Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

We talked about the -isms each of us experienced in our lives and most of the time it is caused by the people outside of your group. There are situations wherein you also experienced -isms form the same group you belong. This experience is quite painful because you will think that "same feather flock together". We learned about prejudice, stereotype and discrimination which is caused by people who believe that they are better than the others. Other behavioral problems such as pride,  greed, selfishness and enviousness also caused people to treat other people differently. I have notice the most common negative trait of the people in my culture were making fun of people who speak differently  such as strong accents, wrong grammar and inability to speak up or reason out.  I traced back and realized that this hidden biases came from our experiences we had when we were little. Some challenged themselves to be better and some just refuse to speak or exclude themselves from a group. I would like to share with you the experienced I had growing up in a school environment.  To some of you it may sound unthinkable but to the culture where I belong, this is really happening. I experienced being corrected and laughed at all the time when I speak the English language because of the accent and my grammar. I would say most of the people who belong to my culture experienced this because of the way we are taught in school. Teachers in our school were very particular about the way we speak, and the way we write especially our spelling and grammar. I remember when I was little and my  teacher called me to recite a poem and I could not remember anything. Sometimes I could not pronounce the word right and I was laughed at and was asked to stand for the whole time. My teacher even  told the whole class:" this happened because she did not study her lessons".  The impact of educators in the lives of the children is really important. Children absorb stereotypes and attitudes about other ethnic and cultural groups from their family and larger society. These biases are easily absorbed because very  young children lack accurate information about the lives of other people (Derman-Sparks & Edward-Olsen, 2010). To the children who had experienced the same way I did, I am hoping they will be inspired to do better and be challenged to reach their full potentials and to those whose spirit was crushed, I wish them great things in life.  I would say I am fortunate to have great support of my family and the communities which helped me become the person I am today.  It has affected me in my professional practice because this experienced made me see the importance of family support and the continuity of this support in school and communities.  I have seen the importance of my role as an educator and opened my mind to the reality that -isms is still happening in our society and there is something we can do to lessen or eliminate it by reaching out and offering  my help to the children who uncomfortable and excluded. Making sure that they are treated fairly and valued so they can feel good about themselves and appreciate others as well.

Reference:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, D.C.: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

For this blog assignment, I observed a tee ball team practice. My friend’s daughter is on the team that I observed. During practice, the head coach was very hands-on with the team. As each child practiced hitting the ball off of the tee, the coach keeled down on one knee to help each child hold the bat properly and swing at the ball. I was close enough to hear the coach explain to each child exactly what he was doing. This reminded me of the article, Communicating with Babies, when Kovach and Da Ros-Voseles (2011) discussed the importance of talking directly to each child and talking to children before touching them. I learned that there are other people besides early childhood educators who know about and implement the principles we learned about this week. I think that the coach did an outstanding job communicating effectively with each child. I also think that the way the coach communicated with the children affected each child in a positive way. I believe that the children felt safe, respected, cared for by him. I believe they all trust him due to the way he communicated with them.

Reference

Kovach, B., & Da Ros-Voseles, D. (2011). Communicating with babies. YC: Young Children, 66(2), 48-50.

Creating Affirming Environments

Setting up a Family Child Care Home

To set up my child care home I need to think about what I need that will reflect every family in my care (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012).  I like the way that Ms. Castillo had a greeting room for parents to come in and spend time helping children transition into her home, therefore I will have a greeting room that has the daily schedule, plans for the day, sign in sheet for the parents and one for the children.  My greeting room will have a pillow area for those children that need a quiet comfortable area before they are ready to start their day.  I will also have favorite books as well as teacher made books that depict what the children have been doing throughout their day.  I will have books that are written in the languages of my families.  I will have a classroom photo album depicting all the families.  It has been my experience that children love exploring everyone’s family.

            I will have a room that is set up for infants and toddlers exploration.  This room will have materials that are at the levels of each infant and toddler.  It will have soft and cardboard books, I will adapt the teacher made books and cardboard books so that children can manipulate each page.  The books that I choose will encourage critical thinking (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2012).  There will be soft furniture for relaxing and an area that is more sensory orientated that would include climbing, jumping, a crash pad, and a swing.  There will be multicultural manipulatives, props for dramatic play, and block play.  There will be mirror on the lower wall so that children can explore their selves, and pictures of their families.

            The preschool room will be similar to the infant/toddler room; however, it will have higher functioning manipulatives and tools for exploration.  The preschool room will have a sensory area, dramatic play area, block play area, and a discovery area.  There will be a book area in every room.  The walls will have a variety of pictures that depict the families that are in my care.

            Ms. Castillo has a nap room in her center that I feel is needed (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).  Children need a nice calm area that they can wind down and rest.  This room will be a nice calm area that will have soft furniture, blankets, books, and soft toys to cuddle with.  Soft calm music will be playing in the background.

            My center will have a writing room.  This room will have child size tables and chairs.  It will also have desks for those children that want to write a private note.  This room will have a chalkboard, whiteboard and easels in it.  There will be a variety of writing tools, paper in multiple colors, and paint.  The walls will have multicultural pictures and poems as well as the alphabet on it.  I will have magnetic letters and numbers.  This room will also have a variety of favorite books to read and explore.  The room will also have a mailbox for each family, student, and staff member so that children can deliver letters.  Envelopes will also be available.

