TIME WELL SPENT

WOW!! I don’t think I can find the words to explain the excitement, relief, uncertainty and all of the other emotions I feel when I think about the end of my Master’s Journey as I have so affectionately called my walk towards a goal I never thought I would have enough energy or zeal to complete.  I have learned so much from the wonderful instructors of Walden University but especially from my colleagues who have walked this path with me.  I would like to sincerely thank all of you for all you offer the field of education.  It takes an abundance of love, commitment and compassion to work in this field and I commend us all for being consistent in the fact that we want to make a difference in the lives of children and their families.  I pray many blessings over you all in your walk in this wonderful field of education. 

               As I reflect on what I have learned from this program, the three things that radiate in my spirit are described in the quotes from some of my favorite people, who have poured into society and some who have passed on while I have been going through this journey: 

Nelson Mandela:  ‘Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.’

THE PASSION AND ZEAL OF EDUCATORS

Nelson Mandela was one of the strongest men in the history of this world.  To have been through so much in his life and remain so positive and give so much back to society really encourages me and reminds me of all of the wonderful educators in this world.  Those who weather so many disappointments that can occur in this field but still pour into the children we teach.

Maya Angelou:  ‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

DIVERSITY

Maya Angelou is my absolute favorite poet.  This quote epitomizes my thoughts about the relationships we enter as people but especially the relationships formed with children.  Educators invoke the feelings of children and open their minds to learning and…yes even loving others no matter their differences.

Mahatma Ghandi:  ‘If you want to reach real peace in this world, we should start educating children.’

My Views of Early Childhood Education

It’s amazing to me how wisdom always prevails.  Starting with not only educating young children but teaching them to respect and love for everyone, not matter their differences is the key to reaching real peace in this world.

MY LONG TERM GOAL:

Dr. Maya Angelou:  ‘Try to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud.’

LONG TERM GOALS

Dr. Angelou quotes my long term goal! My desire is to be a rainbow in someone’s cloud. This is my life’s desire. To help others achieve their goals and reach their ultimate destiny in life.  I want to leave a legacy in this world that is filled will love and determination.  I would like people who may not have taken the "normal" educational path to look at my life and say, "If a wife, mother of four, grandmother and full time teacher can do it, then so can I."  I am so proud of myself and I leave you with these words:      GO GET IT!!

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

The goal of my Community of Practice is to help eradicate poverty of young children and their families. There is a great need to end poverty here in America. However, an even greater need lies in other countries.

The three organizations that peaked my interest and I would like to learn more about are;

Save the Children- Save the Children is an amazing organization that works to help children and their families all over the world with food, shelter and good health. They assist children in times of crisis as in many ways as well as assisting child development centers in providing quality care for children from all walks of life. Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world what every child deserves – a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When disaster strikes, we put children's needs first. We advocate for and achieve large-scale change for children (Save the Children, 2011).

There are 85 job opportunities available in many different capacities of the Save the Children organization located here in the United States and abroad.

The position that I am interested in is the Advisor, Basic Education and Literacy.

Job Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, child development, international development, or other related field
• 10+ years program experience in education; significant experience working with educators and education systems in sub-Saharan Africa, preferred
• Experience in program design and proposal development, including private and public donors.
• Strong proposal writing skills
• French speaker highly preferred
• Ability to travel up to 40% of the time

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) – is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. I share the same vision as UNICEF because I believe children thrive when their basic needs are met and it is important to provide them with all of their needs so that that infant mortality rates decrease as well as child poverty (UNICEF, n.d.).
I would be interested in working on what they refer to as a Talent Group which is very similar to a Community of Practice because it is a group of people with different specialized focuses that work together towards a common goal.

Job Qualifications: Vary depending upon the area of expertise one brings to the table.

Academy for Educational Development – Founded in 1961, the Academy for Educational Development is an independent, nonprofit organization committed to solving critical social problems and building the capacity of individuals , communities, and institutions to become more self-sufficient. AED works in all the major areas of human development, with a focus on improving education, health, and economic opportunities for the least advantaged in the United States and developing countries throughout the world (Academy for Educational Development, 2011). This organization is very relevant to the focus of my Community of Practice in their efforts to eradicate poverty through educational development on many levels (AED,2011).

