Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)
 
            The hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds are that I would like them to learn about diversity all over the world and what it means to be diverse. I hope that I can teach them what it means to be diverse and that they will understand that diversity is something to be proud of.  I also hope that when working with these families and children I hope that we keep an open communication and that they are willing to learn open up with me and tell me all there is to know about their 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)
           
           One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity is to meet more people around the world and learn about their diverse background. The goal I have for equity is that everyone I come in contact with treats me fairly and I will do the same in return. The goal I have for social justice is that whenever I teach children I would like to let them know that social justice is something we should all have more knowledge about and let children know that we all have rights and should be treated according to them.

 A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

            I would like to thank all of my colleagues for their post. I enjoyed reading them all. I also like the comments you guys post to my blog it shows that you took the time out to read my blog. I enjoyed reading your post and I wish all you guys the best in your future courses. Good luck!!!

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Welcoming Families Around the World


You are working in an early childhood setting of your choice—a hospital, a child care center, a social service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. You want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that in order to support families who have immigrated you need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

The name of “your” family’s country of origin

            France

At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family

            1. One way I will prepare myself for this family is for me to know how the weather is in France. In France their winter is really cool and their summer is mild.

            2. Another way to prepare myself for this family is to make sure I know about the different foods that are popular in France.

            3. The third way I would prepare myself is to know more about the languages spoken in France and which ones are more dominant.

            4. The forth way to prepare myself is to learn more about the school systems.

            5. The last way to prepare myself for this family is to let them know about the driving in France and the justice system.

A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family

I hope that these preparations will benefit both me and the family is through letting them know that they will be safe because I have knowledge about the different systems in their country. Another way that I hope these preparations will benefit me and the family is by showing them that I know everything there is to know about their country so if they have any questions they could come to me with them.

Monday, October 7, 2013

The 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? Keep in mind that one can encounter such incidents in real contexts, including online environments, as well as in fictional ones, such as movies, books, television shows, and the like.

            The memory that I have of an incident when I experienced prejudice is when I was watching a movie at home. I could remember feeling so disgusted at the movie because of how the people way before my time were treated. The movie is called Rosewood and there was a mother who was trying to protect her son from getting killed by some Caucasian men who were apart of the KKK and when she went outside she was shot dead in front of him for trying to protect him from them. This was not the part I was disgusted by it was when they took her, put her in a box, and burned it. As a child I just couldn’t fathom why people were so cruel back in those times toward African Americans and sometimes I can’t understand it today. I have a better understanding so it doesn’t bother me as much but I still dislike it.

In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?
            The prejudice in that incident diminishes equity because African Americans back then were not treated fair. In this movie they were not only killed but beaten if they talked back to a Caucasian person. We are supposed to live in a world that states justice for all but there was no justice for those people in that movie. Once they were dead and gone they were still disrespected.  

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?
            The feelings that this incident bring up for me is confusion and sadness.

What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?
            Those people who has hatred towards African Americans into an opportunity for greater equity. I think that this would be a great change in those who are unfair not just to the African American race but to all those races people have hatred for.

Monday, September 30, 2013

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

One type of microagression that I detected this week or remember from another time is sexism. The way this happened is that one day there was a friend of the family who came over and saw my sisters and I helping my grandpa build a brick mailbox in the hot sun and just because we were girls he assumed that we were not the type who did hard labor. He thought we were girly girls who didn't want to get their hands dirty and that the boys in the family should have been the ones out helping my grandpa do all the work.

My observations experiences this week affect my perception on stereotype because now I learned to sit back and watch people before I open my mouth and pass any judgment.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Perspective on Diversity and Culture

My Blog
Roza
Culture: “Whatever defines us as human beings whether it ours religion or the way we speak.”

Diversity: “Diversity is to me is nothing more than what type of group we belong to as a race.”

Adam
Culture: “When I think of culture to me it means that we all are part of a different background than other people. For example, I am African American male and I have a friend who is Asian American. We are both American but our race is what separates us.”

Diversity: “Diversity to me is anything; it is not just something that is associated with race or gender but something that could also be associated with other populations such as plants and animals.”

Sophia
Culture: “A group of people who are of a different background. Culture to me is also people who act a certain way such as the way one may talk or their beliefs in different holidays.”

