Creating Affirming Environments

In my classroom I would like to have pictures up that represent the different types of families the children in my program come from. I also want the pictures in place so the children will be able to see families that differ from their own. Derman-Sparks and Edwards (2010) mentions the visual and material environment should display all children,families and staff,as well as diverse family structures.(p.43)

In the dramatic play area, I would like to have a variety of toys for the children to choose from and will also allow me to teach them while they play.

From the Media Segment, I was inspired to create a calming room for the children. I think it is important to have a place the is separate from primary learning to help children work through the emotions they make be struggling with whether it be anger,fear or shyness. I think it could also be helpful to console children after intense situations.

References:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an anti-bias learning community.Baltimore, MD: Author

Strategies for Working with Diverse Children

This week I will embark on a journey that will provide strategies for working with diverse children. I am looking forward to learning new strategies and working with my classmates.

What I have learned

I have learned so many things in this Diversity course. The things I have learned have given me the hope that I will be sensitive and open to the needs of each family I encounter. I hope to effectively teach each child and provide their families with the knowledge to help their children have continued success in school.

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field is to mandate diversity, equity and social justice in the curriculum. I would like to see every school, those that are low-income as well as high income give provide examples of other cultures and how they differ from the local dominant culture.

To my colleagues, I wish you the best of luck in the field of early childhood. It has been a pleasure to work with each of you. I know each of you will make a positive impact on the lives of each child and family you encounter.

Creating Art

Bias is defined as “an attitude,belief or feeling that results in and helps to justify unfair treatment of a person because of his or her identity” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). This course has helped me to learn ways to overcome bias in the classroom. Asking children questions is a way to discover the ways they display bias. Creating opportunities in the classroom and field trips are ways to decrease bias within children.

There are many forms of discomfort. They can arise in many different settings with different people and circumstances. This course has taught me to address those discomforts and look for ways to over them.

Traumatic events can come in many different forms. Abuse, neglect, poverty and substance abuse are just a few of the forms of trauma that children experience. This course has taught me the negative effects of these traumatic events and more importantly that children are resilient and that with the help and supports of teachers,parents and caregivers children can overcome these events.

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children

We don’t say those words in class!

I was with my co-worker and her family attending her son’s graduation from military boot-camp. After the ceremony we waited to look for her son. While we where waiting her three year-old granddaughter Makayla said “Granny, what doesn’t that man have legs?” She was also pointing. Just a few feet across from us was as man in a wheelchair. He was a double leg amputee. My co-worker silence her granddaughter. She explained that it was not polite to point or say out loud that the man did not have legs. She explained that the man may have been sick or in an accident which resulted in him losing his legs.

I was in Wal-mart in the electronics department waiting for assistance with my friend and her three children. The children are 2, 5 and 7. We were standing in front of all the televisions they had in the back of the store and they were showing a documentary about a Caucasian guy that went sky diving and during the dive he had issues with his parachute. Seven year-old Daija says out loud “See, white people are crazy!” I, out of shock, reprimanded her. I explained that her words were not appropriate or true.” She replied “But that’s what my mom says.” Her mom quickly explained to her that she does feel that way toward Caucasian people as a whole. She further explained that she was wrong to make that statement and had her to reflect on how she would feel if someone said that about “black people”.

Both situation are delicate matters. As educators, I think both situations show that the children have not been exposed to a variety of different people. I would show Makayla books and videos of people, both young and old with various disabilities so that she could understand people different from her. I take Daija to different places where she could interact with children of different races so she can get to know them better and show her they other cultures are very similar to her own.

Gender,Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation

As I learn more about the field of Early Childhood, I am realizing how sexual orientation can have an affect on children and families. One issue is early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families.To those that believe this I would explain why I disagree. I disagree because I think this topic can be used as a learning opportunity. Derman-Sparks & Edwards states that since children have inexperience and limited cognitive skills, it is important to teach children the correct way to think about and understand various aspects of human diversity(p.14-15). ). I think depicting gay or lesbian individuals and families in books is a great way for children to learn about families that are different from their own and prevent negative attitudes toward people involved.

