What I Think of Research...

Taking this course has been both exciting and challenging at times.  I have always been a hands on kind of person and loved the experiment part of science, a good detective novel or working out problems with a pencil and a piece of paper.  I enjoy the process of solving for X and finding the solution.   As a child I loved word problems and learned how to pay close attention to all the factors within a problem.  I learned how to use deductive reasoning and problem solving to come up with a possible solution.

However, the paperwork part of research, the part that deals with sorting through everyone else’s research, is not strength.  While I truly appreciate having learned how to recognize a reliable source and got a lot of really great research pointers from everyone, the hours of sorting through the write ups of other peoples experiments is hard for me.  I guess it is my impatient side coming out.  If I can’t perform the experiment myself I want to be able to find the answers I need quickly.  I get easily frustrated with the overabundance of information on the internet that comes up when I Google a particular area of interest.  99% of what comes up is not applicable to what I am looking for so I often find myself going back to old text books or lecture notes that I know have the information that I am looking for in them.  The problem with that is that often these sources are on the edge of being outdated.  In this electronically driven world I need to be able to find current information on subjects of interest and to do that I have to be patient and sort through the overabundance.  No matter how much I dislike it. 

 
Overall the opportunity to look closer at research has given me a reminder of how important research really is for our profession to continue to grow and how the little research projects and experiments we do daily within our classrooms are so important.  Thanks everyone for all your help and support in learning the best way to play on both my strengths and weaknesses when it comes to research. 

Best of luck in all your endeavors!

International Research

European Early Childhood Education Research Association

www.eecera.org

I looked into the EECERA web site and found that many of the research topics that we are looking into in this country are similar to those being researched in Europe.  Issues like equity and diversity, the importance of play and working with parents and families are all currently being researched.  In addition they are looking into the importance of men in the lives of children and are trying to create a more gender balance within the field of early care and education.  Having done a little research into this topic myself, I found it very interesting how they are going about attempting to create the gender balance.  In addition to conducting these research projects some governments have funded programs specifically designed to start bringing more men into the field.  They are hopeful that providing training, recruitment and retention of men for the field will encourage and provide more opportunities for a man’s influence into the lives of young children. 

 

Positive Effects of Research in My Life

Research in its most basic definition is an organized investigation to discover facts or establish a theory. With regards to children, research can range from intense studies that include generations of data to the most basic of observations that happen daily within the classroom. It is the later that I have recently had a great experience with.

My husband and I have a seven year old little boy who we will call “AJ”. AJ is a bright child with a very sensitive heart. He has always been very big for his age consistently topping or exceeding the growth charts at each doctor’s appointment. He loves anything all things physical, especially if there is a ball involved. However, he is not without his challenges. The one area he struggles with is language. When he was in preschool we went through the Child Find program and had him assessed for the possibility of a language delay. We found out that AJ seems to process language just a bit slower than others. When things move too quickly his inability to effectively process or communicate has often led to physical outbursts. He gets frustrated or angry and then acts out. Because of his size these outburst can not only be physically dangerous for those around him but emotionally as well. They tend to frighten the other children, which in turn effects his social and emotional development. Since his preschool years he has been seeing a SLP (speech language pathologist) and has made huge leaps and bounds in his ability to effectively communicate. Last year when he started 1^stgrade he was placed in a classroom with a teacher who provided him with the structure and problem solving strategies that he needs but who consistently looked at his outbursts as a high spirited horse that needed to be broken. She believed that his actions were getting in the way of his academic success and if he could learn to control his temper, he would find success. They spent a lot of time focusing on his behavior and he learned how to slide by with regards to the academics.

When he started 2^nd grade this year however, his test scores were still well below the national average and with the increased focus on reading at this level, he was unable to complete many of the independent tasks that were required of him. Thankfully his teacher is a great researcher. She took in all the information from his former teachers, SLP and us and then took the time to watch him. She made notes of when he would get the most frustrated, what got him revved up, what was effective in bringing him back down and how the whole process affected him both socially and emotionally. Within a few days she was able to conclude that it is when the classroom learning gets too challenging for him that he acts out in anger. It is the academics that were causing a problem with the behavior not the other way around. We were able to set up a daily dose of specialized focused instruction that covers reading and writing while still spending the majority of his day in his class with his peers. He has made great strides in spelling and sight words already and no longer looks at reading as impossible task.

Between this teachers ability to research on behalf of one child and all the research others have done on the benefits of inclusion, our family has been very positively affected by research done with and on behalf of children.