            Families will be encouraged to explore the center with their child/children.  They are encouraged to read the stories that the children will be exploring and the teacher made books about what the children have been doing throughout the day.  I will send home a personalized daily journal, a monthly newsletter that will tell about what happened last month and what is planned for the month.  There will be monthly homework assignments that families can choose to participate with their child.  These homework assignments will help me learn more about each family.

            My hopes are that my Family Child Care Home will be open and comfortable for all children and their family.  Through exploration the children will learn about and respect similarities and differences.  There will be pictures that demonstrate different feelings around the center to help children understand and respect their feelings and the feelings of others.

References

Derman-Sparks, L. & Edwards, J. (2012). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). EDUC 6357-6 Diversity, Development, and Learning [Webcast]. Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community. Baltimore, MD: Author.

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)

   My hope is to successfully create an environment for all children and families with a diverse background.  In this environment I want it to be enriched with anti-bias education and curriculum that promotes healthy and respectful relationships, equal opportunities, and social equity and justice for all children and families, including those of a diverse background.



 
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)

    My goal is to bring opportunities that reflect diversity, equity, and social justice in the educational setting that engages the developmental domains of all children by implementing strategies that foster these issues without being bias and prejudice in the early childhood field.



  
A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

    I would like to thank all colleagues for their continuous support as we journey through this program.  I am honored to have collaborated and communicated with such a professional group of individuals.  Thank you for your comments and sharing your personal and professional insights regarding issues on diversity in early childhood education, as well as your personal lives. I would also like to wish all of you continued success in your educational and professional goals. 




  Also, May you all have a happy, safe, spring break!


 

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

Diversity is not just another word

We have to keep in mind that it means a world

Specially to the people of non dominant culture

Every human being is proud of their heredity and culture

It is our responsibility to understand and respect people

for whom they are

                 Color, sex, beliefs, class, or ability should not

be the measuring stick

Respect, love, care and kindness from the bottom of

our hearts should be the base for future of the world

The more questions we ask, the better we are

with the understanding of the Diversity

Each and every individual would like to be respected and cared

It does not cost a thing to do so

So, why do not we try to do what makes everyone happier?

See the differences, learn about them, respect the diversity

        and the individuals who are different than you are

Let’s work together to make tomorrow a better day

for all the beings.

Thank you, from my heart to you!!

Diversity is all these and more to me....

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: "We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

I have seen many times where a child will wait right until you get in a public place and say things out loud to embarrass the person and of course, you. Me, my sister and her little three year old daughter was in the aisle of the grocery store and two ladies walked up holding hands; my niece burst out and said “Y’all are just nasty because ladies don’t hold hands with each other.” Her immediately apologize to the ladies and she had her to apologize as well. She took her to the bathroom to let her know what she did was wrong for hurting those ladies feelings. She says to me “But mom ladies don’t hold hands with each other.” Her mom told her that she do agree with her but everyone do not have live the same lifestyles as others; so therefore, it is not for us to judge anyone; especially when the person is right underneath our nose. Her mom also told her next time if she were to see another couple holding hands, just smile at them. What messages might have been communicated to this child by the adult's response? The mother gave her daughter a talk about the people being different and people making different choices. Mother said that she explained to the child that she should not talk to the strangers. Then mom talked to her about being respectful of others choices because saying negative things about a person can easily hurt their feelings, and we do not want that to happen. By knowing the child, I am very sure that she understood that she had offended someone, and her mother is not appreciative of her choice of words. An example of how an anti-bias educator might have responded to support the child's (or classroom's) understanding As for me, I would first appreciate the child’s ability to speak up her mind. It is amazing how children express their observations and curiosity. I think the parent did the most obvious thing by showing the two ladies respect. However, children in their process of observation create their own unique explanations about what they see based on the cognitive tools they possess at the stage of development (Sparks, & Edwards, 2010). As educators it is critical that we create a rich learning environment, (anti-bias free environment) which will set the stage for discussion and open-ended questions to help children understand differences, and similarities in others. 

References

Sparks, L. D., & Edwards, J. L. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of the Young Child. Library of Congress, Washington D.C. 20005-4101

"Start Seeing Diversity Video" Blog: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientatio

Some of the ways you noticed that homophobia and heterosexism permeate the world of young children including books, movies, toys, stores, culture of early childhood centers, and schools.  What I have noticed is parents are been more homophobia than the world as it relates to their children.  Toys in the store are arranged separately the way they are presented.  Boy toys are all lined up together and supposedly girl toys are all together.  I also, noticed in the store that toys that an individual might think a girl could play with such as certain type of stuffed dolls.  Instead are in with the boy toys.  This also, misleads parents to believe this is the correct because the way things are displayed visually.  As I viewed "Start Seeing Diversity Video" Blog: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation” I realized quickly displaying toys in a daycare center is important because if presented as only boy or girls toys young children will grow up to believe they can only be a doctor for example.  Have conversations with young children about their thoughts and beliefs are important to help get them on the right track so that they want grow into stereotype thinking.  I believe that culture of early childhood centers also fall in the same categories preventing girls and boys from choosing what they want to play with and interfering who they would like to play with on the playground.

How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child.  My response to parents with these types of feelings is to explain to them that the school district is an equal opportunity work place for all people regardless of their race, religious beliefs, sex or gender.  I also, will invite them to read the district rules and policies and if they have further question or request to please talk with the Superintendent of Schools.