My communication

I have thought of myself as a good communicator. I know that I have downfalls and areas that need to be worked on but I also know that I am able to communicate with anyone when the time calls for it. I know that there certain types of communication that I need to use with certain people and at certain times. My co-workers, as well as friends have all labeled me to be a sarcastic person and in a way that bothers me but I konw it is true. I know that I need to watch when I am using my sarcasism. I often use sarcasm as a defense mechanism if i believe there is something wrong and that is not the professional way to handle certain situations. I have learned that communication is EVERYWHERE. whether you realize it or not simply driving by someone yoiu are communicating. Your body language or what you are doing in your car can "say" a lot about you, and your facial expressions are the tell all about how you are feeling at any given point in time. These are all things that I see in other people but am not as aware when it comes to myself.

The surveys pinned me right on the head:
they claimed I was an empathetic listener, which I woudl completely agree with. they also said that I was a fair communicator when it came to  verbal aggressiveness, and that I Shy away from certain situations and am very comfortable in others when communicating. Yes I'd say I was pleasently surprised. What makes it better is that when I had others take the survey they scored it the same way.

communicating with diversity

I do indeed find myself communicating differently, depending on the person I am talking to. I know that at work, as I have said before, we have many parents that are from other countries and speak broken english or ask for things that are different from the norm. This is when I show extra attention and speak in a tone that is very respectful and soothing. When I am talking with myco-workers it depends on who they are and how close we are. My family is whole other issue in itself. With my Mother I do not communicate with her in any different manner than I woudl with my friends. I sadly have a sailor's mouth around my friends and that is the way I am with my Mother. With the rest of my family I speak to them as they are my family. I am polite as possible but do not hold back, or sugar coat anything. The situation really depends on how I change my style of communication. At work I communicate with the children by using a stern yet soft voice if they are misbehvaing, or if the children are acting as they should, I use a tone that is upbeat and fun but on their level. I never talk above a child and do not talk down to them as though they are lesser than I.

"house"

I know that the assignment said to watch a show you do not normally watch, but it has been years since I have watch "House" I thought it would be fun to watxh with the sound off.  I watched the show in silence and the non-verbal communication that goes on on that show is amazing. If you did not have subtitles or sound you would think that House was MAD all the time. The way his body movements were when he was talking with patients and especialy with his crew of Dr.s lead you to eblieve that he is always angry. His facial expressions show sarcasim and disrespect. The funny thing about this show is this is really how House talks, his non-verbal vs. his verbal are very similar. The other Dr.s of the show are not as easy to read. Their movements were not as revealing as House's. I had a coulple of "aha" moments once I turned the sound back on and paid attention to the other Dr.s. I noticed that one of the Dr.s look like she was sad and misserable, when infact she was just having a moment when she was discussing a medical term with the patient. People's body language can be very tricky to read. I am glad in a way that I watch a show that i was somewhat familiar with, like I said I have not seen it in years, but What i thought I knew about these characters was completely off when I coudl not hear what they were saying.

A communicator I'd like to model

I would love to be able to communicate in ways similar to my mother-in-law. The woman is very professional when need be, but down home when the time is right. She is ver eloquent with her words and knows just how to place them in order. She can take the same sentence and twist it from a complement to an insult in no time. She has the greatest mannerisms in her words.
Another person that I would like to be able to communicate like ONLY IN SOME WAYS, is my own mother. My mom has a mouth on her, Not that I woudl like to show my colors in front of everyone, but when the time is right my mother can lay one on you and not think twice about it. My mother is the one who answers the phone when those dinner time advertisors call to interupt and try to sell yoiu somethig. She has no problem giving them a quick peace of mind and then hanging up. I am too nice of a person I will stay on the phone and say no thank you 20 times before they get the hint and finally give up on me. If I could combine those two talents i think I coudl be a very good communicator.

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.