The position I would be interested in would be Technical Advisor I, Child Protection, Care and Wellbeing through Economic Strengthening.

The Technical Advisor will take a leading role in the design and assessment of the two field projects, as well as in carrying out desk-based and field research to develop guidance on household-targeted economic strengthening. The role requires technical and programmatic expertise in child protection, particularly the reintegration of separated children into families (e.g., street children, institutionalized children, children separated during an emergency, former child soldiers), and in providing technical assistance, capacity building, and training to donors, practitioners and other organizations (Academy for Educational Development, 2011).

Job Qualifications:
• PhD or Master’s degree in international development, economics, social sciences, or a related field
• Successful candidates in this role typically have 12+ years of total experience, with a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in child protection programming. Experience with child reintegration into households desired.
• Significant programmatic experience in or demonstrated knowledge of household-level interventions to address social protection and/or economic strengthening. Demonstrated understanding of issues and programming approaches related to strengthening household capacities to provide adequate care and protection for vulnerable children.
• Experience working in or deep understanding of multi-sectoral interventions, especially those incorporating economic strengthening, is highly desired.
• Experience in research management or project management would be valuable in this role.
• Strong analytical, writing, and representational skills are critical for this position.
• Willingness to engage in ongoing learning about new approaches and technical areas outside of core expertise areas, including actively pursuing training and informal learning opportunities.
• Ability to manage projects, set realistic priorities and plan for the successful implementation of activities.
• Must have excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, and strong intercultural communication skills. Fluency in French is a plus.
• Strong leadership skills and ability to coordinate diverse stakeholders to achieve common objectives.
• Experience working in developing countries, especially in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.
• Relevant computer software skills (including, at a minimum, the standard applications in MS Office).


References:
Academy for Educational Development. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.aed.org/en/index.htm
Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, Retrieved from http://www.unicef.org/ 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level-Week 4

I am so excited about website I have found which contains many different resources on both National and Federal levels.
The Children's Bureau is an contains eleven different Children's Resource Centers

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is a division of the Department of Health & Human Services. We promote the economic and social well-being of families, children, individuals and communities (Administration for Children and Families, n.d.).

Since Kingdom Kids Child Development and Youth Activity Center will serve families in low income areas, these resources will be vitally important. Here are a couple of Resource Centers available to help us serve our families:

National Resource Center for Youth Development - Provides states with CFSR assistance, including promoting stakeholder involvement, T&TA, and information services, and offers states, tribes, and other youth-serving organizations assistance in effectively implementing the Chafee Foster Care Independence and Education and Training Voucher programs, and supporting youth engagement in child welfare policy, planning, and program development.

National Child Welfare Resource Center for Organizational Improvement - Offers technical assistance, training, teleconferences and publications to assist states with CFSRs, including strategic planning, quality improvement, evaluating outcomes, facilitating stakeholder involvement, and improving training and workforce development.

As with most Children's agencies; these bureaus are always in need of sponsors and volunteers in various capacities. Paid employment opportunities include social workers that will be assigned families to assist with various services offered and counselors to provide counseling to children and their families as needed.

References:

Children's Bureau. (n.d.). Children's Bureau Administration for Children and Families. Retrieved May 31, 2014 from http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

The three organizations that I choose for this week's assignment are as follow:

1. Gaston County Health Department Parent Counseling Services - The position I would like to obtain would be as a Parent Counselor with the responsibilities of talking with new parents about the importance of early child development which helps children get a great start in education and how it also helps with early detection of any exceptionalities. I would also be responsible for guiding them to programs that would help them find great preschool programs for their children.

2. Childcare Resources Incorporated - The position of a Case Worker would intel helping parents find the resources to assist them in finding and affording quality childcare for their children. The person in this position would also be responsible for ensuring that once services have been granted that the children's attendance is consistent.

