Adjourning

There have been many groups that I have been apart of that were hard for me to leave - my college roommates (who were my friends since elementary school), high school friends, and past co-workers. I feel that all of these relationships have helped me grow in various ways and we were apart of each others success and failures. There was a sense of trust among all of the individuals, which gave us the courage to try new things. 

Saying good-bye to my colleagues at Walden will be difficult - we have been able to open up to each other and grow through each of our mistakes/life experiences. I never thought I would be a "blogger" and was a little nervous to start this process but I have learned to love it. This is an informal method of sharing our success stories, and even some failures. I truly believe in the power of learning from others experiences and love to hear about everyone's life journeys.

This past week I was at a training out of state and we did not have time in the "forming" stage to get to know each other - we spent the first 5 minutes on Monday introducing ourselves and saying one thing about us that nobody would guess by looking at us. This was a good ice breaker and conversation starter for later in the week. We all became close and really connected with each other (going to lunch and out to dinner after the training), so saying good-bye on Friday was hard - we all want to stay connected but living in separate states makes that hard. Learning about team building and trust this week was helpful especially being apart of such an amazing group of individuals. 

Conflict Resolution

After thinking back to a conflict I have had recently I decided to focus on one from my personal life – between my brother and I. There was a comment made to my sister in law as we were all leaving a family birthday party - instead of confronting the situation right then she had my brother text message us an hour or so later. Text messaging is the worst way, in my opinion, to discuss a situation where feelings were hurt. 

The strategies I learned this week that could have helped me in this situation are:

1. The Third Side has been an important tool so far in this class and my life. In this particular conflict situation I could have listened from the Third Side. I did not learn or listen to all of the perspectives (sister in law and brother). I become annoyed and defensive because the wording my brother used became an attack on my husband. 

2. I am going to start focusing my communication skills around the NVC model. I feel that I am a compassionate communicator with individuals outside of my family structure but tend to be a little more blunt with my family members. This approach could have helped with my conflict because I could have addressed his text message and her concern with more compassion and from the heart. 

There have been multiple instances where my brother and sister in law have verbally attacked all members of my family, which makes it difficult to want to communicate with them in a compassionate manner. But as we all know, two wrongs don't make a right.

Communication Evaluation

The one thing that surprised me the most was how my friends evaluated my nerves while public speaking. They felt that I was more comfortable than I really am - inside I want to run and hide. When I am in small groups I tend to have less nerves than in a large group setting. 

What insights about communication did I gain this week?

1) I need to work on not being as sarcastic because not everybody understands it and they could become offended. I was discussing this assignment with one of the managers at work and told her that not using sarcasm is one of the communication goals I have for myself - she said she does not like sarcasm because it is angers ugly cousin. This statement stuck with me and is in the back of my mind every time I say something sarcastic. 

2) Communication is more than engaging in verbal conversations with each other, it is about listening to the other person as well. Listening to others will help build a better relationship. 

Strategies for Effective Communication

1: Active listening: I feel that through the last few weeks I have slowly started practicing this skill but know that I have not mastered it. It will definitely take some time to learn how to tune out your own thoughts and focus 100% on the other person involved in the conversation.

2. Body Language/Facial Expressions: I tend to cross my arms or play with my hands while talking with others, which is considered by most as disrespectful or that I am not listening. My facial expressions have also been mentioned, by others, as being "hard to read." There are times that I squint or scrunch my face when I am trying to understand what is being said - this does not come across to others though.

3. Slowing down: I have been working on slowing down while communicating with others and focusing on what I am trying to say. Sometimes I talk too fast and don't explain myself, so the communication between others breaks down.

Communication

While watching this show without volume I found it very difficult to keep my attention. All of the characters seemed to have a close relationship with each other and were able to use their facial expressions to communicate with each other. There was a particular scene that stood out to me...one character (woman) seemed to have a stern look on her face while talking and looking towards another character (male). This scene was the only one where the characters did not seem to have a positive interaction.

My assumption of that specific scene was off - the woman was not upset at the man at all, in fact she was interested in him. Being able to listen to the interactions helped with my understanding of the characters. The dark haired girl is very sarcastic and seems to take everything as a joke, whereas, the blonde girl was more practical. Her sarcastic jokes might hinder some of the relationships in the long run.

Competent Communicator

There is a particular supervisor in my school that, to me, has mastered effective communication skills/style - mostly while working with families. She is one that I look up to and tend to send my upset family members too. Her voice is calm and has a low-tone to it which tends to relax the energy in the room. This individual can tell you the worst news in the sweetest and most respectful way - which is something I have yet learned how to do. The body language she shows is one of respect and authority (in a good way), she has positive control and facilitation over meetings/conversations.

