Welcoming Families From Around the World

• The  name of “your” family’s country of original

The name of my family’s country of origin is Mexico because each year during this time I work with the migrant and I need to learn as much as, possible. There are several challenges in working with the migrant programs. One is the language some Spanish children only speak Spanish no English. Some migrant children’s speak both English and Spanish this can be enormous situation if you happen to be equipped for this duty. Label your entire center with two languages English and Spanish. If you can not speak Spanish a third person need to be placed in your class who know how to speak or interpreter the languages in the classroom. Make sure you secure the classroom with different diverse settings. Diversity will help support the families, teachers, and children. This will help ensure a safe and hazard free classroom environment.

·         At least five ways in which you will prepare yourself to be culturally responsive towards this family.

1.      To learn and study about their cultural background Mexicans are known for their kindness and hospitality. They are the descendants of the Aztecs, and Mayas Mexican people have strong artistic skills.

2.      To learn about the history and famous Mexican people Don Benito Juarez was born in Oaxaca in 1806. Mr. Don Benito Juarez helps Mexico to be successful in economy levels during his presidency. During 1831, he became the president of Mexico Mr. Juarez helped Mexico to grow tremendously during his reign in the president of Mexico.(Juarez, 1831).

3.       Respecting each religious views such as, Mexican worship several different gods and believe in the custom of Baptist. 89% of Mexican is of the Catholic belief. It is essential for all teachers to learn about every child’s religion beliefs to discover if they celebrate them or not. Because this helps to be prepared to help protect the child’s and family.

4.      To learn about the food Mexican foods eat and serve Mexicans like their food spicy. Mexican has favor types of different food such as chocolate, peanuts, beans, coconuts, and tomatoes. Most Mexican love corn and chili because of the texture of the food. Because, at the end of each month, we have to a nutrition experiment. This will give me an opportunity to do an experiment with Mexican foods such as, tacos salads, chili and beans dish for everyone to enjoy.

5.      To learn about the country of Mexico is the most visited countries in the entire world. Considering the friendly people, high quality food, and the clothing’s Mexican wear.

This can be another experiment in celebrating holidays, or dress up day. Having each student to dress up like their family’s cultures. (Juarez, 1831).

·         A brief statement describing in what ways you hope that these preparations  will benefit both  you and the family

I hope these preparations will benefit both me and family by being a better qualified educator.

I can apply the knowledge that I have gained and put it together with the family can develop all young children with better learning and development skills.

To improve relationships between families and respect all individual religion beliefs, and backgrounds.

To learn from both teachers and families about the children weaknesses and strengthens to know what level the child need help

References:

Article: Boutte, G. (2008). Beyond the illusion of diversity: How early childhood teachers can promote social justice. Social Studies. 99(4). 165—175.

Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete datebase

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

           My memory I have of an incident I had experienced bias, prejudice, and oppression is when I was about 12 or 13 years of age. I remember I would be so excited when dad would come home riding in the wagon. I would be waiting for my dads’ I would be so excited sitting on the front porch. When I see that wagon coming. I would jump off the porch I could not wait for dad to get to the house. I would go meet my dads’ my oldest brothers’ would get so angry with me. Called me the worst name I could hear. Joseph would jump off that wagon and go into the house. My heart will just be so sad, and Cousin Leroy would take his penis out every time, and wet in my face. I will just take my hands and cover my face cousin Leroy just laugh in my face. I would not never tell dad because I was afraid that dad would go away, and I would not see him no more. My cousin was bias against me because I was loved dad, and he loved my sister’s Earnestine.

            The ways bias, prejudice and oppression the incident diminish equity Joseph did not like or accepted the fact that I was not old enough to go to the field. Cousin Leroy could not deal with that I loved dad, and I was excited to see dad. Cousin Leroy shown bias toward me for my sister Earnestine. Because she was his favor, and he hated me because of love for my dad’s. This incident brought me up by never to have a respected person and people will hate you because of that three letter word LOVE. I taught me to love people even if they do not love. Because it is not what people do to me it is what I do to people that what matter.

