Who Am I As A communicator?????

This week’s blog assignment stemmed from an online sentences in the way I felt I communicated publicly, as well as how I communicate in one on one situations.

I am a person that hesitates when it comes to public speaking, I get nervous and find myself talking extremely too fast! What surprised was that my closest friend and co-worker assessed me as the kind of person that was comfortable speaking in front of large crowds, and felt as though I shut down during small group meetings. I, on the other hand disagree, I am always a nervous wreck when speaking in front of crowds and would rather speak one on one, or even in a small group.

What I learned from this activity was that, my feelings, and level of comfort towards communicating publicly, is definitely masked through my determination of getting through any presentations, or opportunities I have to do so. The way my family and co- workers view my level of comfort, is as if I come across as being the type of person that communicate clearly, and effective.

As a professional in the early child hood field, I not only communicate with my children, but with my families as well during school readiness meetings, and family night. In order to get over my fear of public speaking, I feel as though practicing in small groups more would be helpful, as well as practicing relaxation techniques, and really working with myself to find out what really makes me nervous speaking in front of large groups. Is it the people in general? Or the fact that I am afraid to fail, although I know I am fully prepared, and knowledgeable about the topic?

 

 

I Heard It Through the Grapevine!!!!

Being such a people person, and also working within the early childhood profession, I have had so many experiences in communicating.

I currently work in a center that is predominately white, myself being one of two black women. My co-teacher, who is also black, and best friend of many years seem to communicate with one another in a way that is different from the way we talk to our Center Manager, and all other admin staff.

However, I feel as though I remain consistent and not “loose” who I am, just to make someone else feel as though I do not fit in. What helps me gain the respect from my colleagues and families I serve is my personality, my direct eye contact, my nonverbal cues which allows the other person in which I am communicating with understand , I am in fact paying attention.

I often ask my friend why she “code switches”, and suddenly verbalizes as if she was running for office, she is very unaware that she does this, I have noticed other colleagues pick up on it.

 

Learning about communication skills” Good Times!

The show I chose to observe appeared to be an African American family standing in a room with a couch and 1 chair. The room the individuals are standing in is also joined with what appears to be the kitchen area. There are 2 older women, and an older man, along with a teenage boy, a younger and a teenage girl.

There is a conversation going on between the teenage boy and the older couple. The two other children are sitting on the floor smiling up at the three involved in what appears to be a positive conversation. Through the door brings a very attractive African American woman who walks in with no invitation, she communicates something, claps her hands and greets the older women already present with a side hug, As she stops laughing and hugging, both women look at one another, and give each other what appears to be a longer heart felt hug.

The show I am discussing is called; “Good Times”. This particular episode was one where the family (mother, father, and three children) were getting evicted due to nonpayment of rent. Through the laughs and smiles displayed, one would assume the conversation was joyous, and possibly a happily family enjoying each other’s’ company, when all along the family was in jeopardy of losing their home.

The women that entered was a longtime friend of the mother, she made a joke as she always does when she enters the family’s home. The look in the mother’s eyes displayed sadness, in which time the two (neighbor and mom) gave one another a hug.

“If others tell us something we make assumptions, and if they don't tell us something we make assumptions to fulfill our need to know and to replace the need to communicate. Even if we hear something and we don't understand we make assumptions about what it means and then believe the assumptions. We make all sorts of assumptions because we don't have the courage to ask questions.”
― Miguel Ruiz, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom    

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=good+times+images&qpvt=good+times+images&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=BF05A1146866B78A1B732C2A56EA6ADFD6197338&selectedIndex=0

Communication is not always straight forward.

 

The show I watched seemed to be based on 7 people who were close, but only two males lived together. They appeared happy by the smiles on their faces, and very involved, as they all 6 sat together to play some sort of board game.

In this sitcom, there appears to be four women and three males, each have a partner, but 1. Watching the show without sound was quite nerve racing, because I had to assume the plot, however, it became really interesting when I turned the sound up.

The show was called; “The Bid Bang Theory”. Apparently all the cast members are some type of geniuses, and there are three couples. And one male who cannot seem to find love. The group is not always happy, in fact the two males living together, drive each other nuts on a daily basis.

The point of the story is that, although each of the members are different, with different talents, they all share a commonality of friendship and togetherness.

 

Professional Hopes and Goals

I have had such a wonderful journey while working in the young education field. I have met so many awesome children and families from all diversities. I have enhanced my proficiency in Spanish, and Ukrainian. I have had the pleasure to learn about each of my children and families cultural profiles, foods, traditions, and the way they celebrate special holidays.

