What I Have Learned

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length) One hope that I have is for people of all cultures can learn from one another and are interested in the difference of one another.  It would be nice to accept our differences and learn to work together.  To see pass those difference and learn that our children can learn from each other regardless of our diversity and backgrounds.

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) When dealing with people who are different than myself whether that’s culture, religion or sexual orientation I want to be ready to be open-minded and accept people for who they are and not who I think they are.  Learning not to assume or have assumptions of others is a big move in the right direction.  I believe that I have learned that discomforts exist for a lot of us.  The main thing is not to react on those discomforts but learn how to over come them while treating everyone with respect.

I would like to say thanks to Barbara and Christiana for such spirited conversations.  I love the way each of you brought such creativy to our discussions.  It is awesome to see how each of us think and how we express those thoughts.

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

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Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

Growing up in the struggle wasn't by choice, its something Jesus planned out

so I adapted to get it on my own and not to look for a hand out.

They think because we’re poor and we aren’t richer than the next man

that when someone needs a job done, you're not qualified to be the best man

bcuz the media will lose you and ultimately confuse you.  

 Ignore the motives that we use reality shows and school.  Traven’s Martin got murdered and society tried to swipe it under the rug.  But it was tragic like the girl killed herself because she was

bullied on blog sites.  When I was young we played with Barbie’s and had easy bake ovens.   

 
Show little girls are too grown and they don't look up to nothing they don't look forward to a husband, whereas the hope for the future.  Boys used to fight back in the day now a days they will shoot one thing.  I really hate and I feel is a mistake folks rather watch the bet awards over the presidential debate you can call me old fashion but the news today – I can’t relate

just hope times get better so like 50 cent I patiently wait!

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: "We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: "We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

 

When my siblings and I were little I remember the first time we seen someone who appeared to be different because of the way they walked.  To us it was funny the way they walked and moved their arms to seem uncontrollable.  What I learned as I got older was that the person was diagnosis with Cerebral Palsy.  This is an action of the limbs that could not be helped.  Although this person was dealing with this type of motion of their body it had nothing to do with their mental capabilities.  My mom did a good job of correcting us from laughing and talking about the person.  But she fell short in using it as a teachable moment to explain to us what was happening to the individual and why it is not polite to laugh at anyone who appears to be different.  “She told us it was not nice and don’t do that again and if she ever seen us do it again she was going to get us.”

As I viewed the response of the adult in the media “Seeing Diversity: Physical Ability and Characteristics.” I thought the adult who was listening to the children complain about the lunch meals was so wrong to make the comment he did about “he see why he wants more food.”  This made my heart sink.  I was not expected that from this video.  I believe this type of comment to a young child could damage him for life.  These types of comments from adults are never forgotten, as we are about to learn by doing this assignment.  There will be stories told about young children or us that have always stayed with us.  In some ways we get over them and turn out okay and in our cases the thoughts are always with us.

An anti-bias educator would have taken the time to discuss the needs of the children.  He would have explained his company needs the needs of the state for them to follow but assured the children that he would report back all of his finding today and get back with them as soon as possible.  I believe this would be a way of communicating to the students they are important and what they are talking about is equally as important.  I don’t believe any smart comments were needed.  I believe the children needed to walked away as though they did what was right by speaking up for what was right and a feeling of empowerment as they completed the task.

Reference:

"Start Seeing Diversity: Physical Ability and Characteristics" (Approximate length: 4 minutes)

"Start Seeing Diversity Video" Blog: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

"Start Seeing Diversity Video" Blog: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Some of the ways you noticed that homophobia and heterosexism permeate the world of young children including books, movies, toys, stores, culture of early childhood centers, and schools.  What I have noticed is parents are been more homophobia than the world as it relates to their children.  Toys in the store are arranged separately the way they are presented.  Boy toys are all lined up together and supposedly girl toys are all together.  I also, noticed in the store that toys that an individual might think a girl could play with such as certain type of stuffed dolls.  Instead are in with the boy toys.  This also, misleads parents to believe this is the correct because the way things are displayed visually.  As I viewed "Start Seeing Diversity Video" Blog: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation” I realized quickly displaying toys in a daycare center is important because if presented as only boy or girls toys young children will grow up to believe they can only be a doctor for example.  Have conversations with young children about their thoughts and beliefs are important to help get them on the right track so that they want grow into stereotype thinking.  I believe that culture of early childhood centers also fall in the same categories preventing girls and boys from choosing what they want to play with and interfering who they would like to play with on the playground.

