Hurricane Katrina

Here is some knowledge on one of the most destructive hurricane to hit the U.S. For New Orleans and many people around the world this will be one hurricane that won’t be forgotten.

As the center of Katrina passed South-east of New Orleans on August 29, 2005, winds downtown were in the Category 3 range with frequent intense gusts and tidal surge. Hurricane-force winds were experienced throughout the city, although the most severe portion of Katrina missed the city, hitting nearby St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes. Hurricane Katrina made its final landfall in eastern St. Tammany Parish. The western eye wall passed directly over St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana.In the City of New Orleans, the storm surge caused more than 50 breaches in drainage canal levees and also in navigational canal levees and precipitated the worst engineering disaster in the history of the United States. By August 31, 2005, 80% of New Orleans was flooded, with some parts under 15 feet (4.6 m) of water. The famous French Quarter dodged the massive flooding experienced in other levee areas. 

Between 80-90 percent of the residents of New Orleans were evacuated safely in time before the hurricane struck. Despite this, many remained in the city, mainly those who did not have access to personal vehicles or who were isolated from the dissemination of news from the local governments. The Louisiana Superdome was used to house and support some of those who were unable to evacuate. Television shots frequently focused on the Superdome as a symbol of the flooding occurring in New Orleans. The disaster had major implications for a large segment of the population, economy, and politics of the entire United States.

As the eye of Hurricane Katrina swept to the northeast, it subjected the city to hurricane conditions for hours. Although power failures prevented accurate measurement of wind speeds in New Orleans, there were a few measurements of hurricane-force winds. From this the NHC concluded that it is likely that much of the city experienced sustained winds of Category 1 or Category 2 strength.

Katrina's storm surge led to 53 levee breaches in the federally built levee system protecting metro New Orleans and the failure of the 40 Arpent Canal levee. Nearly every levee in metro New Orleans was breached as Hurricane Katrina passed just east of the city limits. Failures occurred in New Orleans and surrounding communities, especially St. Bernard Parish. The Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MR-GO) breached its levees in approximately 20 places, flooding much of east New Orleans, most of Saint Bernard Parish and the East Bank of Plaquemines Parish. The major levee breaches in the city included breaches at the 17th Street Canal levee, the London Avenue Canal, and the wide, navigable Industrial Canal, which left approximately 80% of the city flooded.

Most of the major roads traveling into and out of the city were damaged. The only routes out of the city were the westbound Crescent City Connection and the Huey P. Long Bridge, as large portions of the I-10 Twin Span Bridge traveling eastbound towards Slidell, Louisiana had collapsed. Both the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway and the Crescent City Connection only carried emergency traffic.

Levee breaches in New Orleans also caused a significant amount of deaths, with over 700 bodies recovered in New Orleans by October 23, 2005. Some survivors and evacuees reported seeing dead bodies lying in city streets and floating in still-flooded sections, especially in the east of the city. The advanced state of decomposition of many corpses, some of which were left in the water or sun for days before being collected, hindered efforts by coroners to identify many of the dead.

References

www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effects_of_Hurricane_Katrina_in_New_Orleans\

www.katrina.noaa.gov

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Hurricane+Katrina&qpvt=Hurricane+Katrina&FORM=IGRE

The summer of 2005 I came home for summer break from college. I can remember clearly one week after I left New Orleans Hurricane Katrina hit. It amazed me that the Sunday before when I left to return back to Grambling State is was such a beautiful day. Some of my younger cousins were also stuck here. I can remember two of them telling me about their experience being air lifted off their roofs or swimming on bed mattress. These things just broke my heart because I could not help them at the time. When I heard on the news what was happening to the city and not being able to contact my family was the hardest thing for me. I was blessed that my phones were still working and I could remember 2 months after the hurricane hearing my mothers voice for the first time. That was the first time in years being that happy to hear the sound of her voice. She seemed not to have a care in the world. Even though I knew that was because she did not want me to worry. But unfortunately  I knew so much more. The happiness in her voice could never cover the things I saw on the news. It just hurt to hear that she could not take my uncle with her. He was left at a hospital because she could not travel with him. I was glad that she did leave but it would be several months that anyone would see my uncle and that hurt the most. From that moment on my world turned upside down. I had to plan a trip to see her and it would have been my first trip out of Louisiana but I was going to Texas just to see her. Everyone was affected by this hurricane but children suffered the most.

