Professional Hope and Goals

I really enjoyed this course, I was able to challenge myself and reflect on experiences that really defined who I am. One hope that I have when working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that classrooms represents all of their culture.I really hope that every child and family can feel and be accepted as they are. 

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice is that we see continue to see progress. Progress is so important and really makes a difference. We have to celebrate the things that we have overcome and continue to make differences. The first step of anything is awareness, so making families and people aware of diversity, equity and social justice is a big step.  

Thank you colleagues for supporting me and challenging my thinking. It has been a real blessing to write each of you this last 8 weeks. 

See you next semester!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

This post hit home to me because I had a lady in my training last week from Singapore. When I found out a month ago that I was going to have this lady in my training, I began to do my research on Singapore, really focusing on the child care system. The reason I did this is because I train on how to assess quality teacher child interactions, and I needed to ensure that what I was saying could a line to the culture of Singapore. I learned that Singapore child care system is a little different from America's mainstream child care, but that there are strides to really focus on quality care outside of the home.

In addition to researching Singapore, when I met Siren, my participant from Singapore, I asked her to tell me about the child care system she worked with. I asked her this because I didn't want to make the assumption that what I researched about Singapore was her experience. She was able to share with me her experience with child care, and the purpose of attending my training.

To answer the questions of the blog:

Since I work with adults who work with children, I will use that position to answer the following questions:

1. The name of "your" participant country of origin: Singapore
2. At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards the participant? 1. Conduct research 2. Ask the participants their experience instead of just assuming 3. Being aware of my own bias 4. Allow participants to share their stories and experience that may be different from the dominant culture 5. Create a diverse learning environment
3. A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations will benefit both you and the participant. I believe that the steps that I am taking will allow the participant to be comfortable in our discussions, and by asking their experiences, let them know that we value them an their opinions.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

When I reflect on my experience with bias, prejudice and oppression, I think the experiences that hurt the most were the ones that happened on the "sly". When I say the "sly" I mean that it was done in a passive aggressive manner. The experience that I have been thinking about the most lately was when I was working as a Director of a Child Care Center. When I was first hired to create a child care center from scratch. My boss who was a male, only expected me to work with the children because he believed that was my "place". When we first opened we were having some financial issues because we didn't have enough families yet. I had worked at a center before and wanted to share my financial experience with my boss because I had overcome the same problem at my previous job. I went to my boss with my idea, and basically was told not to worry about it, just to worry about the children because that was what I was good at, because women were good caretakers. At the time, because he said it in a laughing manner, I didn't let it get to me, but now I know I was a victim of sexism.

The way my story diminished equity, was I wasn't even given the chance to try my idea because I was out of my "lane". Our business ended up suffering, until we hired a financial consultant who was a woman. When I shared my idea with her, she tried it, and it worked, We were out of debt within 3 months.

The feelings that were brought up because of this was hurt, confusion and the feeling that I wasn't good enough, or smart enough to run a child care center. It also hurt my professional feeling because it made me feel like I was only the "babysitter" and that was it.

The fact that someone was hired and heard me out, lets me know that my boss had to be moved aside so that I could have an opportunity to try out my idea, that ended up working.

It's so funny now that I am able to spot different isms out, before I knew about them, but wasn't so aware. Now I am fully aware and find myself pointing them throughout my week.
 

Awareness of Microaggressions

This week I learned about microaggressions, I actually have experienced microaggression, but I just never knew what it was called. According to Derald Wing Sue (2011), the speaker of the media segment, “Microaggressions are brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behavioral or environmental, that they may be intentional or unintentionally communicated to women, to people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often time causes severe psychological distress and harm” (Laureate Education, 2011).

I want to share my experience of microaggression, I shared this experience in my weekly reflective journal assignment, but since you all can't read it, I will share it with you all.

I have experienced microaggression, and for me it happened with my white friends or even co-workers. Once I was riding back from lunch with a co-worker who I felt close to. We were talking about some of the child care centers we worked with, and some of the teachers we really needed to mentor. During the conversation, my co-worker looked at me and said, “Cierra, sometimes I forget that you are black because you don’t act black.” I remember being upset, but not wanting to say something because I was afraid that I would be labeled as the “angry black woman.” I looked over at my co-worker who was smiling at me, and I could tell that she didn’t mean any harm, but I still felt hurt, anger and dishonored. 

I think what makes microaggression so interesting is that it is not done on purpose, most of the people who say it, is not aware that they might offend the person they are saying the comment to. I have to admit that I have done it before. I think the reason I did it is because I wanted to relate to the person. I know it is werid, but for some reason I thought that is how I let the person know that I know they are different and I made note of that. It's crazy, I know, and I won't be doing it ever again.

Reference:
 Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu


 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

The term culture means so many things to different people, and this week's blog assignment proved that. This week I spoke to my mom, boyfriend and bestfriend, and ask them some questions about culture.

