Thank you/ Reflection

I would like to say "thank you" to each one of my newly formed friendships I have gain during the past 8 weeks.  I have enjoyed your reponses to my preception of our discussion questions.  I have found your feedback positive and encouraging; I realize sometimes my thoughts can be truly different than what is expected but that is the beauty of engaging with individuals from other backgrounds and experiences. I love reading your responses I found them truly insightful, and meaningful.  I wish you all accomplish everything you have set out to do and that you continue moving forward in you education.  I hope we meet again in other courses in the program.  Best Wishes to you all.  ck

Building Trust

This week I learned about the five stages of team development and the role each plays when building a team.  Adjourning is the final stage of a project that has come to an end and the members of the group reflect on their accomplishment, failures and the decision of moving forward into another project is determined.  The aspect of the project that was hardest to say goodbye to was the planning process brainstorming about activities to engage the children with throughout the evening which is what we as a group potentially envisioned our sleepover as a something that would benefit our families during the holiday season.  

The group with the clearest established norms was with the first group which was established during our first year of the sleepover.  The team’s enthusiasm about putting the project together as well as implementing the one time over-night process was the one that demonstrated the standard of sleepovers for years following.  Our initial sleepover team effort was the one that stands out the most to me because we worked the hardest to make it successful.  Each individual in the first group put their skills to work.  We established a relationship with a library in the area to get books they were disposing of to use for a game we labeled book walk which is simply musical chairs.  The game allowed each child to take home a book of their choice.  I loved how at the end we learned what we each were capable of doing to make the dream work.  Our families were ecstatic to have an evening to themselves and leave their child with teachers they have built a relationship of trust.   

After all the children were down and sleeping for the night we had a late dinner together where we discussed what was successful and the challenges we faced.  We all said we would not do it again because it was more work than just a normal day at work. Some things we found was that it was over kill to bath each child before bedtime and the before bed snack should be something such as cheese and crackers or fruit versus vanilla wafers.  What we found was the children had the most fun and parents shared the children talked about their experience days after; this was additional confirmation to the success of our first sleepover.  The next year my co-workers all talked me into doing the overnight again at the request of the children and some of the parents. 

I think adjourning from the relationships formed while working on my master’s degree would involve thanking some people for their honest feedback and supportive comments during our discussion board post including talking about what is next is our lives.  We could all possibly choose a time to join a chat for some ending comments could that include exchanging contact information.  Adjourning is an essential stage because it helps team to solidify what worked and why as well as the challenges they faced during implementing of their project.  This is also the time to problem solve and discuss what is next for the team should they decide collectively to move forward or to disband. 

Non-Violent Communication and Conflict Managment

The information I learned this week from non-violent and conflict management is to consider the feelings of the other person.  The resources conveyed that connecting with the universal human need of trust and understand as well as listening and choosing words that can transform potentially violent conflicts into opportunities of working together. 

Recently I have been faced with a couple of conflicts over the past two weeks; they both remain fresh in my memory.  The one I would like to share is a phone conversation between myself and a parent I will call Darryl.  A phone call into the center at about three thirty on Friday it was Darryl asking to bring his son into the center for care on Saturday because he had an emergency case.  I informed him that the person who could approve this is not currently in the building and that she would return but I did not know exactly what time.  I told him I would leave his message on her desk.  He said I have an emergency can’t I bring my child in tomorrow.  I told I am not the one who can approve this for him because I do not know if there is space and Tracy has that information.  He continued to insist that I give him permission; he said so it could possibly be about seven o’clock before he would get an answer. I explained that I did not say that I told him Tracy would return but I could not give him a specific time and his message would be on her desk.  I finally ended the call with him; about five minutes later he came rushing hurriedly in our front door walked pass me directly to an empty office.  After he exited the office he stopped at the desk.  I looked at him at said I just spoke to you on the phone; he pretended he did not know what I was talking about.  I said you are Darryl, Nathan father right; he responded with yes.  I repeated to him that they were out of the building.  He walked away to visit his son with no further response. 