One goal I would like for the early childhood field is to incorporate more of a multicultural curriculum that will last the duration of the year, as well as meaningful and purposeful activities that will facilitate the children’s learning, and understanding of differences and inclusive classroom communities.

I would like to thank my colleagues for the resources, suggestions, and helpful comments during our course together. I wish each and every one of you the best of luck and success in your future of educating our wonderful young children!!!

Another Day In Paradise
performed by Phil Collins
about insensitivity of people towards the problem of poverty:

"She calls out to the man on the street
'Sir, can you help me?
It's cold and I've nowhere to sleep,
Is there somewhere you can tell me?'
He walks on, doesn't look back
He pretends he can't hear her
Starts to whistle as he crosses the street
Seems embarrassed to be there"

Welcoming Families From Around the World

For this week’s blog we are asked to choose a country we are unfamiliar with, and imagine that we have a child from that country entering our center, agency, or in home care facility.

I have chosen a group care facility ranging from infancy to pre-K. The family I will be currently working with have adopted a child from an orphanage in Guatemala.

I have learned through research and preparation upon the arrival of my new family, that a large population if children living in Guatemala are placed in orphanages due to poverty, mistreatment, and a variety of other societal challenges. 

 As an early educator in preparation for the arrival of my new family, I will:

·         Discuss with the family if they \were explained how much language this 4 year-old child has, if any.

·         I will research all information on the child based on any trends or issues related to children raised in that type of care, as I would do so in learning about all of my families’ cultural background.

·         In the event that I would learn the child understands mostly Spanish language, I would prepare my classroom environment accordingly, as well as my proficiency in Spanish.

·         I will work closely with the family to facilitate any accommodations, food modifications, extra professional support within the community and routines that are practiced within the child’s home.

·         I will provide an inclusive environment for the child and family, as well as work with the children in the classroom, to learn about, and understand this child’s cultural dynamics.

Benefits to being culturally responsive for me and the family in which I will currently be serving are:

• Collectively we will learn the culture and history of the child, and the area in which he was born.
• We will learn to adapt to the child’s traditions, and routines, that will help both home and the child’s school environment.
• We will support the child in learning about individuals that are; “different” than he is, that will eliminate fear, and exclusion.
• By working with the family, we will be able to help the child’s peers learn about growing up and learning internationally, which will support children’s abilities to accept, embrace, and eliminate judgments that promote unwanted and negative bias against others. 
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The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

For this week’s blog assignment we were asked to think of an incident we experienced bias, prejudice, and/or oppression, or witnessed someone else as the target of bias, prejudice, and/or oppression.

The experience I most remember is when I first began my career in an early head start class. My room consisted of 8 children, 6 of which were Spanish speaking, and one year old.

At the time I was working with a woman that was married with two young boys, her husband was laid off, and they were forced to sell their home and rent a trailer in a predominantly Spanish speaking community.

One day while cleaning the classroom, as the children slept, she stated to me that some “wetbacks” stole her son’s bike. I looked at her and asked if she knew who stole the bikes, not realizing the definition of the term she used. She stated; “yes, those nasty little Mexicans”.

At that point, I knew the term she used was a negative connotation against Spanish speaking individuals. I responded to her in a not so nice way in the beginning, but immediately realized, getting angry was not the solution, but in fact a lesson in respect would be more helpful. To this day I can not comprehend how an educator that works in a diverse setting, where 90% of the children and families we serve are Spanish speaking, can state such an ignorant statement as she did. I immediately let her know that I was reporting her to the center manger, and that I did not feel comfortable working along side of her. The woman was reprimanded for her behavior, which did not improve, and later discharged within the next 3 weeks.

By using such a derogatory term against another race, this frames people of color as inferior and creates a wider narrative of oppression. I felt offended and ashamed to hear someone who works with children and families, from all ethnicites use such a races slur, and it appeared to me that she felt angry and hurt to be associated with anyone outside of her own race; I feel this is true for me as well.

Learning about anti-bias is not only a great learning experience in the classroom for children, but adults as well. Our goal as adults is to empower children in this diverse and ever changing world, but to do so, we as adults need to be more responsive to the diverse needs of the children and families we serve, or encounter in our daily lives. 

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.”
— Martin Luther King, Jr.

 " It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.”

— Maya Angelou