            I think that my brother’s and Cousin Leroy because of the hate they had toward me. Only because I was a young child and was not able to go and work in the field. Cousin Leroy hated me because I would never go and visit him, but I chose to stay with dad. After all these were two grown people they should have known better. I was just a child and just wanted to be with my best friend, dad the man. Most people were bias toward dad because he was a black man but dad loved his children.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

When I was about 15 years of age I had a sexual experiment I encountered, and I pray that no young child has to experience. This man was my dad’s best friend the friend that ate, went fishing, and even went to church with dad. I remember dad’s best friend name was Jimmie Lee Harris. My dad loved this man he could not see no wrong in him. This man would come over dad’s house about three times a week. Mr. Harris would call me over to the sofa and would say "here you go some candy". When dad wasn't looking he would take my hand and force me to touch him inappropriately. My dad would ask him to take me into town to get some food, or other items. Dad would have me to go with Mr. Harris every time. I did not want to go because I know that I would have to get ready for a fight or struggle. I use to hate when he used to put his hands on me trying to kiss me I would not let him touch me. Mr. Harris begins to fondle me and say nasty words to me I told him I was going to tell my daddy, but he tricked me and said "he will not believe you."

 Oh how I cried we wrestled for the longest than he just stopped. I was determined that Mr. Harris was not going to rape me. Where he taken me it was so dark that it seem like you can feel the darkness. I can not tell anyone where he took me because of the darkness. I was afraid to tell my dad because I knew dad was going to do something dangerous to Mr. Harris. I did not want my dad to go to jail and be away from the family. I love my daddy I would have given my life for my dad. My dad's best friend tried to rape me. I experienced sexual assault I felt so guilty I started to accuse myself. Mr. Harris poison my mind he said I was to blame. I felt so alone, horrified, and afraid, if I tell dad, I’ll lose my best friend if I was to tell my mom she would wouldn't believe me and thought I would make something up. I was between a rock and a hard place. I found myself as the target of micro aggression sexuality because Mr. Harris would repeat fondling me over and over again. I was terrified this sexual experiment does corrupt young children state of mind.

I have learned that the effects of discriminations, prejudice and/or stereotypes on people are very critical. People are not born with the spirit of hate they are taught to hate. We as parents and teachers should work together in supporting a healthy environment. Because children have feelings also; they know when they are being discriminated. Discriminations are when we as teachers does not input the knowledge the children and ourselves need to support a healthy environment. I do believe when we do not put forward our best efforts to understand every child has the right for a positive education. I have learned that prejudice is like a disease it goes down deep in the innermost being, and it will destroy you. I have learned that children or people are not born prejudice they are taught to be prejudice. I believe that this is unfair to young children when we make up their minds for them. I have learned about being stereotypes on people that we as individuals have the right to believe in what we want to. Stereotypes are a different group races or individuals who make certain judgment about people and not knowing the people. An example of stereotypes is that all black people are uneducated, or all white people with blue eyes are devils. Both examples are not true and irrelevant. We should respect all people. We as grownups need to model positive examples for the younger society.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

The person I communicated with was Ms. Willingham, Ms. Ross, and Mrs. Hancock. I Ms. Willingham communicated with me person-to- person because we work together. Ms. Willingham said, "Culture is the behaviors and beliefs such as, food, dress, music, language, and holidays. Diversity means everyone is not the same and a person is unique in their own ways." Mrs. Hancock said, "Culture is the elements of language, behavior, and values of a group of people." She stated, "Diversity is a group of people race, religious, language, and beliefs.” Ms. Ross said, “My definition of culture is the beliefs, language, values, norms, behaviors, and material objects that are important enough to pass on the future generation." Ms. Ross said, "my definition for diversity is a variety of different objects.”

            I truly agree that culture come in many different forms and in everything we do have to do with culture. The food we eat the cloths we wear, the way we move our bodies have to deal with culture. Example: Culture has many of rules and qualities such as, how different families raise their children. The Hispanic raises their children to respect their elders, not to look the adults in the eyes when being spoken to. African-American believes strongly in religious beliefs. As young as 6 months, infants demonstrate that they notice differences in skin color (Katz & Kofkin 1997).

 Toddler begins to notice and comment on gender and racial differences. By age 2, children are using appropriate gender labels (girl, boy) and learning color names, which they begin to apply to skin color (Ramsey 2004). Example: Asking questions gender, racial identity, and language. By age 4, they begin to show awareness of family structures and economic class differences (Tatum 2003). Example: Why is that boy skin's is black? Between 3-5, children become very concern about their bodies and how it grows (Ramey 2004). One aspect is teaching children to become racial by the environment that surrounding them. Children learn from adults and the surrounding environment the children live in. This helps the child to become bias and lead to prejudice. Not recognizing children with disabilities and giving out negative ideas about them. Example: If a child has a disease he will be treated different from the other class. (Ramsey 2004).

