Professional Hopes and Dreams

My professional journey I can say started out kind of shaky, but I would not change the lessons I have learned along the way. One hope I have for working with children and families is that I can help influence the both of them into a positive direction in the futures. One goal I would have set for the early childhood field related to diversity, equity, and social justice is to pay closer attention to the underlining message we are sending to our children. During this course the study of this topic has really touched my heart and made me realize how important it really is especially with working with children. 

Working in this field requires a true love and passion to the education of children. I wish all of my colleagues the best of luck along their journey and remember it only takes one educator to show a child they believe and care about them for them to prosper. Best of wishes and Good Luck.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

1. Learn what their views are on education 
2. Think of ways to relate their views and what we have to offer here at our center
3. Study key facts about the country that was I can show the family I am interested in the new culture experience they will be bringing to our center. 
4. Learn what holidays or special celebrations that are key to their cultural and speak with teachers of the classrooms the children will be going into, and think of ways of adding these celebrations to our curriculum.
5. Be able to relate to the families special needs and be sure to find a way to accommodate them. 

From previous experience I have learned how important it is to know as much information about a new possible family coming into your center. Especially when coming from a different country the center has to keep in mind this is the first representation of how a new place. I would hope incorporating these five ideas that it will make the family feel at ease and comfortable with their children being in our care. 

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Sometimes the memories we would like to forget are the ones that last forever.

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? 

        A memory I have of someone being prejudice was when I was working at a preschool and I observed a 3 year old teacher speaking and treating one of her students differently. After a parent teacher conference the teacher learned about this child's home life and how his mother did not "fit into" the category of parents as her other children. This teacher decided she wasn't going to work as hard with this child because she felt as if it would be a waste of her time because the mother would not follow up with the learning strategies at home. 

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

         As an educator this teacher should not have allowed for her personal biases about the mother and their family life interfere with her responsibilities as an instructor. She allowed for her personal biases to diminish her equity of this particular student on a chance of receiving the same amount of support and encouragement as the other classmates. 

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

         This incident makes me think how many other students not only in preschool's but in public schools that teachers have the same mentality as this teacher did. It makes me sad to think about how many children out there who are not given a chance or automatically labeled because of their life outside or school. 

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

         In the preschool setting I have learned each teacher is as good as their director. In this situation I believe in order for this type of behavior to change the teacher would have to see more direction and a better example set from the director in order to change her mindset on treating her students the same. 

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Learning about microaggressions this week aloud for me to really pin point some situations that I have witnessed that were unsettling for me. In my last management position my director and I were in the process of looking for our summer hires for our summer program. She explained she knew of someone that she felt would be great for the position the only issue was that she was pregnant and did not feel she would be able to adequately perform her duties because of this situation. She then explained that she didn't exactly have a choice but to hire her because of the discrimination law. After having this staff member come in and sign her hiring paper work the director and her assistant as I had witnessed before proceeded to joke about the way this staff member talked, the things she said and mocked her actions. I would not have made a big deal about the situation except I now realize this was a racial microaggression that had occurred one to many times.This situation made me lose respect for my superior and her assistant from this day forward.  

   

Even though some may not see any harm in the things that they say or ways they mock others I realize it can be hurtful and send off the wrong message to those around them or even to that person and make that person change their perception of you as a person. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

When I was deciding on the three people to choose to ask this week's discussion questions to I wanted to make sure the answers I received would in some way be different from the person I previously asked. 

• 3rd Grade teacher is Alief isd:

"Culture is way we life our lives. It is the traditions we have and the ways we as people choose to raise our children and the morals and values we choose to instill in them."

"Diversity is the change and differences we see from the outside looking in. Diversity is what we view in others that is abnormal from our everyday life."

• State wide truck driver: 

"Culture is in which the way the society sets each race into groups. Culture is the way we are raised and the way we choose to raise our children."

"Diversity is the differences in which we are share that make us separate from everyone else."        

• Full time college student (Junior)

"Culture is the characteristics in which makes us who we are, in a way it is like asking what is our race."

"Diversity is the ways that makes you different from the rest."


During this process of course I never expressed the notion of what was a right and wrong answer but instead I wanted to present the question as what was the first thing that pops into your head when asked this question.

The aspect of culture being traditions and ways of living are some examples of ways I have studied about culture during this course. This week asking others outside of this course who are not studying and thinking of these topics every week as myself was very interesting. To be able to get what I like to call a random point of view sometimes is more appealing than those I receive in a course with me. 

