Describe in detail the consequences you might expect for children adn families with who you work while you experience specific"-ism(s)" in your own life. Include specific examples either those you have and/or experiencing or ones you would anticipate.
The first ism that I experience personally is that of racism. Personally, while working professionally with white families and children, I have noticed that the white parents prefer to talk to the white teacher when they enter the classroom. In other words, the white parent ignores me completely. Therefore, when a white child enrolls in our classroom, I make sure that the white child sits at the white teacher table. I know that this is a bias that I need to learn to work on. I do not feel comfortable or feels that the parents respect me enough to want to work with their children. Also, the white children treat me the same way because the child told me that I was not her teacher anyway. This made me feel sad. I know that the parents taught the children to treat me this way. Therefore, I do my best to respect the parents and children. As an early childhood educator, I must provide the children with the best education possible.
Another ism that I have experienced is sexism where children are raised by the same-sex families. This type of family is something that goes against my upbringing because I grew up in a heterosexual family which consists of a father, mother, three sisters and one brother. When a children from the same-sex family enters the classroom, I have to remember to keep a straight face and respect this family. All families deserves to be treated equally. Therefore, I am striving to overcome this bias because I am an early childhood professional who must respect, accept, and understand the same-sex families that I encounter through my job. Although, I have no problem working with the children coming from the same-sex family, I just have to overcome my uneasiness when these parents come in the classroom to visit.
It is important that I keep working on these biases which involves racism and sexism. This is the only way I will overcome these biases. This will help me to be able to overlook all biases that will prevent me from helping all children to become productive adults.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Friday, March 16, 2012
Observing Communication
Provide an account of your observation
The other day I was in WalMart, during some shopping, I overheard a child was trying to persuade his mother to buy a new toy. The child was telling his mother that he will clean his room and do his homework for school. I could tell the mother looked at her child, she was surprised and happy that her child was offering to do this so that he could get a new toy.
What I noticed is that the mother was listening at what her son was talking about without interrupting him. According to our video: Communication with Young Children (2012), it is important to listen to children without interrupting what they are telling us. When the mother told the child in a soft voice that she did not have enough money to buy the toy today, but she will come back tommorrow to buy the toy. The child did not seem upset instead he smiled and said "thank you." The mother and child went to the counter to check out.
I believe the mother and child communicated very effectively with each other. Both of them listen effectively, used eye contact, and they both respected and accepted each other. The communication interaction affected the child in a positive way because the child did not get the toy that day, but he thanked his mother anyway. She told the child,"she will buy the game the next day."
After observing the mother and child, I learned that it is important to provide respect and listen to children without interrupting them. Now, I know this is important because doing this will give the children time to respond with comments of their own. This week assignment taught me a lot about ways of communicating with young children.
The other day I was in WalMart, during some shopping, I overheard a child was trying to persuade his mother to buy a new toy. The child was telling his mother that he will clean his room and do his homework for school. I could tell the mother looked at her child, she was surprised and happy that her child was offering to do this so that he could get a new toy.
What I noticed is that the mother was listening at what her son was talking about without interrupting him. According to our video: Communication with Young Children (2012), it is important to listen to children without interrupting what they are telling us. When the mother told the child in a soft voice that she did not have enough money to buy the toy today, but she will come back tommorrow to buy the toy. The child did not seem upset instead he smiled and said "thank you." The mother and child went to the counter to check out.
I believe the mother and child communicated very effectively with each other. Both of them listen effectively, used eye contact, and they both respected and accepted each other. The communication interaction affected the child in a positive way because the child did not get the toy that day, but he thanked his mother anyway. She told the child,"she will buy the game the next day."
After observing the mother and child, I learned that it is important to provide respect and listen to children without interrupting them. Now, I know this is important because doing this will give the children time to respond with comments of their own. This week assignment taught me a lot about ways of communicating with young children.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Creating Affirming Environments
"The toys, materials, and equipment you put out for children;the posters, pictures, and art objects you hang on the wall; and the types of furniture and how you arrange them all influence what children learn. In addition to seeing themselves in their learning environment, children also need materials that honor diversity both within and beyond their own identity groups (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).
