I have learned a great deal from the courses I’ve taken in my Early Childhood education courses. One of the most beneficial things I have learned is how to communicate with people of other groups and cultures. I now communicate with people from other cultures a lot differently. I try to be more understanding and attentive to what they are trying communicate with me whereas before I can not say that I made the extra effort. I speak to people whose primary language is not English. I make an effort to be more sensitive to the language as well as cultural barriers that may exist between us.I have learned to use the Platinum Rule. The Platinum Rule is defined as to “do unto others as they themselves would like to be treated” (Beebe, Beebe,and Redmond, 2011). I think the use of this rule will aid in my interactions with other groups and cultures in various settings. I have also learned to be considerate of other cultural perspectives. I hope to be respectful of the practices of other cultures and the reasons why they practice them. I have learned to ask questions and show interest in other cultures so that I can have a better understanding why other groups have the beliefs they have.
For this assignment I watched the TV show “Six Little McGhee’s” on DFH (Discovery Fit &Health) channel. The show follows a family that consists of a husband and wife and their sextuplets. In the episode the parents are preparing to plan the children’s second birthday. In the beginning of the episode the parents appear to have a good relationship. They smile at each other. When they put the children to bed they gave each a “hi-five”. That is a signal of team work and a way of saying “good job” or “we did it”.
During this episode, the parents are planning their children’s 2nd birthday party. The wife (Mia) had a poster board with the number “2” on it. She had another poster with how she wanted the cake designed and a third poster of the party details drawn out. She was showing the posters to the husband and a family member (Tania). I could tell the husband (Rozonno) and Tania thought the details of the party were “too much”. The husband said something and Mia would roll her eyes, and neck. Her facial expression looked as though she was irritated with his response but not angry. Tania’s said nothing but her eyes would get bigger as Mia continued with the details of the party.
I think the husband and wife have good communication. Even when they disagree it didn’t look like they got angry with one another. They both spend time with the kids. They get on the floor with them. They are giving the kids the freedom to eat on their own but are both there to show them how to eat properly. It seemed like serious conversations were made away from the children. Although I did hear what was said, I can tell the Rozonno knows his wife very well. It was something about the way he looks at her and seemed to reason with her as they would go back and forth about the party details. They seem to have a good relationship. They maintain eye contact when they talk and he makes her laugh.
I may start watching the show from time to time. The interactions with the children are very funny. Just watching the children and their different personalities was interesting. If I watched the show I would probably would know more about Mia and Rozonno’s personality and have a better understanding of their family dynamics.
Competent communication deals with “the success of communication by considering the methods by which an outcome is accomplished. “What” is said and “How” it is said take on greater significance” (O’Hair & Wiemann, 2009, p.14). My friend Antoine Dixon is a very competent communicator that I know. He has this saying ” You have to deal with people according to knowledge”. This saying basically means that you must learn to deal with people based upon their individual differences. He is very good with dealing with people. “What” and “how” he says things plays a big role in why he is one of the few people I can confide in and never feel judged. When we talk he listens and he is not offensive when he speaks or when he gives advice. Even when we discuss the things “I don’t want to hear”, he says it in a way where it is received as constructive criticism and not judgment. I would definitely like to model some of my own communication behaviors after his. I think it is important to respect the differences of each individual.I hope to be good at treating people(family, children and in general) the way they need to be treated.
Reference
O’Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s
One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to effectively address their specific needs. I hope that my knowledge, experiences and character is not offense but helpful each child and family I work with from diverse backgrounds. One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is more laws in place that surround the rights of children. I would like to see the United States adopt more of the laws of other countries that protect the rights of their children. To my colleagues, I appreciate your words of encouragement as well as suggestions you have provided via my blog. I wish you the absolute best. I hope that you are successful through the field of Early Childhood education. Continue to work hard and I am certain you will impact the lives of some wonderful families and children.
Here at Higher Learning for Kids early childhood center we are welcoming a family from Honduras.To help welcome the family the students and staff are working together to make their first day with Higher Learning for kids special. The communities and schools in Honduras are near the Caribbean Sea, and there are views of mountains with tropical waterfalls and cloud forests. There are also palm trees and pineapples. The staff and students have decorated the classroom to make it look like home their home land. We have are having pineapples as one of our snacks today. Our outside activity for today will be soccer since it is the main sport in Honduras. In Honduras, they listen to has a folk style with a Spanish beat and uses guitars and marimbas. Christmas is celebrated in Honduras so we plan to have the new family offer suggestions and explain how they would like to participate. I thought giving the new family a visual of their original home, incorporating foods, sports, music and giving them the power to have a say so in our Christmas program will help with the transition to a new place. I would also speak to the parents to address their questions and concerns. I hope doing these things will help make them a little comfortable, welcomed and understand that Higher Learning for Kids wants the best for their child and family.
