Effective Communicator

One person that I think is effective when communicating is my center supervisor. I love that she is always so thorough about things. I also like the fact that instead of doing things that may be the easiest, she always does what is right. For example, due to the weather, we had heard that our center would be on a delay the next day, because the school district was on one. However, she didn't listen to the other centers, she contacted the head office and waited to receive word from them before actually contacting the parents and staff to inform them of the change. In addition, to make our meetings less distracting, she uses visualizations to communicate effectively with us. There are a lot of other people that I could have thought of to write about but I think her communication skills are great and I hope to get my skills up to her level.

Professional Hopes and Goals

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 I have is to Personally, I hope to learn to be able to create unbiased opinions of cultural values and norms unfamiliar of my own. Professionally I hope to learn of issues in diversity and ways to respond to diversity to better my teaching and communication with students, parents and the community.

•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)

One goal I would like to set is to be to continue to educate myself and therefore can educate my colleagues and other individuals in which I encounter about issues and concerns related to diversity. I want my colleagues and other educators to learn of diverse issues that impact and create barriers for learning and communicating with students and parents. I hope to be an ally for groups that cannot speak for themselves.

 

•A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

 

I would like to thank my colleagues for giving me a bird’s eye view into their lives. Also for giving me a different perspective and ideas on things in which I had never considered. I have learned so much from you all in such a short amount of time. May your journey in education and promoting diversity be a success.

                             

FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

My child is from Venezuela. To learn information that would prepare me and be helpful to the student I would prepare myself by

·         Using the internet to learn as much information about Venezuela.

·         Decorate my home in Venezuelan inspired décor, in order to allow the child to feel comfortable in the setting.

·         Learn to prepare Venezuelan dishes so that I could attempt to cook foods that are culturally responsive to the student.

·         Learn and provide Venezuelan toys, and hobbies that are particularly enjoyed in their culture.

·         Learn and provide Venezuelan music and dances as to use to listen to and to use during celebrations.

I hope these things will help proceed the student with comforts of home. I want them to know how excited I am about their visit and how much I have prepared for their visit. In addition, I want them to know that they are special and that I respect who they are. I want them to understand that I am not trying to change them. I want to teach them our culture while still enjoying and celebrating their own.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

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 spoke before about my first job at a country club. I was a waitress/banquet server and a Caucasian elderly women had lost her pocket book. Her daughter who was also an older lady spoke with the manager and had spoken very blatantly that I must had taken it because I was black and the only black person in the room. To her, because of my color, she labeled me as a thief.

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?

This memory diminished equity because I was not treated fairly and was discriminated against based on the color of my skin. Later her mother ended up finding the purse. It was not where she had thought she had left it. An apology was never given.

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

Its a hurtful memory. This was the first time that I had ever been profiled because of the color of my skin. I was raised a little sheltered and I remember feeling horrible that someone had actually thought of me in that way. I just remember not ever wanting to experience that feeling again.

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?

The elderly lady and her daughter would have to change their way of thinking. They need to learn that people of all races steal, not just African American people. In addition, next time, they may want to look around for something that they think they have lost before pointing their fingers at someone.

Practicing Awareness of Microagression

Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?

My mother in law watches CNN and other news shows every day all day long. Most of the time, she doesn’t even understand what is being said. She just always relates it to racial. While I will admit some of the news shows and views are very racial, the things in which he will comment on are not always racial. For example, anytime the republicans don’t support an issue or law in which Obama is trying to enact. That must mean that they are all racist. Not all white people are racist nor or all republicans racist. Just because they don’t support something that Obama supports doesn’t make them racist.

 

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people.

. I don’t allow my children to go to her house very often because I don’t want my children growing up with this kind of attitude. I have very good friends of different political views, that doesn’t make them racist and nor have I ever thought they are racist. All people are different, raised differently and think differently. My opinion is going to be different the next persons. However, that doesn’t mean that I think any differently of them. This is important in stereotyping people. We must embrace and support each other’s differences.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I spoke with my best friend, who is Baptist in her religion. She believes culture is what we are as people and diversity is limited to our community. She thinks culture is what we have learned from our parents about what not to do and what to do. She defines diversity as the different types of people and races that lives in your community.

I spoke with my great-aunt who is 72. My aunt defines culture and diversity as it relates to race only. She doesn’t classify or see any differences as far as race, class, religion or any of classification is concerned. She feels that culture is your race. As a race, we are all united and classified under that one race. All blacks do this….. All white people do this…… all Hispanic people do this……

I also spoke with my uncle who lives a High class life in Washington DC- My uncle has been very fortunate. He is single, educated and has a very good job in Washington. He lives in a posh area of Washington and owns a high price home and drives high priced cars. He states that culture is what we surround and immerse ourselves in. That yes, we grow up in a particular culture and learn certain values from our family. However, once we are on our own, it is up to us to enhance our knowledge and create new cultural values within ourselves. Diversity is anything that is different. Diversity is not just race but can be foods, communities, cars, homes and etc. Diverse means a lot of different things to choose from or ways to look at things.

I think my friend’s definition was more along the lines of cultural diversity. Values and other ideas that we learn from our family is very cultural. Many of the learned behaviors or lessons learned have been passed down through generations.

I feel as though dominate culture was omitted. Dominant culture was a word that was new to me as well. Therefore, I didn’t think anyone would mention this as I spoke to them.

From hearing from other people, this just supported what I already knew. There are going to be many different definitions of culture and diversity. People are diverse in their culture; therefore, people are going to be diverse in the definitions and answers that they give based on their cultural experiences.

My Family Culture

·         Blog: My Family Culture

Imagine the following:

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

The three items I would choose would be a

Ipad- so that I can always keep in contact and communicate with my husband, children, and other family members since the items are small things, my kids and husband are not included to bring. On the ipad, I can skype my family and stay abreast of other worldly news and issues.

The bible- I was raised on the bible and reading the word on a daily basis. I know that it will be my faith and spirituality that will bring me through the catastrophe. The bible will strengthen my mind and give me hope.

My glasses- Since I obviously can’t see without them.        

If I was told I could only keep one item, I would choose my IPad. My family is my heart and I would really like to keep in contact with them. Through my iPad I can read bible verses to keep my faith and mind strong.

This list helps me to prioritize and to determine what is important to me. My family of course is of utter importance but first and foremost is my relationship with God. In which, I still intend to keep. Because through him, I can do and make it through anything. I was exposed to my religion at an early age as a part of my family cultural upbringing. My religion and my faith in God has through everything remained steadfast. I always have my faith and trust in the Lord. I know that he will bring me through any catastrophe.