Pandemic-style Graduation

As I sit here at my laptop to write this, I am filled with so much hope for the future. You see last night we had our university graduation for summer 2020 graduates. It was virtual. It was a pandemic-style graduation. Of course (I hate you, COVID-19). Students did not gather in a big facility with their friends and families to celebrate their big accomplishments. Nope. They did not get to walk across the stage, shake our Dean’s hand, and hear many people wish them “Congratulations.” Nope. In this age of the Coronavirus, a graduate is more likely to see their name scroll across a screen as they squint to see acknowledgment of their achievement on an electronic device. It saddens my heart. But still I’m hopeful for the future.

“Oh the places you will go.” (with photoshop)

Picture it (yes I’m channeling Sofia from Golden Girls) late spring 2020 and you have one more semester left before you can graduate with your degree. As of spring break your university has moved fully online and virtual. You had plans to do your summer Practicum and graduate in August 2020. Your professor calls you on the phone (how 1998 of her). She says she has good news and bad news. Good news first: “we are approved to do summer Practicum.” Yay! You can still graduate in August you might be thinking. But WAIT. Bad news is, “Practicum is fully online and virtual.” Huh? That doesn’t fit with what I’ve been planning or envisioning for my final field experience. What about the children? What about families? What about learning from my on-site supervisor and other professionals? What about all the things I was hoping to do?

So many disappointments. I hate you, COVID-19!

Okay, the show must go on. Practicum is different from what was planned, but look at the new things that I got to do as a result of this unexpected turn of events. I’m learning about children’s needs during a global pandemic. I’m learning how to connect with parents and other professionals in new ways. I’m learning that I am a strong and resilient person who is capable of taking what life throws at me and not only survive but THRIVE!

As I take a sip of cold tea and look down at my dry chapped hands (20 seconds people!), I realize how happy I am thinking about this summer semester with my students. I sit here inspired by ALL of their accomplishments. Each student overcame a lot to be waking up on this cloudy and windy Florida Sunday morning after their pandemic-style graduation waiting for what might be a visit from hurricane Isaias (okay, COVID-19 has nothing to do with Isaias but I still hate you anyway COVID-19). They have earned a college degree! They did it! Wow! Inspirational. Yesterday, 16 of my undergraduate students earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Development & Education (ECDE), and 4 graduate students earned a Master’s of Science degree in ECDE. Many of these amazing college students even graduated with honors (minus the cords and other recognition - I hate you, COVID-19!). One of my students said, “A global pandemic could NOT stop my education.” Take that, COVID-19! Charge on!

“Oh the places you will go.” (with photoshop)

“Oh the places you will go.” (with photoshop)

Universal Perspectives

A world class education begins with access to ideas that can transform learners. Higher education must challenge students to reach their full potential. Exploring beyond what students already know to dive into depths beyond the shore of their existing knowledge is the objective of higher education. This semester I went on a quest with our graduate students to learn more about early childhood assessment by hosting an international expert, Dr. Carmen Dionne.

Dr. Dionne shared her ideas and research on early childhood assessment. She brought up so many topics related to the challenges and opportunities we all face as researchers. Faculty in the School of Teacher Education, my Dean and Research Dean, and our talented graduate students in the College of Community Innovation and Education participated in the Research Symposium. Dr. Dionne is Professor at the University of Québec at Trois-Rivières, and she is the sole United Nations Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) Chair in Child Development with a focus on screening and assessment of young children. The purpose of the UNESCO program she chairs is to conduct research in early childhood intervention for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers who are at risk for developing a disability or have disabilities.

Thank you to Dr. Dionne for coming all this way to Orlando from Quebec. A BIG thank you goes to the University of Central Florida College of Graduate Studies and UNESCO for sponsoring our research symposium with Dr. Dionne. The research symposium with Dr. Dionne has given us the opportunity to reflect upon ways to improve the world for young children and their families.  Reaching past our direct sphere of influence leads to transformation that comes from learning about the immense world around us and global perspectives.

If you’d like to read more about the UNESCO child development chair, follow this link:

https://oraprdnt.uqtr.uquebec.ca/pls/public/gscw031?owa_no_site=1530&owa_no_fiche=4&owa_bottin=

What's New?

Happy New Year! I hope your new year is off to a great start. In 2018, my colleagues and I will be putting the finishing touches on the new edition of the Assessment, Evaluation, and Programming System for Infants and Children (AEPS®).

We have been working on the AEPS®-3 since 2005 and I’m thrilled to see it going into production. Early childhood professionals can benefit from having a measure to assess young children that also links to a curriculum that could be used during play and routines. The AEPS®-3 Family component can be used to create positive and engaging partnerships with parents. Some of the most exciting new things in the AEPS®-3 are the early childhood math and reading areas.

