Art Gallery: What I Have Learned

One hope you have when you think about working with children and families from diverse backgrounds is to truly stop and get to know each child and their family. Help them set goals for themselves and to reach those goals one step at a time. Everyone is different and has different needs, therefore everyone should have those individual needs seen to.

One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to diversity, equity, and social justice is eliminating bias from the classroom completely. Have a welcoming environment for all cultures, race, and religion. Have the children explore about the different cultures in the world and have them appreciate those differences. Also, encourage the children to openly talk about their thoughts and concerns. Stopping bias early can make a huge difference in a child's life and in society.

I would like to take this time to thank each and everyone of you for your support throughout this class. Each one of you brought such different insights into the discussion board and blog postings. I have learned so much from you all and I wish you all good luck in the future. I hope to see you in future classes. Thanks so much for everything!

Week 7: Creating Art

I'm not very good at writing poems, but I wanted to give it a try.

I look in the mirror and who do I see,

a girl who is different as can be.

Glasses, freckles, a girl shy as can be,

who is this girl staring back at me.

Chubby and ugly and not popular it seems,

who is this girl staring back at me.

Taunting and teasing and tagged as a "loser"

who is this girl staring back at me.

People rushing to judgements and classifying others for who they are,

who is this girl staring back at me.

An outcast and loner wanting to fir in,

who is this girl staring back at me.

Can we not forget race, looks,and religion and accept others for who they are. God created us all just the same. Different isn't bad, it make you special and unique. People should be proud and speak with ease. 

Who is this girl staring back at me, a unique individual and proud to be me.

People today place so much on how people look, speak, their race, that they don't take the time to get to know the real person inside. Everyone is not the same and that is for a reason. Children should be taught to be proud of their differences and embrace those difference because its peoples uniqueness that makes differences in the world and a beautiful place.

Week 6: "We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

I remember being out with one of my little cousins and we were at out shopping that day. We were walking across the parking lot and a tall black man walked by and she point and said, "look how dark that man is!" and it was kind of loud, so I really don't know if anyone else heard her, but I told her not to point at people and say things like that because it wasn't very nice. I told her people are different and that is fine. I believe my response to my cousin my have made her feel like she done something wrong, but yet at the same time curious about the part when I said, "everybody is different and that is fine."
I believe in situations such as these parents and educators should take the time and talk to the children, read books, and show them pictures of how everyone is different in their own unique way. This can be from hair color and texture, eye color and shapes, and  skin color. This is a great teachable moment to make children realize that being different isn't a bad thing, but something they should respect and be proud of because God created us all the same.

Week 3: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

~ Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families

All children are observant and curious about things and when they see a classmate who has two mom's or two dad's their going to have questions. This is when I think it would be appropriate for a teacher to read the children about this issues because children need to learn that all families are different and that they are families out there who has two mom's or two dad's and that is ok. But, I believe it is the parents responsibility to go into more detail about same-sex families if needed.

If you have ever used or heard homophobic terms such as "fag", "gay", "homo," and so forth as an insult by a child toward another describe what occurred. How might these types of comments influence all children?

I have heard a child call another child "gay" and I stopped him right there and asked him why he said that and his response was, 'I don't know." I told him there were no need for name calling because it is mean and hurtful towards others and besides how would he like like to be called a word like that. These types of comments can cause children to have low self esteem, poor image about themselves, and feel like an outcast. This can have long term effects on children and their development.

Week 8 - Good Luck!!

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of my colleagues for such support they have given me. I have learned so much from each and everyone of you in this course. The blogs and discussion boards was able to help me see much more about the topics than what I knew and you all provided me with such insight and information and for that I thank you. I would like to wish everyone luck in the future and in everything you do. Each and everyone of you have so much to offer to the Early Childhood Field!

Adjourning

I have to honestly say I have never been a part of a high-performing group, but I could imagine that it would be very hard to say good-bye to such a group because you all have worked hard on a project together, accomplished great things together, and even built friendships/bonds along the way. The groups that I have experienced as just been small class projects and I was glad to see them end because in my experience with them, I was stuck doing most of the work.

I would imagine that I would adjourn from my colleagues within this Master's course? With great gratitude and appreciation. I would tell each one of them that I have learned so much from each and everyone of them. Each person in this group has brought new ideas and shared great information. I haven't really bonded with anyone in this course, but I still appreciate them and their help. I would simply say good-bye and wish each and everyone of them success and happiness in the future. Thanks!!

Week 5- Conflict Management

Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret ~Ambrose Bierce

Like all couples you are going to have you disagreements and fights and while my husband and I where dating we experienced our first real fight. Like the quote said above when you speak out of angry and hurt you will say things that are hurtful and mean and in the end regret those words because once you say them you can't take them back and that is exactly what happened in my situation.