Research Simulation

To be honest I am having a difficult time really pinpointing my direction with regards to a particular topic.  I am very interested in looking into the turnover rate and effects of burnout within the early care and education field.  Over the years I have seen many great teachers leave the profession for a variety of reasons but typically it is linked to pay, lack of respect from outsiders and burnout.  I have also taken several mini-classes on burn out over the years but an hour and a half seminar doesn’t do much more than remind us to take care of ourselves.  There are just some problems a bubble bath can’t fix. 

I guess my interest has been piqued because we (my family) are quickly approaching a cross roads in our lives.  My husband will complete is master's in teaching this spring and we will be faced with acquiring a new job for him and the possibility of relocating.  Is this new start an opportunity to take some time for myself and just focus on school and the boys or do I still have the passion to continue in the classroom after 15 years?

While I have a pretty good idea why people leave the profession it would be interesting to learn how those who stay in the classroom for years deal with the possibility of burn out.  What do they do to keep the job fresh, uplifting, and fun during the difficult times?  So far my research has given me only a few statistics but I am still looking into it.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Cultural heritage and diversity has always been interesting to me, so when I went to the UNESCO site I was drawn to their culture tab.  I was really surprised to learn that the UNESCO concerns for culture go deeper than just making sure that each one is properly honored.  There are articles and links that discuss safeguarding the intangible parts of heritage, how to fight against the illegal trafficking of cultural property and how to protect cultural property in the event of an armed conflict.  These were issues I had not considered at this point but ones that are very important for the integrity of our cultural heritage. 

As a member of a very patriotic and service minded family I found a link on the Zero to Three web site that specifically addresses the issues that face military families.  This section has several resources including education courses, parent flyers, and activity books for those who have family members abroad, and newsletters.  While my father’s military service was too far back for me to remember, I have seen the effects of deployment on my nieces and nephews as my brothers and sisters have served in different branches of the armed forces.  With these sources designed to meet the specific needs of they go far to not only support the needs of the families but to offer equality in education to this particular population as well. 

My interest in infants and toddlers and the years I spent working with the my communities domestic violence program for children lead me to look into more information on abuse and neglect at the Zero to Three website .  I was astounded to find out that of all the child maltreatment fatalities that happen ¾ of them happen to children in the infant and toddler years.    This reminded me of how important it is to not just support the child at this stage in their lives but the families as well.  The frustration and exhaustion that often accompanies infancy and toddlerhood can lead to moments of anger resulting in permanent damage.  This web site had a number of articles, resource links to help fight against this problem.  There was information on how to reduce the risk of abuse and neglect, information on policy and links to community partners who address this issue as well.  I found it to be a great resource to keep tucked away in case I come across a family who could use this kind of support.

Web Resources- Zero to Three

I have spent the majority of my career in Early Childhood Care and Education with infants and toddlers so the ZERO TO THREE organization really piqued my interest. This is a nonprofit organization whose purpose and mission to provide information training and support all those who love and work with infants and toddlers. They strive to support healthy development for both the children and their families in all domains of learning.

While I was not able to access the numerous articles in past publications concerning diversity and demographics, I did find a common underlying thread that ran though the policies created by the Zero to Three organization. There is a strong emphasis on addressing the needs of the whole child and realizing that social and emotional growth is just as important as cognitive development. Since culture plays a big part in our self-recognition which is at the heart of social and emotional wellbeing, it naturally is an important theme to this organization. This experience also reminded me of how important the first three years are not only to brain development but also to self-concept. All of the experiences we have during these early years teach us something about the world we live in, those around us and ourselves. Creating a positive environment that honors each child and takes into consideration the needs of the group as well as the individual is more important than ever.

For more information on the importance of the first three years and the goals and ambitions of Zero to Three, visit them at www.zerotothree.org.

 

My Supports

My Supports

'Tis not enough to help the feeble up, but to support them after.

-William Shakespeare

Faith, Family & Friends

I believe we are all feeble and need not only a helping hand but continual support.  For me my greatest support comes from the relationships in my life.  My faith, family and friends top the list of greatest supports that not only help me up but keep me up.  These three things help me guide me through everything from the little daily decisions to the big life changing ones.  They provide me with stability, knowledge, advice, feedback, understanding and unconditional love. Without each of these factors I would have a lack of direction and purpose in my life. 

