Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have for diverse families is that all families receive the highest quality education for all their children through respect and advocacy from educators.

One goal I have as an early childhood educator is to provide the highest quality education and to be an advocate for all families.

I woud like to personally thank  everyone for their contribution to my blog.  I look forward to working with all of you in the future.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

I would prepare to welcome a child and family from Australia.  I have never worked with a child or family from this part of the world.  Therefore, I would prepare by:

1.    Researching the country

2.    Researching the language

3.    Learning about the culture

4.    Gathering facts about customs and the country

5.    Learning about the culture, religion, and beliefs of the family.

 

 

I believe that preparing to work with the family will help me to establish strategies for communicating with and working with the family.  Understanding the cultural background, values, and beliefs of the family will enable me to establish a productive relationship with the family.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

In one personal experience, I was the target of bias and prejudice.  I was about twenty years old when I tried to get my first apartment.  The day I went to get the apartment, I was very excited about getting my own place.  I had talked with the manager on the phone, and was told to bring a security deposit and one month's rent.  The manager scheduled the meeting at three o'clock and I was there on time.  When the manager saw that I was an African American, he told me that no apartments were available.  I complained that I was told that there were three apartments open.  Finally, the manager stated that the tenants do not want "you people" in the apartments and it would be best for me to go somewhere else.

This was a common practice in Mississippi, so I did not pursue a case.  If I had done so, the manager would have said that my credit was not good enough or the apartments had been rented before I came.  In this type of situation, the manager would have to change for the situation to be positive. The manager was racist and his attitude was negative toward African Americans.  Thankfully, this does not occur in my hometown anymore.  People are less prejudiced and the laws ensure equity in housing.  However, this incident haunted me for years, and made me feel like less than a citizen.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week, a coworker told me that she wished that she could eat Thanksgiving dinner at my house.  She said that she knew that I would cook a great meal because I was raised in the country.  My coworker went on to ask me if I was going to cook some chitterlings.  After the comment, she started laughing.  I immediately realized that she had committed a microagression against me.  I was embarrased and I felt that I was being demeaned because of my background.  I did not reply to the microagression; however, I wish I had made my views known. 

I have learned that people make microaggressions intentionally and unintentionally.  I know that my coworker was only joking around; however, my feelings were hurt in the process.  I realize that microaggressions can hurt and they can be insults or assualts.  This has helped me to be more conscious of  how I speak with families and how I work with others. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I asked two friends and one family member about culture and diversity.  When asked about culture, most of the people shared that culture includes the values and beliefs that a group of people share.  One friend explained that we have multiple cultures.  She stated that the culture in our family may be different from the culture in the workplace or in society.  As a result, some of our beliefs can be conflicting; however, they are acceptable in different contexts.  Overall, everyone agreed that culture is a part of life and it influences what people believe in and how they act.

When asked about diversity, I received conflicting views and opinions.  Some believed that diversity was the differences between people.  One person believed that diversity was based on race only.  After reviewing these definitions, it is obvious that the people did not see diversity as deep as it is covered in the course.  Diversity is based on any differences within and between groups.  Diversity is about differences; however, it can include different views, different cultures, and different races. Diversity can include different talents among employees.  Therefore, I feel that people have a better understanding of culture than diversity.

My family culture

Based on my family’s culture, I would choose items that can clearly explain what we believe in and items that exhibit our cultural values.  My family is very religious.  As a result, I would choose to take the Bible to show my religious beliefs and to educate others about Christianity.  The second item I would take is a photo album of my family.  I can use this album to show others my family and my heritage.  The third item would be a quilt that has been passed down through the generations.  Quilting is a hobby that has become part of my heritage and culture. Many of the older women quilt; therefore, I would continue to teach this to future generations.

The Bible is the most important item because it is the core value in my family.  Religion is about spiritual and cultural connections.  Plus, the Bible contains scriptural knowledge that can be used to teach future generations.

When I Think of Research...

When I Think of Research...

I think of the children that can be helped by research findings.  In this course, I have learned how to work with qualitative, quantiative, and mixed research methods.  This has helped me to become a better student and a better educator.  I realize that research can be used to solve problems in education. 

I have learned that research has to be designed.  I understand the need for a hypothesis, a research method, and informed consent for participants. Research is beneficial for eduation and it helps to find solutions to problems or to improve learning.  Therefore, I will use what I have learned to become a better educator.

I would like to thank everyone for their contribution to my blog and this learning experience.