3. Department of Children's Health and Resources - The position of a Clinic Nurse is in charge of educating parents on the importance of vaccinations as well as administering vaccinations. Healthy children afford parents the opportunity to work outside of the home. I would also work with the mobile unit that will go out into the community to provide minor care to children.

BEST WISHES!!

To my instructor and colleagues,

I feel as if I am living what we have all learned throughout the past eight weeks. We are here at the "Adjourning Phase" of our collaboration!! I am so excited for all of us to be moving forward on our journey towards our Master's Degree. However, I will miss each of you so much! I wish each of you the very best and I look forward to seeing you all at graduation because we are one step closer to our destiny. Keep up the wonderful work and I will see you soon.

Kindest Regards,

Berdetta Clark

IT'S SO HARD TO SAY GOODBYE!!

Saying, "Goodbye" is always so very difficult for me. I can remember how difficult is was to say to my Comrades when leaving Basic Training, and just recently when we relocated to North Carolina from Virginia and I had to leave my team from the Child Development Center and Academy I managed for six years. Our team had gone through the forming, storming, norming and performing stages and now the adjourning stage was upon us. I can remember when I was first hired as the Director. I came into a situation that was very volatile. There was a high turnover rate and many of the staff members didn't take pride in their work. Then there were those with very strong personalities that almost took on a dictator role in the center. They felt since they had worked there for so long, they were in charge. I must admit, the forming stage was very difficult because I had to evaluate the team's current performance and decide if a new team was necessary or if we could continue with the current team. Depending upon how you look at the process, we had to form a "new" team which meant keeping some of the current team members but changing their mindset and hiring new staff members. The storming stage where, "They have different opinions on what should be done and how it should be done - which causes conflict within the team. As they go progress through this stage, with the guidance of the team leader, they learn how to solve problems together, function both independently and together as a team, and settle into roles and responsibilities on the team (Abudi, 2010)." was especially difficult for those who were very opinionated. I can remember having to have several one on one conversations with individuals in order to curtail the intimidation of others their strong personalities caused. In the end the norming and performing stages were very successful. The employee turnover rate decreased tremendously which caused the enrollment to increase. During our adjourning stage, there were a lot of tears. I felt as if I was leaving my family. When I go back to visit, many of the same team members are still there and I can proudly say that they had learned so much from my leadership style because in essence, they had moved on to their various areas and appreciated how I made the vision clear, managed very difficult situations and was never afraid to model expected behavior for them. I miss them so much but it is like a reunion when we all get together. I can honestly say this team was one of the most challenging but most rewarding teams I have every worked on.

When I think about my team at Walden University, I have had a wonderful experience with this group of wonderful people. I think those of us who will meet face to face for the first time at our graduation will be super excited and experience a new level of unity. I never thought I would feel such a closeness from attending an online University because I am a face-to-face person however, I was so wrong. This has been a very unique experience for me.

Adjourning is a very important stage of a team because at some point the individuals must branch out and put what they have built to work. We must learn from one another and move out to teach others. Also, adjourning is important because sometimes we must be careful not to establish cliques and splinter groups that will deter others from appreciating the teams contributions to the project.


References:

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

Non Violent Communication

This week we are learning about nonviolent communication. As I thought about my week, I realized I am experiencing a very unusual conflict in my personal life. I must admit, I was perfectly content with severing ties with this person simply because I feel as if I have been struggling to have a meaningful relationship for many years. I have tried many strategies, to no avail. So, I had finally resolved to just severing ties. Realistically, this would certainly be one to the hardest things to do because this person is my mother. Yes, my mother. For so many years I have been in conflict with my mother concerning how she enables my older brother. I personally believe it to be a generational habit that has been passed on through our family. For some strange reason, the women in my family have enabled the men in my family. They deemed it necessary to take care of them well into their adult lives which, has made it impossible for the men to take the role as the head of a household. Therefore, there are men in my family who are well into their forties and fifties who have never been married and although they have moved in with several women, have quickly moved back in with their mothers simply because they did not want the responsibilities. I find this to be very unfair to the health and well being of my mother because of the stress that she is constantly under as well as the stress it puts my sister and I under due to the fact that she wants us to “understand” why she continues to bail him out even to detriment of herself.

