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) One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to leave the biggest impact in their lives. I would love for them to feel like they have actually learned something from me (which I have no doubt in my mind that they would not be able to). I also hope that when I am working with children and families that they won’t be afraid to talk to me when a problem comes up or with a certain situation that they may be faced with and don’t know how to handle it. 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, equity, and social justice is to make sure that all educators will treat everybody equally. I think that treating everyone equally is the most imperative thing that we (professional/early childhood educators) can and should do. Another goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to make sure that I remain knowledgeable of the course material that I have learned in this course. I would love to be able to teach it to others one day when I become an early childhood educator. A brief note of thanks to your colleagues I would like to thank all of my colleagues for all of their insightful post that they have written over the course. I would also like to thank you all for taking the time out to respond to my post and for giving my positive feedback. I really enjoyed you all over the course and I wish you all the best of luck as you close out this course and move onto the next. Good luck on your journey while you pursue your Masters in the early childhood post and I pray that you all succeed and become successful in whatever you do in life. Always remember to be the best you can be and be sure to give 100% and more in everything that you do.

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.

            One memory that I had of an incident where I witnessed prejudice of someone else being a target of it was when I was at the airport. I witnessed one of my classmates from Medical School being discriminated against. She was an Ethiopian who wore a head wrap and when we were going through she got stopped and pulled to the side. They pulled her to the side and after they pulled her over to the side they said that they were testing her for gun powder residue. This was not the first time it happened to her. She told us every time she goes through security she gets stopped.

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

            This specific incident diminished equity because all they saw was the fact that she had a wrap on her head. It wasn’t fair because they didn’t stop any of us and we all are considered to black that were together, but maybe they thought she was of some other ethnicity.

What feelings did this incident bring up for you?

            I felt bad for her because she didn’t deserve to be treated like terrorist. I hope that one day that all of this prejudice ends one day. I know that it will never end because of the world we live in and the people that are in it.            

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

            I believe that the people that are being taught and brought up to change their ways. No one is born prejudice, bias, or anything of that nature. They are taught those things from their parents, those who care for them, and/or people they grew up around. Not only that, they people who are being told to single out the people at the airport need to change too. If she was able to go through with no security going off then she should have been able to just continue with her day at the airport.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggression

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?

One example of microaggression that I remember from another time was when my friend from medical school was stopped at the airport in security a few months back. It was a bunch of us that was leaving to go home for break. I can remember my friend being behind all of us and we all went through security with no problem.  We all were beginning to walk and we noticed that Roza was nowhere in sight.  So we stopped and waited for her for about a minute or town and then we saw her walking up towards us. We asked her what happened and she said that she was stopped and was being checked for gun powder residue on her. She wasn’t even upset because she said that she was use to this happening to her when she goes to the airport. She is an Ethiopian and she wears a scarf over her head and to me this was ridiculous. She is always being racially profiled as being a terrorist when she goes through security at airports.

In what ways did your observation experiences this week affect your perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people

                My observation experiences this week affect my perception of the effects of stereotypes and discrimination on people makes me feel very disgusted when I hear and see these things happen to people. Sometimes I wish that everybody in the world could just wake up and see that we all are equal. I also wish that people could see that this behavior is really unacceptable and not only that they should see that the same thing that are doing to these people (the ones that are prejudice, discriminating against people and stereotyping people), the same thing is going to happen to them.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Their definition of culture

After asking a few of my family members what culture meant to them, one of them defined culture as being something that we as people all have to develop to. The other two defined culture as something that we are just naturally born in and have the ability to adapt to no matter what race ethnicity one may be. One person that I would say who I believe is culturally different from me is my two nephews. They are somewhat culturally different from me because they speak totally different from everyone in the family, even their own parents. They are very proper and I just do not understand where they get it from.