Week 2 Semester 2 Cerebral Palsy

 This week blog assignment I chose to do a topic that was not given as an example as an attempt to inform some of you on a topic that is rarely discussed. Cerebral palsy is a rare birth condition that affects many families across the world today. This condition does not change. The only thing that change is some people live through it and others die. On several ocassions I saw lawyers on television talking about it. And because at those moments I didn't know anyone with it, I wasn't a concern for me.

Unfortuatually, while attending Grambling State University I was standing outside one night and looked at the sky and the sight was just beautiful "so many stars were out that night". The next morning I received a call that someone real close to me had died at 6 months from this rare birth condition. Unfortually, there is no cure for celerbral palsy.



Research Information 1 What is Cerebral Palsy?

Berger stated that it is a disorger that results from damage to the brain's motor centers.  People with cerebral palsy have difficulty with muscle control, so their speech and/or body movements are impaired. (Berger, 2012, Pg 116)

Research Information 2 What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth. Signs and symptoms appear during infancy. In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement associated with exaggerated reflexes or rigidity of the limbs and trunk, abnormal posture, involuntary movements, unsteadiness of walking, or some combination of these. 

http://www.maycolinic.com/health/cerebral-palsy/DS00302


Research Information 3 What is Cerebral Palsy?
 
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and to maintain balance and posture. Usually they do not get worse over time. People with cerebral palsy may have difficulty walking. Cerebral palsy happens when the areas of the brain that control movement and posture do not develop correctly or get damaged. Early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before 3 years of age. Babies with cerebral palsy are often slow to roll over, sit, crawl, smile or walk. Some babies are born with cerebral palsy; others get it after they are born. There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but treatment can improve the lives of those who have it. Treatment includes medicines, braces, and physical, occupational and speech therapy.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cerebralpalsy.


Cerebal Palsy Statisic

• Cerebral palsy affects about 1 in 278 children.
  
• There are about 764,000 children and adults in the United States with cerebral palsy.
  
• Each year, about 8,000 babies and infants are diagnosed with cerebral palsy.
  
• Half of people with cerebral palsy use assistive devices, including braces, walkers, and wheelchairs, to help them be more mobile.
  
• About 30% of children with cerebral palsy have seizures

_{AAP Policy Statement. The Apgar Score. PEDIATRICS Vol. 117 No. 4 April 2006, pp. 1444-1447.CDC. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. Accessed: April 2009.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/dd/ddcp.htm Dodge NN. Cerebral palsy: medical aspects. Pediatr Clin North Am - 01-OCT-2008; 55(5): 1189-207.Krigger KW. Cerebral palsy: an overview. Am Fam Physician. 1-JAN-2006; 73(1): 91-100.United Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy - Facts & Figures. Accessed: April 2009.
http://www.ucp.org/ucp_channeldoc.cfm/1/11/10427/10427-10427/447}






Here is a chart from Canada on Celebral Palsy



http://www.metiscentreresearch.ca/stat_tables/cerebral-palsy-did-heshe-get-diagnosis-doctor-nurse-or-health-professional-province-and-



She was the most beautiful little girl I known. She almost look like a baby doll. Her eyes were such a beautiful brown with a smile that only the chosen one would receive from her. Who would have known she wasn't going to live to see her first birthday. It wasn't until the day of the funeral that I learned that coffins really did come in all sizes even shoe box sizes. This was something I realized was the hardest thing my family would have to faced. And it was burying a beautiful little girl who died of this a rare birth condition called celebral palsy.

Week 1 Semester 2 The Birth Of Geraldine-Racquel

For this assignment I was determined to get as much information about my birth from my mother because she was the best source. I also spoke to my aunt who also gave me some information about this person.