My Family Culture

If I had to choose three items that would remind me of my family culture I would have to think about the three items that we hold the most close. 


The first item would be a miniature version of the American flag that was given to my family when my grandfather passed. 

The next item I would would choose would be a collage of my family members. There isn't anything most important than family and what better way to remember them when their away than to look at pictures of your happy times. 

With everyday that goes by I wear a remembrance of my late grandfather. My final item would be my urn charm with his ashes inside. 

If once I arrived at the destination I was told I could only keep one item I would choose my collage of pictures of family. if I could not keep all of items that mean the most I would rather see the images of the great times shared. 


I have learned this week to spend more time with my family because I never know when I will lose that opportunity for any reason. I have also learned to appreciate the items I have that help to remind me of those I have already lost. 

When I Think of Research.....

When I think about research there are multiple different thoughts that comes to my head. First I think of the possibilities of all the information I could retain from any topic. Through out this course I have learned that even though research can be extremely beneficial it can also provide you with information that may be more detrimental to your research than accurate. Not all research is good research.

When I first started this course the idea of research frightened me. I didn't know how to accurately know how to look up information for a research project or how to determine if the information I was using was beneficial. I have now learned how to determine how to determine which research is going to be helpful to my topic of study or if it is even useful at all.

When it comes to research within the early childhood field I have learned it is important to have a general topic and then subtopics when it comes to research. During this process I have learned that I have a broader spectrum that I can research on.
 
Without knowing the proper way to research and what information is useful in my study. I found myself struggling to complete research studies and apply the information I found into my current papers.
 
One topic that stood out the most to me was the study between right wrong and the ethics of the study. Ethics is a vital part of the successful early childhood study.

I have learned the positive impact that research can have on my professional early childhood study interactions. Even though I have learned a lot from my personal and professional experience this course has allowed for me to learn how to increase my understanding  and apply it to my professional outcomes.







From the beginning of this educational journey I have learned one of my biggest supporters has been my fellow colleagues. I would like to thank you for all your support and insight during this process. 

Research Around The World

"Children are the world's most valuable resource and its best hope for future." JFK

Since the beginning of my journey in this Masters program I have tried to keep my focus in an area internationally that in some way is related my life or those within it. From the beginning I have been studying different areas in Africa, specially in the Ghana surrounding areas. 

A few of the research topics that caught my attention were:
       "The development of an integrated Early Childhood Development Urban Model Training Program for Informal Minders and Community Volunteers in Ghana"
      " The Status of Coordination and Supervision of Early Childhood Education in Ghana"
      "Parents' and Caregivers' Perception of Early Childhood Development Needs and Quality: A Study of the PLAN- Assisted Programmes in Bawjiase, Ghana"

Something I have learned within this education field is no matter what part of the world you are in their is always someone else reaching out to resources in your nation to make theirs better. The ECDVU in SAA "is committed to improving the quality of life for children and their families in Africa. This program seeks to accomplish this through working, on a sustained basis, with ECD leaders from across the continent."

While looking through this website I found multiple journals I would like to look deeper into and possible apply them to my professional life. 

Uplifting Stories

Children are our world and our future and if I had to choose any topic to research on it would be:

"Would the health and happiness of a child if parents were more involved?"

Even though there are plenty of researches on this topic I believe that I would conduct this and try to accomplish a better outcome. I know that I would conduct my research for an extensive period of time to where I would be able to see the beginning middle and ending results to the research. Some researches are done with a short time span on them and the results they may be seeking are possible but were not even enough time to see through.

Every parent wants to be the best parent they can. They want their children to love and care for them and know they love and will do anything within their power for them. I just believe some parents do not know how to "be a parent". I believe with this research it will bring parents and children closer together and the outcomes of the research will be positive. 

My Personal Research Journey

The topic I decided to venture on for this course was equity and excellence in care and education of children, families, and EC professionals. During my last course this was a topic that I feel I applied more towards my personal and professional life more than others. I have so many visions for my life and I believe with more in dept research and knowledge on this topic it will be a great stepping stone. 

When I first started learning and reading on this topic I was aware of the dynamics in a way but I did not know how much it can actually be applied to the early childhood field. I am very big on learning new ways and ideas to implement programs and activities to children. I have realized with doing so the children are more likely to express with the families their experiences and the families will want to be more involved.    