I honestly thought I just needed to give up on ever having a “normal” relationship with her until this week. “It is important that we do something because whether we like it or not, conflicts demand our energy. In fact, an unresolved conflict can call on tremendous amounts of our attention. We all know how exhausting an unresolved conflict can be. It is not always easy to fix the problem but a great energy boost can come when we do (Conflict Resolution Network, n.d.).” I decided to resolve the conflict by calling and talking with my mother after five months. I decided to use these two strategies:

1. Win/Win which states: “I want to win and I want you to win too (Conflict Resolution Network, n.d.).” I decided to take this approach and in the end, we both felt so much better about the decisions we made to make life much better for ourselves.

2. Go back to needs states: “The most important win/win maneuver you can make is to change course by beginning to discuss underlying needs, rather than only looking at solutions (Conflict Resolution Network, n.d.).” I understand that my children want and need their grandmother in their lives. I also realize that I want and need to have a relationship with my mother. Her feelings were mutual and she realized that she needed to allow my brother to stand on his own two feet so that she will have the time and energy to do exactly what she should be doing at this phase of her life which is enjoying herself and her grandchildren.

I am so thankful for this course and I am excited about the start of a new journey in our lives.


Reference:
Conflict Resolution Network. (n.d.). CR kit. Retrieved from http://www.crnhq.org/pages.php?pID=12#skill_3

WHO AM I AS A COMMUNICATOR?

This portrait is called, "The Confident Woman". My desire is to be as confident as the woman in the this portrait.
As I reflect on myself as a Communicator, I see a woman who is a strong communicator. Although, I tend to get very anxious before speaking in public, the adrenaline really kicks in when I speak. I have been told that I have a really unique way of delivering messages. I am very much a people person and I enjoy talking with others while having a good time in the process.

My husband was one of the people I asked to evaluate me as a communicator. His evaluation was very similar to mine in many areas which of course is no surprise to me. However, on the Communications Anxiety Inventory, his perception of me is that I do not experience any anxiety when asked to speak in public. My mentor was the other person I asked to evaluate me as a communicator. Her perception of me as a communicator is that I experience mild anxiety. After giving that perception some thought, she was correct because I share those thoughts with her as my mentor because of the context of our relationship whereas I tend to shut down communication with my husband.

I gained insight about my listening style as a communicator being that I tend to show empathy towards those I communicate with which could possibly cloud my judgment in some ways. This is an area that I feel I need to work on the most. I feel that empathy is necessary in most areas of communication when used in the appropriate context. However, we must be careful not to allow it to cloud our judgment especially when tough decisions need to be made as educators and administrators.

Communication and Culture

The Crayon Box Talked
Wouldn't it be terrible? Wouldn't it be sad?
If just one single color was the color that we had?
If everything was purple? Or red? Or blue? Or green?
If yellow, pink, or orange was all that could be seen?
Can you just imagine how dull world would be
If just one single color was all we got to see?

Communication is like a rainbow, a bag of M&M's, a box of crayons or a bowl of Skittles. It comes in so many colors and flavors. I enjoy looking at a rainbow in the sky and admiring the many different colors after a wonderful rain shower. The many different flavors of M&M's and Skittles entice my taste buds. I enjoy the many colors in a box of crayons because they remind me of the many different cultures and personalities that make up this world. This is the way I feel about communication.

I enjoy talking to people from all walks of life. Learning about the cultures represented around me is very intriguing to me. I must admit that I do communicate differently with people from different groups and cultures than those within my culture. I am very confident in my culture because there are strong similarities and common interests of those within my culture such as the foods we eat, the holidays we celebrate as well as the places we frequent.