The strategy I learned from this interaction was without a doubt to fully listen to the concern the individual was explaining which I think I did pretty well; even though I could give him the answer he was seeking from me.  I apologized but, he was not accepting and only wanted me to address his issue.  The best I could do for him was to leave his message on my boss’s desk which I shared with him when we spoke on the phone.  The other strategy I tried to institute was a resolution but he was seeking an immediate response that I could not give him.  What I did not tell him was I would send her a text message about his emergency which is what I was doing when he blasted through the door pass me. 

I asked Carol a colleague how she learned to communicate more effectively.  Carol shared that she addresses issues immediately before they build into something more.  She feels if the issue is talked through and each party has an opportunity to speak and take into consideration the other persons feelings then the issues can be solved amicably.    

 

Non-Verbal Communication

The see television episode I chose to watch is “Cristela” which airs on ABC.  I have never watched this show previous to viewing for this assignment.  The scene I watched from this show without sound was the interaction between co-workers because it was set in an office.  I figured they were colleagues as their desks were facing each other.  At one point during the seen the characters got up from their chairs to commence in a face-to-face hand gestures, body movements and facials expression show down that signified competition. 

The assumptions I made about the characters from the office scene was correct they are co-workers who are employed by a law firm as interns vying to be second chair on a discrimination case.  I think my assumptions would have been correct even if I was watching a show that I regularly watch. 

 I found it interesting that it is possible to identify what form of communication is taking place just by observing gestures, hand movements and facial expression of the characters.  Movements in the face can tell you a lot about what a person is feeling and thinking.  Raised eyebrows, deep stares, and even blinking signify non-verbal emotions that we all experience.  I have for years use a polka face to keep others from reading my emotion from my facial expressions.  Now that I am older I think I am easier to read to my dismay. 

Reference:

"Latino 101." Cristela. ABC. WRIC, Richmond, 27 Mar. 2015. Television.

 

Competent Communicator

The person that I feel exemplifies competent communication is Tracy Walters; she is our centers Program Director she hold a Master degree in Special Education.  I have been observing her communication skills for some time.  Tracy demonstrates the ability to move from the context of a discussion with a staff member about a concern with a child; to talking with a parent who may have a question about using the center on the weekend.  I think Tracy is the epitome of how ethics in conversation should play out.   

Tracy listens effectively allowing a person to complete their thoughts, her body language is always neutral; I have notice she will turn her body in a manner that says you are important and I am interested in what you are saying to me.  When she responds it is from an intellectual stand point; she demonstrates a vast amount of knowledge, wisdom and experience.  I listen to a conversation she had with one relatively new staff member who mention she has restless leg syndrome and she likes when her dog sleeps across her legs. Tracy suggested she try using a weighted blanket. If I could model my communication behaviors after anyone it would be Tracy.  I now understand why the staff often go to her for consultation; she is amazing!

Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when I think about children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is for them to encounter people who are supportive, willing to listen and learn about their culture.  I want people to look beyond the evident of a individuals ethnicity and culture and open their heart to change

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is for people to respect each other and be open to learning what you do not understand and give people an opportunity to tell you who they are.

I would like to say to each one of my discussion board colleagues "Thank you" for the feedback you gave to some of my post.  I have learned one more thing or two about myself since the first week of this course.  But the most important things are I have learned has been how to guide children to think a different way about diversity.  We should learn about what we do not know or understand before we can make informed decisions about the behaviors we do not like in others that we encounter.  Again, Thank you to everyone enrolled in EDUC 6164 I look forward to our next discussion board meeting.  ck

Welcoming families From Around the World

The setting I chose is the child care center; I have a child joining my group from Denmark.  Ninety-eight percent of the country’s language is Danish; the other two-percent is German.  Denmark is an egalitarian society that supports women in business with equal pay and access to senior positions.  Families in Denmark are generally small and the nuclear family is the center of social structure.  They encourage their children to independent at an early age and they enter day care by age 1. 

