Ktantanim Balev

  As my Capstone project focuses on fostering awareness and support for inclusion, I researched international organizations that will provide resources, research, and funding opportunities to promote my community of practice's goals and mission. The first organization is The Early Childhood Development Task Force (ECDtf). The mission of the ECDtf is to empowering the lives of young children with diverse abilities and their families by providing high-quality inclusion programs around the world ( http://ecdtf.org/ , n.d.). Another international organization is The Inclusive Education Initiative (IEI). This organization is a multi-donor trust fund supervised by the world bank (worldband.org, n.d.). IEI devotes in knowledge and resources to support inclusion around the globe (worldband.org, n.d.). Also, IEI focuses on promoting stakeholders and governments to fund and develop programs to support inclusion (worldband.org, n.d.). Lastly, the International Early Childhood Inclusion Instit...

As I focus on my Capstone project and my advocacy role, I researched some national organizations that would support my role as professional educators that advocate for inclusion and support teachers to foster Diversity and Inclusion in their classrooms. The first organization that I chose is, Individual with Disabilities Education Act, IDEA. This organization provides information about the law and policies regarding individuals with diverse abilities and supports families and educators with resources presented in 170 languages, For instance, Spanish and Tagalog ( IDEA, n.d.) The Second organization of my choice is the U.S. Department of Education. This national organization also provides professionals and families with resources and access to Laws and civil rights, which is essential for families and educators who work with special needs children. Also, the U.S. Department of Education provides access to research and statistics about education. Furthermore, as the organization suppor...

              The National organizations that I chose are The Council for Exceptional Children and the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). Besides, for a local organization that supports the county of my future residence in California, I chose the Inclusion Collaborative.  When I used to reside in California, I was a member of the NAEYC. My membership supported my professional work, as it provided me resources for my daily work with young children and their families. Also, it provided me with opportunities for professional growth, such as annual conferences and workshops. I currently live in Israel. As I started my educational journey, I registered once again to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), This time, to get access to resources to support my assignments and to educate myself with the research-based study on the field of Early childhood education. As a...

 

  According to Derman-Sparks (2010), learning about culture and fairness involves two aspects. The first is fostering a positive cultural identity to the children and introducing them to their peers' cultures through respectful interactions (Derman-Spark, 2010, p.55). As I learned the vital role a professional educator in an anti-bias classroom has, I wish that each early childhood classroom worldwide will implement an anti-bias curriculum. Teachers should expand their competencies and experience in working in a diverse environment where each child and his/her family will feel included, welcome and visible (Derman-Spraks, 2010). In my anti-bias classroom, I will support my student's emotional growth and foster positive social identity and pride in their cultural background and heritage ( Derman-Spraks, 2010). Children will be encouraged to ask questions, speak about their differences freely, and get my guidance and support to promote empathy and fairness among our classroom...

    As I think about young children and their families from diverse backgrounds, I wish for them to embark on their early childhood education in an anti-bias environment that will foster respect and equity that will portray their cultural background in the environment (Derman-Sparks, 2010). I also hope that every young child will have a professional educator who will represent cultural sensitivity and address their particular needs, supporting their social and cultural identity (Derman-Sparks, 2010).  I wish that every childhood program will foster an anti-bias curriculum, reassuring each child and family is visible (Derman-Sparks, 2010). The goal I would like to set for the early childhood field is to have enough subsidized programs for low-income families, allowing each child the opportunity to attend a developmentally appropriate program. Also, I wish to enable diverse families with access to resources that can support their needs. Lastly, I would like to thank my coll...