Their definition of diversity

      When a few of my family members were asked to define what diversity meant to them, each of them gave me a totally different answer. One of them said that diversity meant that each and every person even in the family is all different from one another because of the way they act. For example, they said that my nephews seem to be very diverse from everyone in the family because they are the only two proper speaking ones in the family. Then another one of my family members defined that diversity means being able to express yourself in a way that makes you feel comfortable. My last family member said that being diverse means displaying several different social identities or as many as one can have.

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?

            An aspect of culture and diversity that I have studied in this course are included in the answers that I received for culture was the fact that there are different ways to define it. Culture does not have to be perceived as a person that is of a particular race has to belong to a certain culture because of that. For example, in a sense refers to how particular groups of people live and every day, in every action, we express our particular group culture and our individual relationship to our culture (Derman-Sparks and Edwards, 2010, p. 55). As for diversity, the aspect that has been included in the answers that I have received was the fact that being diverse has many social identities that come along with a person. It is the total opposite of culture. For example, our social identities are what make each and every one of unique and diverse, which was something that I learned by reading the course materials and getting a better understanding of it.  

Which aspects have been omitted—and what are some examples of such omission?

            The aspects that have been omitted were the fact that they say that no one mentioned that culture can be broken down into several different subcultures. For example, there is dominant culture, which means that it’s a culture of the people who hold the social, political, and economic power in society and necessarily or always meaning the culture of majority (Derman-Sparks and Edwards, 2010, p. 57).

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

            Some of the ways that other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics is that they make me see how everyone does not view culture and diversity the same way. Also it gives me a deeper understanding as to how I can relate to different ideas of what it means to belong to a culture and how I can be very diverse in my own culture and still feel comfortable knowing that my social identities are what make me part of a culture and being diverse.

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and

ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

My Family Culture

A description of the three items you would choose

• If there was a major catastrophe that almost devastated my country and I could only take three items with me would be my phone, my bible, and my bank card.

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

• I would take my cell phone with me because it would be the only way that I would be able to get in contact with my family. Not only would I be able to get in touch with my family but it would be a way for me to stay updated on all of the information and destruction that has gone on. It would also allow me to know if I would be able to get back to my country once everything has settled.
• I would take my bible for religious regions. My bible really means a lot to me because I would need some other way to stay in touch with God. He is my main source and provider and I know that he would be able to keep me calm and give me a peace of mind, so I most definitely feel that I need to be able to read and stay close to him. In another way other than praying.
• I would most definitely need my bank card. I would need my bank card because that is the only way that I would be able to buy things that I would need. I would most definitely need food and water and hygiene products.

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

• If I were to be told that I could only keep one personal item and had to give up the other two items that I bought with me, I would most be upset, frustrated and a little stressed out. I would be upset because my phone I most definitely need to make sure I know everything that is going on with my family. So, if I did not have my phone I would not know how I would manage. I would not be to upset if I did not have my bible because with the technology now and days everything could be downloaded on my phone. I would be able to download a bible app on my phone. If I had to leave my  bank card, this would really suck because I need my bank card on my that way I could have food and  water.

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

• After doing this exercise the only insight that I have gained is the fact that I really value my family a lot. My phone is the main thing that I feel would be the item that I would feel most upset about if I could not have that particular item on me. 

When I Think of Research…..

•What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

                The insights that I have gained about this research was learning how come up with independent and dependent variables. I also learned about how to make up my own hypothesis question and construct a research paper just by using the questions that I did from the last assignment from week eight.

•In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

                The ways that my ideas about the nature of doing research changed as I begin to do research was a number of ways. One of my ideas about the nature of doing research changed was by learning how to become a better research. Also I think that my idea of doing research has changed because it helps me learn so many different terms that I am able to use doing my research.

•What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

•What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

                One challenge that I encountered through this course was trying to come up with my own hypothesis.  The biggest challenge that I encountered during this course while dealing with was trying to narrow down my topic. That has been the biggest challenge because every time I tried to narrow it down it was still too broad. Not only was it to broad but it was also such a hard topic that I picked that made it really hard for me.

