Week 8 -6164

Week 8

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)

A hope that I have for children and families who come from diverse backgrounds are build upon the matters of collaboration. If collaboration is involved than the means for communication, listening, and feedback can develop with the cycle of learning about others and building a more comfortable atmosphere for learning and corresponding to others. I feel that this can create enhanced means in society along with a better networking system that ca improve daily life overall.

One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length)

A goal that I would like to set forth in the early childhood field is to make sure that each student reaches their potential in a fair way. We, as educators, must insure equity and social justice for all individuals because it is the "right thing to do." We must learn how to communicate and share thoughts of feeling openly for discussion so that new concepts and ideas can develop.

A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

Lastly, I want to thank all of my colleagues for the great class discussions that were involved. These discussions have promoted new learning tools along with different ways upon pondering a specific topic. I have enjoyed all of these matters and will greatly insure that these discussions can take place amongst others, all while inspiring other educators.

 

Welcoming Families From Around the World-Week 7

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The name of “your” family’s country of origin

The family's county of origin is Russia. I do not know of the specifics but I feel that this  area has a unique for of cultural heritage, food, customs, and beliefs, I always wanted to visit this area due to the great custom buildings that they contain with interesting colors along with their museums and form of celebrating their culture with the world. I feel that Russia is truly rich in heritage, and that helping a child in America would be an interesting and exciting experience as that child learns about the U.S, and that I learn about Russia .

List five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family  

I will be culturally responsive towards this family by discussing diversity and forms that lie beneath the “skins” surface. I will also bring awareness of how individuals that are different create a means of collaboration and communication that will reach towards a record of shared responsibilities. I would prepare ways of integration within school as forms of ESL to the individuals from Russia. I would also brush up on the Russian dialect as well, which I fee is extremely important and an ideal way to communicate from the beginning.  I will also reveal that each diverse individual must be respected if that person wants the same respect back. I feel that it is essential to respect others and learn about them because means of gaining wisdom and life values can be taught to each individuals and person throughout the process. I feel that the younger generation needs to know and be aware of this as well. This is why the method of International Youth Day, which is August 12^th, should be a way to earn about different cultures, customs, beliefs, food, and other forms so that individual can be familiar with them. (The Importance of Teaching Kids about Other Cultures, 2010)

 

A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family.

Having these preparations can benefit the family entirely. It will cause them to branch out even more and reach out and learn about people and individuals different from them. Individuals can greatly learn from Russian heritage and incorporate some of those customs into their own lives as well. They can gain insight into the lives of others and how terms relating to these individuals can bring a greater concept and act of feeling towards them. It is entirely important to reach and gain knowledge from something that is diverse and different, because in tern it will impact the lives of individuals in a way that they did not expect. Learning about other cultures teaches us how to respect individuals customs, beliefs, morals and traditions all while learning ways of adjustment and ways to not discrimination against them. I feel that this will help my family to prepare for and even bond and connect with diverse individuals.

Reference:

The Importance of Teaching Kids about Other Cultures (2010) International Youth Day. Mind

Ware Blogs Accessed August 17, 2013 http://www.mindware.com/blog/index.php/the-importance-of-teaching-kids-about-other-cultures/

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Blog: The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

   A former memory that I have which incorporated bias and prejudice was in my high school statistics honors class. I was the only “person of color” and thereby felt like an outcast due to the stares I was receiving. Due to the class being a high achievement class, the amount of individuals in color was lacking in few. Some individuals even made small gestures and phrases saying “Why is that Black girl in this class?” and others were abrupt saying “Hey Black girl, the regular class is down the Hallway.” I ignored all of the phrases and sayings that they spoke and begin to listen for my name in roll call. There was a girl from Russia, with a strange name and they immediately thought that is was me, because it sounded “Black”. Once my name was called everyone was in shock because to them it was “not an ethnic name.” I then constructed that math formulas on a daily basis and the teacher would praise me for getting the correct answer. Feelings of anguish and animosity developed because that could not believe that I was smart in math. Some individuals even called me a “cheater.” Later on throughout the semester an opportunity for greater equity developed. This was by individuals opening up to me and allowing for collaboration and growth to develop. They began to converse with me and soon realize that I was meant to be in the classroom. I even had students come up to me for classroom help. Towards the end of the semester I had the highest grade in that class and felt and overall achievement hence the barriers that I faced.