When I look at those around me and reflect on the gifts I have in my life I simply can not imagine trying to parent my three little boys by myself.  I am continually taken aback by single parents who play both roles in the lives of their children.  These amazing individuals are always “on”.  There isn’t someone else to help pick up the slack when they are tired or need a moment to themselves.  There isn’t someone else to share the load of responsibilities, worry or even the joy that children bring into your lives.  There is no one to bounce ideas off of or to just have and adult conversation with.   If I found myself in that situation I would definitely be lost with out the support of my husband.  We not only provide two different perspectives for our boys but emotional support to them and one another.  We give encouragement, understanding, assistance and sometimes just relief to each other.  If I had to do it alone we could downsize our lifestyle to fit a new financial budget, we could create a more disciplined schedule to keep our family on track but nothing could replace the regular support you receive by just having someone there to say “don’t worry, I got this”

My Connections to Play

We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.

-George Bernard Shaw

You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.

-Plato

As a young child I loved dramatic play. It didn’t matter if it was the house section of kindergarten or the fort in the back yard, there was something about pretend play that I really enjoyed.

One of the biggest supports of my play was time. We were not only encouraged but at times often kicked, outside to play. My siblings and friends would spend hours “unsupervised” in the back yard or around the neighborhood creating our fantasy worlds. My mom would interrupt for meal times and that was about it. The rest of the time we were free to create.

                                            

Unfortunately with the change of the times, I am unable to give my children the kind of freedom I had as a child. As a working mom, I do not have the time at home that my mother did. In addition with the way society is today there are so many more safety concerns. We feel like we have to be constantly on guard and unless your back yard is fenced (ours is not) letting the kids outside to play on their own for elongated periods of time can be frightening. While my boys do get free time to explore the things that they are fascinated by, the amount of time provided for that exploration is considerably less.

On the upside having three little boys has helped me to learn all different areas of play. While they do have a flair for the dramatic it isn’t quite the same as when I was little. They are teaching me all about super heroes, video games, “weapons” of war, and strategy. I even have a little artist in the making who continually invites me to color with him and I have to admit there are few things more relaxing than coloring a picture with my little man. Taking the time to play with my guys provides quality one on one time with them, fosters our family bonds and is just fun. It takes me away from the stress of adulthood for a few moments and reminds me about the true purpose of life and what is most important.

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with – Jim Rohn

When I hear this it reminds me of how truly important relationships are and how important it is to make the right ones prominent in your life. The people with whom we choose to spend most of our time have a great impact on us both positively and negatively. Choosing those who add to your life is crucial.

You are not a chicken! -John Bytheway

This quote reminds me of a story John Bytheway told about his first date with his wife. They decided to stop by the grocery store and pick up some food for a picnic. Once they arrived at their camp spot they cooked the chicken they purchased. As he ate he was amazed at how great this chicken tasted. Upon commenting on it, his date told him that it was because it was marinated. The chicken had been sitting in a combination of soy, honey and a few other spices. Over time the marinade had worked its way into the chicken, changing the flavor. Sometimes in life we find ourselves in situations where the people we have to spend the most time with are not the most positive. If we let them, they can change our flavor. However, we need to remember that we are not chicken and have the ability to fight against the negative influences of others and remain true to ourselves and who we wish to be.

When it comes to the most positive relationships in my life, my family is at the top of the list. I have a great husband and three wonderful little boys (10, 7 & 5). They each bring such joy into my life and are the drive behind everything I do. Kapono, our oldest, makes me smile. He is such a genuinely loving and caring child. Quiet in nature with a dramatic streak that comes out every so often, I can always count on him to bring me a smile of pride and gratitude for the fabulous young man he is becoming. Akeakamai makes me laugh. Ever the class clown he loves the spot light and enjoys having friends around him. His genuine laugh is like a little taste of heaven and the energy he brings to our home is infectious. Makana is our youngest and the one that fills me with amazement. He is by all definitions an artist. His creative nature comes out in all types of mediums and continually reminds me to find the beauty in even the simplest of things.

While these guys may not be the ones I spend the most waking hours with, they are the ones I want to spend the most time with.

In addition to my family I have a great friend Laura. While she is about 15 yrs. my senior our friendship proves that age is just a number. We have a great many values in common and have over the years invested a lot of time in supporting each other with the challenges we each face. While we are not the kind of friends who go out shopping together or meet up for lunch frequently, the common goals we share and the ability to trust one another lets each of know that we are there for one another no matter the need.

Over the years I have seen a great number of relationships struggle to deal with the effects of assumptions, pride, ego, distance and time constraints. These experiences have taught me that the relationships take work. They don’t just magically appear and continue to grow without some effort. Those that are most important to you are going to require a little time and effort.

Knowing this helps me as a professional to remember that people are the key.  Whether it is the relationship with the family or the child, you will not be able to reach your potentional without forming solid relationships with those you are serving. 

"We learn far more from out children than we ever did from our parents."