•What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

                The way that my perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course has come a long way. I feel a little bit better trying to do research now than I have ever before. Before doing this research I had felt like I had struggled a lot just by trying to come up with my own topic. Now I am feeling a little bit more comfortable on working with resources to help me do my research. 

Well to end this last blog, I would like to thank everyone who has responded to back to me and that have given me positive feedback. I would also like to thank Dr. Joyce for all of the positive feedback that she has also given to me and for the corrections to help me become a better research writer. To all my colleagues, I wish you all the best of luck on the rest of your journey.

Research Around the World

What are some of the current international research topics?

There were quite a few current international research topics that I chose and the one that I chose to discuss about was from Nigeria.

The topic is to the international research:

 Assessment of the Caring Practices in Two Motherless Babies’ Homes in Abia State, Nigeria and the Development and Delivery of a Nutrition Training Program to the Staff of These Homes to Improve Nutrition of Children in Their Care

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

Some surprising facts and insights about early childhood that I gained from exploring this international early childhood website was that when a child was referred as being in a state of bereavement, it was assumed that both parents were dead (Akomas, p.6). Today, there are a variety of definitions:

• A child who has lost both parents.

• Someone or something that lacks support or care or supervision.

• A young animal without a mother.

• A child deprived of parents by death or desertion.

• In general there are variations in the age up to which children are considered orphans (14, 15, 18 and 21 years old) and the patterns of parental death (both parents die, either parents die, or death of mother only).

 

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

Other noteworthy information that I found was that complementary feeding is the period during which foods or liquids are provided along with continued breast-feeding. This usually starts when the baby is six months old. Complementary feeding is poorly done in developing countries, due to lack of information about what foods are appropriate, how much should be given, how they should be given, and their inadequacy in quantity and quality among other problems (Allen & Gillespie, 2001) (Akomas, p.10).

 

 

 

 

Reference

Akomas, O. Assessment of the caring practices in two motherless babies’ homes in abia state, Nigeria and the development and delivery of a nutrition training program to the staff of these homes to improve nutrition of children in their care. Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Akomas%20Final%20UVic%20LP.pdf

 

 

 

 

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

Positive Parenting Research

           

 A positive example of the effects of research on children and families is positive parenting. If a child is brought up by parents that are caring, always positive, and nurturing, then I believe that the child will grow up the same. I say this because of experience of seeing it. My mother and my grandmother are the same exact way. My grandmother will do anything for anybody and so does my mother, no matter how bad they have been treated by that person or if they have been misused. Once a person use you more than one time and call only when they need something then it is time to let them go.

Your Personal Research Journal

Culture is a very broad topic. So as I was doing some research on it, I chose to narrow it down and talk about the impact of culture on education. Cultural tendencies impact the way children participate in education (Education, 2006). After working on the chart from the first week I learned how to pull apart a research paper by stating what the purpose of the paper and who and what was involved in the paper. So, as I begin to work on my own research paper, I want to learn some better websites that I can possibly use to make my research more credible.

Reference

Education. (2006). The impact of culture on education. Retrieved from http://www.education.com/reference/article/impact-culture-education/

Final Blog Assignment

Three Consequences Learning about International Early Childhood Field

1.)    Many people, such as the early childhood educators and future early childhood educators could learn about ways in which they could help students and their families out. They could help the families out by learning a couple of things from the international early childhood perspective. They could learn about particular programs that could be beneficial to the parents and children.

2.)    Another consequence that could be learned about international early childhood field is about their different cultures. The professionals could learn about their cultures so they could know how to deal with other students that are from another culture.

3.)    The last consequence that could be learned about international early childhood field is about different organizations that they have in other countries.

