OBSERVING COMMUNICATION

On Wednesday around 3:30pm,  I went to a local daycare center and observed 5 four year students engaging with their teacher. I observed two of the students sitting on the outside table engaging in conversation.  I also observed the other two children throwing the ball to each with the teacher. The other child was sitting on the slide by herself.  I observed a lot of verbal communication with the teacher and all of her students, except one.  The teacher was very encouraging and responsive to four of the students.
I feel that the teacher did not try to communicate with the other child.  I feel that if she was not going to engage in effective communication with the other child, then she should could have least encouraged the other children to communicate with the child.  I listened to how affectionate and playful she was with the other four children.  It actually bothered me that she was ignoring the other child. I feel that the adult-child relationship is very important to the child’s self-worth.  My focus was not on the children that she was communicating with, but the lack of interaction that she had with other child.  I was concerned because was the child sick or what was the reason why the child was not interacting with the other children.  Regardless it is the teacher’s responsibility to communicate with the child.  I cannot make assumptions about the observation but from the child’s facial expression she seemed very sad and lonely.  I believe in always engaging in a healthy relationship with a child.  I love for them to tell me what’s new in their creative world.  I feel that I am a great communicator when it comes to children; and I respect and value what they are saying.  I believe that in the communication process children need to know that they are important.
 

 

Blog Assignment: Creating Affirming Environments

In my Family Child Care Home I would like to foster a center that is welcoming and respectful to all of the children, parents, and families that I serve. Through the center there will be diversity of posters and educational materials that reflect diversity. 

In my Welcome center I would display pictures of the child and the family.  I would display these pictures in a section “All about Us”.  Parents can bring pictures from home and with permission pictures will be taking doing the course of the day while child is engaged in learning experiences and transitioning time.

In my Reading Center, I would have books that focus on diversity. These books will convey messages that represent the culture, language, and identity of all children.  The pictures of the books will be age appropriate that depicts familiar pictures that has representation of the child’s family history.   Books are one of the richest resources for helping children meet the anti-bias education (Sparks-Derman & Edwards, 2010).  Books give children a sense of identity and allow them to learn new things.  I would also allow parents to bring books that are a part of their child’s and family culture. 

In the Language center, there will be words that are spoken in different forms.  For example, there will be “hola” for the Spanish culture, “hello” for the American culture, “ni-hao” in Chinese culture, and yia sou in the Greek culture.  

In the Dramatic play area, I want to display dolls that represent various cultures.  I want to incorporate all forms of working people in this area.  I want women to have on hard hats and the men to be in nurse’s uniforms.   Want children to be able to identify with all kinds of people; people who do stay at home work and those who pursue professional careers. I would also have dolls that represent disabilities and abilities in various cultural backgrounds.

 In the kitchen area, I would have foods that represent the culture of the children; as well as different utensils that the child’s culture utilizes.  I would also encourage the families to collaborate and share ways to include their family’s culture of food in the classroom setting, including how they sit and how they eat their food.

In the Music center, the parents are encouraged to bring lullabies, songs, and music about their culture.  The parents are also encouraged to come to center and sing songs that reflect their individual culture.

In the Math center, I want to be diverse in how children learn numbers.  In the science center I also want the children to be able to learn science from a different perspective through diversity.

In the Social Studies center, I want the children to explore the world through pictures, maps of the worlds, and learning animals and toys that are a representation of different cultures. 

In the manipulative and block area, I want the children to recognize the different forms of diversity through puzzles.  Children can use magazines to find diverse pictures of families and foods. 

In the Computer area, children will be able to explore learning activities from a diverse and educational perspective.

In the Soft area, there will be puppets and pillows that are a representation of different cultures.  Each of the puppets and pillows will be a part of the child.  They will make the child feel safe and basically make them feel like they are at home.  This area is a secure play for the child to reminisce and talk about their families.

My reason for choosing these centers and materials is that I feel that they will meet the individual, cultural, and developmental needs of the child.  I believe that the parents will feel welcomed and valued.  I believed by including the family and child culture in the curriculum the child will feel important, safe, and inclusive.   I choose this information because I believe that it is my responsibility to create a responsive, cultural, and family oriented  educational learning center so that the child can thrive to become a important community leader.

 

References

Sparks-Derman, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. Washington: National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Blog Assignment: What I Have Learned

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, and blessed holiday season!

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

I AM

I am a girl with silky hair and blue eyes
I am a girl with braids and brown eyes

I am a tall boy
I am a short boy

I am poor

I am rich                                                                      

I am a girl who likes to climb trees
I am a boy who likes to bakes cakes

I am a woman who is thin
I am a woman is round

I am a man who is in a wheelchair                                                    
I am a man who uses a cane

I am single
I am of a strong family

I am man with no hands
I am a man with one seven fingers on one hand

I am a girl who is blind
I am a boy who cannot hear

I am an Indian in the trees
I am an African in the wild

I am a Chinese in the sea                                               
I am a Muslim in the city
I am a Caucasian in the park

I am a professional                                                                             
I am a slacker

I am a loud
I am proud

I am different
So please just respect me for being me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

                                                                

"We Don't Say Those Words in Class"

A time when you witnessed an adult (or yourself) reprimand or silence a child after he or she pointed out someone they saw as different (e.g., "That lady talks funny," " That man only has one leg!" "Why is that man so pretty!"). Include what the child said and what the adult did or said in response. (Note: If you cannot think of a specific time ask a friend or family member.)
I remember a couple of years ago we were in the grocery store and my little niece was staring at a lady who legs had been amputated and she was in a wheel chair. She was staring so hard that she ran into the cups on an aisle in the store. I observed her eye action and body language and I scolded her and told her to “stop it”. I told her to stop staring because what she was doing was rude and disrespectful. I explained to her that we all are different and because we are different does not give others the right to judge or stare.

What messages might have been communicated to this child by the adult's response
My niece has being with many plenty of times after this incident and she has seen many people with disabilities and she does not show any reaction. She acts like the person is just like her, and in fact, we all are the same. I believe that this incident made her aware that her staring could upset and affect a person more. I believe that my response affected my niece in a positive manner because she realized an important lesson of treating people with equality and respect.

An example of how an anti-bias educator might have responded to support the child's (or classroom's ) understanding
An anti-bias educator would create an environment that supports a child’s understanding be explaining to the child that we all are unique and special and that we should treat all people the same. Over the past several we have displayed curriculum and materials that promote diversity within our educational settings. We have materials that promote disabilities so that children are aware that we all are different.

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families

I believe that early childhood centers should not avoid the inclusion of books that depict gay or lesbian individuals because now we live in such a diverse world. I believe that families consist of same parents because that is what today's families consist of. I rememeber last year when I had a family that consisted of two mothers and the other children asked why he had two mothers. He stated that one of the women was his mother and the other lady was his mama. I believe that children need to be aware of this diveristy and they need to be prepared to deal with the difference of family unit that exists in our culture now. I believe that teachers and parents should be sensitive towards these issues, but all types of families need to be introduced within the educational setting.


If you have ever used or heard homophobic terms such as "fag," "gay," "homo," "sissy," "tom boy," or "lesbo" as an insult by a child toward another child? Or, by an adult toward a child? Describe what occurred. How might these types of comments influence all children? (Note: if you have not had a personal experience, ask a family member, friend, or colleague)

I have never used these terms before, but I have heard people use these terms in an inappropriate manner. I remember people calling my cousin these words when he was younger. I remember when we was at my grandmothers house and one of my relatives called my cousin a sissy because he was playing with babydolls. This influenced my cousin to become a transgender a few years later. My cousin hid his sexuality from his family and friends for many years. My cousin endure emotional and verbal abuse from his family, as well as his peers from his classmates in school. The abuse and negative remarks that my cousin endured as a child did influence him, but he stated that it was his choice to be with men. I believe that negative influences can impact a child's development and cause them to become what people label them as.

Communication Finalé

Thank you all for your support and feedback as we complete this course. I have checked my next class and I have noticed that many of you are not in my next class. I am sad because I am so used to many of you. However, I would like to wish all of you the best as continue to exit this program. Good Luck to you all!