If I were to open my own family child care home, it would be a loving, caring, and happy environment. The transition would be the first room where the children can take time to say goodbye to their parents. In the learning video,Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community, (Laureate, Education 2012). the transition room is a great place for children to gather themselves emotionally before they go into the center. In the transition room,on the walls it will have pictures of colorful butterflies and flowers. On the tables, picutres of the families and children will be displaced throughout the room. Also, their will be a variety of age appropriate books to read,such as, big books for young children. In addition, there will be crayons and paper, too. Finally, in the transition room parents' information wall which will include weekly menus, monthly news letter, calendar, and sign in and out sheets.
The Learning room is where the learning will start with the walls decorated with rainbow colors all around the room. A big sign with the word Welcome hanging on the wall. Music is playing soflty in the background. In the circle area where the children will sit a rug with letters of the alphabets displayed in English and another language is a great way to help children learn letters of the alphabets in another language. The room will be divided into different areas such as, science, house, sand/table,writing, reading, blocks, computer, art, and manipulatives. I would have a table where all the children can bring something special they would like to display about their families.
The sleeping room is where I would have decorated with stars and moons on the walls and from the ceiling. Hopefully, the children will feel at home and comfortable to sleep while listening to soft music playing. Also, I will use night lights, too.
Parents are you ready for me to love and care for your children? You have found the right place!
References:
Derman-Sparks, L. & J.O.(2010), Anti-Bias Education, for Young Children and Ourselves, Washington, DC: National Association for the Education for Young Children (NAEYC)
Laureate, Education (2012), Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community (2012),
If I were to open my own family child care home, it would be a loving, caring, and happy environment. The transition would be the first room where the children can take time to say goodbye to their parents. In the learning video,Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community, (Laureate, Education 2012). the transition room is a great place for children to gather themselves emotionally before they go into the center. In the transition room,on the walls it will have pictures of colorful butterflies and flowers. On the tables, picutres of the families and children will be displaced throughout the room. Also, their will be a variety of age appropriate books to read,such as, big books for young children. In addition, there will be crayons and paper, too. Finally, in the transition room parents' information wall which will include weekly menus, monthly news letter, calendar, and sign in and out sheets.
The Learning room is where the learning will start with the walls decorated with rainbow colors all around the room. A big sign with the word Welcome hanging on the wall. Music is playing soflty in the background. In the circle area where the children will sit a rug with letters of the alphabets displayed in English and another language is a great way to help children learn letters of the alphabets in another language. The room will be divided into different areas such as, science, house, sand/table,writing, reading, blocks, computer, art, and manipulatives. I would have a table where all the children can bring something special they would like to display about their families.
The sleeping room is where I would have decorated with stars and moons on the walls and from the ceiling. Hopefully, the children will feel at home and comfortable to sleep while listening to soft music playing. Also, I will use night lights, too.
Parents are you ready for me to love and care for your children? You have found the right place!
References:
Derman-Sparks, L. & J.O.(2010), Anti-Bias Education, for Young Children and Ourselves, Washington, DC: National Association for the Education for Young Children (NAEYC)
Laureate, Education (2012), Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community (2012),
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Art Gallery- What I Have Learned
One hope that you have when think about working with children and families from diverse backgrounds
I hope all children and families can learn to accept, respect, and understand each other. All children and families deserve to live in a world where we all can be as one.
One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice
All educators, working in the anti-bias education needs to be properly trained and this will help the families and children in the diversal family.
I want to thank all my colleagues for helping me to expand my knowledge in this class. Reading all your discussions and blogs has helped me tremendously in this class. I am looking forward to continue working and learning with all of you in the next class.
I hope all children and families can learn to accept, respect, and understand each other. All children and families deserve to live in a world where we all can be as one.
One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice
All educators, working in the anti-bias education needs to be properly trained and this will help the families and children in the diversal family.
