Hope is in the air

One hope that I can think of for myself, when it comes to working with children and families from diverse backgrounds, is that I can learn as much as I can about them. I want to be able to understand the roles of the children within the family, the Dad, the Mom, and if the Grandparents live with them... Things like this are important to understand. This way when a project comes up in school and we "assume" that the Moms do something and the Dads do another, it may be very different to some children, and I want to be able to understand that. on a side note I woudl love and hope that one day I coudl learn a few languages, even if just a few words, to better communicate. I speak very broken Spanish but it is enough to talk to someone and be polite.

A hope for the Early childhood commuinty would be that we learn to look at the children for who they are and not what we assume about them. An example is that I have a child in class now that truly is a mean child, but I assumed that he had a bad background and that his Mom was doing nothing to get on bored to help his behavior, but infact she has contacted a trauma center for counseling and is trying to work with him on his behavior. This is something that the entire community needs to try and work on. Simply because we do not know, doesnt mean we shouldnt ask. Don't be afraid to ask the parent about the child or even talk to the child, and ask them what goes on at home that they think this behavior is ok? Who else acts like this? We need to see the beautiful child that resides within all of them no matter their behavior on the outside.

And finally a truly big thanks to all who have read and commented on any of my post, you have brought some new questions to my mind and have made me look at some issues in a different way.
THANK YOU!!!!

Origins

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

I am going to choose France as my country of origin for my family.

• At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family

     I know that many French traditions and gatherings revolve around food. I will brush up on some french cuisine and possibly incorporate that into a lesson that is in the near future to make that child feel more welcome and at home.
    Many people in France attach themselves to their values, it is what makes them, them. I will be more prepared will some of their customs as far as introducing myself or how they react to redirection to bad behvaior.
     I could incorporate that idea that the french are very ettiquette focused. We could have that be apaprt of our daily meals that we do at the center.
     The french are very open people as far as physical contact. They hug and shake hands much more frequent than the Americans do.
      I will encourage group exchange within the classroom, the French highly regaurd the idea socialization they believe taht a child's peer socialization is just as important as the adult socialization. 

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

I hope that by brushing up on some French words and by having at least a basic idea of the culture I can welcome the new child and family with open arms and have no offense anywhere. I hope that by being an open person in general and by using all of my early childhood edcation skills along with a basic understanding in French culture that We will have a great start, middle and end to a relationship.

Personal side of Bias...

• What memory do you have of an incident when you experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

I know that in my life I have experienced all of these things but not to the extent that I have witnessed it being done to others. I was in my classroom and it was the end of the day when parents were picking up and it was very chaotic. I was speaking with a parent who was African American about her child's day and some of the things that happen that day. At the same time I had a white parent want to speak with me as well, thinking we were all grown ups I thought that we would all be pateient and wait our turns. The white parent sent a shock of anger and complete amazement down my spine. She butted into the conversation and was very rude. When I said one moment I will be right with you, she looked at the African American woman and said," it's not like she works, she can wait until I am done, I have places to go." I honestly would have let the other woman start a physical encounter and not said a word at that point. At that point I turned my back to the white woman and finished my conversation with the other woman as tnhough nothing had happen. I then went to my administrators and spoke with them about the incident and it was settled amongst them. I was so shocked that I did not know how to react or what to do that was not out of anger.

• In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

This left the African American woman feeling absolutely terrible I am sure. I know that in that incident both women lost part of their dignity. The white woman obviously thought that she had more right to speak than the other woman and that the "race" of African Americans do not work, when in fact that woman was a Doctor at the hospital she was also employed at.

• What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

This incident brought feelings of complete rage and embarassment for myself and my entire race. I was so shocked and appauled that this woman would think this thought more or less say it aloud. The rage I felt and wanted to take out on that woman was indescribable!

• What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

The white woman woudl have to take a step back and not allow herself to think in such a manner that was so degrading to others. The African American woman coudl have stopped and in her very professional manner I have seen her have explained that she was a doctor and that she did work and also had things that she had to do that evening. I think this would have made the white woman feel a little more in her place of being just as equal as any other race.

Perspectives on diversity and culture

I asked three people about culture and diversity. I ask one male co-worker, one female co-worker, and a friend who is of a different race than I.

My male co-worker, Jimmie, stated that culture is the need to historically analyze and preserve the traditions of the past.

