Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 1

These are my international partners, I am learning a lot by talking with them about the many issues in the Early childhood field. 
Jesse Loughman teaches an after school progam in Shanghai, China. The children he teaches are all Chinese children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old. He says that all schools in China are not like his; there are some international schools, they pay a lot of money for their children to attend. His school is basically a private school, they pay a lot of money for their children schooling. The more Chinese parents like you as a teacher, the more they pay for classes. He says that it's an interesting role of school between kindergarten teachers and summer camp leaders. He enjoys his role as a leader, the children are rreally fun to teach.

Kitara Jordan teaches in Japan. She teachers kindergarten students on the military base. She says that the children she teaches are all American children. I asked her about the issue of poverty with her children and their families, she states that a lot of the families recieve assistance, especially WIC. Most military families do not make a lot of money. She says that there are a lot of programs but she is not sure of how they help. She plans to connect me with another person who teaches Japanese children, I can't wait.

My last contact is Kayla Ellington. Kayla teaches kindergarten in Abu Dhabi, which is in the United Arab Emirates. She says her children are very much like the children in America. Her class consist of 23 children. They vary in ability levels as well as behavior. Her goals for the children are similiar to the outcomes in the states. She shares her classroom with a native Arabic speaking teacher. They have themes they teach each week and they co-teach based on that theme. Her students then recieve literacy instruction in both English and Arabic in small groups. Ther also teach for numeracy.

These are my three contacts. I am enjoying chatting with them and learning so many great things about the children and families they are serving. When I was reading the article on The myths of the culture of poverty, this atatement stood out for me. It says to continue reaching out to low-income families even when they appear unresponsive ( and without assuming. If they are unresponsive, that we know why) ( Gorski,2008).

My insights about the issues of poverty have been very enlighten. I have learned that not all things that we see are not always what they seem to be. One thing I do know is that no matter how poor parents are they will alwys strive to do the very best for their children. As educators it is our job to help them to become better parents, and to do all we can when teaching their children.

                                                                       Resources
     Gorski, P. (2008). The myth of the culture of poverty. "Educational Leadership, 65 (36). Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Education Research Complete database.