My mother said she was so excited when she found out she was pregnant. My mother went to all scheduled appointments so she could make sure that I was a healthy baby when I was born. Whatever the doctor ordered, she complied and did just that. The most special moment for her was when she found out she was having a girl. She always wanted a daughter and hoped that we would be close and the best of friends. The first thing she did when was named me. I asked her why was that so important and this is what she told me. "Since I was a little girl I  always wanted a beautiful little girl. And I was going to name her Racquel but my mother died before you were born so I named you Geraldine after my mother and linked on Racquel because that was the cutest name I ever heard."

On February 10, 1981 she said she went into the hospital because she was having severe pains and she wanted to make sure I was ok. Her doctor deceided that he induce her labor because I was ready to come. But she told him no because she wanted me to be born on Valentines Day. However, I had my own plan. I was ready to get out the womb and come into the world. My mother was in labor 10 hours and it seemed like forever. She told me, "I had to tell the doctors stop the pain and lets start again tomorrow because I couldn't handle it." I arrived February 11, 1981 and that was the best day of my mothers life. However, I had jaundice (yellow coloring of the baby's skin-usually beginning on the face and moving down the baby) so I had to stay in the hospital two weeks after I was born.

My mother couldn't come get me when I was released from the hospital so my great-grandmother sent my aunt and uncle to come get me. My aunt said laughing, "girl your unvle drove so slow on the way home that I wanted to tell him pull over and let me drive even though I knew I couldn't. Your uncle driving made me feel like he thought you would fly away if he drove any faster."








Resources
http://www.yahoo.com/jaundice

3 Ideals that are important meaningful to me

I-1.3—To recognize and respect the unique qualities, abilities and potential of each child.

No two children are alike. Each child has their own way of doing things. All children learn and grow differently, and it is very important to recognize and acknowledge. Nurturing and encouraging these unique abilities is essential to a child's future.

I-1.4—To appreciate the vulnerability of children and their dependence on adults.
After reaching a certain age, children begin to show signs of independence. While essential to their growth, it is important to remember that they are still children and need guidance and instruction. They may be doing things on their own, but still need a guiding hand by their parents and teachers to continue their growth. This is an important stage in a child's growth.

I-1.5—To create and maintain safe and healthy settings that foster children's social, emotional, cognitive and physical development and that respect their dignity and their contributions.

A creative and nurturing environment is needed to foster skills that will carry a child throughout their life. Positive reinforcement to a child's contributions will instill a sense of belonging and importance. Children want to feel important, and recognizing that need is a big step in their growth. Acknowledging their deeds, good or bad, builds their character and teaches them right from wrong.

 

The reason I chose these three are because it explains the relationship because self, the child and adults.

Article: NAEYC. (2005, April). Code of ethical conduct and statement of commitment. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from
http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSETH05.pdf

Week 5

Part 1: Position Statements and Influential Practices

• NAEYC. (2009). Developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood programs serving children from birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/dap
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on child abuse prevention. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/ChildAbuseStand.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on school readiness. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/Readiness.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009). Where we stand on responding to linguistic and cultural diversity. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/diversity.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children birth through age 8. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/pscape.pdf
  
• NAEYC. (2009, April). Early childhood inclusion: A summary. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/DEC_NAEYC_ECSummary_A.pdf
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families. (2010). Infant-toddler policy agenda. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://main.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ter_pub_infanttodller
  
• FPG Child Development Institute. (2006, September). Evidence-based practice empowers early childhood professionals and families. (FPG Snapshot, No. 33). Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~snapshots/snap33.pdf
  
  Note: The following article can be found in the Walden University Library databases.
  
• Turnbull, A., Zuna, N., Hong, J. Y., Hu, X., Kyzar, K., Obremski, S., et al. (2010). Knowledge-to-action guides. Teaching Exceptional Children, 42(3), 42-53.
  Use the Academic Search Complete database, and search using the article's title.

