Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

About 6 years ago, I participated in a study conducted by a professional development framework and research collaborative group. They conducted the survey for the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Kentucky Dept. of Education, and the Division of Early Childhood Development. The study was a part of the current statewide evaluation of the KIDS NOW Initiative, by conducting research and investigating the impact a statewide unified professional development system has on quality environments and child outcomes. The incentives for participating in this study were very rewarding. They gave my classroom over $75.00 in classroom materials. 

In July this past year, I attended a CLASS reliability course in which I realized at that point I had participated in that study. I felt honored by that fact that my classroom had participated in the study because it meant that I had helped make early childhood education better. Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS) is amazing evaluation tool that evaluates the teacher's interactions with the students in the classroom, just as ECERS evalutes the classroom.  In early childhood education, we now have two effective tools to make our classrooms developmentally appropriate for our children. 

After taking the CLASS reliability course and being able to go into other classrooms and rate their performance made me feel accomplished, I had actually done something to impact the early childhood field. However, I did not realize how long it takes research to affect in making an impact on any given subject. 

http://www.teachstone.org/about-the-class/
http://ers.fpg.unc.edu/

My Personal Research Journey

The topic I chose to research is is how important it is not to cut play and physical activities from our school curriculum because many children do not get it at home. We provide healthy meals at school because we fear for what our children eat at home. But yet we are not concerned about their physical activity. I believe an awareness needs to be raised and that it what I hope to accomplish through my research.

While working on my research chart, I found many resources stating how important play and physical activity was and is in our schools and classrooms.  However, many of them have no solution to keep play and physical activity going.  They do offer suggestions and ideas to the educators.  One thing that many of the resources agree on is that educators should educate the community on the importance of play and physical activity.

If anyone has any resources that would assist me in my personal research journey I would be greatly appreciated.  Just post a comment and let's form a common bond together to keep play and physical activity in schools and classrooms.

Resources that I have found in my journey so far:

http://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/tta-system/health/Health/Nutrition/Nutrition%20Program%20Staff/IMIL/imil_report.pdf
http://www.aahperd.org/headstartbodystart/
http://www.aahperd.org/aapar/
http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity/facts.htm
http://www.letsmove.gov/learn-facts/epidemic-childhood-obesity