Wow, I can’t believe I am writing the last blog post for this course (and my degree)! I have learned so much throughout this program. I feel that I will now be able to offer my students a higher quality educational experience. And look forward to making a positive impact in the field of early childhood education. I have learned that I need to have more confidence in my capabilities. There was a time when I didn’t think I would earn an Associate’s degree let alone a Master’s degree! I have also discovered a desire to educate adults within the realm of early childhood education. During this course I learned that I am deeply interested in the development of early literacy skills. I hope to pursue this topic further.

A long term goal that I have is to find a position teaching in the early childhood education department at a local college. Before I do this I want to gain at least three years of experience teaching in early childhood classrooms. I want to be able to share real life experiences and scenario examples with my students.

I would like to say farewell to my classmates and instructor. It has been a wonderful experience getting to know you. I hope to stay in contact with many of you. I have gained valuable insights from your perspectives on the field of early childhood education. The collaborative learning experience has been invaluable. It has be a great resource to be able to get feedback and ideas from people who are working in various facets of the education field. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences with me.

Blog Assignment Week Six

This week I’ve been researching international organizations that relate to literacy skills. I found numerous organizations. Here are three that I found particularly interesting.

Book Aid International (http://www.bookaid.org/)

They are an organization dedicated to supplying books and literacy support to people in need. “Book Aid International increases access to books and supports literacy, education and development in sub-Saharan Africa” (Book Aid International, 2013). I chose Book Aid International because I believe it is a cause worthy of pursuing.

International Reading Association (http://www.reading.org/general/AboutIRA.aspx)

The International Reading Association is a non-profit organization who advocate for world-wide literacy. Their mission statement is “The mission of the International Reading Association is to promote reading by continuously advancing the quality of literacy instruction and research worldwide” (International Reading Association, 2013).

Build On (http://www.buildon.org/who-we-are/)

I chose Build On because they are dedicated to making a positive impact on education worldwide. They strive to give students a chance to succeed by providing quality learning environments. “Build On’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy and low expectations through service and education” (Build On Inc., 2013).

A job opportunity within the literacy field that I found interesting was a Reading Consultant. This position would involve assisting students who have below average literacy skills. I wouldn’t consider taking the position because it is available in Connecticut. I would be interested in a similar position if I could find one available in Northern Vermont.

The following is what I found (including the requirements for the position) for the Reading Consultant position:

Reading Consultant - Grades K-3

Institution: New Milford Public Schools
Location: New Milford , CT, USA

Level: PreK-12 Classroom

Job description:
Elementary Reading Consultant

Job requirements:
Requires Connecticut certification as Reading/Language Arts Consultant or Remedial Reading (endorsement #102 or 097).

Found at http://acs.reading.org/jobs/find.cfm