Competent Communication

As I thought about the question for this week, I could not help but think of my dad. He is in the education field in regard to transportation and food service. We have had many conversations over the years, especially since I have begun teaching about having to be 'politically correct.' My dad does a nice job at being 'politically correct,' professional, and effective when communicating with colleagues, families, board members, and community members. I have learned a lot from him about removing emotion and opinion when communicating on a professional level. However, it is not always something I am able to do.

I hope that through this course and the experiences my dad has shared that I can learn how to better communicate with others so that I may become an effective communicator as I advocate for the earlcy childhood field.

Professional Hopes and Goals

This course has taught me a lot that I thought I knew. It has definitely given me a new outlook and approach. My hope is to create a classroom that is always culturally diverse, not just one that becomes diverse because of a new child coming. Having different books in the library in different languages or portraying people from other cultures or having pictures and posters around the room displaying differences are simple changes I can make. I want to take it beyond that and learn specific things about the families I have in my classroom and include them daily. Additionally, I was thinking of taking a week at Christmas to learn about how different countries celebrate the holiday (I used to do this but for no reason I can think of haven’t in the last few years). Not only within my classroom, but my hope extends into the goal I have for early childhood.

            My goal for the early childhood field is that we become more open and understanding of the diversity around us and we embrace it. While we as educators may not come to be fluent in all languages we encounter, if we create open classrooms where all children feel safe, secure, loved, and accepted that will ‘speak’ to them and their families. If we learn about the different cultures in our classrooms and apply what we learn (not just tuck it away in a file) we will ‘show’ we are open to the differences.

There is more I could say but words are escaping me so as yet another course comes to a close I cannot believe how much I have learned, not just from the resources but from each of you as we have shared our thoughts and personal experiences. I cannot get over how much I thought I knew about diversity, but did not. Given the new insights I have gained, I hope to change my classroom and my approach. So thank you all for sharing this journey with me and teaching me through your experiences. I hope you can say that you have learned from me as well. Thank you and I wish each of you the best as you continue on your individual journeys.

Welcoming Families from around the World

Since I was once a child sponsor for a child from Haiti, I decided to research that country since I know very little about it other than what little information I obtained as a sponsor. Through the website, http://facts.randomhistory.com/haiti-facts.html, I obtained interesting facts about children and families in Haiti.

With these given facts, I realize that if a child from Haiti were to move to the United States and be a part of my classroom, I need to understand the child may be malnourished and could have been an orphan. They may also have never been in a school before. Additionally, in Haiti voodoo is practiced alongside Christianity which is something I am unfamilar with. French is an official language and most Haitians speak Creole. While there are many others I could mention, these here from the website above will allow me to attempt to prepare for the arrival of my new student(s).

So I will make sure there are books in my classroom in Creole and/or French alongside the English materials. Additionally I need to make sure the pictures and posters in my classroom are culturally diverse. I would hope to make picture cards with a picture, English word, and Creole or French word for common objects to make connections for both the children in my room and myself. My classroom environment is one that I always strive to make warm and welcoming which I hope would help any child feel safe, loved, and secure while at school. Finally, finding someone to translate materials for me so parent information can be sent home in all languages.

While these changes may seem to be easy and not too 'in-depth' I have found that first and foremost a child needs to feel safe and comfortable in their environment. Once this is established the parents will feel comfortable in bringing their child to school and even if there is a language barrier, facial expressions and body language in a positive manner is encouraging. My goal in learning more about any country would be to learn more about the background of a student in my classroom to accomodate when and where needed for language, family culture, religious beleifs, and abilities. While this 'simulation' has been done based on the notion that a family with at least one child has moved to the area, these are the same elements I have placed in my classroom all the time.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The personal experience I have had with this topic some would probably consider minimal compared to others but for me as a child growing up, wearing glasses was not considered a 'cool' thing. I was constantly made fun of called names like "four eyes" by other children on my school bus, in my classroom, or at my school and it made me feel horrible. I can remember going home on numerous occassions crying about the things the other children had said to me at school. I did not feel like I 'fit in' with some of the other children because I wore glasses. Even once I got contacts the fact that I was smart, followed the rules, and did what I was asked without question got me made fun of too; other children, not all, but quite a few of them growing up always made me feel separated from the rest.