Diversity: “After thinking of diversity the only thing that I can think of is different things people do. Some people are diverse when it comes to what type of music they listen.’



Which aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers I received—and what are some examples?

The aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course that’s included are that culture is someone background, the way they spend holidays, and their religion. Diversity that I have studied in this course is not just one’s ethical background but it is also what makes them as a person whether it is different genre of music they listen to or how adventurous they are.
Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?
The aspects that have been omitted are the fact there is so much about culture and diversity than they know about. I have just found out about them because I am taking this course so it is something that I could share with them so that they could get a better understanding. For example they have omitted that culture is someone economic status, their body language, culture is also someone ethical background. This is what makes us all diverse. Beliefs seem to be more of someone culture and diversity is more of what makes up that culture such as a person’s background.

In what ways has thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics?

After thinking about their definitions of culture and diversity it has influenced my thinking in that we may all have some type of definition about culture but they are very broad. We all seem to know that it is dealing with each other background and religion. When it came to the definition of diversity thinking about their definitions has influenced my own thinking because it gave me a different perspective of the definition. For example, Adam gave a definition on diversity that not only pertain to us as human beings but also plants and animals. Adam’s definition is one that help me understand that we cannot  focus just on human beings as being diverse but also the other things in the world out their i.e. the animals and plants.

Sunday, September 15, 2013

My Family Culture


A description of the three items you would choose

  1. My family photo album
  2. My stuff animal which is a black bear
  3. My Mom’s wedding ring

How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you

One of the items that I would choose is the family photo album. The family photo album is important and dear to me because I love the fact that when looking through the album it brings back memories. The second item I would take is my stuff animal which is a black bear. This item is so dear to me because it was the last thing my father gave to me before he passed away. The last item I would take is my Mom’s wedding ring. This is dear to me because she told me that I could have it and it is something that I wear often.

Your feelings if, upon arrival, you were told that you could only keep one personal item and have to give up the other two items you brought with you

            My feeling would be crush. I would feel like those are the items that mean so much to me and for me not to be able to take them would feel like a piece of me was ripped out and thrown away like garbage. I would also feel sad and angry because I was told I could bring the items and then to say I had to leave them is horrible.

Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise

             The insight that I have gained about myself during this exercise is that I never knew how special the things I have now play a major part in my life.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Research Around the World

What are some of the current international research topics?




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

The surprising facts/insights/ new ideas about early childhood I gained from exploring this international early childhood website is Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development. “Nyerere (1998) reported that cultural norms that affect fathers’ participation in
childcare practices could affect development and the general well-being of children,
including the quality of family life. The objective of this study is to investigate the
current roles of fathers and explore ways to increase the involvement of fathers and other

males in childcare.” (Hua, 2004 p.1). This is an insight that I think is amazing because men are not involved in most of the time when it comes to childcare. Men are not a major part because bringing children to childcare program women are the ones who are normally dealing with the children on a day to day basis. I would like to know more about how this will affect children. I think that involving men would give them more insight as to what women deal with on a day to day basis with the children. 

                                                                   References
Hua, R. (2004). Involving fathers in early childhood care and development. Retrievd from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Hua%20-%20MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories


One positive example of the effects of research on children and/ or families is that research can save the lives of other children. For example, cures for various diseases can help families who are facing the disease get cured. Another example is that some family and children who go through research can help with many different experiments not just those dealing with diseases. Another example is how children are used when it comes to how they interact with other children and how children perceive different things such as when they are in the preoperational stage.  From my personal I watched my little sister and brother say that one of them had more drink in their cup then the other one because one glass was tall and the other glass was short but in actuality the cups held the same amount of liquid in them. At the age that they were at the time they did not know the difference between  the two different cups because their mind did not understand just yet on how to perceive the two glasses.

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Your Personal Research Journey


During my simulation the topic that I chose last week to know more about was do’s and don’ts in the early childhood field. The subtopics that I want to know more about in early childhood programs are what to do when children are misbehaving, what to do when children have separation anxiety, and what to do when children don’t understand what is being said to them as far as how to discipline them. I choose these topics because I work with a lot of children and I know that I can’t discipline them the way that their parents discipline them. The other subtopic that I chose was what to do when children have separation anxiety because sometimes there are children who cry a lot after being away from their parents or other guardians. My topics are pretty broad so I would like to know if any one of my colleagues can help me narrow my topics a bit. I am not sure what other topics I could talk about to narrow my topics down a bit. 