He also wrote that diversity is the ability to respect, understand, and harbor multiple viewpoints, opinions, and cultures, to better enrich a community.

These statements I agree with. The statements were very forward and I agree that diversity can better a community, i never thought of it that way but it could bring people together in a sense.

Another co-worker who is of Indian decent stated that culture is a group or family of people generaly from the same geographic location.

To me this is a little too broad, but goes to show that not everyone knows what culture is about.

Her definition of diversity was people from different backgrounds, geographically, financially, etc, with their own traditions.

This definition was a little more specific and seemed to beeter suit what I was expecting.

The last person I asked about this was a young lady who is only 19 years old and has had no college training. I was interested to see what her response was.

Culture is traditions habits, foods, and ways of living, following certain rituals/religion in day to day life.

Very good, not what I was expecting.

Diversity is people from differnet cultures, that are in the same community, it can be called diversity.

This is true but not exactly what I was asking. I'm glad she tried though.

microaggression observations

I have actually been witness to this type of behavior this week in my own classroom. We have a very diverse class and one day this week I had a new parent come to our room to tour and ask why there were so many "black kids" in our room compared to the other classrooms in the school. This threw me off completely and I was not sure how to respond for a quick second. I replied to her by saying that our class is a very diverse one and we welcome everyone into our room no matter their color. Our children vary from black, to white, to indian, to asian, and even those with dissabilities. In my class especially we accept all walks of life, and we teach our children respect.

 As I said before I was shocked and was not sure how to resond to the parent without being rude. Her comment really offended me. I was certainly glad thatt there were no other parents in the room at the time I can only imagine what would have happened.

My Family Culture

I have been evacuated from my home and told I can not return, I only to bring three item with me to represent me and my culture:
1.) A picture of my family in front of our Christmas tree.
     *I cherish this picture because it was the last picture of me and my family when I lived in  Colorado. It was the last Christmas that I spent with my family, and it was a time of thanks and a  time of sadness, as everyone knew I was leaving but we rejoiced in the fact that I was finally grown and moving away from home.

2.) The picture of my boyfriend and I at Halloween, dressed up for a party.
     * This represents that tradition that we have always done in my family and now with my new family of dressing up for Halloween to be silly and have fun with others around us. We celebrate Halloween as a holiday to eat candy and act like children, not as the traditional all hallows eve.

3.) A black stuffed teddy bear that was given to me at Christmas.
     * This bear was given to me as a gift when I was just hitting middle school and was torn between being a big kid and just a kid. I still loved the childish things of the years past but was changing and did not which way to go. This teddy bear has been through it all. He has been sewn multiple times re stuffed, and traveled all over the world with me, and means the world to me because it was from my Grandmother.

I would be absolutely heat broken if I was told that I could only keep one item. All three of these things mean so much to me and show who I am and how I was. I am still just a big kid and want my teddy bear, my family is my one and only, and my boyfriend is what i have to be thankful for in my life right now.

As far as learning about my family and my culture, i have always known who I am and what I represent. My family made sure that I knew these things at a very young age. I have always been told that God and family come first, after that you can make your own decisions.

concluding research

• What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

I have seen that there is a lot more to doing research than simply looking up some sources. There are methods and various ways of going about finding the information needed. I now know that in order to have a proper research study that one must have a clear and consice question in mind and be able to narrow it down in order to find the answers that are needed.

• In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

As I stated before i now know that there is a lot more needed than to read some papers. I know that the ways we have been taught make research a little easier than simply googling some answers. These methods we have been given allow us to narrow down the search and look at the answers from different points of view.

• What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

I know that there has to be a plan. Before I would simply look up some information and call it a day. Now I have the understanding that in order to have all the information needed I need a game plan and an idea of how I want the research findings to turn out. I can see now that the process of studying someone or a group of people is a little more complicated than just watching and writting some notes. The more detailed you are with your observations or interviews the more likely it is that the research will be seen as valid.

• What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

Finding the information in general for my topic was difficult. I had to learn how to word the question to get the information I was looking for. It was not as simple as asking what color do children like the most. It was a process of using the correct words and in the correct order to get the information I needed.

• What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

I can see that it takes a lot more than some schooling or just liking kids to be in the field and truly know what is going on and why it is happening. I can see that it takes more effort on the part of the professional to stay up on what they need to know about children and how they function and learn.