How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child.  My response to parents with these types of feelings is to explain to them that the school district is an equal opportunity work place for all people regardless of their race, religious beliefs, sex or gender.  I also, will invite them to read the district rules and policies and if they have further question or request to please talk with the Superintendent of Schools.

Reference:

Course Media: "Start Seeing Diversity: Gender" (Approximate length: 6 minutes)

Collaborative Learning Community

During the past 8 weeks, I have learned so much from each of you my colleagues.  I thank you for sharing your insights and 

your best practices.  I also, thank you for encouraging me during class discussion to express myself with no hesitation.  I 

truly love the book our instructor chose for us to learn from.  I would love to hear from any of you that would like to contact 

me with questions or an up date as you go forward in the rest of our learning.  You can reach me at skatrtuesday@aol.com.  

Lastly, I want to wish each of you continued success now, in our next class and as we all go on in trying to complete the 

master's program.  I would like to share what a instructor once got me to realize and the end of his class.  He would often say 

at the end of each class session "you know to much now."  I would like to say to each of you my colleagues "YOU KNOW 

TO MUCH NOW"!

Audrey Winters

Team collabration

When I reflect over a group that made for the hardest good-bye was working on my family reunion.  I was able to work together with 4 generations in my family.  At the end of the last event of the week we all were introduce as the committee group.  The group consisted of 7 people representing 7 cities.  Each of us took turns reflecting over the hard work and the happiest we all experienced by being a host family.  Afterwards we all hugged each other to signal the respect and love we all felt for one another to end a 2-year journey.  I personally believe the hardest part for me was listening as each of my family members started to share different moments of the past 2-years when working hard putting together our reunion.  This made me realize time spent and shared and that we would not be talking to one another at the same magnitude as we had during the last 2-years. 

The group I remember that had the clearest established norms was a class I was taking during the time I was working on my undergraduate degree.  This group was able to settle on norms with the entire agreement from the group and was able to stick to those norms throughout the semester.  I believe the leadership from the instructor had a lot to do with it.  The instructor of the class I remember gave us such a feeling of why we were there and made me personally feel if we did nothing else we will respect one another.  I loved his attitude because I knew this meant we would get a lot done in class. 

The group I had the hardest time leaving was the family reunion group.  I had formed such deep relations with my family members from out of town and there was such deep history in each and every one of them.  We had formed such a bound and relationship as if we had grown up together. 

One closing ritual I have experienced with my camping buddies was on the last morning of camp we all drink champion and orange juice before breaking camp. 

I believe I will adjourn from my group of colleagues by using good wishes to each one of them on such a hard fought journey over the last years in the program.  I will try and recall funny and hard times we have experienced and assure each one of them how worth it was to hang in there until the very end.  I believe adjourning is essential stage of teamwork because it gives you a chance to reflect and complement one another and say things you may have forgotten to say during the time working on your group project.

Blog Assignment

Blog Assignment:

As I reflect over a conflict the one that comes to mind is an experienced I had with my daughter-in-law.  I will give you a brief example of the situation that happened between my daughter-in-law and myself.

 I had agreed that two of my grandson’s could come over my house from 8 am until 12 noon.  Each of their mothers agreed to pick them up at 12 o’clock pm.  One of the grandson’s mothers ran late in picking her son up from my house.  I had to drop him off actually with his uncle due to an appointment I had for later that afternoon.  I left her a message as to where her son was and about my appointment.  I thought everything was fine until later that week when she refused to answer my call.  After a while she did pick the telephone up and explained how she felt about me having to drop her son off with his uncle before she returned.  The biggest reason she was upset with me was due to not telling her I had appointment.  Even though, I had her to agree to a pick up time before leaving.  She thought I should have gone as far as to tell her my plans.

One strategy I learned in the case of communicating with my daughter-in-law is accepting a personal responsibility for how I communicate in the future with my daughter-in-law.  I now see that the way I communicate is a way of collaborating and learning to cooperate with one another.

After watching the “YouTube” video “natural giving” and to remember to “do the things that we know how to do” is what I learned.  I now know that when communicating with my daughter-in-law I need to fully communicate until we have a full understand of what she expects from me and what I expect from her before moving forward.  I also, learned how we all have challenges with the way we listen to others.  I believe I need to take in account the challenges one maybe experiencing when listening.  These challenges are considered “listening barriers”.  People can have things going on in the life, work, health that can prevent them from always hearing the full information.

References:

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2009). Real communication. New York: Bedford/St.    Martin's.

YouTube. (2010). The basics of nonviolent communication. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-129JLTjkQ