-Boyd K. Packer

This statement reminds me that while it is important to teach children, it is more important to learn from them.  Being a life long learner and finding lessons from everyone and everything in your life is fundamental to who I strive to be.  Children teach us about ourselves and the world around us as well as how to best be an advocate in their lives.  All we have to do is pay attention and be teachable.

The typical method of measuring children’s intelligence and potential in elementary school today is standardized testing.  Tests like the WCAP (Washington Comprehensive Assessment Program) and MSP (Measure of Student Progress) are used in my community.  While I agree with the idea that assessment needs to happen in the designated educational areas that these tests hit, I believe that the tests alone do not give you an accurate picture of the child’s intelligence.  When assessing children for development I believe it is important to see the whole child.  I also think that the typical areas of development that are assessed should include social/emotional, cognitive, motor and creative.  There are several examples of individuals who have book smarts but not social smarts and visa versa.  Life does not offer very many opportunities to be successful by being really good at only one area.  Since the foundational purpose for education is to prepare children for their future, I think we need to not only focus on the areas outside the three R’s but assess them as well.  It is only once we find a deficiency that we can help to fill it.  With out assessing things like social and emotional development we may not be able to see what a child really needs.  To truly see the whole child and assess them in multiple areas I think that we need more than just a standardized testing system.  A series of informal tests that happen in the child’s natural environment can lend more insight into the progress a child is making.  Keeping a portfolio of the children’s work, informal observations, and photographs can all demonstrate growth over time. 

My husband’s family is from Oahu and since the Hawaiian people and culture have frequently been portrayed as more laid back so I was interested in looking into their testing system.  What I found was that the state has a very similar system to my state.  Testing is done on a regular schedule and the tests are focused on the areas of reading, mathematics and science.  The tests are administered using the on-line system set up by the American Institutes for Research.   

As a child I was not exposed to very many stressors.  We had a roof over our heads, food on the table, and were not living in a violent or volatile environment.  I did, however, have to deal with the stress surrounding divorce.  While each of my parents have now moved on to successful relationships and are able to share in special occasions for their grandchildren, things were not always so civil.  Learning how to interact with each of them individually rather than as a whole was a challenge and I’m quite sure that I failed on a number of occasions.  Failure is a rather effective teacher and over time I learned my place in each of their lives.  In addition, regular visits, cards, letters and phone calls were set up or exchanged so that the relationships we had were kept in tact.  While I do not know my father as in depth as my mother, I still have some great memories of him playing an important part of my childhood and I have learned a great deal about the work that all relationships take. 

My husband’s family is originally from the island of Oahu in Hawaii.  While the US Air Force relocated them years ago, the culture still runs deep within them.  Since leaving the islands many years ago, I wondered why, with the Vietnam conflict over, they never returned.  The answer was astoundingly financially focused.  The cost of living is incredibly high and most opportunities for employment are based on the tourism industry.  Both of these variables have helped to create Hawaii’s problems with poverty.  While doesn’t even come close to the highest poverty rate in the country, the lack of wages that can provide for all of a persons needs, can keep the cycle of poverty moving from generation to generation.  If you can not meet your basic needs, how can you possible save any money for a “rainy day” or an emergency.  In order to help combat this, large organizations like Meals on Wheels, the United Way, the YWCA, the YMCA and Habitat for Humanity are getting involved in the urban areas.  Legislators are also trying to work for a higher minimum wage in hopes that higher wages will help people afford the cost of living. 

As an infant teacher for the last several years, SIDS is the one thing that concerns me the most. While we still don’t know for sure what causes this syndrome much as has been learned about things that can help lower the chances. I feel a great sense or responsibility already by just being the children’s teacher, knowing that their health is in my hands as well only adds to the pressure I feel to do the very best I can.

In the center that I work for, we follow the NAEYC guidelines and the Back to Sleep Campaign. All children are put in their beds on their backs and are checked on frequently. In addition we do not allow infants to sleep in swings or bouncy chairs that could inhibit their ability to have free body movement as well as an open air passage. We also have a fan circulating air in the nap room, don’t allow anything in the crib with the infants and recommend pacifiers.

I found it very interesting that the recommendations for prevention of SIDS are pretty much worldwide. It seems that this is a problem that we are willing to tackle as a whole with very little debate. On the other side of the coin however, I found that there are a wide number of products on the market claiming to reduce the chance of SIDS. I guess free interprise and the opportunity to cash in on fear is still alive and well throughout the world.

