Three ethics
that are meaningful to me from this weeks readings are:
1. “We shall use
individually appropriate assessment strategies including multiple sources of
information such as observations, interviews with significant caregivers,
formal and informal assessments to determine children’s learning styles,
strengths, and challenges” (The Division for Early Childhood, 2000).
2. “To use
assessment instruments and strategies that are appropriate for the children to
be assessed, that are used only for the purposes for which they were designed,
and that have the potential to benefit children” (NAEYC, 2005).
3. “When we
become aware of a practice or situation that endangers the health, safety, or
well-being of children, we have an ethical responsibility to protect children
or inform parents and/or others who can” (NAEYC, 2005).
These three
principles are meaningful to me in my professional life. The first one speaks
to me because it is how I assess my students. I go their homes, see parents
formally at parent-teacher conferences and parent meetings, and also informally
at places of worship or community sponsored events such as carnivals and
parades. I use observations to assess what they know but keep in mind that
during play is the best way to assess a child.
The second one
is about the assessment tool that I use. It is called the Child Observation
Record or COR and is a component of the High/Scope curriculum that I utilize. I
type in the data and “score” a child based on their developmental abilities. I
then utilize this data in order to evaluate their progress and also to plan my lessons.
The third one is
important to me because I have had children who were in danger at their own
homes and I do everything and anything I can in order to rectify the situation.
I know the DYFS workers in the county with which I work very well and know what
is expected of me if a situation occurs. I know the procedures and if I do have
questions I have a network of individuals within my agency who can guide me.
The Division for
Early Childhood. (2000, August). Code of ethics. Retrieved November 13, 2012,
from
http://www.dec-sped.org/
NAEYC. (2005,
April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment.
Retrieved November 13, 2012, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf
