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.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

 

One example of microagression, simplified as micro insult, happened at work a year ago. The school that I worked at was predominantly an all white school. I was the only African- American, Light-Skinned, teacher and there was one other teacher that was Hispanic. One day we had to switch classes and sub for a teacher. As I went into the classroom the other teacher came back to explain her procedures as to how her room set-up was displayed. As she told me how her process went she told me of how when the children have ‘Art time’ the teacher can pick the music that she/he want’s to listen to. Then she said “If you want Rap music, it has to be appropriate for the class.”

 

I was greatly offended. For one thing she used a basic “stereotype” for an  African-American/Black individual. I then said “I don’t listen to that type of music”, she said “Oh I’m so sorry, I thought you were Black, so sorry.” By then one of the parents called her to have a meeting with the students, thereby I was free to clear my mind and think of the situation that just happened. Because of my appearance she assumed that I preferred “rap music”, then she took a closer look at my appearance and through that I was of a different race. Instead she did not look at my character or personality to determine what type of music I prefer. And better yet, still to this day she does not know that I enjoy “Classical Music”

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 

Angela P. (Age 50, Upper-class, Boutique Owner) Her definition of culture relates to one’s own true heritage that can be passed down from each generation to generation along with being a “social hierarchy”. Diversity means that forms of different ethnic groups exist along with a diverse form of religions, traditions, customs, and beliefs that can enhance society and cause for a form of impacting the way that people comprehend.

Haya B.(Age 20, Indian, Sales Associate) Culture is the behavior and way of life for an individual that cherishes customs, traditions, and beliefs passed down from generation to generation. Diversity is commemorated into language and communication governed with the laws of society.

 

Deborah R. (Age 25, Puerto-Rican, and Music Teacher) Culture is the way of life of an entire society that includes forms of manners, dress, language, and morality, certain rituals, and norms of behavior. It can also be entailed through food, clothing, and even music. Diversity is a form of being diverse or different in society carrying certain traits that set you apart from the others.

 

Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples?

 

In the course of this study many forms of culture and diversity have been displayed throughout the text. In culture is the customs, traditions, and beliefs that are passed down along within signifying traits of the “dominate” culture. In terms of diversity the means of being different throughout society that plays a part in ethnicity and heritage.

Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

Aspects that have been omitted were the form of “morality” and “rituals” that take effect in an individual’s diverse patterns of diversity. These two aspects have to be included because it reveals a person’s morals that can be taught or gained through one’s own culture along with how customs and beliefs fit within them. The aspect on “rituals” relates to a close tie with an religion aspect that can be expressed through ones diversity.

In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

 

Ways about thinking about other definitions of culture and diversity has allowed me to gain insight as to how different cultures think. All of the individuals that I interviewed had basically the same answer except they were tailored in their own way. It broadened up the aspect of how culture and diversity is expressed within my community along with different communities other my own.

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

 

Three objects that I would take to this other area would be The Bible, a translator device, and a picture book. The symbolizations are below:

The Bible- Traditional customs and beliefs based on my family that has been taught and passed on to each generation in regards to our faith.

 

Translator- a device that would be used as a mechanism to communicate with other individuals

 

Famly Photo Book- memoirs of families of new and past generations that would be kept as a memento

If I had to take one object, this would result in being the Bible because it signifies the root of my family along with providing a tool and reference to survival and respect of others along with ourselves. This blog is interesting and has through me which traditions and customs that I value to most.

When I thnk o Research

When I think of Research……

 

Insights gained from research from taking this course has been the extent of developing trueness and validity in a study. It has broadened my aspect as to how detailed and accurate a researcher has to be in order to get a valid result for the research of study.

 

Ideas about the nature of doing research have changed being to the fact that is highly extensive. Having the right amount of collected data along with significant resources for research is highly crucial in developing a great study for the community and for other colleagues as well.

 

Lessons in planning, designing, and conducting research for early childhood has certain steps and quality’s to follow so that an individual’s study can coincide in an accurate manner. Designing a model was interesting and therefore helped outline the basis of the study research, all while developing a precise model.

 

Challenges faced throughout the course and research design study was the fact on making sure that the actual model was not deficient. Ways of having a deficient model can occur throughout a researchers own bias and notion of subjectivity. Thereby, the idea of looking at all aspects was entirely crucial in making sure that research wont develop a form of “homogeneity.” (Mac Naughton, Rolfe & Siraj-Blatchford 2010 )

 

Ways in which my professional perceptions have been modified are through concepts of essentialism and equity. Having a fair and justified form of study can make research more clear and apparent to the community. It can also help the community all while developing and understanding all women, men, children, families, different ethnic groups with full  representation that can make a powerful and positive form in a research study.

 

Lastly, I want to thank all of my colleagues that had a part in this class to building stepping stones of building research competencies. It was a pleasure to discussion matters of early childhood education with you all.

 

Reference:

Naughton, Mac Glenda, Rolfe, A. Sharne, Siraj-Blatchford, Iram. (2010) Doing Early Childhood

 

                    Research International Perspectives on Theory & Practice: Direct Observation.  Mc-

 

                     Graw Hill Education .