Real Communication

I am very surprise at the challenges this assignment has brought me.  I easily came up with a list of people I found to be incompetent communicators.  but continue to struggle identifying a competent one that I would like to model.  I believe it is because I appreciate the communication skills from a variety of people.  "I see strength in her directness, but she can come off as very harsh."  "Her she is so patient with the children, but comes off insecure with the parents."  "Shes sounds very confident, but is there anything she is not an expert at?"  That being said, I find my co-work to be  very competent communicator.  I appreciate the kind words she uses when disciplining her students.  She is able to keep an even tone, calmness in her voice when she believes something is a problem.  She ask questions if she does not understand something.  I try to remain calm and never let them see me sweat but inside there is a fire erupting so I don't dear say a word.  It's not a good.

Professional Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that I am able to help them build on their experiences by getting them to understand the gift of being surrounded by diversity.   
We have to make our voice heard.
One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice would be to help children unlearn some of the stereotypes they have already formed.  I have found a wealth of materials that can assist me, books, materials and also individuals.

It hard to believe we have completed another class.  I'm very PROUD and THANKFUL to each and every one of you.  I hope we will be able to continue on this journey together.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Family Outreach

Volunteering  with my schools Family Outreach  program the newest family we will be welcoming into our school community is a family from Bolivia.  Not knowing much about Bolivia it will be necessary for me to do some home work.  I learn that the Spanish id on of four languages spoken there which is what the family speaks. Although there are many dialects of the Spanish language fortunately I am able to communicate in Spanish with some assistants.  The dominant religion is roman Catholic, which is what the family practices.  Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America.  Leaving it necessary for both parents and the young children the reasonability to work in order to sustain the family.  A few of the steps I have taking to help the family feel welcomed.

I locate and visit a Spanish market.  With hope that it will have some of the food the family is familiar with.

I vist a neighborhood Catholic church.  Picking up information about hours of services and when the Spanish speaking service is held.

On one of my visit to the library I look at the children section and find a selections of books, movie video's and Cd's in Spanish that the whole family can enjoy.

I decide to make welcome backpack for the children.  Including coloring picture with Spanish titles I printed  form the computer.        

Volunteering  with my schools Family Outreach  program the newest family we will be welcoming into our school community is a family from Bolivia.  Not knowing much about Bolivia it will be necessary for me to do some home work.  I learn that the Spanish id on of four languages spoken there which is what the family speaks. Although there are many dialects of the Spanish language fortunately I am able to communicate in Spanish with some assistants.  The dominant religion is roman Catholic, which is what the family practices.  Bolivia is one of the least developed countries in South America.  Leaving it necessary for both parents and the young children the reasonability to work in order to sustain the family.  A few of the steps I have taking to help the family feel welcomed.

I locate and visit a Spanish market.  With hope that it will have some of the food the family is familiar with.

I vist a neighborhood Catholic church.  Picking up information about hours of services and when the Spanish speaking service is held.

On one of my visit to the library I look at the children section and find a selections of books, movie video's and Cd's in Spanish that the whole family can enjoy.

I decide to make welcome backpack for the children.  Including coloring picture with Spanish titles I printed  form the computer.      

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The most salient experience in my life directly related to my race. Having grown up in a town where I was not from the dominant culture, I have many memories from my childhood that were very painful and emotional. Obviously, because forty plus years later when asked to write about them. I feel a sense of emotion welting up inside of me and I still can recall them. I would have to share that the most painful one would be in my teen years. Hanging with classmates someone would use the word” nigger”, explaining to me “No offense”. I would stay silent, not saying a word. 

Having been taught that, that word was developed for salves by the dominant race.  It was used to make a person feel weak, degraded and offended.  It should never be used it and I must be offended by any person that does use it.   The bias made me feel bad, sad, and sorry for myself.  It hurt my feelings.    

I would later find the words to educate my classmates aka friends on why it was not alright to make such statements to anyone for any reason.  And that say “nothing against you” only makes it worst.   

Microaggression

The most blatant example of microaggression I witness this week was made by a principle at the school in which I teach about a four year old child.  A parent of one of my students asked to speak to me in regards to foul language her child used at home .  When the mother questioned her about such language the child stated that she heard another student in her classroom use this language.  I worked with the mom explaining how sorry I was and that I would have a tlak with the entire class about appropriate language.    

Later that day I brought the incident to my principles attention.  Her respond was “I am not surprised if …… uses such language, you’ve seen that that family, I mean where did all of those kids come from?  They look all different.  And that dad has been to jail.”   My response was … could have heard it from anywhere, her parents are very involved with her and I think she was just making a bad choice.  I left her offices feeling sad, embarrassed, offended.  I had nine siblings.  Does that mean I was allowed to watch inappropriate movies or listen to inappropriate music or use foul language?  Not with my parents or one of my elder sisters knowledge!   

The definition of culture and diversity

This assignment was more difficult than expected.  I had to come to terms with the fact that I did not agree with what people, that I consider being a part of everyday life.  They did not have the same understanding of what culture and/or diversity is as I do.   I would like to start with a female, Hispanic co-worker once I explained the reason for my questioning she seem to let her guard down.

Sandra, Mexican American, describes culture as who a person is in the inside.  It is everything that a person has learned from their parents and family.  Diversity is what I am made up of.  My Mexican heritage and traditions blended with my American traditions. .      

Ana, from Bolivia moved to America one year ago to work as an Au pair.  She describes culture as what she has learned from her mother, how to cook, clean and sew.   Diversity as sharing her food, stories, religion and love with her new family and hopefully with a husband she has just joined a dating site.

Stephanie, from Hawaii.  Proudly states that her people are proud of their believes, how they take care of each other.  Diversity is sharing those believes.  

Thinking about other people’s definitions of culture and diversity influenced my own thinking about these topics in a concerned way.  Explaining its complexity comes with a great challenge. 

Emergency Evacuation

In case of an emergency evacuation the three items I would take with me are:

            My Joyce Meyer bible, which will give me strength to make it through another day. 
            My personal documentation, which I will need to start my new life. 
            My youngest daughter's baby books which letters and pictures of most of my loved ones. 

I would feel devastated if I was told I could only take one of the items with me.  I would keep my document file stuffing it with pages from my  bible and pictures of my loved one.

The insight I have remains the same.  Living in America can be hard but it allows me to embrace my culture.