COMMUNICATION IS INFLUENTIAL

EDUC 6165

My mom and I <3

I asked my mom a simple question, “why do we communicate?” –like her and I do. My mom told me because it’s a joy to say “I love you”, express emotion by words, to dance, sing, slap hands, thumbs up… My mom told me we communicate so that we have one another. Wow.

With that said, my mom is someone I truly know who is a competent communicator, she knows competence. Growing up, my mom has taught me to love, read, dance, braid, (somewhat) cook, fold towels- you name it, my mom taught me everything through communication. This ideal form of communication is known as relational context. According to early childhood professionals, relational context exhibits relationship (like my mom and I) of past history, expectations, shared experiences, and maybe a tad influence of genetics (LOL).

Communicating with my mom, her behaviors promote optimism, freedom, charismatic charm, and openness to support and opinion. Her behaviors to communicate impact effectiveness of desire and motivation as I see in myself toward personal and professional goals I aspire every day. Because of relational context I have opportunity to grow and learn from one of the most influential people I know.

As I have learned from my mom, I only hope that my optimism and supportive behaviors, in fact, model her so that I can be just as inspiring. I owe it to my mom to treat others as I am treated. Through communication’s relational context I see and believe I can achieve success in the field of Early Childhood Education where communication (to me) reflects my mom’s competence and skills.

Works cited

 O'Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. Ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

                            My Journey To….

   EDUC 6164

One Hope!

I hope that working with diverse backgrounds, I can share a sense of humanitarianism to ECE. I hope that working with and for diversity I can make children and families comfortable, acquainted, and adapted in a classroom context learning from them as they look to learn from me.

One Goal… OK, many goals!

One goal that I want to include in ECE is motion that educators advance excellence in participation of research in diversity, equality, and social justice that teeters effective learning and development regarding early childhood. ECE ought to encourage student success so that discrimination and prejudice behaviors diminish for child sake and development. Educators need to expand child’s ability to learn appropriate curriculum and gain altruistic behaviors as they grow within classroom context and society. This can enhance ethical and social commitment and understanding to classmates, colleagues, family, and neighbors. Also, establishing communal outreach and civic interactions can help diversity, equality, social justice if ECE promotes awareness, advocates, and remains prominent to cultural contents of learning and behaviors of development.

Thank you…

“when you look back at your career, the highlights will never be the awards and promotions… but the people you’ve worked (learned) with. Thanks for being a fantastic highlight in mine.”
                                                                                    -Author Unknown, n.d.

Team work is important toward success. During this course I have found through discussions, blogs, emails, and reflections that without colleague’s response my thinking, theories, and work would not be as worthy as they are without feedback – without teamwork. Bouncing ideas, I find we’ve worked together. As colleagues, we learn together. My individual career path would never go anywhere if it weren’t for your teamwork. You go out of your way. This is just the kind of motivation I need from colleagues to aspire me in ECE.


Thank you for all the help. 

PARAGUAY

EDUC 6164

As an educator, it is my job to prepare my class that someone “different” is coming, but that “different” is good and fun! We will all learn from them as they learn from us!

Preparation is a focus on strengths in diversity and as my class sees me prepare I want to address what I am doing and address the benefits…. This is what I would do as an educator if I were receiving a new student from Paraguay…. (A country I know nothing about.)

1)    I want to prepare students to welcome the new student from Paraguay by introducing themselves.

2) I would dedicate time to Google, physical resources, books -anything that I can get my hands on about Paraguay so that I can get basic knowledge as a head start.

3) I would teach myself or use resources to learn basic linguistics so communication is not awkward and that my new student is able to tell me their needs. I would also teach my students what I know so they can learn to communicate as well.

4)                         I would decorate the classroom using visual aids such as posters, charts, and storybooks that represent both the American culture and South American culture. I would include games that are known in Paraguay and I would add fun learning activities that are relevant to Paraguay learnings.

5) I would want my students to become open to new cultural differences such as SNACK TIME where ethnic snacks are offered that we learn come from Paraguay.

6) Lastly, I would incorporate South American music and celebrations into a class lesson or unit so that students are exposed to new sounds, new dance, and traditions.

The benefits of having preparation and action of a new student include:

1)    Inclusion is essential!

2) Self-regulation helps self-esteem and behavioral effects toward learning and play with others

3) Preparation can help potential relationships with educator, students, and faculty.

4)                        Cultural continuity is more likely than cultural discontinuity when a new student such as my new student from Paraguay is given inclusion, visual aids, and celebrations to feel accepted for “differences”.

5) Preparation focuses on not just a dominant culture but multi cultures that help children and families find satisfied and cozy knowing educators, like myself, and my students are open to difference even in a learning environment.

The goal of preparation is to take the benefits, run with them and make sure ALL children are academically and emotionally ready for future success no matter where they come from.   

WATCH IT!

EDUC 6164

Some of the most prevalent kinds of oppression today is race, sexism, and classism.

Through the course of history, it was our own ancestors who started oppression battling and fighting for relief of such unjustified feelings. People have categorized those different for centuries...

It is wrong to do this but it happens nonetheless... whether in society, or at home, we are influenced in some way or another.

Considering the fact that this is an Early CHILDHOOD blog, I must point out a few childhood movies that I find closely related to bias, prejudice, and oppressive behaviors...

1) Remember the movie Pocahontas (1995)? "All the colors of the wind".... Yes, Pocahontas and John Smith were categorized and grouped by their own people due to different colored skins which interfered with friendships -and love. There is no telling how accurate the true story of Pocahontas went down back in the 14th century but racism was and still is a major downer. It is made in movies that influence young children audiences so what have we learned as children and how do we teach our children about race and effects of racism?

2) Mulan (1998) was a kick butt movie if you ask me... When the Huns were out to invade the Chinese Empire it was Mulan who braved the dangers disguising herself as a male warrior to save her father from battle. This movie shows sexism where women were NOT allowed to assume roles for men because men have power -superiority. Women are pressured to marry, become housewives, and tame the children, not go off to war! Sexism should not dictate heroism and who a hero should be if you ask my opinion...

3) Lastly, the movie Trolls (2016) is a movie about two trolls, Poppy and Branch, who go on an adventure to save Poppy's friends. This movie is a prime example of oppression simply because the trolls were oppressed trying to find "true colors" when the King wants to eat every troll. I see classism (rich versus poor) here...

Whatever the story is, the experience, using imagination, or looking at our history people witness or become oppressed at some point. Of course I can mention an experience or two of bias, prejudice, or oppression but I find it important to mention that, as children, what we grow up watching on TV influences how we feel toward others in a diverse society, in a classroom, or even as adults. It is just a a matter of recognizing the influences and making sure children know the causes and effects of bias, prejudice, and oppression that can lead to racism, sexism, and classism (to name a few)...

Works cited

Bancroft, T., Cook, B. (Director). (1998). Mulan [Motion Picture]: Walt Disney Pictures

Mitchell, M. (Director). (2016). Trolls [Motion Picture]: Dream Works

Pentecost, J. (Producer). (1995). Pocahontas [Motion Picture]: Walt Disney Pictures

     

Awareness of Microaggressions

EDUC 6164

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

EDUC 6164

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

EDUC 6164

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.