Since then I have learned that I need to walk away when I am that upset, rather it be with my husband, family members, colleagues because I will say something that I don't mean and I can't take it back. So, now I take the time to calm down and rationalize the situation before talking with them. Second, I try not to judge and automatically assume things and act like I know the answer to everything because I don't. I listen completely to them and give them chance to tell their side before responding. I need the facts before I can respond appropriately.

The 3R's helps because you want to show respect to each person by allowing each person to speak and respond back. This allows you to carry on a conversation without judging and assuming you have all the answers. The 3R's will also help you reach agreements or a compromise faster.

Week 4- Who Am I as a Communicator?

This week I has the opportunity to participate in three quizzes that evaluated me on communication anxiety, verbal aggression, and listening styles. After, I took each quiz, I had my mother and my friend/co-worker take the same three quizzes to compare their opinions in those areas. My mother, my friend/co-worker, and I all three had identical scores on the verbal aggressiveness and listening styles, however we all indicated different scores on the communication anxiety quiz. I see my self as being fairly comfortable speaking with others I don't really know and speaking in small groups, but my mother and my friend however see differently. My body language and tone of voice must be indicating how nervous I truly am speaking in front of groups. My hands sweat, my voice cracks, and my body feels like it shacking all over. The good think out of this is that I now see how my body language can be sending a different message than what I am saying and that I truly try to be a respectful to others as possible.

My insights:
1.) I have learned that I need to be more aware of my body language as it could be sending a different message than what I am trying to say and this can cause misunderstandings and confusion. I need to learn to relax and take a deep breathe because it is important to get the message across effectively as possible.
2.) I have learned that I am very respectful of others and their thoughts and I truly take the time to listen to them and probe questions for more information. I want to have all the facts before responding because you never want to give the wrong advice to children or families.

Communication with Different Groups

I think that I do communicate differently with different groups of people due to my comfort level with that group.Take the following as examples:

I am more opened and able to be myself around my twin sister and my very close friends because they truly know me and don't judge me. I can talk to them about anything.
With my husband I have learned that I can not talk to him about politics or sports because know matter what he is going to be right and I'm going to lose the battle.
At work with my residents' I'm kind and soft spoken. I greet each one of them by using Mr. or Mrs. in front of their names to show them respect.
Around a lot of people I'm shy and quiet. I don't really speak unless spoken to, but I also give smiles and say "Hi"
Three strategies that would help me communicate more effectively would be to be more aware of my non-verbal behaviors because my facial expressions could be indicating something total different from what I am trying to say; try not to judge people right off, truly listen to what they have to say and take everything in before responding; and show others respect when communicating. Don't interrupt them, don't be talking to other people while trying to listen to someone else, make eye contact, and make sure you have all the information before responding because if not if could lead to hurt feelings and misunderstandings.

Communication Skills: Language, Nonverbal, Listening

As I was flipping through the channels last night I came across the movie "The Blind Side". I have always wanted to watch this movie, so I decided to watch this movie for my blog. I began the movie with the volume off and the nonverbal cues and facial expressions were so powerful.

This young boy always looked so sad, he walked with his head down, he didn't really speak to people and when he did he didn't make eye contact and to me he just looked like he had very low self esteem and self worth. He then me this family and when the older woman got out of her car to talk to his she had a very serious look on her face and her arms were crossed, so I thought he might had done something wrong and she was mad.

After I turned the volume on I realized that I was right about the boy. He was abandoned by his mother due to drugs. He grew up in a very bad part of the city and he just wondered around and stayed to his self. The woman I seen was not angry but instead reaching out to him. She took him in to her home and took care of him. She even became his legal guardian. She is a strong woman who doesn't express herself and she comes off as very serious and angry. He husband said, she is made of layers and you have to peel each layer back at a time to get to know her.

As the movie ended both the boy and the woman began to open up a little more by smiling, hugging, and making eye contact. He become more confident about himself.
This was an excellent movie and I recommend this to everyone.

Communication Skills

Bad human communication leaves us less room to grow.
Rowan D. Williams

When communicating with others you have to be confident in the words you are saying, be accurate with the facts you are providing, be determined to get you point across professionally, and maintain good eye contact with others that way they can tell you truly believe in the words you are speaking. A Social Service professor of mine in college had such great communication skills. She was always so passionate in the way she spoke about topics and that really kept our attention. I would love to be more confident in speaking with others and be able to keep their full attention. I want others to know I truly believe in what I am saying.