So I was reading a little bit about what other bloggers had to say about the Early Learning Challenge Fund, (my post from last week). They found an article in the New York Times stating just how early childhood programs would be granted the money for funding.

I wonder though...

It says, "To qualify for grants, states would have to demonstrate that they have established or improved what the bill calls a “governance structure” for their networks of child care centers and prekindergarten programs.

The structure would include quality standards; a curriculum of sorts, appropriate for young children; a mechanism for reviewing programs and assigning quality ratings; minimum training requirements for providers; a plan for reaching out to parents; and a system for collecting data on children and families. The Departments of Education and Health and Human Services would jointly administer the Challenge Fund."

-New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/education/20child.html?hp

Early Learning Challenge Fund

I was just reading about a new initiative in the news. It's called the Early Learning Challenge Fund. Basically, the House has come up with a plan to increase funding to early childhood education programs, which would be $8 billion over 8 years. 

Many children in the United States don't have the same opportunities to go to any type of preschool and therefore, they do not start out on the same page as other children whose parents may be able for them to afford to go to a preschool program. Hopefully, by making a program like this, it will make more spaces for children to enter programs and better quality programs.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/20/education/20child.html?hp

Technology in Early Childhood Classrooms?

In early childhood classrooms, there are many that believe technology may not be the best idea for young children. However, this really isn't the case. There are so many tools that can be used that not only enhance education but give students a chance at using items they would use in real world settings. Just because they are young, does not mean they are not capable or do not have the capabilities. We are teaching children how to live in the world, so why not give them the most that we can?

I found a website that gives many examples of why technology is so important in the classroom and ways that it can be incorporated and which tools are appropriate. 

http://www.nwrel.org/request/june01/intro.html

Like the site says, there are many more options for technology than just computers. A couple examples of these are:

-Tape recorders allow children to listen to books or allow for playback in their own stories 

-Cameras allow children to capture their special moments, and can self reflect on pictures that they have taken. They not only learn to use the tool, but they also learn how to tell stories.

It may not be such a bad thing after all.