One of my favorite movies is “Remember the Titans”. This film is set in the year 1971 in Virginia. This is the first semester Blacks and Whites are integrated in a high school setting. The movie is primarily seen through the eyes of the football team. It is also based on actual events. The Whites and Blacks do not like each other although they have not formally met. The coach of the football team, a black man, teaches the team to respect each although they do not personally like each other because of race. The coach makes the team mates spend time with someone that they don’t know and different race everyday. One of the incidents in the movie I recall was the pressure the community and the school put on the coach. The coach would lose his job if the team lost one game. I thought this incident diminished equity because those terms would not have been given to a White coach. I felt as though those terms were unfair and were put in place so he would fail.In the end, football team is what helps the town become unified. The team does not lose and game and they go one to win a championship. I think to improve the equity in this incident the individuals involved should have not put such high expectations on one person. I think the attitudes and mindsets of those involved will need to change too. The character of a person can not be seen by just looking at the color of their skin.
This week my younger sister tried out for the Atlanta Braves Tomahawk team. Its similar to a cheerleading team however their roles is more for promotional purposes. The tryouts were over a two-day period and she made it all the way down to the final cuts. She impressed the team and a few of the managers. She was told that her personality is what won everyone over.She was top choice for the captains of the team as well. The head manager came in to made the final decision. She only viewed the head shots of each girl. She didn’t like my sister hair and that is the reason she unfortunately she was not chosen for the team.
She was so hurt. She thought she was viewed as unpretty because of how she wears her hair. She was upset the her character talent and personality had nothing to do with the decision. This observation is definitely a form a racism and discrimination. It speaks volumes on how a person can be disqualified on a position based on how they wear their hair or sense of style.
Philip Musey, Ghana, Africa
“I think culture is what defines you. I think it’s more than ethnicity. I think your culture is based on your family and you values. Culture is everything that makes you who you are.”
Diversity is the what makes us different, male or female, black or white, short and tall. A non-discriminatory way of looking at different people.
Malcolm Graham, Canada
“I think culture is the way each individual lives their life.”
“I think diversity is a representation of all the different people in the world.”
Allison Klajbor, Indiana
“Culture consists of the values that you hold and learn through society and surroundings.
“Diversity is the differences that people that have such as race, religion, beliefs.”
I interviewed three of my colleagues. I differ culturally from each of them. The Derman-Sparks & Edwards text teaches us that culture can be defined by a number of things. Values, religion and family relationships are just of few of the things culture can be connected to (p. 56). I like Philip Musey’s definitions the most. He gave a broad definition that could incorporate the things we have learned that includes surface and deep culture.
In the definitions I received, none of the responses discussed how emotions. The responses reflected on outside influence. None of the definitions spoke on inner influences. There could have been discussion on extended family relationships or showing emotion. The statement by Philip Musey “Culture is everything that makes you who you are” made me want to take a closer look at myself and discover the things, people and circumstances that make me who I am.
This blog entry is about my family culture and items that I consider to be of value. The task is to decide on three small items I would take from my home if my family and I had to move to a different country that was totally different from my own. The first item I chose was a photo album. The photo album would be something visual I could share with others on the people that are most important in my life. The second item would be a family recipe. I would want to share some the foods my family and I enjoy. The third item would be a civil rights book. I would want to share some of the history of my country with those in this new country.
If I could only keep one of these items upon arrival, I would choose the photo album. I remember many of my family recipes and the information in the history book can be retrieved from other sources (such as internet if available). When I get lonely, sad or upset, I would want the photos in the album to remind me of old memories and pieces of my previous home.
This assignment was very interesting. It was tough to narrow down three items. I wanted to bring some music that reminded me of my parents(Old-school music like Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder or Patti LaBelle) or Holiday music( like Christmas music).I also wanted to bring a bible to share my religion. I learned that are so many small things that remind me of family and makes me feel close to them.
When I think of research I realize I have learned many things. I am more knowledgeable what research as a whole entails. I look at research differently. I find myself looking more at detail and if this research is feasible. I keeping my thoughts on a the goal and not be biased in any way.I learned how to design and plan research more accurately.When it comes to planning I have to consider what research I want to perform, who will be involved in the research and when and where the research will take place.I will be mindful not to bring harm to my participants and ask open-ended questions. I found the differences in qualitative and quantitative research challenging however I have learned to differentiate the two. My perception of early childhood research has enhanced. I know know the importance of being specific with what I plan to research and treat them with equity.
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