Website Link: http://www.acei.org/Mission: Our mission is to promote and support the optimal education, development, and well-being of children worldwide. We have consultative status with the United Nations.
Vision: Every child in every nation will have access to a quality education. This education will prepare children to become responsible and engaged citizens and ready them for life in a changing world.
In reviewing the Association for Childhood Education International I explored the news and publications section. Within this section there are links for various news sources and publications. Links include news for the ACEI, Global News, ACEI Publications, ACEI Bookstore, ACEI Radio and e-news. I spent most of my time this week reviewing the publications section and reviewing the ACEI Radio section and scrolled through the archived broadcast list. For the publications, most of them can be viewed online. However for certain publications and to view more of the archived publications, membership is required. There were some recently new publications that have been produced. Childhood Explorer and Early Years Bulletin are very recent publications. Publications also include bulletins which have various areas of focus, books and research publications. Within the Focus Quarterlies publications there are bulletins that focus on the areas of Infant/Toddler, Pre-K and Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School, Teacher Education, and Inclusive Education. In reviewing the various publications and articles I found an article of interest. It was in the recently developed publication titled Early Years Bulletin. The article titled Culturally Responsive Teaching: Exploring Children's Names and Cultural Identities discussed how when a young man was a child and when he became a U.S. citizen at the age of seven, his named changed from his birth and cultural name of Alejandro/Ale to Alexander/ Alex. He discusses that part of the reason for the name change was his was starting school and his parents wanted him to fit in with the American culture. At school he went by Alexander or Alex and at home he used the name of Alejandro or Ale. He lived within two cultures with two names. He discussed as he enter the adult world and work force he wanted to reconnect to his cultural identity and to his birth and cultural name of Alejandro or Ale and he is only referred to as such. The article discussed the importance of educators accepting the cultural differences among students and children being able to identify with their cultural as it is part of their own identity. The article discussed how educators can use various cultures as learning opportunities. The article then went on to discuss the importance of identity and names in the early years. It is important for children to keep their identity and cultural ties. The article discussed the importance of name recognition and pre-literacy development. "Name recognition and name writing have been shown to be significant predictors of children's literacy achievement during school years" (ACEI, 2013). The article also provided a recommended list of children's multicultural literature. I found this article to be very interesting as I do not recall through all my years as an educator of a child have had his name changed from one cultural name to another. I find it noble of his parents of wanting him to fit in however I wish the parents could have been educated on the importance of the child and the family embracing and staying connected their culture.
I find this website to have a wealth of wonderful resources and information. The publications, bulletins, broadcasts, and articles focus on a variety of age groups, topics, trends and issues from around the world.
Reference:
Association for Childhood Education International. (2013). Culturally responsive teaching: exploring children's names and cultural identities. Retrieved from http://issuu.com/acei/docs/eybautumn13?e=1693993/6073455
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteThe story about the boy and his name is an excellent example of how some children can lose their cultural identity in a seemingly small way. There have been several times I have had parents shorten their child's name to be easier to pronounce in English or change such as that boy, to better fit in with their peers. I did not realize how this can separate the child from their native cultural. This was a great lesson for me to use in future situations. Thank you.
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteThis was a very popular resource. I also was intrigued by it when looking at websites. I can't believe all the resources that are available within one place. As you spoke of in your post there are so many articles and information available. One needs to take time to really unfold all the things available on this wonderful website.
Thanks for the in depth and informative post.
Catherine
Rhonda,
ReplyDeleteThis was a very interesting resource that you have chose. I website has a lot of useful information. I might be using this resource in the near future.
Alisha