- One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)
- 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)
- A brief note of thanks to your colleagues
One hope that I have when working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that one day we will all feel as equal to one another that we are and grow and learn more about how being diverse can help the nation.
One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity is we all should be look at as one and not no one race is better than the other, so we should start bymoving forward and setting examples for our young children that we all have equal backgrounds.
I would like to thank my colleagues for reading my blogs and commenting on them it is greatly appreciated and to Professor Shephard thanks for helping and understanding me throughout the course.
- The name of “your” family’s country of origin
- At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family
- A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the family
The name of my family's country of origin is Australia. Five ways that I would prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family is be open minded to their needs and wants as it would be in their cultural environment. I would also learn ways that the family copes with different situations, whether it be good or bad. I would prepare my family mentally for the arrival for the family. I would research different activities that different families in Australia do to have fun. Te last thing I would do is see what language the family speaks and prepare myself with a translator if they do not speak English. I hope that the preparations benefit both myself and the family because that would make the family feel welcome, safe, and comfortable. That would make me feel the same, as well as that I did something right to help the family, and help my family understand the difference.
- 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.
- In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?
- What feelings did this incident bring up for you?
- What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?
A great memory that I have of a prejudice experience is not one of myself but one of a co-worker of mine. She actually was discriminated against because she was trying to go back to school to get her Credentials 1and 2 in child care, but since she was of Hispanic descent and gave her a big run around and was very shocked that she had all of her things that she needed to have in order to start. She was hurt, but I encouraged her and told her not to become discouraged and to keep striving for the top. She keep trying and trying until finally she got in and she starts in January. The situation diminish equity because it is sad when everyone can not get the same treatment because of their ethnic background. It shouldn't matter what background you come from if you are eligible for the opportunity being presented then you should be able to go forth with it no matter what. The feelings that I felt for the incident were sad, disappointed and discriminated against to because I feel like if you discriminate against one you discriminate against all. I sad that to say this it is hard for all races and if you have a heart then you will care about the next person being discriminated against. The person behind the scene would have to change because who is to say that she will not have to deal with another person with a Hispanic background or any background for that matter. Its all in being professional and doing your job.
- Describe at least one example of a microaggression which you detected this week or remember from another time. In what context did the microaggression happen? What did you think and feel when you observed the microaggression or when you found yourself as the target of a microaggression?
- In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people?
One example of microaggression that I have detected this week was at my job. The context in which it happen; A child in my class parent brung the child to school on the day we were close and was having a workshop. The problem at hand was she was Hispanic. Although we sent to letters home and verbally told her that we were close she felt like we were treating her different, but it was only a minor communication barrier. I feel like as an educator I did the right thing I got a translator to translate to make sure she that she was OK and comfortable with everything, and to give her a heads up about other days we were out coming up so that she would not forget. I assumed just because we sent notes home in English/Spanish that she read it, or even understood the note.
I think as educators we take alot of microaggressions lightly. We do not look at how it may affect families all the time when they may feel like an outcast, so as educators we have to understand and know how to make sure things are in order, so that any classroom will run smoothly.
The First person I talk to was my co teacher which is Hispanic.
Her definition of culture was spending time with family and keeping up the traditions of cooking, eating, and having a tight household.
Her definition of diversity was all different cultures come together as one and grown in one nation.
The second person was my mom who is African American:
Her definition of culture is a style of life for different people.
Her definition for diversity is to be different.
The Third person I asked was my husband who is African American:
His definition of culture is the strong belief in the way you live in your religion and your lively hood. Day to day life.
His definition of diversity is having differences.
Some aspects of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in some of the responses that I have received because first and foremost the book is called Anti-Bias Education for Children and Ourselves . The book speaks for itself. Also I have learned about how different lifestyles make a difference, and how people are daring to be different, and follow different traditions in their day to day life experiences. Some aspects that may have been omitted is that of religion. It has influenced my own thinking because it makes me think of all the ways in which we are different but view culture and diversity as the same in so many different ways.
- A description of the three items you would choose
- How you would explain to others what each of these items means to you
- 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
- Any insights you gained about yourself, your family culture, diversity, and/or cultural differences in general, as a result of this exercise
I would take a family wedding photo,my grandma's pillow she made for my daughter, and son. I would take the family photo because it would have my whole family in it including my grandfather, which is deceased and I love him so much and miss him so much. My grandmothers two pillow for my children because it means alot to them and myself because she hand knitted them just for my children. I would explain to the by showing them and explaining just the way I have explained here. My feelings would be crushed because I would give up the pillows and keep the photo because everyone is in that photo, and it is meaningful to me because alot of special people where at my wedding. I have gained alot of insights because I have learned to appreciate my own traditions, family culture and even other cultures.