My first pregnancy was very text book right up to the end.  During the last week of my pregnancy I woke up in the middle of the night to find that I was spotting.  I woke my husband and we called the hospital to see what they recommend.  They asked us to come and and upon our arrival they ran some tests.  While I was to term and the baby had turned, the test revealed that the baby was under a lot of stress.  Labor had apparently started although I had no knowledge of it.  The doctor let us know that we could go one of two ways.  We could give me something to speed up the delivery but with the amount of stress the baby was already under, it was highly probable that we would end up performing an emergency c-section and one of the two of us may not make it.  Our other option was to prep for surgery and just perform the c-section without waiting to see how the delivery would proceed naturally.  Needless to say it was not a difficult choice to make.  Prepping for surgery and having the epidural placed in my back was both painful and scary.  With my husband having to wait outside during this portion of the delivery, I remember feeling very alone.  Once I was ready and my husband was able to return to my side I was able to find a greater sense of calm.  I remember not feeling any pain just pressure as they worked to get Kapono out.  I also have very vivid memories of the medicine causing uncontrollable shakes and not being able to hold my arms still no matter how hard I tried.  For my husband, begin able to be in the operating room and watching the whole surgery was fascinating him him.  We joke about it now but I seriously think he would have scrubbed in and joined the doctors if they would have invited him to.  Once Kapono was born and they took him away to be cleaned and checked up I remember thinking that it was taking forever for me to be able to see him and hold him.  I had to be in recovery for two hours before I was able to hold him but the nurses took pictures for me and my husband brought them to my bedside with a report that all was well.  We spent the rest of the week in the NICU getting through a few minor problems but knowing that the baby was fine and that family and friends were surrounding me and my husband and providing us support was really helpful.

The thing that I found most interesting in researching child birth in other parts of the world was the differences in standard maternity leave.  Having a c-section I was required to take at least six weeks off but over the years I have worked in the early care and education field I have seen many mothers needing to go back to work within four weeks.  It is amazing to me that other countries have maternity plans that cover not only a percentage of wages but that hold your position for up to a year, and often provide on-site care for your children. 

 

Children

1.5   To Create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children’s social, emotional, cognitive and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions. 

My heart belongs to infants and after spending the last ten years working in the classroom I have learned that it is ALL about creating safe, healthy environments and fostering social and emotional development.  Without feeling safe, secure and that their needs will be met, infants will not reach out to the world around them causing their learning to be stagnate. 

Families

2.2  To develop relationships of mutual trust and create partnerships with the families we serve.  

 I like this ideal in particular because it points out not only the importance of creating a relationship but a partnership as well.  We need to work with the parents for the benefit of the child not against them.  This ideal helps remind me that while I have years of experience and wide knowledge base of the development of young children, I need to remember the importance of working with parents and using what they have to offer the children as well.

Colleagues

 A.1  To establish and maintain relationships of respect, trust, confidentiality, collaboration and cooperation with coworkers.

I think that this is foundational to a good program.  You need to be able to count on those you work with and for them to count on you.  Learning to respect, trust and cooperate with those you work with helps the program focus on what is best for the children and families and takes the focus off the teacher.  While it is important to recognize the hard work that teachers do, it is also important to create a sense of community and cooperation among the staff rather than a spirit of competition.  Unfortunately the spirit of competition is often engrained in each of us and if not kept in check can kill this ideal fast

Professional Resources

I love this book and use it a lot because of the way it is written.  Dr. Elliott is both a scholar and a mother and the book is written from both points of view.  She is able to be technical and present all the important information on child development while also balancing the realities of parenthood.  The book provides both clarity and humor and I find it easily relatable. 

www.whitmancounty.org

This is the site for my local public health department.  They provide the community with access to programs like WIC, ABC Dentistry, Family Planning and Counseling and Children’s Medical Insurance. 

They also provide our center with a nurse consultant who makes regular visits to ensure that we care supported in what we do.

www.customerservicezone.com

 

This site has a great video of Scott McKain sharing a story of his experience with “Taxi Terry”, a man who takes his job to a new level and goes above and beyond to serve his customers.

 The Little Chill by Lisa Funderburg

www.lisafunderburge.com/write/Flittle.htm
 

Originally printed in “O” Magazine, this article deals with the nonverbal signals we send out to those around us.  Every time I read it I am reminded of the importance of how I treat my teachers, my colleagues and my clients. 

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42–53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

• UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf

·         World Forum Foundation
http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the video on this webpage

·         World Organization for Early Childhood Education
http://www.omep-usnc.org/
Read about OMEP’s mission.

·         Association for Childhood Education International
http://acei.org/about/
Click on “Mission/Vision” and “Guiding Principles and Beliefs” and read these statements.

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/main/about.cfm
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart’s National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
• Children’s Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
• Institute for Women’s Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/index.cfm
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.preknow.org/
• Voices for America’s Children
  http://www.voices.org/
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/