I want to thank all my colleagues for helping me to expand my knowledge in this class. Reading all your discussions and blogs has helped me tremendously in this class. I am looking forward to continue working and learning with all of you in the next class.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Creating Art
After reading the resources in this class, it has helped me to keep an open mind and same sex families should not be discrimnated against because of their race, religion, econominc status, gender, or ethnic backgrounds. In other other words, all families are special because of love, support, respect, and trust for each other. In the end, children just need love and support from family members. It does not have to be from a male and a female.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Start Seeing Diversity Blog: "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
It happen when I took my five year old niece to the grocery store. She said in a loud voice "why is that woman dressed like a man?" I grabbed my niece and quickly left the grocery store. I told her that it was not nice to say things like that because it would hurt people feelings. Next time, when she someone looks different it would be best to ask me and I will tell you. Please use your inside voice.
What messages might have been communicated to this child by the adult's response
It is not nice to scream or say things that might hurt someone's feelings because they look or act different. Now that my niece is older, she tells her younger cousin, it is not nice to say bad things about people because it will hurt their feelings.
An example of how an anti-bias educator might have responded to support the child's (or classroom's) understanding
The anti-bias educator would have took the time to address the issue in a calmer way without leaving the store in a hurry. The anti-bias educator would listen to the child and ask questions about why and how she knew the woman was dress like a man. It would be a good time to use a book about lesbians and Gays. Hopefully, this would be a positive and healthy way to introduce this child about different lifestyles of men and women.
It happen when I took my five year old niece to the grocery store. She said in a loud voice "why is that woman dressed like a man?" I grabbed my niece and quickly left the grocery store. I told her that it was not nice to say things like that because it would hurt people feelings. Next time, when she someone looks different it would be best to ask me and I will tell you. Please use your inside voice.
What messages might have been communicated to this child by the adult's response
It is not nice to scream or say things that might hurt someone's feelings because they look or act different. Now that my niece is older, she tells her younger cousin, it is not nice to say bad things about people because it will hurt their feelings.
An example of how an anti-bias educator might have responded to support the child's (or classroom's) understanding
The anti-bias educator would have took the time to address the issue in a calmer way without leaving the store in a hurry. The anti-bias educator would listen to the child and ask questions about why and how she knew the woman was dress like a man. It would be a good time to use a book about lesbians and Gays. Hopefully, this would be a positive and healthy way to introduce this child about different lifestyles of men and women.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation
How would you respond to those who belive that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families?
Living in today's society, working in the early childhood center; it is important that children are taught about all families units. Using books is one of the best ways to help our children understand that all people can be included in a family. These books makes it easy to see, accept, and respect differences in families living in today's soceity. In addition, this will eliminate any bias that these young children have grew up with about gays or lesbians.
How would you respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived as homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and or interacting with their child?
I would explain to the parent or family member that the school board only hire qualified people that does not include their sexual preference. The highly qualified teachers are here to teach your children the curriculum. Also, I would explain just because your children are around teachers who are gay or lesbian are not going to influence your children to become gays or lesbians. In addition, I would give the parent or family member the option are withdrawing their children and enrolling them in another school.
In the public school where I work, one of the teachers are gay and I must say all the children have no problems with his sexual perference. In fact, all the children enjoy and learn a lot in his class. Also, This is a positive and healthy learning environment where the children and teacher respect and accept each other.
Living in today's society, working in the early childhood center; it is important that children are taught about all families units. Using books is one of the best ways to help our children understand that all people can be included in a family. These books makes it easy to see, accept, and respect differences in families living in today's soceity. In addition, this will eliminate any bias that these young children have grew up with about gays or lesbians.
How would you respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived as homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and or interacting with their child?
I would explain to the parent or family member that the school board only hire qualified people that does not include their sexual preference. The highly qualified teachers are here to teach your children the curriculum. Also, I would explain just because your children are around teachers who are gay or lesbian are not going to influence your children to become gays or lesbians. In addition, I would give the parent or family member the option are withdrawing their children and enrolling them in another school.
In the public school where I work, one of the teachers are gay and I must say all the children have no problems with his sexual perference. In fact, all the children enjoy and learn a lot in his class. Also, This is a positive and healthy learning environment where the children and teacher respect and accept each other.
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