Week 3 Blog Assignment

Think about the cultural diversity you see in your colleagues at school, in your neighborhood, in your workplace, and also, possibly, within your family. Consider all the aspects that make up culture, including race, religion, political affiliation, sexual orientation, varying abilities, and so on.

• Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?
• If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?

Based on what you have learned this week, share at least three strategies you could use to help you communicate more effectively with the people or groups you have identified. 

-Communication always varies from context to context depending on formality and factors of culture, race, religion... I do communicate differently in each scenario and situation.  This week has helped me tremendously in my personal life.  I am using the tools an concepts I have learned about to evaluate how (and why) I communicate the way I do.  At work, where I am more formal, I am beginning to be more open to colleagues cultures and experiences and how they CONTRIBUTE to the conversation, not inhibit it.  I am practicing the concept of empathy and platinum rule while working with children and families from different cultures from my own.  At home, I am using skills of observing non-verbal cues while my family communicates, and then I am helping others see a more effective approach to this communication. 

Below is a link to an article describing the "Double Platinum Rule"- this article is based on customer service, but can easily be applied to the early childhood education field.  it basically states that "Treat others the way they don't even know they want to be treated." but ALSO anticipate, anticipate, anticipate. Don't just meet your people's needs and expectations, EXCEED them.  

Grounding our thinking in the these rules works well, because it heightens your empathy (Golden Rule); encourages a keen focus on others' expectations (Platinum Rule); and challenges us to consistently think of ways to exceed those expectations (Double Platinum Rule). 

http://www.naylornetwork.com/ahh-nwl/articles/?aid=63803&projid=3808

Week 2: Communication Skills: Language, Nonverbal, Listening

Blog Assignment:

For this assignment, again consider what you have been learning about communication skills and styles. Then record an episode of a television show you do not normally watch. Watch the show with the sound turned off.

• What do you think the characters’ relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?
• What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing? 

Now, watch the show with the sound turned on.

• What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?
• Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well? 

This was a very interesting and eye opening assignment.  I chose to explore "The Big Bang Theory" sitcom.  With the sound turned off, I would of never guessed the characters were friends and in a social circle.  Their facial expressions were extremely interesting and powerful without words.  Based on nonverbal behavior, I would assume the characters were in constant confusion or disagreement over something.  I noted body language of being uncomfortable, having mistrust, or dislike and the plot was difficult to decipher.  When I watched the episode again with the sound the plot was extremely clear and facial expressions/ nonverbal cues seemed to match the verbal communication and exchanges.  If I had been watching a show I knew well, I would have been able to more clearly decipher the communication without verbal cues. 

EDUC-6165-7 Communicating and Collaborating in the Early Childhood Field

Blog Assignment #1 





This week, think of someone (e.g., family member, celebrity, politician, friend, or professor) who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context....

What behaviors does this person exhibit that make him or her effective? 

For this reflection, I chose my direct supervisor and colleague with whom I have a proud affiliation.  She is also a valued mentor on managerial techniques as well as communication techniques.   Her style is consultative, which is very different from my own.  I appreciate how she utilizes this style in communication with her staff in all her communication interactions.  She is an active listener who validates all participants with affirmation, respect, and appreciation.  She is purposeful in speaking and respectful in her nonverbal communication.  I enjoy communicating and collaborating with her.  Because our styles are so extremely different (I am competitive, controlling and aggressive), I am learning how to appreciate being more sensitive, open and understanding in communication exchanges.  

Would you want to model some of your own communication behaviors after this person?

I am currently working on adapting my communication behaviors to reflect this style.  I have found (through experiences and observation) that it is effective when working with colleagues.  The objective of communication is to produce a positive result and attain goal achievement.  

For a quick and gentle reminder on effective communication skills recommended in the workplace, I have used:

http://workawesome.com/communication/effective-communication-skills/ 

 

Professional Hopes and Goals

During the first course in this program, you helped to establish and became part of a collaborative learning community. As the courses have progressed, you and your colleagues have been studying together and supporting each others goals with regard to taking on and mastering the challenges of this MS Early Childhood Studies program

As you prepare to move on to your final course before the specializations, take time to think about your aspirations with regard to diversity, equity, and social justice, the different ways in which your colleagues have supported you, how you have supported them, and what you wish for your colleagues as they continue on their professional path.

• One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds: That there becomes a standard in the profession on how we welcome, incorporate and include families with diverse backgrounds...that everyone, everywhere uses appropriate and positive standards when interacting with diverse cultures, expectations and families.  We do have NAEYC and their position statement on diversity in early childhood programs, however, all professionals who work with children need to embrace and uphold these standards. 
• http://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/PSDIV98.PDF
• One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice: To teach respect and acceptance to not only children, but adults/families as well.  It is our responsibility to educate families and our communities on the importance of issues of diversity, equity, and social justice
• I would like to say thank you to all of my colleagues and fellow EC professionals.  This journey of Walden continues to be an enlightening one.  I am learning that I grow so much from collaboration and insights of my colleagues as much as I grow from research exploration and reflection!  Here's to a continued amazing journey and the positive and insightful support of everyone!