Goal related to International Awareness

One goal for the field related to international is to have children learn about other cultures. I feel that if students were to learn about other cultures, then they could put it to good use. They could learn how to be a little bit more grateful and caring in my opinion. I see a lot of children that are from the United States are very spoiled.  I know that they are spoiled from experience. For example, when I went off to medical school this past year, I learned that I am very spoiled living in the United States. I lived in the Caribbean for about a year and two months and I can say that I am more grateful now than I have ever been. I lived in a place where it stays warm all year round and not only is it hot, we didn’t have AC. Most of the apartments come with air condition but if you run it, the bill can get extremely high. The food is very costly as well and they don’t have many places that are like the U.S. 

Getting to Know Your International Contacts—Part 3

Quality   
High quality childcare, particularly for children from disadvantaged backgrounds, promotes motivation, confidence, good cognitive and linguistic development and school readiness (UNESCO, 2012). I believe that if all children could have access to high quality childcare, then they would have a higher turn out of a success rate in school. There would probably be less students dropping out.

Investment and Financing
The greatest difficulty faced by countries in their efforts to expand and improve the quality of early childhood care and education is the mobilisation of resources (UNESCO, 2012). I totally agree with this statement because if there is a major improvement in the quality of early childhood care students will be at an advantage. When I say an advantage, I mean that they will become more successful in life.

Coordination and Integration
Early Childhood care and education is often the concern of several government sectors and usually these are education, social affairs and health (UNESCO, 2012).  I think that early childhood care and education is and will always be a concern in life.

Reference

UNESCO. 2012. Early childhood care and education. Retrieved from       http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/

Sharing Web Resources

Some of the outside links that I have read lead to the talk about how quality early childhood education and care is crucial in the well-being and overall development of a child and can offer the best start especially for children with disadvantage to realize their individual potential (Budapest, 2011, p3). It also goes to talk about the negative and the positive experiences that can impact children on their path to success.

As I searched the website I found something in the article about investments are being equitable in early childhood education and care and how those investments are also considered high quality in early childhood education as well.

The insight that I gained this week about the issues and trends in the early childhood field from exploring the website was how there are a number of rationales for promoting early education and care, which draw on different kinds of evidence and data sets, and which lead to different policy priorities and outcomes. Although some countries have been able to combine all three rationales seamlessly, these rationales are more often than not addressed separately and in an uncoordinated way (Budapest, 2011, p.8).

Reference

Budapest. (2011). Guide to the conference excellence and equity in early childhood education and care. Retrieved from http://tempus.tpf.hu/ecec/docs/Kisgyermekkori_beliv_ENG.pdf

Sharing Web Resources

Some of the outside links that I have read lead to the talk about how quality early childhood education and care is crucial in the well-being and overall development of a child and can offer the best start especially for children with disadvantage to realize their individual potential (Budapest, 2011, p3). It also goes to talk about the negative and the positive experiences that can impact children on their path to success.

As I searched the website I found something in the article about investments are being equitable in early childhood education and care and how those investments are also considered high quality in early childhood education as well.

The insight that I gained this week about the issues and trends in the early childhood field from exploring the website was how there are a number of rationales for promoting early education and care, which draw on different kinds of evidence and data sets, and which lead to different policy priorities and outcomes. Although some countries have been able to combine all three rationales seamlessly, these rationales are more often than not addressed separately and in an uncoordinated way (Budapest, 2011, p.8).

Reference

Budapest. (2011). Guide to the conference excellence and equity in early childhood education and care. Retrieved from http://tempus.tpf.hu/ecec/docs/Kisgyermekkori_beliv_ENG.pdf

Getting to Know Your International Contacts-Part 2

          The new insights and information that I've gained from the Harvard website was that the organization is launching its first major programmatic effort outside the United States. I thought that this fact was interesting because I never really heard about organizations taking their organizations outside of the United States if they developed it in the United States. Most organizations that I hear of normally develop them in other countries to help children out.

When humanitarian crises hit around the world, nongovernmental organizations rush into the fray, intensively focused on urgent survival needs, not necessarily on longer-term impacts that may take an even greater toll on the country and its citizens (Center on Developing Child, 2012). I love the fact of how these nongovernmental organizations rush to help out he needs of the children we they become impact when a crisis hits. It takes time for the regular government to go out  and help those in crisis so this is a really big positive thing that I believe is considered a great gesture.

