Awareness of Microaggressions

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Microaggressions happen even when individuals are unaware of what they are saying or what they are doing toward members of other groups. Without knowledge of what microaggression is I couldn’t possibly share this blog or begin to straighten up my own bad behavior.

I am a learner. When I observe, I learn. This week I learned that microaggression is an onset of bad behaviors such as showing discriminating or prejudice attitude to others different than your own group or preference without even realizing it in some cases. I observe people because I love differences, I love insights, and hearing stories. However, it is unfortunate that I found myself showing microaggression without any intention to dismay anyone….

I work in a very diverse workforce and I remember telling my coworkers that I like “this group” rather than “that group” because “this group” is easy, friendly, and patient in contrast to “that group”. It was wrong of me to say this because I was referring to cultures. It was a brief exchange but it now makes a great impact on my outlook toward other people, groups, cultures, etc.

If it weren’t for this week’s assignment, I would not have recognized the unintentional behavior and messages I was sending. This helps to build my own awareness of behavior and attitude when it comes to teaching and sharing with children and families in the field of Early Childhood Education and Studies.

Getting a new perspective

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This week I played reporter. I gave myself opportunity to find new perspective on different cultures other than my own American culture. Because I work in a very diverse atmosphere it was not hard at all to find individuals asking them to define culture and tell me what diversity means to them.

Here is my report….

My interviews

Martha is Hispanic. Her culture consists of celebrations such as the Day of the Dead (Dia de Los Muertos), Tamale Day (Dia de La Candelaria), and Christmas (Navidad). Martha explains to me in her own language that culture to her is celebration of family, friends, and Hispanic history. Values, traditions, ethics, and memorabilia’s are a part of celebration. Additionally, Martha believes diversity is the ability to adapt to new surroundings in new society despite cultural differences. No matter what, celebration brings cultures and diversity together.

Moving on, my boss Roland is Dutch. He shared a story with me of his upbringing in Holland and  that he moved to the United States when he was 12 years old. I asked Roland what culture meant to him and what he told me was that culture is simply expressions. What we do, how we communicate, and the ways we work involves some kind of expression. Of course, different expressions. Roland believes diversity is in the workplace but we don’t notice (which is true). Working in relations, diversity is not recognized, it is just there. HUMMM….

Lastly, I wanted to ask the same questions to someone I have never met, someone I never talked to. I ended up meeting Aleksandr from UKRAINE! HOW COOL! What Aleksandr told me about culture is that culture brings social identities together, simply put. He then told me diversity is the “crust” of culture that holds the coming together of identities. All views, opinions, communication, activities, productions etc. come together in some way. Wow.

Aspects and insights of culture and diversity

I gained new perspectives being a reporter this week. Culture is celebration, expression, and a coming together. Diversity tags along. It is a result of differences. Understanding culture and diversity through new perspectives has influenced or even enticed my interests of cultural differences, languages, ideologies, and stories. I would use this experience to share the importance of learning of new places, people around the world so that I can broaden my own professional attitude working with children and families in the field of Early Childhood. Ultimately, embrace others as I have learned this week. 

My family culture:

What comforts me

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There are no escapes to change. Everything changes no matter who we are, what we do, where we come from, or how hard we try to keep from making change happen. Every day leads to new events, learning’s, work, and even abrupt catastrophes. As humans, we encounter change big or small.

The purpose of this blog is to see that cultures have one thing in common: change. Children and families who have fallen on hard times due to war, poverty, natural disasters, etc. are placed in situations where finding refuge involves leaving what is familiar such as family traditions and daily routines to a culture drastically different. Change is inescapable.

If I were placed in a situation where I had to leave American culture to a culture I know nothing about I would want to take personal items with me not just for comfort but also to represent my American culture.

1. I would want to take my family album. It not only provides my family photos of holidays, activities, and selfies but my album includes the places I have visited within the United States such as Niagara Falls, Philadelphia, PA, Fairbanks, AK, and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. Taking my family album with me gives me comfort and visual aide of the environment I was born into regarding my family culture.

2. I would take my music with me also. Every culture celebrates birthdays, holidays, ceremonies, and rituals through music so if I were placed in an unfamiliar culture I would want to listen to music my mother brought me up on such as Pat Benatar, Michael Jackson, and Garth Brooks. I would want to hear familiar lyrics in a place I know nothing about communication wise.