I hear of instances where similar experiences still happen to other children today. I am not sure exactly what could or should be done to prevent it because it seems like these experiences occur when someone is different. We as a society need to be more accepting, even if we don't always agree, with the differences among us and teach the children who may cross our path to do the same. Teaching the children of today to be more accepting of the differences among us will make for a better tomorrow.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

As I learned of microaggressions this week, the first thought that came to mind is the television show I watch with my boyfriend, The Big Bang Theory. There are numerous accounts of the character of Sheldon belittling Howard for not having a doctorate degree or Penny for not having a college education at all. This makes me feel that those who have doctorate degrees think less of those of us who may not have a doctorate (although I am hoping this is just on the show). Additionally, there are times that the character of Sheldon makes references to the cultural differences of Raj. This makes me think of how often in society we discredit a person because their cultural background is different. *Retrieved from watching the show which airs on CBS and in reruns on another station where I live.

On the other hand, this week in my classroom I had a little girl tell a little boy that he could not go to the kitchen center because kitchen was for girls and blocks were for boys. I quickly explained to her that in our classroom, the centers are all open to both boys and girls. Boys can cook and girls can build towers is the quick example I gave her. However, she is only 3 and it is startling to think that if this is the thought they have this early, what thoughts will be expressed as the children grow up and become adults. We have a big job to do in educating not only the children we teach but the families that surround them if we want to make societal changes to prevent the microaggressions from taking place.

While I want to say I realize these things take place, it really made me question how often they happen without conscience realization? This week caused me to take a hard look at what takes place around me that is viewed as "okay" but can really be causing harm.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

As I approached this week, I wanted the answers I received to be random so I put as my status on Facebook that I needed definitions of culture and definitions of diversity. The answers I got were as different as those that gave them and yet each in its own way defined culture and diversity. What I realized through this assignment is that defining culture and diversity is not something people think a lot about. Those that answered for me were afraid there was a right or wrong answer, I explained in this particular assignment there were no right answers.

One answer I received was from my male cousin six years older than me. He defined culture as the way you were raised, the morals you have, and family stability. With this definition he brought up an interesting point. In some of the resources we have had so far, they have discussed how the family unit affects how one is perceived, but if as he put it the family is stable then why would it matter? Diversity he defined as the distinction of the way you were brought up. His definitions really made me think about how simple, yet difficult, it is to define culture and diversity.

Another answer I received was from a former colleague who I used to teach with in NC. She is roughly within a year or two of being the same age as I am. Her definition of culture is the way people around the world live from day to day and the celebrations they have. Her definition of diversity is things that make different cultures the same & different. Diversity is also the appreciation of different cultures.

How almost similar to the definitions we have heard through the panelists are these?

Finally my aunt who is in her 50s defined culture and diversity for me. Culture is the roots you came from. Example: Italian, Southern (Appalacian), African American, Irish, etc. Diversity is how adaptable you can be to situations and surroundings, etc. Example: Going from earning $50,000/yr to $30,000/yr. Going from living in a house to an apartment. Going from a large vehicle to a small vehicle. Diversity can also be various ways of doing things in different cultures. Example: In some cultures the man rules. What he says goes. Various ways people choose to worship, etc.

While we have learned in this course, or been reminded if we already knew, that culture is more than just the roots you came from, it’s my aunt’s definition. On the other hand, I like how she defined diversity as being adaptable.

All in all I think this week was productive, I gained insight into how those around me define culture and diversity. Without this assignment I do not know if I would have ever asked others in my life how they defined culture and diversity.

My family culture

As I thought about this assignment, my family culture, and the items I hold dear I actually spoke to my mom to ask what she thought. After listening to her suggestions, the three items I would take with me would be a lump of coal, a box of cornbread mix, and a country music cd. All of these items represent the southern lifestyle. My grandfather worked in the coal mines in West Virginia before moving his family to New Jersey. Not only does it represent where my family came from, but it could also be a source of heat for cooking or warmth. Cornbread, or any type of bread, was a staple on the dinner table no matter what dinner was growing up (in my grandparents’ house, not always in mine). Finally, country music is the genre I enjoy listening to, represents life in the south, and each song often tells a story or speaks to the heart of an important matter. If I got there and could only keep one item I would be additionally crushed but would either choose the coal for its many uses or the cornbread mix to insure I would have something to eat.

   I would not feel comfortable about moving to an unfamiliar territory, but just in the pretend sense I have a small inkling of how a child moving with his family to an unfamiliar area would feel. This exercise made me take a personal look at myself and my family and how much the southern lifestyle plays a role in the person I am. It also made me realize how often we as a society judge those around us based solely on what we see from the outside. Especially as educators teaching children about culture and diversity, but for all of us as a whole to improve the society in which we live, we must look beyond the cover of the book and read the story.