Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

   Throughout this week I didn't detected any examples of microaggression, so I started to think back over the years and I remember when I was working for this company and I was switched to a different floor. As I began to meet my new coworkers, I started talking to this one girl, as we talked and to start to get to know each other, she asked me where in the city did I lived. I told her that I lived on the west side of town; she asked me if I knew a girl who like me was black and lived in the city. I informed her that I did not know her. This conversation left me thinking that she believed that I should know all black people or that all blacks knew each other. I wasn't sure if I was insulted or how I should feel about it, because I don’t feel that she said it in a rude way. I guess it left me more confused than anything else.

     I don’t often think about discrimination, prejudice and or stereotypes because it is something that you just live with or deal with when it happens. It’s the world we live in, I would love for it to never exist but it does. But going through this course and reading and viewing the resources for this week I have a better understanding of the feelings that come with being a victim if it.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Response from the questions ask,

What is culture?

What is diversity?

 An African American male -37 years

Culture - Although we are all human it is what defines us, it is what separates everyone.

 Diversity- is your own uniqueness regardless of your culture. So even though you are in the same culture within that you are diversity from them.

An African American female-37years

Culture- my beliefs and values, my music the food I eat and my attitude

Diversity- is a blend of people and cultures.

 A male 55years from Trinidad/ Canada

Culture-Distinct habits, behaviors, religion and lifestyle choices, general found in a group or population of people.

Diversity-The recognition of the differences in culture, habits and practice and religion.

The responses that I received are what we have talked about in this course. We have discussed that culture is who we are. I don’t believe anything that they talked about has not been mentioned in this course. I have become stronger in my beliefs of my culture and diversity.

My family culture

    The three items that I would take to the new country that I was  assign to, would be my bible, pictures of my family and my hair products.

    My bible is my life; I live by the word and believe in the Bible. My family is God fearing people who believe in the Bible, so with the Bible at my side, I would be comfortable in another country. Pictures of my family because I could always look at them and remember the good times when we were all together. My hair products because I love doing my hair and those around me, braiding hair is part of my culture, so by me taking my hair products, I can keep a part of my culture with me. 

    If I was told that I could only keep one item out of the three, I would feel bad about giving up my family pictures, but I have them in my heart so I could give them up, my hair products could give up. I would have to keep my Bible. It would be the only thing that would give me hope that one day things would be different. I would read it and find hope.

   The exercise really made think about what was important in my life, and how I view the many things in my life. Think that it would be hard starting in a different country, especially if you are forced.

When I Think of Research...

•What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

      I have gained a new respect for the process of what goes into research. Before this course I had no knowledge of the research process. There is so much that goes into development of research. So I appreciate what researchers do much more now than I did before.

 •In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

I don’t feel my ideas about doing research has changed I still would not be interested in conducting a research, but it has giving me a better understanding of it and if I did have the opportunity to be involved in one, I would not be completely unprepared.

 •What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

 I’ve learned that you need to be precise when conducting a research. You need to have a good plan, a good topic. Know who your target population will be and make sure information is protected and valid.

 •What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

I encountered a lot of challenges, this course was not easy for me, it was very much out of my comfort zone. Putting my topic in to a topic question that made sense was probably the most difficult part of the course. However, once I understood it, it became clear.

 •What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

I don’t feel that my perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified or changed as a result of this course. But, I do appreciate the researched that has gone into the early childhood field more than I did before.

Thanks everyone...and much success in the future!!

Research Around the World

      The website that I chose to explore was www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au. This website gives us information on what Australia is doing in the early childhood world. While going through this website I came across some of the research topics in Australia. They have what is called “The Research in Practice Series” which is an easy-to-read resource that offers new effective approaches for challenging issues that may arise in the care and education of young children. It is an essential resource for individuals involved in the early childhood field.

    Some of the topics that I came across and I found interesting were,  learning and teaching through play, Diversity and difference: Lighting the spirit of identity, Managing change with infants and young children, Young children as active learners, Active children: Healthy now and later.

     I found that this website was a wealth of information that not only will help early childhood educators in Australia but help educators all over the world. It was very much like the NACYE website in that the information was clear and easy to understand. I also enjoyed the resource theme page and the Every Child magazine. It provided a lot of great articles.

        If I was able to conduct research any topic in early childhood field, it would have to be autism. I remember when I first entered into the early childhood field, at that time you didn’t hear of children with autism that was over 15years ago. Over the past few years autism has become so prevalent in our communities. According to the National Autism Association about 1 in 88 children are on the spectrum of autism. I would want to research possible causes and if there could be some way to prevent autism. 

     When I look at the children whose families are not financially able to help their children with autism or who are not knowledgeable of information regarding autism it hurts me because they are at such a disadvantage than other children who families are more involved in knowing about autism. This research would change the lives of so many families.

Reference

National Autism Association (2012). Autism retrieved from http://nationalautismassociation.org/resources/autism-fact-sheet/

Research Topic

        The topic that I have chosen to research is equity and excellence in care and education of children, families, and EC professional. I choose this topic because early childhood programs are not on the same level. There are programs that are in urban areas that are not high quality centers, therefore creating an unequal development for these children.  Someday I would like to see early childhood teacher and professional on the level that other professional are, being paid for the high quality work they perform. I think we would see less turn over if we were able to have salaries that reflect the work they do. The early childhood field is one of the most important careers that there is we, hold the future in our hands. Any suggesting or questions are welcome. Thank you