I asked all three people what are their thoughts about diversity and culture.

My Mom:

Culture is everything, I think it has to do with how people live. In theory everyone wants to be diverse, but it's actually hard because everyone wants to be accepted.

Boyfriend:

Well look at our relationship, laugh out loud. We are so different from each other. I mean I was raised in Dallas, and you were raised in Austin, and that contributes to who we are as people. I like diversity and I like learning from people who are different from me. I love that we are from different races and cultures, I learn so much from you everyday.

Bestfriend:

I think culture is important, but I really don't know what my culture is. I get culture confused with identity. My mom and I was just talking about the importance of dating someone who is from the same yolk as you. When you date someone like you, it makes the relationship easier.

I learned a lot from the answers I received and thought a lot about what they all said. My mom's definition of culture is how I view culture. I also believe that culture is everything and it is how people live.

Everyone's opinion of culture is different, but my bestfriend had a point about dating someone who is from the same yolk as you. Don't get me wrong, I love my boyfriend, but I am happy that we share the same "deep" culture such as religion.

Culture is an interesting topic to learn about, because it is everyone, and it is more exciting to hear how other people view it.

My Family Culture

I love the scenarios when you have to decide 3 things to take with you. It's like you have to categorize your life. So after much thought I think I have my answers to the questions below.

1. Three items you would take to represent your family culture in case of a major catastrophe.
I wish this was simple, but it isn't, but I would take:

1. My chest of family photos

2. My cell phone

3. My chest full of letters from family member

So these three items represent something special to me. The chest full of family photos has all my photos of my family in there. There are pictures of my grandparents when they were young, and all my family. What I think is so interesting is that people don't take pictures for family albums anymore, but really now for Facebook and social media. The chest with all my photos gives me memories and remind me of where I came from.

My cell phone is my favorite thing, and it holds pictures, text, music and other things that represent my family. I have videos of gatherings we have had, and pictures that will never be deleted.

Since I was about 7 years old, I have been saving letters. I remember writing letters to my friends in between classes. I also remember there was a time in my life when my mother couldn't afford a home phone, so I communicated with family members via letters in the mail. My grandma and I wrote letters all the time, nearly every week, and she would share stories with me, and I would learn a little something about my family. 

If someone told me that I could only keep one item, it would have to be the phone. The videos on it are special, and one is of my grandma on her 85th birthday. 

What I learned about this exercise is that I don't items per say that represent my family culture but I do have memories. When I was doing this exercise I was looking around my house to find items that represented my family, but all I could find was pictures. I thought that was very interesting!

When I Think of Research

Another semester is coming to close. I can almost feel graduation on my face! This semester turned out to be quite a joy. From sitting my top on my lap in airports, hotels and even Uber, I have successfully completed another course in my master journey. As my last blog assignment for EDUC 6163, I have some questions that I am going to reply to!

1. What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?
Answer: I really don't know where to start. I know when I first started this course, I remember a streak of fear coursing through my body, that even the word "Research" scared me. I believe what saved me was the awesome handouts, textbook and of course Dr. Parrish. I learned that research is a process, but it can be done, and you have a choice on the path you can take to get it there.

2. In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?
Answer: Research is not a bad thing. Actually after planning out a research design, I actually understand research and the process a lot more, and feel that research might play a part in my future with early childhood.

3.What lessons about planning, designing and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?
Answer: The real questions is what did I not learn? I entered this course not knowing a thing about research, except that it gave answers to our questions. Now I know how to select a topic, write a hypothesis, design a study, select participants and even determine dependent and independent variables.

4. What were some of the challenges you encountered-and in what ways did you meet them?
Answer: I hated the week when we had to turn our research topics into quantitative designs. I repeat, I hated that week, and believe I even cried the Sunday it was due. (Yes I am a dramatic person!) I wanted my assignment to be perfect, but I had no idea how to turn my research topic into a quantitative design because I had selected the topic to be a qualitative design in my head. I was so frustrated that week. But I learn so much from the comments Dr. Parrish left me and I now feel more confident in the quantitative design, just please don't ask me to complete another one.

5. What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?
Answer: Not much! I never really considered myself a researcher, and still don't, but I know that is something that I am capable of doing. Humans in the early childhood profession wear many hats and have magical powers. I remember when I was a Director, and the Account specialist asked me to write down a list of things I did at work daily, so that they could try to match my pay to my worth. Well I remember the page was two and half pages long. The Account specialist came back to me and said, "Oh my, I would have never guess that you did this much? We can never pay you what your worth, but we do appreciate you and will buy you breakfast every Friday." So I guess it's safe to say that I can add "design a research study" to my list of things I can do!

I enjoyed reading all of your post and discussions, see you in our next course!

Cierra