6165-2 Wk 1 Communication

   For this week's blog assignment, I chose to use my God-son as my example. Zaire is only 15 months old, however when he grandmother comes home from work, Zaire meets her with his hands in the air and he is babbling and making sounds, the grandmother swears that Zaire is telling on his mother that he has been with all day with. Even if the grandmother goes into a different part of the house, Zaire follows her and continues these gestures and sounds for a good bit of an hour or longer, everyday. I didn't believe her until I met her at her house last Friday evening to go and have dinner together. When we walked into the house, he began to babble, wave his hands and look back at his mother.
    I believe that Zaire has effective communcation, I told his mother, she better watch out, because when he really starts talking he is going to tell on her for everything and he will be sincere when he begans to speak.
    I am not sure if I would model this behavior, but I find it amazing that a 15 month old toddler, using his hands and babbling all while looking at this mother. We do not know what he is trying to say, however he surely knows, due to the actions and gestures he shows while trying to relay his messages to those who will listen.

WK 8 Professional Hopes and Goals

    One hope of mine when I think about working with young children and families is that all families be treated the same and be respected, appreciated and serviced to the fullest. When we as early childhood professionals come in contact with families of diversity,we should make sure they are taken care of , their voices are heard and their needs are met.
    One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is that when I am put in the place to serve that young child and/or their family, I do it with their needs at hand, as well as communicate with other early childhood professionals, if other resources are needed.
     I would like to say "Thank You", to all of the dedicated early childhood professionals that I have grown to respect, appreciate and trust throughout this course as well as others courses that we have taken together. I would like to wish you all the best of luck and if there is anything that I can do to help one of you, please feel free to contact me.  Thanks and Good Luck!

WK 7 Welcoming Families from Around the World

The country I would choose would be Africa, I would love to learn more about their culture, education and ways of life. First, I would research the country through books or the internet. Second, I would see if there are any parents from Africa throughout my school that I could contact. Third, I would  get with the parent liasion at my school and see is she could help. Fourth, I would contact our resource department through the county. Fifth, I would contact family and see if there was a way to set up a face to face conference.

I would hope that these ways help me and the family, so that we are comfortable with each other. I would like to make their transition form Africa to America as smooth as possible. This family will have so many issues and things to do and learn, so if I can make it a little easier on them that will help. I can also have some type of idea of waht to expect from this family. The more I know about the family the better off I will be. The most important thing is to start and maintain a strong line of communication with all members.

WK 6 The personal side of bias, prejudice and oppression

The memory of an incident that I experienced with bias, prejudice and/or oppression is:
 When my 18 year old son was in the 8th grade, he played football, basketball, ran track and played baseball at the park. While playing football, he was injured by another player from the other team and his collar bone was broken, so he was under a doctors care for 4 weeks. At the beginning of the 4th week, basketball tryouts were held, so we got a note from the doctor releasing him and stating that hwe was able to tryout and play basketball.
  All of the young men that tried out were given one full week to participate with tryouts, however my son was only given two days, per the coach and then was denied a position on the team, although he had played the year before and was named, "The student athlete of the year in 7th grade."
   So, I requested a meeting with the athletic director and the coach, to find out what happened and why was he treated unfairly compared to the other boys. The athletic director and coach were only expecting me and my son to attend the meeting, however my husband at the last minute arrived at the school to sit in on the meeting and as the meeting began, the comment was made to me, "Mrs. Gardner,  we were not expecting Mr. Gardner. We thought that we could solve the problem without him." My husband then spoke and said, "I just want to make sure that the situation is treated fair and everything is resolved."
  To make the long story short, my son was able to play ball, the coach was reprimanded by the athletic director, because my son should have been given the same time as the others. Also, the coach made the comment to my son, "I want another student to be elected, "The student athlete of the year and not you two years in a row."
   I feel that not only my son, but myself as well were treated unfairly and in my judgment, I feel that the coach was jealous of my son and his talents on the field as well as the classroom. If I were the coach, I would have used my son as a role model for other young men, who made be having a hard time in the classroom or on the field. The coach needs to learn how to support all students and not feel the way he felt. I would have paired students together that needed  help, so that everyone could have an extra hand in the learning, so that he could remain eligible to play sports in middle school.
  

Wk4 Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

The example of a microaggession that I am sharing is as follows:

   I overheard another teacher working with some of the older kids during our academic time at the summer camp, I am working at for the summer. The teacher said to the African-American male student, that "If you do not tighten up and pay attention and quit letting your behavior get in your way, then you are going to be another African-American male that has a label."

   When I heard this, I had to stop what I was doing with my group and walk out into the hallway. I thought to myself, how is this child that is going to the 5th grade, know anything about African-American males and how society labels them. This student is going to the 5th grade, however he has a documented learning disability, so maybe some of his behavior is related to his disability.

It made me take a step back and look at myself and some of my actions. I have learned that even in the 21st century, our society still has issues with discrimination, prejudice and/or stereotypes.

WK 3: Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

   After speaking to three different individuals one of a different gender, one of a different race and one of a different age. There were a few aspects that were the same as in the readings from this week like: race, practices, languages and ways of life. They all three defined culture and diversity as: different races, traditions, practices, languages, and the ways others live. The individual of a different age which is a bit younger mentioned holidays and celebrations as culture.
    Some aspects omitted economics, religion, parenting patterns,  the way we eat, sleep, talk, care for the sick, relate to another, think about work, and life styles (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).
    I have been influenced by other peoples definitions  to be open to all people and to ask questions, so that I can learn about others and how they ways of life.    
   All in all, in my judgment, I feel that we are all the same, yet different in our own ways.
    

Wk2: 6164-2: My Family Culture

The three items that I would choose to take would be:
1). A photograph of my family
2). My Bible
3). My Wedding Ring
The explanation to others of what each item means to me:
The photo shows my husband, our two sons and myself. My Bible is words of inspiration and during a catastrophe words of inspiration will be needed. My wedding ring is dear to me, it represents the bond that my husband and I have made to each other.
 My feelings on having to give up two of the three items :
I would be upset, but I would have to do whatever is asked of me to make the situation as positive as it could be. I would choose to keep my Bible, I think that being able to read the word through out this terrible time, would be very helpful. The photograph means alot, but I have the memory of my husband and children embedded in my mind and the ring is a representation of a bond and it has sentimental meaning, but it can be replaced.
Any insights that I have gained as a result of this exercise:
As I thought about the three items I would take, it was kind of difficult to decide on what to take and why. I tried to take things that were small enough to carry, but I wanted things that had some type of meaning or represented my life, my family and how all of those things are possible.