Reference

Center on the Developing Child. (2012). Global children’s initiative. Retrieved from http://developingchild.harvard.edu/index.php/activities/global_initiative/

Sharing Web Resources

Promoting early learning seemed particularly relevant to my current professional development.

The idea that made me think about an issue in a new way was the fact that the goal for early learning is to improve the health, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes for all children from birth through 3^rd grade, so that all children, particularly those with high needs, are on track for graduation from high school college- and career ready. To enhance the quality of programs and services and improve outcomes for children from birth through 3^rd grade, including children with disabilities and those who are English Learners, the Department will promote initiative that increase access to high-quality programs, improve the early learning workforce, build the capacity of states and programs to develop and implement comprehensive early learning assessment systems, and ensure program effectiveness and accountability (U.S. Department of Education).

The information that the website contains that adds to my understanding of how politicians support early childhood is the fact that the President of the United States Administration will be trying to help children that are vulnerable and their families reach their full potentials.

Reference

U.S. Department of Education (n.d). Early leaning initiative. Retrieved from http://www.ed.gov/early-learning

Getting to Know My International Contacts

One of the insights that I gained from studying from the website was the fact that Children in poverty are often seen as one of many disadvantaged groups, all competing for resources, or they are characterized as children with special needs such as street children orphans, or child workers (CHIP).  I would have never thought that they were a disadvantage group of children just because they were living in poverty. My way of putting it would have been to say that these children are just a little less fortunate than others and can’t have as much as some other children.

 Another insight I gained was the fact that poverty can be passed on from a parent to a child (generation to generation). Normally if a child’s parent was living in poverty I would guess that they would make it their business not to end up in poverty like their parents were.  I would love it if there were more organizations out there that could take on a lot of people that were living in poverty.

One last insight I gained was the fact that the organization on this website known as CHIP funded phase is now over. Its website still remains online. The only reason why this website sticks around is because it is intended to help other organization and researchers learn about the poverty that children are faced with so that they can help out and have insight about the issue of poverty.

Reference

CHIPS.  Knowledge for Tracking down Child Poverty. Retrieved from, http://www.childhoodpoverty.org/index.php

Sharing Web Resources

           The name of the organization that I selected was the National Black Child Development Institute and the link is http://nbcdi.org/. The NBCDI is an organization mission is to help improve and advance the lives of Black children and their families, through advocacy and education. Along with our affiliate network – composed of volunteers from across the nation – we have worked to improve child welfare services, make universal early care and education a reality, build family support services, press for educational reform and provide vital information regarding our children’s health (NBCDI, 2013).

          After I looked at the website, the one thing that stuck out to me was the fact that the organization will be holding an annual conference this year in my hometown, which is New Orleans Louisiana. This caught my attention because I know that my city needs this kind of attention, especially the young black children. There is so much that is going on in New Orleans right now and in this time of need the children need every  opportunity that they can get to become successful. 

Reference:

National Black Child Development Institute. (2013). Retrieved from http://nbcdi.org/.

Getting Ready—E stablishing Professional Contacts and Expanding Resources

I didn't get to far just yet int establishing communication because I had to use the alternate assignment. So I have to wait on a response from the websites that I chose to get in contact with. I sent them an email since I don't have a way of calling them. 

I ended up choosing the World Forum Foundation. I chose to pick this organization because I like the fact that they deal with diversity and want to help in spreading ideas and giving help to children who are in need and that are of a different diversity.

The first thing I did  to locate and contact the two professionals, was first I looked on the website and then after I looked at the recommended websites, I sent them an email so I can keep in contact with them for the upcoming blog assignments and to learn more about there programs and to see what its like and do they enjoy doing what they do.

I really don't have any helpful tips that I can share with my colleagues. 
I would like to know what are some things that my colleagues are looking forward to learning from this assignment.