Blog Assignment: Welcoming Families From Around the World

Think for a moment about the following two statistics:

• About 195 different countries exist in the world today.
• According to the U.S. census bureau, the United States’ population includes individuals and families from 150 different countries.

For this assignment, imagine the following scenario:

You are working in an early childhood setting of your choice—a hospital, a child care center, a social service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. You want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that in order to support families who have immigrated you need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin.

In order to complete this assignment, first choose a country you know nothing about as this family’s country of origin.

The country of origin I chose for this assignment is: Sierra Leone

It’s a country with ultimate natural wealth -gold and diamonds and holds one of the world’s largest natural harbor at the capital city Freetown. 70% of the population is living under poverty making it the third poorest country in the world.  Sierra Leone is also one of the world’s most religiously tolerant nation where large population of Muslims and Christians live in harmony. 

To prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family, I would research the countries various religions, traditions, living conditions, education system, health and nutrition standards and so on.  I would then interview the family via Skype, and ask for their expectations of their experience here in the U.S. along with helping me understand their personal culture.  Because the differences between this family and others in my program, I am share information with other families so they can be comfortable and welcoming to the new family/child.  I would familiarize myself with the typical way of life in Sierra Leone, their communities, markets, villages, mosques and other places of worship... the internet would be an invaluable resource tool for this investigation.  I may contact our local community center, social services department and religious groups to attempt to connect from someone more familiar with the culture than I am.  I would be especially careful to be aware of stereotypes of people from the country and work to not discriminate or be hurtful in my assumptions.  I do know that Sierra Leone is still recovering from a devastating 11-year civil war that ended in 2002, so I would be especially careful with how I approach the families emotional state and subjects regarding war, suffering, loss, religion and so forth.

These preparations would benefit both the new family, myself, and others in our program.  My job is to make families feel welcome, accepted, safe and respected.  I need to be comfortable in my knowledge and understanding before I can begin the process of helping others.  Knowledge is power, knowledge is a tool, and knowledge can build bridges.  That's what being an educator is.

 Education in Sierra Leone:

http://www.col.org/SiteCollectionDocuments/05SierraLeone_EnviroScan.pdf 

Utube video on Sierra Leone: Maternal health in a poverty stricken country

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBr4qIPOIg0

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Exploring the concept that personal biases as well as institutional prejudices are sources of inequities and oppression, and that bias and prejudice themselves are learned...

• 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
• The movie: The Color Purple has been one that clearly represented oppression and prejudice.  This movie forever changed the way I view racism and oppression in the early to mid 1900's.  It provided an eye opening insight into a young black woman's struggle for her personal identity in a cruel and oppressive world.  I recommend this movie to absolutely anyone seeking insight into a world they are not a part of.
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• In what way(s) did the specific bias, prejudice and/or oppression in that incident diminish equity?
• This movie takes place in rural Georgia and focuses on female black life during the 1930s in the south.  It addresses the numerous issues including African American's exceedingly low position in American social culture during this time.  It also addresses female rights and oppression, blurred gender traits, insecure sexuality and the cyclical nature of racism and sexism.
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• What feelings did this incident bring up for you?
•  This movie brought me to tears several times, created rage and anger, and in the end, I mourned for the characters that this movie represented in actual life.
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• What and/or who would have to change in order to turn this incident into an opportunity for greater equity?
• This movie can be used as a very powerful teaching tool on oppression, racism, sexism and so much more.  We cannot erase the past, but we can learn from it. Being born after the civil rights movement, I ave not experienced racism on this level, however, learning about it is a crucial step in not repeating it. 

Blog Assignment: Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

At the beginning of this week we were asked to observe our own and other people’s verbal interactions and detect examples of microaggression. In this Blog Assignment, I will share what I experienced and what I learned from my observations.

Assignment:

• 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?

This week, I was in the grocery store picking up a few items when I over heard a white couple commenting that it must be food stamp distribution day and how glad they were that people are able to purchase food to live one.  As I looked around, I noticed a black family of 3 children in line that appeared to be a lower socioeconomic class in dress, but as I observed, the mother paid with cash.  She did not respond to the comment but her body language showed disgust and anger.  I feel that whether or not the white couple intended harm is irrelevant, it was in fact very hurtful on a psychological level.  This interaction angered me as well.  I did not speak up, but left the store feeling sad that our society is so oblivious to racial insults and microaggressions. 

  

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

I have discovered that I am more observant of discrimination and microaggressions now that i have explored, researched, and learned about not only this type of harmful behavior, but its powerful affects on others.  I can own that I have most certainly been both a contributor and victim of this behavior. I feel that when the insult is unintended, it is most powerful.  Racism (all "isms") exist today on some level.  We are subconsciously carrying on emotions of hate, fear, and nonacceptance.   Once we realize this, we can begin to curve our behaviors and help others learn from mistakes tool.