Statement Of Purpose: Jumpstart In Early Childhood Education

It sounds quite cliché to say that younger children ‘watch your every move’ or ‘repeat what you do’, but I realized that this was true a few years back. My cousin begged me to help at her daycare for a while because they were short staffed. I was only in Indiana for a few months and thought that this would an opportunistic time passing. Nonetheless, I truly became fascinated with understanding the social, emotional and cognitive development of children across different developmental periods. That initial interest further propelled when I began to work with Jumpstart last semester. Jumpstart is an early education organization that works towards improving language, literacy, and the social-emotional environment for preschool children. Since joining this program I’ve found myself slowly analyzing how the curriculum implemented will impact their language skills in the near future. The vast majority of the children I work with are minorities and are at risk for being disproportionately advanced than their peers when they reach kindergarten. I want to understand the importance of race in relation to their development. Studies have shown that, in general, low-income minority children show deficits in language abilities and vocabulary which is typically associated with their economic status. Yet, there is a notable …show more content…
However, I do not have any prior research experience in this designated area. Nevertheless, I have had the opportunity to work with a psychology professor in my department assisting with data entry. During this experience, I was required to record and analyze data for preparation of reports. My involvement in her study allowed me to learn about some of the difficulties associated with research, but I also learned how rewarding it can be. Although I did not conduct my own research, the experience was invaluable and has made me even more eager to conduct my