Part 2: Global Support for Children's Rights and Well-Being

• Article: UNICEF (n.d.). Fact sheet: A summary of the rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Retrieved May 26, 2010, from http://www.unicef.org/crc/files/Rights_overview.pdf
  
• Websites:
  
• • World Forum Foundation
    http://worldforumfoundation.org/wf/wp/about-us
    This link connects you to the mission statement of this organization. Make sure to watch the media segment on this webpage
    
  • World Organization for Early Childhood Education
    http://www.omep-usnc.org/
    Read about OMEP's mission.
  • Association for Childhood Education International
    http://acei.org/
    Click on "Mission/Vision" and "Guiding Principles and Beliefs" and read these statements.

Note: Explore the resources in Parts 3 and 4 in preparation for this week's Application assignment.

Part 3: Selected Early Childhood Organizations

• National Association for the Education of Young Children
  http://www.naeyc.org/
  
• The Division for Early Childhood
  http://www.dec-sped.org/
  
• Zero to Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families
  http://www.zerotothree.org/
  
• WESTED
  http://www.wested.org/cs/we/print/docs/we/home.htm
  
• Harvard Education Letter
  http://www.hepg.org/hel/topic/85
  
• FPG Child Development Institute
  http://www.fpg.unc.edu/
  
• Administration for Children and Families Headstart's National Research Conference
  http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/opre/hsrc/
  
• HighScope
  http://www.highscope.org/
  
• Children's Defense Fund
  http://www.childrensdefense.org/
  
• Center for Child Care Workforce
  http://www.ccw.org/
  
• Council for Exceptional Children
  http://www.cec.sped.org//AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home
  
• Institute for Women's Policy Research
  http://www.iwpr.org/
  
• National Center for Research on Early Childhood Education
  http://www.ncrece.org/wordpress/
  
• National Child Care Association
  http://www.nccanet.org/
  
• National Institute for Early Education Research
  http://nieer.org/
  
• Pre[K]Now
  http://www.pewstates.org/projects/pre-k-now-328067
  
• Voices for America's Children
  http://www.voices.org/
  
• The Erikson Institute
  http://www.erikson.edu/

Part 4: Selected Professional Journals Available in the Walden Library

Tip: Use the A-to-Z e-journal list to search for specific journal titles. (Go to "How Do I...?", select "Tips for Specific Formats and Resources," and then "e-journals" to find this search interface.)

• YC Young Children
• Childhood
• Journal of Child & Family Studies
• Child Study Journal
• Multicultural Education
• Early Childhood Education Journal
• Journal of Early Childhood Research
• International Journal of Early Childhood
• Early Childhood Research Quarterly
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Studies
• Maternal & Child Health Journal
• International Journal of Early Years Education

 

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Week 4

Dr. Sylvia Chard, Ph.D.

One of the most exciting parts of the project for me as the teacher was the day the children decided to build the lift. I had put out some yarn and string, thinking that they would come up with an idea of using these materials to make the lift go up and down. José had a different idea and began experimenting with the pipe cleaners. Justin joined him, and together they made the lift cable longer and began to pull on it to make sure it was sturdy. I felt like I was watching building engineers. When the cable was attached and José could see that his idea had worked, he beamed with pride. I said, "José, you are such a problem solver." He went over to Noemi and announced, "Noemi, I am an expert. I am a problem solver!" I realized how powerful children's thinking really is if we just provide the opportunities.

As the children arrived at school after Hurricane Katrina, parents and children commented on some of the events that had taken place during the previous week. Several parents talked about how they had worked with their children to gather food, toys, and clothes to take to local shelters. One mother mentioned that she and her 4-year-old daughter were collecting pennies to donate to a local fundraiser for hurricane victims. Other parents talked about the many relatives who were staying with them because they had to evacuate their homes. It was obvious that many of the children were aware of the countless changes that were taking place around them.

Janet Gonzalez-Mena, M.A.

"[P]art of being who you are has to do with feeling your feelings, which means you'll have a wide range of emotions--not just constant sunshiny happiness.”

