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.

Tacrolimus Research

At the age of 5 weeks, my oldest daughter was diagnosed with a skin condition called Eczema. She suffered terribly, with sleepless nights and constant crying from the severely itchy skin. Her skin resembled that of a scaly fish and she would scratch until she bled. We tried everything to help her to no avail. I remember taking she and my son to San Diego, California to visit my father and stepmother and before we returned home, my stepmother called me to inform me of a huge research study they were conducting for eczema. I immediately called the Children's Hospital in Washington, D.C. and made an appointment. I took my daughter in and she was accepted into the study, provided with all of the medication. We only had to fill out keep a journal of the results and keep our appointments for a month. The results were absolutely amazing. I don't have any before pictures however, I do have a current picture of my beautiful daughter who once had eczema covering 85% of her body and is now 24 years old and is as beautiful as ever. This is because the miracle drug Tacrolimus (now called Protopic) has changed her life. Tacrolimus is a drug used for renal care patients to help prevent organ rejection but was found to also benefit people who suffered from eczema.