The five ways I would prepare to culturally responsive towards the family joining my group would include:

1.  Learn how to greet the family in their native language.  I would also post some common Danish words and phrases around the classroom.
2. I would use the internet to educate myself about Danish beliefs such as the fact that they expect courteous behavior from everyone.  They greet with a firm handshake and eye-contact.
3. Plan a visit with the family in their home setting
4. Invite the family to visit the classroom before the child’s first day. 
5. Create a short video for the family to view introducing myself along with the children in the classroom then I would video some of the activities the children engage in during their day.  I invite the family to share any part of their culture that they feel comfortable revealing (I would permission from each child’s parent before videotaping).

I hope my choices of preparing will allow this family to have some insight into who I am as educator and that I am open and receptive to their child joining my group.  Including the children should help to allow the child an opportunity to put faces with the names of the children they are about to build new relationships with. 

Reference:

Denmark- Language, culture, customs and etiquette (2015).  Retrieved from

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/global-etiquette/denmark-country-profile.html

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The incident involving bias, prejudice, and oppression I observed this week is based on the description of a microaggression given by Dr. Sue as every day insults indignities, invalidations that occur day in and day out outside the level of awareness of the well-intentioned individual (Laureate Education, 2011).  There were three employees on break Dana who is a forty something Caucasian women, Chelsea is a dark brown complexed African-American young lady in her early twenties, and Katie who is also Caucasian and in her early twenties.  Dana comes to the desk and stands near Chelsea and comments "I am going to be working in my garden on my day off and when I am done I am sure I will be the same complexion as you little lady” referencing Chelsea.  Katie and Chelsea share a glance at each other; Katie walks away.  Chelsea's response was to laugh and after a few seconds she walked away and left Dana standing alone.  Dana never realized she committed an oppressive statement.  Katie shared with me later that she spoke with Chelsea about the incident to apologize for having experienced that situation.  Chelsea said it was fine “that is just Dana.” 

 Dana may not have intended to cast a bias, prejudice or oppressive light on Chelsea but the equity diminished at the thought Dana felt she was showing solidarity for the African-American culture and heritage.  She does not understand it is not about changing or conforming to fit in; we just want to be respected and made not to feel that the dominate culture rules. 

 The feeling the incident sparked in me was a setback in learning how to become culturally supportive to the families in our center.  I say this because while I have learned to become self-aware about my issues with –ism’s Dana is allowed to be completely free to say whatever she likes to anyone including our families. Dana is a worker who has been with the center for more than ten years engaging with families of various cultures yet she pretends to not be bias or prejudice.  A year ago she was upset because a co-worker said she made yet another prejudice comment. She is clearly not a culturally responsive individual; she along with the rest of the staff should be provided with the information about microaggressions.   

 Dana is the individual who should have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity.  She needs to do a self-awareness assessment of her cultural responsiveness.  Dana believes her honesty is approved by all; yet she does not understand that families joining our center from different cultural ethnic groups will not find any humor behind her comments much less they would not understand what she is saying. I think she should watch Dr. Derald Sue’s video about Micoraggressions. 

 

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Micro aggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

 

 

Practicing Awarness of Microaggressions

The microaggression I detected this week involved three of my bosses I will call Nancy, Carrie, and Blair and five year old I will call Andy.  I entered Nancy and Carrie’s office to ask about the location of an upcoming meeting because the staff was asking me where the meeting would be held.  Andy was experiencing some behavior outburst; he was releasing some steam by kicking a pack of wipes back and forth across the office with Nancy.  I watched this interaction for about a minute before entering.  When I opened the door entered the office Andy looked at me stopped kicking the wipes and hid himself under Carrie’s desk.  Nancy looked at me and said he is scared of black people; I responded with “oh really”.  She then goes on to say “it is not just you; he responded the same way when two other individuals entered the office”.  The two ladies she named are Latino and I am light brown skinned African-American.  Nancy laughed and pick up a black permanent maker and pretended to color her face.

 I did not think her intention was meant with any malice however, I have worked closely with them for three years and I have seen and heard various instances of microaggressions from other staff members.  My thought about Andy hiding under the desk when I entered was maybe he was reacting from previous experience of being a classroom with me and my choice not to react to his behavior. 