Sunday, March 3, 2013

Final Blog Assignment


1.     One consequence that I have gained personally is reading other colleagues blogs and leaning so much about other countries.

2.     Another consequence of learning about international early childhood field for my professional development is that internationally there education in some areas are not the same in America. One example is how those younger children who have the opportunity to go to school every day don’t actually go whereas children in USA get go to school because they don’t have to worry about labor.

3.     One last consequence of learning about the international early childhood field for my professional development is that many people in America are there to help those who are international with education and other funds.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3


  • “Participating countries committed themselves to “expanding and improving comprehensive early childhood care and education, especially for the most vulnerable and disadvantaged children.” Governments were particularly urged to expand equitable access to quality early childhood services underscoring the importance of instituting policy in favour of the poor.”(UNESCO, 2012).

  • “Privileged children of the target age group benefit from state investment, while poor children of non-target ages receive scant government attention. A policy of universalisation with targeting can minimise inequity where governments aim for universal access among the target age group, but simultaneously prioritise the poor.” (UNESCO, 2012).

·         “UNESCO’s mission is to contribute to the building of peace, the eradication of poverty,sustainable development and intercultural dialogue through education, the sciences, culture, communication and information. The Organization focuses, in particular, on two global priorities:” (UNESCO, 2012).


References

UNESCO. 2012. Building Peace in the minds of woman and men. Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/

Sunday, February 17, 2013

Sharing Web Resources


Follow some of the outside links that you have not yet explored. Where do they lead?
The link on National Black Child Development Institue leads me to the president’s speech on education.

Thoroughly search one area of the site. What do you find?
After searching the site the first area of the website that I noticed was the home page. One the home page there was the NBCDI CEO attends the President’s speech on education. After reading what President Obama had in mind about education I was pleased because I see that he truly cares about education of young children. He states, “I want every child in this country to head back to school in the fall knowing that their education is America’s priority,” he said.  “Let’s seize this education moment. Let’s fix No Child Left Behind.”(National Black Child Development Institue, 2013).

Does the website or the e-newsletter contain any information that adds to your understanding of equity and excellence in early care and education?
This website does contain information that adds to understanding the equity and excellence in early care and education and it goes back to the President’s speech. President Obama wants to make sure that the children in America get a good education and that means that the funds for school will not be cut. Not only does President Obama want to make sure the funding is not cut he wants to make sure that no child is left behind.

“As the President and Congress work towards a reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the National Black Child Development Institute will be working with its partners to ensure that we as a country prioritize strategies that promote the elimination of racial, ethnic and socio-economic achievement gaps by focusing on the continuum of birth through age 8.” (National Black Child Development Institute, 2013) There are several ways the President and Congress want to promote elimination, and the gaps of focusing on the continuum of birth through age 8 one is by effective and equitable teaching and leadership, culturally and linguistically responsive assessments, meaningful, culturally relevant parent and family engagement, and the last is supportive transitions for children and families.

What other new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field did you gain this week from exploring the website and/or the e-newsletter
Some new insights about issues and trends in the early childhood field that I have gain this week form exploring the website is the NBCDI is there to help children in any way they can so that they can improve children’s chance for success.

References:

NBDCI. 2013. National Black Child Development. Retrieved from http://nbcdi.org/support/sign-up-for-nbcdi-newsletters/ 

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Getting to Know Your International Contacts Part 2


           Being able to help other countries that continue to struggle is a new insight that I have gained from reading this source. “In the lowest-income countries, which continue to struggle with severe malnutrition, debilitating infection, and high mortality rates, this new knowledge offers a promising opportunity to integrate basic health and early childhood development services within a broader social and economic development agenda.”(Global Children’s Initiative, 2010).  

           Science of Health and Development Initiative mission is what I have gained insight on because they are there to help others gain knowledge about health when it comes to children. One way in particular that stood out to me was the fact that they are there to help with the understanding of brain development and how there could be a lifelong outcome in health and behavior during prenatal and child development..

Some additional information about issues of equity and excellence that I acquired from international source after reading it is that children who grow up in a positive and healthy environment will strive and be healthy adults. I find this interesting because not all children who are in a positive and healthy environment will grow up to be healthy adults. Some children actually stray given that they grow up in a positive environment.