Listen in to my iTunes show to hear a conversation with the pioneer of the AEPS® Dr. Diane Bricker (pictured below) talk about how she got started in our field, early childhood theoretical perspectives based on the work of Skinner and Piaget, and the influences and impact of her work in the area of early childhood assessment. 

If you would like professional development on the new AEPS®-3, start now. You can email me at marisamacy@gmail.com to begin. Wishing you all the best in 2018!

Left row: Carmen Dionne (Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières), Amy Perkins (Brookes Publishing), Naomi Rahn (Wisconsin DOE), Diane Bricker (University of Oregon), that's me in green - Marisa Macy (University of Central Florida), and I-Ching Chen (Kent State University). Right row: Sarah Zerofsky (Brookes Publishing), Misti Waddell (University of Oregon),  Jennifer Grisham-Brown (University of Kentucky),  Joann Johnson (St. Cloud University), and Heather Shrestha (Brookes Publishing)

Below is a PDF of our “Sneak Preview” my co-authors and I presented at a national conference. 

http://aepsinteractive.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/DEC-AEPS-3-Presentation-2017.pdf 

http://www.brookespublishing.com/resource-center/screening-and-assessment/aeps/

Don’t Sweat the Holidays

As the author of The Night Before series where many of my books are about holidays, I want to share some advice, “Don’t sweat the holidays.” We have images in our minds of the perfect holidays thanks to Norman Rockwell and Martha Stewart. And we have good intentions of creating the ideal celebration for our family and kids. But the reality of it all is PEOPLE ARE BUSY.

There are dance recitals, sports, after-school activities, homework, TV time, computer games, work, and traffic. Honestly, I don’t know how some people even get the turkey in the oven or the Christmas tree up!

When I write my Night Before books, I keep the modern, busy family in mind. The message I try to convey is, yes you should acknowledge holidays but do your best with the time and resources you have. The important thing is to show your children the joys of the holiday and to spend time with family and cherished friends.

In The Night Before Thanksgiving, I have the kids kick in to help mom prepare the Thanksgiving dinner. But as it happened in my childhood, there was always one family who had trouble making it to grandma’s house in Massachusetts on time due to a snowstorm. Despite the turkey almost being dropped and Norm being stuck in a storm, it all works out in the end of my story because the family is united and sharing a delicious meal.

When writing my first drafts of The Night Before Hanukkah, I surveyed my Jewish friends and asked them what they did as children to celebrate Hanukkah and what they do now as adults. One friend told me he and his wife were too busy to buy candles so improvised with a birthday candle when they fell short. That gave me the idea for the solution in the story and provided realistic humor.

For The Night Before the Night Before Christmas I wanted to show the pressures of preparing for Christmas by including a variety of mishaps during the countdown to Christmas morning. I have a family in the story that has procrastinated for various reasons (mom has the flu, the cookies burn, they waited too long to buy their tree, burned out light bulbs, the mouse has chewed holes in the stockings) yet still makes an effort to pull it all together. In the end, the message is not about decorating the perfect Christmas tree, but about love.

So if you think you need to write a fancy Christmas newsletter but wind up just sending out a quick email, don’t sweat it. If you planned on making four homemade pies to please everyone’s taste and end up buying an apple and pumpkin pie from Costco, don’t feel guilty. In the end, it’s about making an effort and enjoying the time with people you love - and reading a good book with your kids!

Author Natasha Wing

Written by guest blogger Natasha Wing. Ms. Wing has been publishing for 25 years. Some of her titles have ended up on best-sellers lists. She is known for her popular The Night Before series that includes holiday, school and big events in kids' lives themes. Ms. Wing also writes narrative nonfiction. Her latest book, When Jackie Saved Grand Central, received two starred reviews. www.natashawing.com

Lights, Camera, Action!

Since World War II, ethical standards for conducting research with human participants has been evolving. Researchers affiliated with a university MUST get approval from their institutions’ Internal Review Board BEFORE beginning a study with human participants. Outside of academia there may be different processes and standards for conducting research with human participants. If this topic is of interest to you, consider reading a book by Rebecca Skloot about the evolution of research on a human subject by the name: Henrietta Lacks.

The human cells are referred to as HeLa for the first two letters of the participant’s first and last names. Skloot tells the story of how cells taken from Lacks in 1951, without her permission, have been used widespread by scientists all over the world for several decades to learn more about a range of conditions including polio and cancer. This fascinating story is going to be told on HBO this month. Oprah Winfrey plays the daughter of Henrietta Lacks who shares the impact the research on HeLa cells has had on her life and of other members of the Lacks family. Do you hear that sound? That’s me setting my DVR. I can’t wait to see this movie!

Skloot, R. (2010). The immortal life of Henrietta Lacks. New York: Crown Publishing Group.