I have learned throughout the process of this course and research charts that research it self can be overwhelming if you do not know how to evaluate the information. Even with the helpful hints that we have on how to read an article and what information to absorb I personally am glad that we have the opportunity to be able to learn as a group because I still sometimes become lost and use the help of my colleagues experiences to help guide me.  

As we continue on this journey is there anyone who has found an alternative way to research and know figure out a better way to go through all of the information that can be provided that is not use to their study? 

3 Consequences

As we have been studying these last 7 weeks I have used the UNICEF.org website on multiple occasions. On Friday March 1 they did a special on Good Morning Texas. Even though I know this segment informed those who watched the segment but watching this just made me feel amazing to know that this organization is getting out and informing those right here in Texas. I wish I would of had the opportunity to go to the location and watch this live. 

Consequences 

My first consequence of learning internationally is that no matter where you go and the information you receive, educators and those who work closely with children only want what is best for them. Most of our hopes and dreams for ourselves fall into the success of the children we come encounter with. 

My next learning area was the different web sites that I researched and used to incorporate a better program in my school. I plan to continue to refer to these programs and hopefully  be able to take some time and volunteer for one of their internships during my grad school career. 

My final learning area is to start to apply what I am learning in my courses to improve in my current position. I choose my field of study based on what I wanted to pursue in the future and with the help of this course I have discovered the most important factors in running a high quality program. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts- Part 3

During my podcast research this week I decided to follow Barbara Jones (BJ).






Barbara Jones (BJ) founded the Pine Grove School in Falmouth, Maine in 1985 and celebrates the school 25th anniversary this year. The school is a charming, wood-shingled building nested in a grove of pine trees and was used as a school house as far back as 1917.

The Pine Grove School was featured in a Program Showcase section of the July/August 2012 issue of Exchange magazine. 

During BJ's podcast she explained how she came into the education field. She also explained her transition from California to Maine. BJ also spent some of her time with the YMCA and this is where she realized that this was the area that she wanted to focus in. BJ found an old abandoned building and decided that she was going to turn this building into her very own Montessori school.  


This week while studying the UNESCO website I decided to focus on the Investment and Financing section. Through out all of my research I have come across the same major issue each time for programs not being able to run as they should and that is the lack of resources. This website explains that this issue is especially an issue for developing countries where early education is overshadowed for priorities that are pressing at the time. The only other option for children in these areas is to be enrolled into a private sector. The issue with this is that not all families can afford the cost of private education and rely on the support of government
 funding to programs. 

Resources:
http://www.unesco.org/new/en/education/themes/strengthening-education-systems/early-childhood/

Sharing Web Resources

This week while researching through the National Forum On Early Childhood Policy and Programs I decided to look further into the "About" tab. When looking at different programs I realized that I usually never take the time to look into the mission behind the program. This programs mission is to compare different research information that they have researched and bring them all together into one data base. I am looking forward to learning more information on how students can become more involved within this research, 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 2

This week I decided to choose Susan Lyon. Listening to her podcast this week reminded me why I enjoy working with this age group of children. Early childhood through maybe about third grade a child is still learning how to adapt to the world and how to allow what is happening to affect their life. Something that Susan explained was when she was trying to help the child with the word but didn't  want to tell him what it was at first even with the frustration that she seen progressing she stood her ground until the right moment. I am going to start to implement this into my own educating because even though I know child like assistance they may not always need it but instead a push to help them in the right direction of figure things out themselves. 










While looking over the "Global Children's Initiative" website I came across a paper discussing how "Maternal Depression Can Undermine the Development of Young Children". Working within the Early Childhood field I have learned that we as educators over look the reasoning of why a child is reacting or not reacting in a particular manor. This paper shows some of the view points that educators need to start considering. 

I have always found an interest on figuring out the "Why's" of a child's actions. This website was able to give a stronger idea of why children react the way they do, and this has to do with the science make up in their brains due to abuse, trauma or neglect. 

I have contacted a recreation center that I grew up going to as a child and asked them if they were willing to try and start a new program offering children an alternative outreach to those who are seeking more in their education but just have not been able to find a place to go. I was told that they would get back to me with some additional information on how they would be able to provide this help. Even though this may require me to have to move back to my home town for a little while, I am looking forward to giving back to the community of those who gave back to me. 