References

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. (2010). Global children's initiative. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/

Sunday, February 3, 2013

Sharing Web Resources


The website Zero to three that is relevant to my current professional development is to help infants and toddlers improve their learning. In order to help infants and toddlers improve their learning it must be done with the help of parents. Since I want to open up a day care center this would be the perfect thing to do which is also a part of zero to three mission statement.
                              
            Their mission states, “Our mission is to promote the health and development of infants and toddlers.”(Zero to Three, n.d.).
What made me thing about a new issue in another way on the website Zero to three is the fact that this organization wants to help promote development and health in infants and toddlers. The reason that this made me look at it in a different new way is because normally a professional job as a day care owner is to help infants and toddlers learn and get ready to enter prekindergarten.

            Some information the website contain that adds to my understanding of neuroscientist in the early childhood field is the fact that in the maltreatment section of this website it talks about how there are resources to help young children and families. They are there to help young children and families who we either affected by a disaster, loss, or violence.

Some other issues and trends in the early childhood field I have gained from exploring the website is the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. This website is there to help children cope with exposure to the violence. Not only are they helping children coping with exposure to the school shooting but also the families.

References

Zero To Three: National Center for Infants, Toddlers, and Families Retrieved from
http://www.zerotothree.org/ 

Friday, January 25, 2013

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 1


One thing that I have gained from this website is that children who are poor today will be poor parents in the future. I knew that we do whatever it is that our parents do but I figured that today in age children who are poor see that their parents struggled so they would want to do better. I say this because there are plenty of people who are poor and parents were poor but they decided better themselves so that could be better than their parents instead of being just like them.

Another thing that I have gained about this website is that malnutrition is the cause of poverty. Since poverty is the cause of malnutrition children get affected by it in more ways than one. One way that children get affected is through development which can lead to life-long difficulties and poor health.

The last thing about this website I have gained is that it is the CHIP programme to help others with gaining knowledge about the poverty that is going on in childhoods. Not only is this website helping others gain the knowledge of childhood poverty internationally but it is also there to help gain it in other countries that they are partnered with to help fill in the gaps of poverty.

Friday, January 18, 2013

Sharing Web Resources


Save the Children 

This organization is about helping children who are less fortunate than others in poor countries. These children are the ones who don’t have access to clean water, health care, and food. The save the children foundation ultimate goal is there to help support children in poor countries by giving others a chance to sponsor them and help them in their time of need and desperation.  Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating lasting change in the lives of children in need in the United States and around the world. Recognized for our commitment to accountability, innovation and collaboration, our work takes us into the heart of communities, where we help children and families help themselves. We work with other organizations, governments, non-profits and a variety of local partners while maintaining our own independence without political agenda or religious orientation. (Save the Children, 2012).

One trend from the website that caught my attention was that save the children is not just working to help children in overseas countries but they are there to help those in the United States of America. Save the children are there to help little girls and little boys to have a bright future when they grow up. Not only does Save the Children help boys and girls have a brighter future but they also allow others to get involved with the children by sponsoring so that they can have protect them from child neglect and abuse. In the article under child protection Save the Children states, “Our programs focus on the most vulnerable children while aiming for the safety and well-being of all children. Working with governments, international organizations, and local community partners, we strive to create lasting change with improvements in policy and services that protect children whether in a natural disaster, conflict, or development setting.” (Save the Children, 2012). To me being able to help a child is what everyday life should be all about because these children are the future. So, the trend with Save the Children is simply allowing others to sponsor children who need help so that they could one day grow up and do the same thing.

Reference

Save the Children: A U.S. based non-profit organization working on behalf of children worldwide.
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Getting Ready—E stablishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources


The first I did was read the blog assignment and from there I tried to access the podcast but that would not work from me. So, for this blog assignment I will chose the alternative for assign part 1 which is the website I decided to study. I actually used one of the websites given to us because for some reason the media does not work on my computer. I tried on both internet explorer and Google chrome and neither one of them work for me. So the website I chose was the one about save the children.  I decided to do this one because I use to see commercials about this website when I would watch television. As of now I do not have any questions to ask my colleagues. I am hoping that this assignment will be a good turn out because I have not had much luck with trying to access the different sites in order to contact anyone to communicate with but eventually I will before I need to share with some of my colleagues.