Sharing Web Resources-Harlem Children's Zone

While viewing information from the Harlem Children’s Zone website, I became particularly interested in the Promise Academy Programs. Honestly, this interest was only stemmed from the fact that Memphis also has a charter school called Promise Academy. After reading about this program, I found it to be a phenomenal learning experience for the children. These children spend an average of 10 hours a day in school year around. They are provided with healthy meals, medical and dental care, as well as an above and beyond education as the third grade test scores show. In 2008 100% of the students were at or above grade level on the math assessment. How amazing! This made me think hard about how this is possible in a charter program, but is often a struggle in many of our countries public schools. What is it that Harlem Children’s Zone is doing that the public school system is not? Would it help if we were year around school or had longer days? These are my concerns because even a charter school that is free of charge will have limits to the number of children receiving that service. What about the children it can not serve? How can we help them better their future?  I am a huge supporter of Harlem Children’s Zone and wish that such a program would be assessable to all children without parents waiting in long lines, having names drawn from a hat or generated system, or paying. Looking at this site I can see how economists, neuroscientists, and politicians support the field of Early Childhood especially with this program in Harlem. Many programs in this organization correlate with health and well being which local medical personnel provide for the families showing their dedication to the field. Many previously city owned building have now be converted into tenant owned co-ops. While this may not be a direct correlation to the Early childhood field, it does show the local governments dedication to bettering the lives of families which often includes young children. Scrolling to the bottom of this site a quote from the New York Times was included. “The objective is to create a safety net woven so tightly that children just can’t slip through.” This is a quote that has been left in my mind. Children come to us with so many different stressors in their lives. Sometimes these stressors become to much and children fall, and struggle getting up and back on track. However, if we create a community that is so connected in every way that children will get all the need, we could help keep them on track as they grow into adults. Could creating such a net be the answer?

Getting to know your International Contacts Part 1

 I will have to say I have really enjoyed talking with my two professionals. They have already began to help me better understand what they encounter each day. Stephanie is a Kindergarten teacher in Suriname, South America. Stephanie is a missionary teacher in a Christian school within the neighborhood.  She provides a very vivid picture of life outside the school and the life within the school walls.. Yes, they are VERY different.  Coming from her American suburban home, she instantly thought poverty, however she feels those families would never say that or even be offended by that.  She shares how many new teachers see the houses and stated, " WOW is that really some one's house? Do you think its abandoned?" However over time you will see that the very house people thought was abandoned is a families home. These homes, if anything, have one window unit and the rest have opened windows to let in the still very hot breeze. She mentions often visiting the children's home and seeing that while the children are able to get what they need, they lack the love and attention they so desperately need.
Within the school walls the picture is painted so differently.Before moving from Memphis, she thought in her head that they would only move a missionary teacher to help and minister to those children who were malnourished, poverty-stricken inner city children. Little did she know, it was very different. Many children who have personal drivers, people who cook and bring them their snacks and dinner, and literally pick up after them.  Stephanie sees they are getting their food needs met, but she looks at this poverty in a very different light. The poverty of love and affection with their own parents.

My dear friend Amy teaches in Prague. Only being in Prague for a few months she does not feel she has encountered much poverty within the school setting, but she does see int around the city. She compared it to our hometown, Memphis. She stated that in Prague they would have people asking for money like they do here, but it seems to happen a little more in Prague.

From the conversations I have had with Stephanie and Amy I feel I have become more aware of how poverty can be looked at in many different ways. While food, and the money to buy necessities is part of poverty, we must also include other important necessities many children are lacking, for that is what poverty means: lacking in necessities. It reminded me that many times poverty can be a relative statement when looking merely at the surface. What may appear to be poverty to me, may not to another person. Like Stephanie mentioned when she first arrived in Suriname; the housing and lifestyle is what she would have thought of as poverty coming from an American suburban home.

Sharing Web Resources

The newsletter I decided to receive was from an organization called Harlem Children's Zone. This organization is taking on the enormous issue of poverty that surrounds their community. This organization recognizes that poverty is not the only problem many of these families face. They also encounter crime, drugs, inadequate places to live and schools, and substandard health care. This organization strives to help children as they grow, and as they enter the career world. It is filled with many programs that include each age group, and results show enormous gains due to the passion behind their mission. While I have not received my first newsletter, I did observe the latest news on the website. One of the stories got my attention because it discusses something many of our children go through. Many children especially those in poverty stricken communities face many "adult like" issues and stressors at such a young age. Many times they are not given the chance to simply "be a kid."  One speaker identifies this community as not only a "food desert", but a "recreation desert". This story announces the opening of the Harlem Armory, which is a facility that exposes children to a variety of sports, clubs, and activities.  It is in this facility children are able to be a part of clubs and extracurricular activities seen in many suburb schools, and through these activities children grow socially, emotionally, and physically in motor skills. It simply given them the opportunity to "be a kid" regardless of the stressors outside the doors.
The main thing you see throughout this website is an array of programs designed to address the big issue of poverty in Harlem.  I was in complete awe of all the wonderful programs they have set in place that serve EVERY child. The mission this organization has is fantastic, but their passion for these children and determination to help them succeed is even greater.  Seeing all of the news conferences the President of Harlem Children's Zone has been a part of, and recognition they have received even from President Obama  displays their mission to so many outside their community. It also is a model in what I would hope to be more organization like Harlem Children's Zone around the country.

Establishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

 When I saw this assignment I originally was very nervous about finding someone I could discuss trends and issues in education outside the United States. Obviously, I was not thinking very well at the moment because I actually have a college friend and high school friend who both currently teach outside the United States. My high school friend Amy, currently teaches English in the Czech Republic under the Teacher Overseas program. Stephanie went through the Teacher Education program with me in college. She has since journeyed to teach Kindergarten for the International Christian Schools in Paramaribo, Suriname.
As a new teacher myself I was hesitate to ask them for help because I know how busy a teacher's life is in a familiar country. I can only imagine how busy it may be when you are also adjusting to a new life in another country.  It is in this assignment I have seen how helpful Facebook really can be! I was able to send a Facebook message to them at that very moment, and luckily they were frequent Facebook users because I instantly got a response. I am so excited to have both of these former colleagues on board for this assignment and they sound pretty excited too!


In Expanding my Resources I chose to begin viewing the newsletter and websites for Harlem's Children's Zone and Zero to Three. As I clicked on each of the links the Harlem website grabbed my attention because it appeared to have the same mission as my school system. They strive to help children beat the odds and end the cycle of poverty. In my school system we have an initiative called Cradle to Career. When viewing this site I found they have a very similar initiative called Cradle to College to Community. I look forward to learning more about this organization. I also chose to view Zero to Three because many of the resources I have viewed in previous classes have been published by this organization. These resources have been very helpful to me as a student and teacher. I hope to continue to learn more from this resource.

Interesting Facts from the Harlen Children's Zone

In the results section I found that of the 190 four year olds that entered the program 16.5% of the students were considered delayed or very delayed in school readiness. By the end of the school year, no students were considered delayed and the advanced classification went from 21% to 46%.

This organization provides programs for all children as they progress from infants/toddlers to college/employment.

Such a powerful reminder of the impact passionate professionals can have.