Professional Hopes and Goals

My hope is to develop an openness with the children and families where they feel comfortable in relating to each other and learning about each other's backgrounds.  I would use strategies suggested in the text, "Anit-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves."  Listed below are a couple of the suggestions that I really like:

Derman-Sparks & Edwards (2010) suggests having several conversations with the family.  The best way to learn about and relate to a family is to make home visits.  As families and staff get to know each other, the sharing of information and gaining of understanding helps to form the relationship between the teacher, child, and family (p. 121).

And, we should respect and value each family for who they are.  "Early childhood educatiors are ethically responsible to respect the dignity and preferences of each family and to make an effort to learn about the family's structure, culture, language, customs, and beliefs--then  to bring those relationships into our program" (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 121).

As an educator, one goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to build a community of unity.  My goal would be to helps to overcome their biases and prejudices.  Teaching other not to let their attitudes towards race, sexual preferences, religion, and/or class be your determing factor in how we treat one another; especially when it comes down to children being able to thrive in a diverse world.  "We must be proactive in helping children to construct healthy, positive racial identity and respectful attitudes toward people of differing racial identities" (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 80).

I would like to thank all of my classmates for sharing their knowledge and growth with me.  Being able to read others' perspective on issues dicussed in this class has helped me in relating to others and to grow as an individual.  Thank you all so much for sharing your ideas with me!
Good luck to everyone!!!!

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L. & Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves.
     Washington, D.C.                     



Welcoming Families From Around the World

      My family would be from Italy, a place I would love to visit.

1. I would prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family by learning about their customs, values, beliefs, and religion. 
2. I would invite the family/parents to come to the class and share their cultural traditions with the class.  For example, speak the alphabets in Italian and teach it to the students or sample a traditional food.
3. Interact with the parents and the children by learning about their family, their interests, and what they expect educationally by obtaining learning resources that reflect and support the cultural norms of the children.
4. Learn from people in the community who are different from me about their native country and experiences.
5. Try to develop a sense of communication with the children and their families in order to build a respect and valued relationship.

I hope that these preparations will benefit both myself and the family by giving us the opportunity to learn to live respectfully together by understanding and valuing the uniqueness in each of us no matter where we are from.  The sharing of knowledge makes us all more rounded individuals and much is to be learned.

Reference

Hyland, N. (Jan. 2010). Social Justice in Early Childhood Classrooms: What the Research Tells Us.  YC: Young Children, 65 (1), 82-87. Retrieved from the Walden Library using the ProQuest  Central   

 database.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Being that February is Black History Month, the memory that came to mind for me was the experience of prejudice that the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. endured while trying to bring about legal segregation, equality and justice for all mankind, but especially for African Americans.  The South was and still is a place known for prejudice because of race. 

Because of the prejudice and hatred Dr. King and many others that fought for legal segregtion, justice and equality were jailed, beaten, and called racist names. But the most disturbing thing is that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated because of prejudice.  And, many other blacks were murdered due to racial discrimination and prejudice. 

I have felt anger and sadness because of what so many people have endured just because of the color of their skin.  Again, I would like to stress the fact that we are all human beings no matter what our skin color is or what our religious preference, sexual preference, or social status may be; when we focus on these issues and judge a person because of things such as we are doing an injustice to that person.  Remembering that, "prejudices are often accompanied y ignorance, fear, or hatred."

I think that people have to change and realize the damaging effects that come about from practicing prejudice, bias, internalized oppressions.  Yes, we all have a right to feel the way we want to feel, but we do not have the right to inject those negative feelings on others and to devalue their self-worth as a person.

                                                                           Reference

Teaching Tolerance. (n.d.). Test Yourself for Hidden Bias. Retrieved May 25, 2011, from

     http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hidden-bias