When those awkward/hard conversations need to happen I try to lighten the mood by making a joke, which I learned this week goes against an ethical communication principle - striving to understand and respect other communicators (O'Hair, Wiemann, Mullin, & Teven, 2015). By joking it might upset or confuse whoever is on the receiving end of my message. Of course, this is not a typical communication style I use and is a professional goal of mine. I am hoping this course will help give me other tools to use when the conversations become difficult.

Reference

O’Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3^rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s

Professional Hopes and Goals

As I look back on my time in this course and throughout the program I am grateful for my personal and professional growth. I feel that I have become more aware of what I am saying to others and how a simple statement can turn someone's world upside down. 

The one hope I have for working with children and families that come from a different background than myself is to always communicate with them. It is easy for a family who is "different" or who speaks another language to become overlooked in the classroom. With open communication comes a stronger relationship.

The one hope I have for the early childhood field regarding diversity, equity, and social justice is that our undergraduate programs begin to educate and give strategies for working with families of different backgrounds. I feel that my undergraduate program discussed diversity and its importance but it was not as in-depth. 

I would like to thank my colleagues for their kind words and motivation! This course has helped me to open up about my past with more than just friends/family, which made me realize, again, that I am not alone. We all have our own "backpacks" that are full of our daily/life struggles and we need to be cognizant of that when interact with others. 

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Family's country of origin

Yemen

Five ways in which I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards the family

1. I will research the country of origin to gain a basic understanding of the culture and language.

2. Through my research I will learn some basic phrases in the families native language. This will show the family that I am invested in them and their success.

3. Once the family has come into my program I will encourage them to join the classroom routine so they feel welcomed and comfortable. Through this engagement I will ask the family to teach the other children about their culture so can incorporate that into our classroom.

4. I would also try and find a translator to help with the important information that needs to be communicated - through the school and family.

5. Finally, I would keep a constant and open line of communication with the family to ensure they have what they need to be successful in the school and in the community.

Brief statement describing in what ways I hope that these preparations will benefit both myself and the family

These preparations will benefit myself and the family in the fact that they will feel respected and understood. These preparations will help the family transition into their new life. 

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? What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

Over the summer I was on our interview panel, including staff and current parents, for hiring a new lead teacher for the upcoming school year, we had five interviews that day. One candidate's only experience in working with children was with upper-class children/families and she had recently graduated with her BA. Once the interview was over the parent immediately said; 

"I don't think she is the best fit for the program. She has only worked with upper-class families and would have no clue how to help our type of family." 

This type of response upset me and caused me to react. It should not have mattered the type of family she had previous experience with when discussing her abilities as a teacher. I mentioned that if that was the reaction to my interview five years ago I would not have the job I do today - my previous experience was with middle to upper-class families but that does not mean I do not have empathy and compassion for those living in poverty. 

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

This diminished equity because this specific candidate was unfairly judged based off her previous job experiences. When considering a candidate to hire we, as the panel, discuss how they could benefit our program. The comment this parent made about the candidate could have altered others opinions of her and caused her to not get the job. 

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

I don't know if any of the individuals in this scenario would have to change necessarily because you cannot change someone's opinion (that's how they feel). However, I do think that the parent should have thought a little more about how that comment would affect others before mentioning it. 

Awareness of Microaggressions

While eating dinner with my family tonight there was a couple next to us having a conversation about our waiter and the way he talks/walks. They had assumed he was part of the gay community because his voice and body posture, which was microaggression even if they had not made a comment to them. This conversation annoyed me because even if their assumption was correct what does it matter? Was it worth having that conversation? Did he hear them? If so, what affect would it have on him?

This week had helped my awareness of microaggressions, within myself and others. It seems that people are constantly stereotyping and most of the time it is not to harm the other person. I have made a conscious effort to think before I talk, as well. What I think is not harmful might in fact harm someone else in ways you would not expect. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Definitions of Culture:

* Traditions, food, family style, where you live influences your culture

* Way of life, values, beliefs

* How individuals grow up. It's what they take from their environment, home - family and friends. It      encompasses beliefs, traditions, values and how they dress & live everyday.