I do realize this topic is a sensitive one. There are parents and families that may not want their child exposed to this issue or people. If I did have a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child I would simply explain that their personal decisions and lifestyles are not shared within the classroom to children. Their ability to educate and care for a child(ren) is separate from how they perform at work.

References
Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children

Communication/Collaboration Final Blog

This course has afforded me the opportunity to learn so much about myself as well as my colleagues. I appreciate each compliment given as well as suggestions for my personal improvement. I have enjoyed learning from each of my colleagues personal experiences and communication styles. I sincerely wish each of my colleagues the best of luck as they continue their journey in the field of early childhood. It has been a pleasure to work with each of you and I am extremely grateful to have learned along side each of you.

Team Building: The “Adjourning” Process

For three years, I worked very closely with a group of eight people. We were known as the “clean-up crew” and also known as “jack of all trades”. We got all the difficult accounts and patient issues but we worked so well as a group. Our supervisor recruited each one of us individually and even strategically paired us in cubicles. We exceeded goals that the department set for us and we learned so much from our leader.

I obtained my Bachelor’s degree while working on this team. I was in my mid-twenties so I was looking to establish myself and grow within the company. About six months after receiving my degree I received a promotion within the company that required me to work at a different location. It was so hard to leave the group. I had worked for that department for seven years. The eight people that I worked closely with were like family. We all had each others’ personal phone numbers. In that time we experienced weddings, children being born, one of the members beat cancer,and so much more.

We celebrated me leaving by going to dinner were I received heart felt congrats and well wishes. Although it was hard to leave, I had to take this opportunity.I think me leaving was encouraging to others. A few of them we back to school and transferred other departments. I imagine once I complete my Masters degree and I begin my transition into a new field I will have bittersweet feelings. I miss my colleagues however I look forward to forming new relationships. I think the adjourning process is good for learning and growth.

Nonviolent Communication

Over the past year, there has been several changes in the department I work for. Management has completely changed and several people have taken stress leave. As a result, the duties of those people who are out of the office have been given to the remaining employees. It is very stressful because everyone feels overwhelmed. The department morale is extremely low but we have to hide those feelings because our top priority is the patients we see on a daily basis. I have been not been communicating my feelings of anger and being overwhelmed at all at work because I don’t feel like I will be very professional. I haven’t said anything to management about my feelings. I have kept them all internal.The strategies I’ve learned this week from The Center for Non-violent Communication have been very helpful. One strategy I plan to use is “differentiating feeling from thinking, being able to identify and express internal feeling states in a way that does not imply judgment, criticism, or blame/punishment”(The Center for Nonviolent Communication, n.d). The second strategy is Requesting what we would like in a way that clearly and specifically states what we do want (rather than what we don’t want), and that is truly a request and not a demand(The Center for Nonviolent Communication, n.d). I think these two strategies will prevent me from speaking out of anger and more effectively.

References:
The Center for Nonviolent Communication. (n.d.). The center for nonviolent communication. Retrieved from http://www.cnvc.org/

Communication Insights

This week I took a three assessments related to how I communicate. The assessments evaluated my Communication Anxiety, Verbal Aggressiveness and Listening Style. I also had my cousin and my best friend evaluate me by taking the same assessments as well. The results were similar except for the Communication Anxiety category. I scored in the Moderate category and both my cousin and my friend scored me in the Mild category. The feel as though I am uneasy in some situations and confident in others. They evaluate me as being a person that does not worry about communication too much. This was surprising to me. I actually do worry about how I come off to people and how my words impact people. I felt my results were more accurately described me. I am somewhat concerned about a number of communication contexts.

Two insights I have gained this week are that you “can not judge a book by its cover” and that “people around you see you differently than you see yourself”. I think these two insights will inform my professional work and personal life a great deal. In my professional work, not judging a book by its cover will prevent me from stereotyping people and making assumptions. Realizing that people see you differently than you see yourself can make you more aware of how you communicate. Being mindful of how you communicate can be beneficial both personally and professionally.