When I am communicating with people from a different group or culture, I take a step back in order to take in the many facets of that culture. I enjoy observing their culture and experiencing it from an observer's perspective. I ask questions and participate in their activities as much as possible. I really have no problem being myself in any environment but I am more reserved when within a different culture. As far as my dialect when verbally communicating with others from a different culture, I find myself being very cautious of the words I use and the tone in which I use them. It is very different than talking to those within my culture because I am able to use phrases and certain slang and be easily understood. I am more relaxed when within my own culture but tend to be slightly guarded when interacting with those from other cultures until I get to know them and feel more comfortable around them.

Moreover, I enjoy all people. It does not matter what culture a person is from. we are all just like that box of crayons. We make a statement alone but scream diversity when put together. I enjoy sampling each color as I paint my picture of life.

That Was NOT What I Thought They Said!!

My favorite show...MONK!

This week's Blog assignment was so much fun! I have a long list of recorded shows already on my DVR so I chose to watch an episode of Monk. Now this show is very difficult to watch even with the volume turned up however, when you watch it with the volume turned down, the facial expressions and body language tell one story but when I turned the volume up and watched the show again, the verbal communication changed my perception of the story all together.

The episode I watched was showed a party scene where men and women were having a party. A couple seemed to be having a good conversation from the looks of their facial expressions and body language with the volume turned down, however, when I watched the episode again with they were actually arguing and the woman (to my surprise) was threatening to kill the man. In the end, she was found to be guilty of that murder however, she played the part as the grieving wife throughout the episode. Of course Monk solved the case but even he was deceived throughout most of the episode.

I learned through this exercise that nonverbal cues alone, can lead to misinterpretations of the message someone is trying to send. However, nonverbal cues coupled with verbal communication gives a more clear and effective message to the receiver of the message.

I have found that I pay very close attention to not only what a person is saying but also to the nonverbal messages the person sends when talking to me. Sometimes that is the true message and not so much the words that are coming out of the person's mouth. "Women usually pay more attention to both verbal and nonverbal cues when evaluating their partners and deciding how much of themselves they should reveal to those partners, whereas men attend more to the verbal information alone(O'Hair & Wiemann, 2012)."

Being able to read a person's nonverbal cues is a great tool to use when working in the field of early childhood education because many times a child will not open up to you unless you are able to read their nonverbal cues and ask more open-ended questions that will help the child feel more comfortable about sharing.

Communication is very intriguing and it has been a very interesting journey so far learning about the many different ways to do so both verbally and nonverbally.

My Communication SHE-RO

I must admit that I am super excited about this Communication and Collaboration course. My absolute favorite communicator is Oprah Winfrey. She is simply amazing at anything she puts herself into. I particularly appreciate the fact that the Oprah Winfrey Show gave her a platform from which she was able to impact so many peoples' lives. This influence allowed her to cross racial lines and because of this she is loved by people from all walks of life. Oprah is a Master Communicator and is able the difficult questions in a non-threatening way which provokes the interviewees to be very candid in their answers. I was always amazed how she is able to capture the essence of the subject at hand.

Oprah inspires me to set my sights on a goal and persevere until I accomplish them. I am so encourage by the school she opened in South Africa which is called the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. I am so excited about one day opening a Child Development Center/Youth Activity Center where I will be able to mentor young children and make a difference in my community.

I strive to continue to grow in the area of communication, not only through written communication but also verbal communication with others. I enjoy the art of communication and I enjoy interacting with others in positive ways.

Professional Hopes and Goals-Week 8

The one hope that I hope to have when working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to make them feel welcomed into a new environment. I believe that makes all of the difference in the world when moving from one environment to another so it is my goal to make a child and their family's transition as seamless as possible. Most education systems here in the U.S. are responding to this need by implementing the Common Core Curriculum across the country where no matter where a child moves to across forty-eight of the states, they will encounter very similar learning units so that fewer gaps are encountered in their education.
The one goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is to offer more training opportunities addressing diversity issues. I believe that sometimes educators are so enthralled in the four corners of their classrooms, centers and in a way set in their ways of doing things that they become less resistant to changing their views regarding the ever changing world around them. We must become more accepting of others and put forth a "meaningful" effort to impact their lives as they enter a new environment.