Definitions of Diversity

* When you mix cultures/beliefs/religions together

* A range of different things

* When you get a group of people from different cultures living/working together

The definitions I received through my interviews all seemed to match the description of surface culture, which refers to the things that are easy to see, taste, and define (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). The answers seem to be "textbook" answers of diversity and culture - I was hoping to get more depth from the individuals I chose to interview.

Thinking of other people's definitions of culture and diversity has influenced my own thinking in the fact that we, as a society, seem to be living on the surface. This has me thinking how to help guide the children and families I serve to think about culture and diversity on a deeper level.

Reference

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

My Family Culture

The reason for bringing my cell phone with me isn't because I would feel the need to have technology it is for the memories stored on the phone. My generation has grown up in the digital age and we store all of our memories on Facebook or Instagram instead of a physical photo album. 

Having my phone with me in the new country could also be beneficial in communicating and navigating my new life.

Cooking is a huge part of my family and family culture. Family dinners consist of the men outside grilling, talking, and playing with the kids and the women are inside prepping and talking. We enjoy cooking together and creating new dishes or trying new recipes - even if they taste terrible. The cookbook would represent some amazing food and memories. 

Football plays a huge role in my family - from playing to watching. Every Saturday growing up we would play flag football as a family for hours, which is where we learned a lot about teamwork, sportsmanship (nobody liked loosing), and exercise. All of my brothers played football when they were younger and in high school - my weekends were all football, all the time. To this day we watch football as a family (cheering on our Denver Broncos)....this sport has connected my family for years and years. 

If I was told upon arrival that I had to give up two of my personal items I would be upset because they are my memories but know that they are material things. I would know and cherish the memories I had created with each of the personal items I was asked to give up.

I had asked this question to my mom and step-dad, just for fun, and their responses were passport, photo ID, and photo album. We had both mentioned a photo album but mine was a digital album, whereas, theirs was a physical one. The two had mentioned that they would bring their passport incase they traveled/moved to another country - I assumed by reading the statement I had to stay in this new host country permanently. So, we all interpreted the question differently, as well.

Final Thoughts

I have enjoyed going on this journey with all of you and am thankful for the conversations we have had!!

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

Appreciation for the time and effort a researcher puts into a study. There are many factors (good and bad) that contribute to a study, so the researcher needs to be prepared for anything.

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

This course has helped me overcome my fear of doing research. Even though I had previous experience with conducting a research study I was hesitant to start this course. There are so many steps involved but taking it a little at a time made my simulation seem manageable. 

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

The main lesson I learned throughout this course was planning, which includes the research question, participants, method, etc. I tend to be a detail oriented person so I had my participants thought out before my research question (the big picture). 

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

A challenge I encountered, which I stated in the beginning of this course, was my understanding of the text. I re-read the course materials multiple times and even researched specific ideas/theories further to gain a better understanding.

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

This course has made me realize that even as an early childhood educator I need to participate in the research world. I have discussed conducting some sort of research experiment at my work based on my simulation this course, so I am excited to see how that plays out in the future.

Early Childhood Australia

What are some of the current international research topics?

While searching the website I did not notice anything out of the ordinary as far as research topics. Australia seems to be pretty consist with the United States in their education. 

What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

This website offered some resources for parents, which I found to correlate with the current issues in my classroom. They offered resources for separation anxiety, sleeping, and transitioning to school. It is important for everyone to understand that the families are going through a transition along with the children who enter school - it is a change for everyone. 

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

This website supports an early childhood magazine called Every Child. This magazine includes numerous articles for children, parents, grandparents, teachers, etc. I was actually thinking of subscribing to it, as well. 

Benefits of Research

If I had the ability to study/research any topic in the early childhood field I would choose to research the topic of curriculum and all of the aspects of it. 

It would be amazing to one day find the "perfect" curriculum for a preschool setting. Throughout my years of teaching I have used a variety of curriculum's and like pieces from all of them. If I could research the benefits of combining all of the different curriculum's and how they can best help the children. Children in preschool's need their basic needs met first (social emotional) before any other learning can take place. With a curriculum starting its focus with social emotional than progressively moving into the academics I feel this could contribute to the overall benefit for the children. 

Trauma

I decided to focus my research on trauma and how it affects a child in the classroom - mostly their behavior. Trauma has become a topic of discussion at my workplace - we are changing our philosophy to a trauma informed philosophy. Working at Head Start our children come from various backgrounds and we need to guide them in the right direction. The language we use with our children has changed and our approach to their challenging behaviors.

If anybody has resources for trauma and how it affects a child's behavior in the classroom I would love to hear about it! I am excited to learn from everyone.