3. Lastly, I would want to bring my birth doll. My birth doll I have had since day one. Having her with me presents my family culture by the stitching and craftsmanship my grandmother put into the doll before I was born. My birth doll represents Pennsylvanian roots and having her with me not only gives me comfort but symbolizes hugs from my grandma during difficult times and transitions of change.

If I had to give up two of these items, it would be hard because I have a personal connection with each of them. But I would never give up my birth doll. I have protected her my whole life. My photos represent the places I have been, but the memories will last a long time. I enjoy music but to keep my doll I would adjust to new music.

In times of cultural change, it is important to stick to your own roots. It is what remains most familiar to us. But because catastrophe causes abrupt change where children and families are found in different cultural settings, having to sacrifice items familiar to them, there is opportunity to learn, grow, and assimilate to new surroundings, traditions, music, food, and friends. This can help appreciate your own culture by someone else’s as I see most insightful in a time of catastrophe.

Final Blog: A Reflection

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I want to take this time to reflect this past course that has shown me the importance of research and how it supports Early Childhood Education.

Research builds strength toward new discoveries, helps settle curiosity, and provides those who need special accommodations due to diagnosis, awkward interactions, and even environmental issues. I find that research helps keep the world moving.

As I reflect this past course, I think of my own research simulation that looks at Autism and early childhood programs. Finding correlation between young autistic children and what early childhood programs advocate autistic behavior for academic success is my research topic. This research is important to Early Childhood Education because it not only allows autistic children to thrive in a learning environment but it involves educators and parents the knowledge to pick and choose programs that are suitable for autistic behaviors. My research simulation involves one-on-one interactions such as interviews and play, finding child preference through questionnaires and observations, and letting autistic behaviors perform in a natural environment while utilizing therapies that partner with Early Childhood programs. This contributes to Early Childhood Education because every child, even autistic children, deserve a great learning experience with the help of research and professionals. Therefore, autistic children, parents, and educators can certainly benefit from my research simulation.

Throughout this course, the many methods of research has definitely taught me the importance of research. Working with young children, parents, and professionals I have a new found awareness of the inventive ways research can support the cycle of early childhood. From simple observation to data charts, trials, studies, and theories, etc. there is always someone forming hypothesis, implementing research, and conducting experiments for new discovery. This helps make a learning experience great for young children and being a professional, I believe personal passion drives continuous research processes, advocacy for children which assists the mission of Early Childhood Education so that it is not lost. 

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION DOWN UNDER:

A LOOK AT AUSTRALIA’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO RESEARCH

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When looking at research studies it is important to look at professional outlooks on a global scale. This helps to see the bigger picture of discoveries that can be made possible in furthering fields such as Early Childhood. When we look at research on a global scale we find that there are MANY efforts leading toward helping contributions to child learning and developments.

This week I wanted to look at an empowering organization that seems to be supporting Early Childhood research and this exploration has led me to the website, “Early Childhood Australia: A Voice for Young Children” (n.d.). Looking down under, I wanted to focus on what current research studies were entertaining scientists and educators in regions such as Australia. “CRIKEY!” This is what I found….

The website, “Early Childhood Australia: A Voice for Young Children” (n.d.) is a resource that advocates importance of schooling, health, ambitions, insights, and support that look over parent expectations, education, policies, and child welfare (Early Childhood, n.d.). This particular resource contributes to research such as observing child behaviors and health. In their findings, they have addressed research in psychological aspects and health, to list a few... 

Young children who demonstrate fear of separation from a caregiver or fear in unfamiliar settings are known to have what is known as separation anxiety. Due to research, children who suffer from separation anxiety are likely to have social and emotional discomfort toward learning and development. But, with the help of educators and easing transition for young children, separation anxiety can wither away (Early Childhood, n.d.). Another research study I find interesting is childhood nutrition. This research suggests that children who benefit good nutrition are more likely to engage and make good decisions. Children who have poor nutrition are less motivated, struggle to concentrate, and development is not as sufficient (Early Childhood, n.d.). With good nutrition, children benefit from learning and development and they become their own leaders!

With the help and advances from research studies production in the field of Early Childhood Education offers hopes and many benefits toward child learning and development. Research gives scientists and educators ability to support and help children aspire and looks over welfare. This is not just a trend happening locally but it is happening globally which I find insightful. Knowing ALL children are looked at and supported is noteworthy.

Also, finding international organizations such as Early Childhood Australia: A Voice for Young Children (n.d.) who advocates development and health in research studies is insightful because I realize the field of Early Childhood Education is leading the way near and afar. We just have to see the prodigies on a global scale.

CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au FOR MORE INSIGHTS OF THE RESEARCH TOWARD BEHAVIORS AND HEALTH.

Works Cited

Early Childhood Australia, (n.d.). Early Childhood Australia: A Voice for Young Children. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au

The benefits of research that support children and families: A Look at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

I can’t help but share a recent moment I had that I find insightful toward the meaning of this blog…

It wasn’t until this blog that I did not recognize the astounding movement of research that benefits children and families. I became fully aware when I opened my mailbox just yesterday and saw a letter from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital asking for donations and giving celebration to the upcoming holidays. As some might see this as junk mail, I saw this as opportunity to really involve myself, to see what St. Jude works toward, and how they specifically benefit children and families.

This is what I found…

 According to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (n.d.) their mission is to work with children who have been diagnosed with cancer, infectious diseases, or other health risks that threaten the will to live. St. Jude states that more than 80% of children who have been diagnosed with cancer have remained in remission due to extensive research and therapies (n.d.). Gathering data, identifying effects and engineering therapies have saved over a hundred thousand children’s lives for over fifty years! It is impressive thinking that research has helped so many children and families battle illnesses such as cancer in what seems like a short amount of time.

Research studies like the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) is dedicated to find existing knowledge and new knowledge exploring the effects of cancer designing tools and therapies to help children fight cancer and illnesses looking over well-being (St. Jude, n.d.). CCSS also educates children, families, and professionals applying treatment and programs to detect late effects and squash cancer altogether (St. Jude, n.d.).

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital focuses on neuromuscular, neurocognitive, psychosocial activities, etc. that can benefit child treatment and recovery in part of evaluation that research offers. With the support and many different realms of research finding cures, advocating treatment and programs, and giving children hope to battle -to live- is worth sharing. 

In this blog, I want to share with my colleagues that we cannot just focus on what is in front of us (e.g. this assignment) but we must acknowledge what is given to us (e.g. mail) so that we can become more aware, give to research, and work harder in the field of Early Childhood Education so that the risk of facing threatening illnesses such as cancer that obstructs a child’s chance to live long-term is decimated. The mail that I received has led me to understanding why research is important because it is what saves lives and for me, it is what helps me endeavor my own research regardless what topic. Ultimately, it is about the benefits of children and their families.
Please check out St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital online for more insight.   www.stjude.org

Work cited
St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (n.d.).Retrieved from http://www.stjude.org

A Personal Journey:

Autism

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A research topic that I would like to examine and share with colleagues involves finding correlations between behavior and symptoms of Autism and how early childhood programs help Autistic children succeed the same academic excellence as others in a learning environment. I find this topic personal because of my nephew Jordan. 

Jordan is my first-born nephew. It was the first time in my life I got to hold a newborn baby, and I was officially an Aunt. I got to watch Jordan grow in the first year of his life and helping my sister, I enjoyed it so much. 

It wasn’t until Jordan started lacking motor skills, strength, emotions, and when he got older, he was fixated on sequences, patterns, shapes, and numbers. This fixation turned into OCD. At 4 years old, my sister was concerned and told me what Jordan was doing and how he was behaving. I used what I have learned with psychology and told her he may be Autistic. She took him to get evaluated, and sure enough, Jordan was diagnosed with mild Autism. Since then I have become interested in Autism, how children and adults behave, interact, and adapt. I have watched Jordan grow into such an intelligent second grader still showing signs of OCD and behavior issues, but because Jordan gets assistance at school since preschool, I want to know what it is in early childhood programs that distinguish an actual academic excellence. Does one program such as and IEP trigger more brain activity than another? Does early screening challenge the effectiveness of programs?

After watching my nephew Jordan grow into such a remarkable little boy, with personal experience, I am excited to use research to find the correlations between autism and early childhood programs that look over well-being for children and parents. I am happy to contribute my time and studies to Autism with Jordan in mind and in my heart.

                          

Here are some resources I have found that will help me in my research journey:

Boyd, B. A., Odom, S. L., Humphrey, B. P., & Sam, A. M. (2010). Infants and Toddlers with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Early Identification and Early Interventions. Journal of Early Intervention, 32. DOI:10.1177/1053815110362690

Cohen-Baron, S. (1988). Social and Pragmatic Deficits in Autism: Cognitive or Affective. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 18(3), 379-402.

Courchesne, E., & Karns, E. A. (2001). Unusual Brain Growth Patterns in Early Life Patients With Autistic Disorder: An MRI Study. 57(2), 245-254. DOI:10.1212/WNL.57.2.245