To some of the most wonderful colleagues: I am so very thankful for your transparency, candidness and thoughtful comments throughout this course. My life has truly been changed and each one of you share a part of that change. I sincerely thank all of you for being a part of the growth I have experienced throughout this course. I wish all of you the very best in your continued educational journey and I hope our paths will cross again really soon.

To Dr. Tuthill, I would like to thank you for being one of the most amazing professors I have encountered in my educational career. You have allowed me to share some of my innermost feelings which has allowed some of my shortcomings to be recognized and faced head-on and you did it so eloquently. Your kind feedback helped me to grow so much and I can't thank you enough for being a part of that growth. Teaching Diversity is certainly a special gift that you have and I am forever grateful for you. Best wishes to you.

Week 7: Welcoming Families From Around the World

I am a Social Service Worker and the family I have been assigned is from the country of Nigeria. In preparation to serve this family I will do the following five things:
1. Research the country of Nigeria to gain a better understanding of their surface culture so that once I meet with them I can begin to build a relationship with them. Parents are more responsive when there is a common thread on which they can build trust and relationships.
2. Living conditions is very important in the field of social work. So, I must research so that I can better understand their family structure and the way they are accustomed to living in their country so that I help them to compare things within their country and how they relate to things in the United States.
3. Learning words in their native language will also help to put my clients at ease with me and because I have always been interested in learning different languages, I could also ask them to help me with learning different words in their language.
4. Home visit will also help to build a good relationship with my family. This is a small thing that means a lot to families. Taking a few minutes to visit a family within their environment shows that you care and that, in itself, is the foundation for building relationships.
5. Making the family feel comfortable in a new environment is very helpful in easing their transition to a new country. By this I mean sharing information about the local area through magazines, brochures and even maps will help them navigate their new environment.
I hope the five things I have shared will benefit my Nigerian family by helping them gain new insight on their new home as well as gaining a new friend in me. I believe everyone desires to feel a sense of belonging especially when new to a place. I enjoy meeting new people and learning about their deep culture as well as teaching them about mine so I believe those common threads will benefit both myself and my clients.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

On of the most profound books pertaining to Biases, Prejudice and Oppression I have read was The Help by Kathryn Stockett. I can remember reading this book and then going to see the movie was a sense of anger and frustration of how African Americans were treated.

The treatment of African Americans in this book was very degrading. Being referred to as diseased, unintelligent, animal-like beings who were trained to obey the orders of White individuals to cook their food, clean their homes and even raise their children while being paid such a low income they could hardly afford food from day to day for their own families.

There was one particular incident in the book that I felt was really humiliating which was when Ms. Hilly (President of a Woman's Society/Bridge Club)wanted Ms. Skeeter (Editor of the newspaper) to write an article for their newspaper called the "Sanitation Plan" discussing why it was important for all homes to have separate bathrooms for the Help because they felt that Black people were diseased and dirty. Ms. Abilene (Ms. Leefolt's "Help")was present was serving the ladies while this conversation was taking place. The look on her face in the movie matched the way I felt in the pit of my stomach as I read the book. What provokes my feelings are the thoughts that as far back as slavery and even in the minds of some today; Black people are supposed to be so ignorant, dirty and unworthy of being treated equitable however, Black people were trusted to do the cooking, cleaning and even caring for the children of their White Masters. What an oxymoron!

The unwarranted acts of racism, oppression, classism, and intentional microagressions towards the African American race in this book was a tragedy. However, the way the "Help" banned together to collaborate on the book that was published by Ms. Skeeter who went totally against her own race and class of peers was encouraging and I enjoyed watching how the tables were turned when some of their deepest and darkest secrets were revealed because of the people who they deemed "invisible" witnessed more than they thought and was willing to share it all in the end.

Although, society has progressed in many ways, the book The Help is a reminder of why we should all people should be treated equitable. I thought this book was a great example of the racism, classism, sexism, microaggressive behaviors as well as oppression that once existed in our society and although we have made strides over the years, there is still work to be done.

This book is a GREAT read! I recommend reading the book before watching the movie but either way, your life and perspective will certainly be changed all while your are thoroughly entertained.