"The moment I decided to follow instead of lead, I discovered the joys of becoming part of a small child's world."

“We must be the compassion we wish to see in others!"

Week 3 Assignment

Here are pictures of my Class Mates and some of my closest friends

 

 

                                 Here are some of my closest family members that inspired, cared and loved me through the good and bad times. Unfortunately, my great-grandmother, uncle and nanny are deceased. May their souls Rest In Peace.

What can I say about this little boy here? He was like my brother but he was only my cousin. If you saw him you had to believe I wasn't far behind him. He taught me how to ride my bike and play basketball. I would always enjoy our time together because I was his little and only cousin on this side of the family. I remember when I was five, he got into trouble because he took my Pac-Man game. From that moment on he was best friend. As an adult now, he encourages me to do my very best and not to give up. He is always there to listen and give advice if I am having a hard time.

 My great-grandmother was the best story teller. She would always tell us stories and gives us her Almond Joys if we just laid there and listened. I would say it was a treat for the both us. It was her quality time with us and we would get candy at bedtime. If you caught her on a good day she would let you play in her beautiful silky gray hair.

These two little girls has grown up to be the most inspiring women I know. We may have not gotten along when we were children. We would go skating, riding our bikes to the parks or even go to school functions together. We were always around each other. As a child I thought we were more like sisters than cousins. They always found away to make me feel special as a kid. I was so blessed to be able to call them my older cousins. As adults they continue to give their words of wisdom and encouragement. Yes, we have had our share of difference but I can truly admit these are my role models.

 My mother has an always and will be the apple of my eyes. I never understood growing up why she worked so hard for one child. It cost us alot of time. she did her very best as a single mother. I appreciate all that she has done for me. She has a warm and calming spirit. Her smile brightens up any cloudy day.
She always would tell me, "I prayed for a daughter and how much she loves me." She is the strongest woman in the world. Even though she wasn't around much because she worked and provided for us.

This brave and loyal man was called UNCLE. Even though, he was really my great uncle but the title uncle was just fine for him. He was a soldier in World War 2 and he retired from the United States Postal Service after 35 years due to an illness. For him family, being a well round indivial and well educated was his main focus for us. My world stopped in 2006 when he died. Just two months before I graduated from college.
I can still remember clearly living with him during my early childhood and teenage years. Because education was so important to him, I remember waking up to the smell of home made pancakes in the morning before school. Everything was already prepared for me for school. He was yell, "Geraldine get up and get ready for school so you can be on time." Everything was done at his house in a timely and orderly fashion.
Since family was so important he encouraged my cousins and I to get along. We would also have to play together. If one couldn't do, no of us could. And it made as better. He used to say "cousins were your first friends so you had to learn how to play and get along with them before you became friends with other people." I don't think my cousins agreed but they wasn't never going to tell him no different. It wasn't until I was old enough to understand why he used to say "A family that prays together stays together."

It has been almost seven years since he died and I miss him so very much. The times that we shared together are special to me because no matter what he made sure that I was happy. He would go without to make sure I was happy. As you can see I was smiling on this picture because I was always with him. I was his shadow. I remember that cold Tuesday when he died. He smiled and said,  "Geraldine if you try your very best at whatever your heart desires and you fail try again. Don't be a failure and don't lose to the game of life!" And that day was the last day I saw the most beautiful smile in the world take a deep and long breathe and died.


Nanny
This woman was truly an amazing person. The love she had for her Creator was pure and it never changed. I remember sleeping over there on the weekend and attending Church on Sunday was mandatory. After church we would visit the sick and shut in that were mentioned in service that day. She would prepare their meals and tidy their homes. As a teenager I felt that was cruel and unusal punishment. But at 31 years old I realize she was passing down wisdom. It has opened my eyes over the last five years and now I appreciate it. Some of my daily prayers are ones that she taught me to pray. She would always say, "Prayer changes things so continue to be thankful through the storms. Her worlds of encouragement has helped me face the battles in my everyday life with victory. Some nights before I go to sleep I can still hear singing Victory is yours.