day 62

August 31:
Set Aside Time for Yourself

Here are four good reasons to make yourself a priority in your own life.

ONE: You’ll feel less stressed and better able to cope with the challenges of daily living if you take time for yourself on a regular basis

TWO: Taking time to relax gives your body a much-needed break. You'll sleep better, which allows your body to do its all-important overnight repair work.

THREE: You’ll reduce your odds of becoming ill. Chronic exposure to stress weakens your immune system, leaving you more susceptible to colds and other infections. Reducing stress does a body good -- literally.

FOUR: You'll put the sizzle back in your sex life.  Since stress is the ultimate anti-aphrodisiac, anything you do to relax and unwind can only do good things for your libido.

Best Summer Ever: Day 59

August 28
Become the Poster Parent for the Joy of Learning

One of the most powerful things you can do to raise a child who is is to model that excitement yourself.

You want your child to see you reading books, newspapers, and magazines on a daily basis; researching issues that matter to you; and watching documentaries on topics that you are passionate about.

With you as a living example of the joy of learning, how can your child help but get the message that learning is something that takes place anytime, anywhere; and that it continues throughout your entire life?

Image: Created using the motivator tool at BigHugeLabs.com.

Best Summer Ever: Days 54, 55, and 56

August 23, 24, 25
Stop the Clock -- or At Least Slow it Down

Time seems to speed up as the end of summer approaches.

You blink and a couple of days have whizzed by.

At least that's how it is for me.

It seems like every committee I belong to is revving up for fall. Some go-getter committee chairs even want to meet before Labor Day so that they can start the volunteer year off with a bang.

Meanwhile I've been trying to get the to do list in my head into my computer. (I'm still loving Things, that to do list software application for Macs I wrote about a couple of weeks ago).

I think this would be a good time for me to re-read some of my earlier entries about relaxation and having fun and managing stress. If I want to carry that summer feeling into September, I need to de-stress, starting right now.

Best Summer Ever: Day 49

August 18
Make Some Back-to-School Resolutions

 The first day of school feels a lot like New Year's if you're a parent of school-aged kids. So why not take a moment to make a few school-year's resolutions? Here's one for today:

Resolve to break free of the convenience food rut.

Treat meal preparation like a team sport. Get the rest of the family in on everything from meal planning to grocery shopping to meal preparation (.pdf).

Ask friends and family members to pass along recipes that have proven to be favorites with their families.

Do some of the meal preparation on the weekend when you’re likely to have a bit more time. Having pre-chopped veggies or pre-cooked lean ground beef can be huge time-savers on a busy weekday.

Team up with other families who are looking for ways to cook smarter. Start your own cooking club (where members get together to do batch cooking together) or organize a weekly meal swap or with a friend or neighbour.

Related:

City of Toronto: Nutrition Matters: Shopping

Mealtime Solutions for Your Baby, Toddler, or Preschooler by Ann Douglas. See Chapter 6 for more tips on how families are pooling resources to take the stress out of meal preparation.