Week 4 - Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggressions is a new term for me however, my experiences with microaggressions are not at all new for me. There are so many instances of this type of behavior in my life that I could probably write a book about them and have a Best Seller as a result! As I thought about a particular instance of Microaggressions that I have recently experienced I remember an instance that could have been considered a stereotype microaggression it has led to great things in my life over the last year. As a full time student, I decided to work part time as a Substitute Teacher so that I could accommodate my class schedule and daughters' school schedules. After graduating in 2012 I began to work more and after establishing a great relationship with one of the teachers I subbed for, she asked me if I would be interested in a long term assignment working for her while she went out on maternity leave. I gladly accepted the challenge and in doing so, I began working full time and was given all of the responsibilities of a teacher which also included lesson planning, meetings and classroom management. Being that this school is a Title 1 school, located in a low income area, there are some challenging dynamics that come with this kind of environment that are not uncommon. The population is predominantly minority where behavior issues are prevalent as well as low parent participation. One day, the Principal of the school came into my classroom and asked to speak with me. When I stepped outside of the door, she began to tell me how impressed she was with the work I was doing with the children and many other great comments about my work ethics and the positive way the students respond to me as a person. The one comment that now sticks out in my mind was this: "You know it takes a special kind of person to work with these type of children." Now, I know for a fact that her statement was coming from a great place within her being that she is also an African American woman however, in thinking more deeply about the statement I can now see that there were some hidden stereotype microagressions in her statement which begs the questions: What "kind" of person is required to work with these "type" of children? Does this means because the children respond to me in a positive manner that she views my character as one that can "relate" to those "type" of children? I know that her intentions were meant to be complimentary because she encouraged me to go in pursuit of a career in teaching Middle School Language Arts and I did just that by receiving my Licensure and she has since hired me on as a teacher! I felt empowered and encouraged to pursue a career that I never thought I was capable of acquiring and to have the Principal see things within me that I didn't see within myself gave me a since of pride. However, I am now more aware of how our statements can have hidden messages of stereotype microaggressions even within our own cultural settings.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture-Interviews

Shirl Golightly was the first person interviewed and here are her answers: Question: What is your definition of culture? Answer: Culture is your lifestyle, beliefs, race and your religion. Question: What is your definition of diversity? Answer: Diversity is being a part of different things; being flexible in various environments. Zy'ale Clark was the second person interviewed and here are her answers: Question: What is your definition of culture? Answer: I believe culture is who you are (your race, gender, your beliefs), where you come from and how you live your life. Question: What is your definition of diversity? Answer: To me, diversity means thinking outside of the box, accepting others for who they are and embracing their differences. Ananiah Clark was the third person interviewed and here are his answers: Question: What is your definition of culture? Answer: My definition of culture is a pre-determined of beliefs or standards within a race of people based on historical factors. Question: What is your definition of diversity? Answer: Recognizing and accepting the differences in people, religion, things and opinions without pre-judging. Just because you disagree with one's opinion, religion or way of living does not mean you can not respect them for who they are or their lifestyle. In conducting the interviews, I noticed that all three of the people I interviewed included race and religion in their definition of what culture means to them. I did notice that traditions were omitted in all of their answers which is an example of one's deep culture. I found that like many other people, most of the opinions shared was more from a surface culture perspective or knowledge that could be gained without really getting to know someone at a deeper level. I found Ananiah's statement very interesting pertaining to his definition of diversity. I must agree that just because you disagree with one's opinion, religion or way of living does not mean you can not respect them for who they are or their lifestyle. I have learned that just because one's lifestyle may not be patterned the way mine is does not mean they are bad people so, I that should not interfere with my getting to know that person for who they are.

My Family Culture (Correction)

If I could only keep one item I would keep my family scrapbook because I could definitely find another Bible in the new country being that the Bible is one of the most published book in the world. My family scrapbook is one of the most important items to help carry on my family heritage by educating my children on where they came from.