Sharing Web Recources

Currently I am working on implementing programs that target all of the children in my group. My children come from many different communities and family backgrounds. Through out this weeks research I found the  Early Childhood Education section on the NBCDI website to give me some more insight on the attempts other educators are doing to work with organizations based on the education of children. The section speaks about the Head Start National Research Conference and how educators from every spectrum had the  opportunity to come and sit down together and speak of the opportunities of change. 

Looking through the website I came across the affiliates tab. On this tab it spoke about the different chapters across the nation that offer their services to children in need. Something I learned throughout my studies is it is not always the children that live in tough areas that need assistance but all children can use a helping hand. 

I spent most of my time on the initiatives tab, something else I found interesting is how the NBCDI goes into detail about how different aspects such as health in the home and fitness along with nutrition is listed as an importance for the well being of a child. 

Children not only need assistance on the education area, but in the well being of their lives. We as educators, politicizations, scientists have an affect on children. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts

During this course we have learned that childhood poverty is not just effecting us close to home but all over the world. I know some believe that we can not do much from across the world but there are websites and resources that provide information of these innocent children's struggles. 

According to the Childhood Poverty Research and Policy Centre (www.childhoodpoverty.org), an estimated 400 million of the population are between the ages of 0-18. With this estimate about 62 million of these children are under the age of 5 and malnourished. India accounts for 20 percent of the worlds out-of-school children.  

Introducing Podcast Participant:

Delfena Mitchell is the director of a children's home called Liberty Children's Home on the outskirts of Belize City. The children that she houses have come to her because they have either been physically or sexually abused. Something she explained that caught my attention was when she stated when a child comes into her care she allows them time to heal. This time is not to keep them from the other children but just the chance to feel comfortable. Children shut down in ways that help them cope all alone once they have been abused. She spoke about a 9 year old boy who was physically abused and observed abuse. Due to this trauma the child had not spoken for over a year. Any educator who takes the time to show children that it is okay to become comfortable and trust them. It takes a strong mindset to open your heart to children in need and I believe Delfena is doing an amazing job. 

What have I learned:

Listening to different podcast and professionals from different parts of the world who have a passion working with children, I have learned the welfare of a child runs much deeper than providing food, shelter, and water. Putting your own personal biases and feelings to the side to help a child over come traumas only makes us more in demand as educators. As an educator I have learned from the podcast that every action a child may see me do can be uninterrupted the wrong way and be expressed inappropriately. I have learned the importance of learning how to express certain topics to children on a level they will understand. 

What will I take away from this:

I am an educator and I know that I must not over look how important my role in the children I come encounter with is. Children look up to me and it is my duty to make sure that they example I am setting will help to lead them to a better understanding of themselves. Children are like molding clay, the building blocks that you set for them to start forming will bee the start of their self reform.  

National Black Child Development Institute

The organization that I choose to do more research on is:
National Black Child Development Institute:  www.nbcdi.org

This organizations mission is to improve and advance the live of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education. They are built up of volunteers all over the nation who have the same desires and motives in helping young children. Some of the focuses of this organization are to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and vital information regarding our children's health. 

What caught my attention about this organization was their focus in their Early Childhood Education section. Being and African American daughter to a single mother of two, I was automatically put into a stereotype that I was going to struggle to make something of myself and that I was going to fall into the foot steps of my mother. I was blessed to have a supportive family and hard working mother who would do anything to see her children succeed. I know that not every child has that choice. Not every child has parent's at home who can help them with their homework or be a support in their lives. This particular section of this website shows different workshops that are offered to parents to help them with knowing how to support their children, starting with the building confidence and self esteem for themselves. 

As an educator I believe that going to workshops that are not directly related with our jobs can be extremely beneficial to our children and and families. I  have decided that I am going to look into attending at least one workshop a year and see what I can take back with me and apply to my own classroom and community. 

Getting Started-Establishing Professional Contacts

During this course I have decided to do my research on Africa. I have found it interesting to see how different parents of the world apply particular areas and subjects that we sometimes over look here in the U.S. My ultimate goal is to be able apply different procedures and tactics that others use to my own program and learn to expand from them. I decided to use the UNICEF website to access my two professional connections.

This week I sent emails to the both the contacts in both Congo and Ghana. I have not received a response from either of these emails but I do not believe that I need to choose the alternate part 1 assignment.


I am interested in finding out the different areas that my colleagues choose to research and how they plan to use what they have learned and apply this to their own teachings.