None the less, I have learned not to be offended or threatened by comments made by this group of women because I worked with them for thirty years and I have also seen them go out of their way to help staff when the need arises.  I am not saying this to excuse their behavior.  But in a sense to me I know what to expect and being offended by what they say is what I want to focus on.  Nancy made the statement; I heard it and I have moved on. 

 

 

 

 

Perspective on Diversity and Culture

Thoughts of others on culture and diversity:

          Culture is where people have common beliefs common practices.

          Diversity is differences in people.

College educator

Culture is the collective history and customs shared among a group of people which can include common language, religion or other belief system like politics, ethnicity, arts, clothing or food.

Diversity is the presence of differing cultural elements with a group.

Preschool educator

 

Culture is beliefs, knowledge and behaviors we learn from interacting with, others.

Diversity is having many different elements including races.

Child Care Teacher

Aspects of culture and diversity studied in the course:

          Shared beliefs, language, religion, differences etc...

The aspects of culture and diversity that have been omitted:

          Abilities and disabilities, social class/economic level, sexuality/gender

I think each individuals definition of culture and diversity remained true to what was studied in this week’s resources.  When I looked at the aspects omitted from our topic I realized I only entered my gender and not anything about other omitted aspects.  I will look at my list and consider my abilities and economic level and sexuality.

 

 

         

 

My Family Culture

The three items I would choose to take with me to another destination are my family’s photos, my Dakes study bible, and iPhone.  I would explain that my family photos hold important memories and visuals that I did not want to forget.  Keeping them with me would allow me to adjust my new surroundings.  I would explain to the officials of the host country that in my culture faith is important.  Reading my bible daily connects me with Jesus who I expect to guide me emotionally, mentally and physically through the catastrophe.  I choose my iPhone because it has all my information contact numbers as well as photos that I hold dear.

I would be devastated if I had to give any of the three items; it would be extremely difficult to relinquish any item.  But, the one item I cannot live without is my bible.  My relationship with Christ has open many doors and changed some circumstances in my life so departing with it is unthinkable. 

The more I think about my childhood culture I realize that we were thick in culture with Saturday  card playing, and multiple visitors that filled our house every Saturday.  Some of these people would even spend the night because the card game ended very early on Sunday morning.  I think it is important to accept and learn the difference in others; being open to understand what someone with a thick accent is saying.  As one colleague mentioned in this week’s post learning to pronounce a name is a start to showing support of the difference in people new to this country. 

When I Think of Research..

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

The insights I have gained from taking this course has been learning how to begin to research a topic I am interested in by beginning with a question and choosing a research design. 

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

I still find the process challenging at best but I have learned some of the elements of qualitative and quantitative and mixed methods.  I learned a qualitative design involves collecting data by observation, pictures and video; quantitative involves the gathering of numerical data in the form of numbers, graphs and charts; mixed methods is the use of both qualitative and quantitative in the same research to ensure validity in a research design.

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

The lessons I have learned about planning, designing and conducting research in early childhood is your topic should be one that you are passionate about or one that you seek to find the answer to; planning is the key to good research. 

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

Some of the challenges I have encountered were narrowing down a topic after choosing a main topic and three subtopics.  I found each time I researched the topic the information would direct me into another direction.  I finally chose the topic that I wanted to be part of and find the outcome. 

The other challenge I encountered was distinguishing between qualitative and quantitative research methods I had the data collection for qualitative instead for quantitative.  I realize that qualitative data collection includes pictures, observations and interpretation of events.  Quantitative data collection includes questionnaires, numerical and along with other tools. 

I adjusted to the challenges by having a phone conversation with Dr. Parrish which I found very helpful; she gave me great insight into research.  She shared that sometimes research can be literal at first until you find your footing or where your passion lies.

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

Some of the ways my perceptions of the early childhood profession have been modified because of this course I have discovered that research is wide open to professionals and educators in the field.  Our experiences direct us to ask questions and seek to find the answers to unanswered questions through research.  Even if a study has been done before it can be repeated but possibly with a different outcome; the findings could make a substantial mark in the field of child care and development.