My Family Culture

If there was a major catastrophe and I had to take three things that represented my culture I would take the following: 1. My Family Bible because it is the foundation of my family's culture stemming all the back to my ancestors. The Bible was the first book many learned to read from in the days of slavery. It's teachings have taught many generations how to treat one another and God's expectations of live a good life. 2. My photo album with pictures of my family because I use this book to share stories about my family to my children and grandchild about our heritage. 3. My IPod because music tells a story and soothes the soul. As an African American, our culture is very rich in the area of music from the old spirituals to the gospel songs of today. Music was something that has been passed down from generation to generation and really gives account to the struggles of our ancestors. If upon arrival I had to leave one thing behind, I would leave behind my IPod because all of the songs that I would are really etched in my heart. I have a love for music and have directed choirs for many years so, I could probably record the words to many of the songs. I have learned through this exercise just how much my faith and heritage means to me. I have a very strong sense of who I am and where I come from and a great respect for those who were here before me to help me become the person that I am today. This exercise difficult in a way because I had to really search within myself and establish what is important to my culture and has helped me become the person I am today which is why my first choice would be my Bible.

When I Think Of Research....

When I think of research I still think...WOW, WOW, WOW! I think of the same expressions but in a very different way. Initially I felt overwhelmed and very intimidated. However, I now feel more knowledgeable in the area of research. I must admit, I still struggle with some aspects of research but I am thankful for the information I have learned about research. The lesson I have learned about planning is the importance of choosing the correct research approach for the desired results. I believe perfecting the research process requires repeated practice and trial and error prior to beginning the actual research. Regardless of the approach taken, at some point in the research process most researchers find that they need to complete the following steps if they want to generate research that is informative, ethical, meaningful, persuasive and significant: -select a topic -search and review the literature -formulate a specific research issue/question -design the research -collect data/information -process/analyze data -draw conclusions -write research reports (Mac Naughton, Rolfe, Siraj-Blatchford, 2010) In designing a research study, it is important to take the time to determine what your goal is for the research. The researcher must determine whether the research will be used to describe, understand or explain what their interests are. There must be a well laid out plan before proceeding with the research. Collaboration is important because I have learned through the discussion topics as well as from the feedback from our instructor the importance of thinking through the research process. In conducting research, I have found that ensuring that one is treated ethically is very important. There are many ways to breach one's rights to being treated ethically. I was particularly enlightened by the subjects of homogeneity and essentialism. Researchers must be very careful not to show biases in research. My biggest challenges were the research simulations. I felt as if I could not grasp the concepts or understand some of the questions being asked. I struggled with meeting the expectations of the instructor and I still feel as if I have not completely grasped all of the concepts of research. My perceptions of early childhood professionals have changed as to the increased level of appreciation for the work we do for the safety and advancement of children's development. I especially appreciate early childhood researchers because their work is very intense and if not carefully planned and conducted, could cause serious concerns especially when children are involved. Overall, I have enjoyed this course especially collaborating with all of my colleagues!! THANK YOU ALL for your insight and feedback which has helped me to face one of the most challenging classes I have taken to date. Your kind words have truly enlightened and encouraged me to stay the course. I wish you all well in your future courses!!

International Research

The International website I chose is Early Childhood Australia: A Voice for Young Children http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/ •What are some of the current international research topics? Some of the current international research topics are best practices in early childhood education and fair, inclusive, quality education every child’s right; Early Childhood peak bodies welcome increased support for children with a disability. These topics seem to be universal because the same issues are being addressed in the United States as are in Australia and other countries. As research is being done on various ways to teach young children and the best way to provide the best learning experience for them. •What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website? I was really surprised to learn that Australia also practices inclusion in the classroom. Many times other countries would consider children with language/behavior exceptionalities as second citizens and ignore their developmental needs. However, it seems as if Australia has researched and attempts to address this issue. “Where there are barriers to children accessing early education and care services we should be doing everything in our power to overcome them(NAEYC,2013).” •What other noteworthy information did you find on this website? Other noteworthy information I found on this website is that there is a discussion forum where questions are asked/answered and important information is shared.