My thinking about the different definitions has encouraged me because the definition was mainly the same meaning. This let me know the teachers know what the meaning of culture and diversity is. It is essential for all professionals in the field of Early Childhood Education are important to know every child’s culture and especially your own culture. This will help empower the class with the education they need for learning and development skills. (Ramsey 2004).

My Family Culture

There are several items that I Hold close and dear to my heart, but the three items that I would choose are my family’s Bible, my dad’s picture, and my dad’s antique watch.

Dad was both mom and dad to his children at some point in our lives. There were times I do not remember mom being around for some reasons I cannot record mom being in the home at some period of time. Dad was there all the time in the home cooking, cleaning, bathing and making should his children had something to eat. My dad and mom were the parents of 9 girls and 6 boys making the total of 15 children. We was very poor, but dad was a hunter and killed animals most of time for food for the children to eat. Dad took the time out and taught each one of his children how to hunter and clean animals for food. I remember he would place me on his knee and sing gospel songs to me. My dad was an alcoholic, but he never touched his children the wrong way. My dad stopped drinking, and at the age of 88 he became a Christian, and at the age of 104 he went to be with the Lord. My dad married mom when she was 13, and he was 25, they were married for 66 years.

The family’s Bible is extremely important to me because it holds important dates and names of relatives both birthdays and deaths. It is also a guide to me because dad taught us to study and believe in the Bible.

            My dad’s watch is essential to me because dad used to spit on the ground and order us to go to the well and make it back home from the well before the spit dried up. We would run to the well and get that water and make it back home before the spit dried up. The watch is necessary because I would never demand my daughter to do something like that. I know my dad meant well back in time but in today society that is a form of child abuse.

I would give up my dad’s picture and my dad’s watch, and I would keep the Holy Bible because of faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. I would need faith to live in a need environment. In times like these, we need an angle; in time like these we need the Bible.

I learned when we communicate with each other we develop relationships and learn from each other. When we all put what we know together it turn out to be a great environment. When we help and support each other we learn more freely and after all two heads is better than one.

Reference:

Chang, H.N.L. 1963. Affirming children‘s roots: Cultural and Linguistic diversity in early child care and education. Oakland, CA: California Tomorrow.

When I Think of Research

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

            I have gained that in the process of early childhood is a combined information and experience in working on different diverse base of topics. I have learned that research give me an opportunity to get to ask questions and get to know the people and their environments. Research is about learning and getting the insights and knowledge to in understanding different participants, children, and adults. Research also gains relationships between researchers and the participants. I totally agree with the statement of Aubrey and colleagues. As Aubrey and colleagues (2000) write, ‘researchers need to be clear about their roles and the responsibilities towards the people involved – including themselves- and to the research process’ (2000, p. 142).

In what ways have your ideas about nature of doing research change?

            My nature of doing research change by understanding the process and knowledge in doing the research. You must consider the participants ethics situation and understand that the researcher can be a positive influence to the children. Research can be what I make it can be negative, or it can be a positive. Those observations are finding out the weakness and strengths of the children. My understanding has changed by knowing what research means finding out about things and why they appear by asking questions. Researchers collect and gather information and have their own ideas in doing the research.

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

            The lesson I have learn that planning, designing and conducting research in early childhood is that any research take time in preparing it. Research will have data process to accomplish your goals. The researchers need to know how many the participants, and how the data is being collected, and the characteristics they will have. Plan by starting with a hypothesis rather remaining open to a range of possibilities and discoveries as the study unfold. Every research should be well put together ideas of knowledge that you will used from start to finish. Every researchers need to think and plan ahead before they do the research. Special care needs to be taken in acknowledging the contributions of all in any publications or presentations, and each member of the research team should be fully informed in advance about the details about the research and the expectations of the different roles (Mac Naughton and Hughes, 2009, p.84).

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

            One challenge I encountered was asking research questions and understanding on how to ask them. Time is a great deal in researching a study and getting people to participating. I study the meaning about my research question is determined on how well my research project turns out. The best thing to learn is to get understanding and knowledge about the situation about the situation. The only thing I know and work for me is just make or take time, sometime you have to just take time out and just do the research.

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

As a professional in the early childhood field, my perceptions have been modified by information. I have learned more in this class about different research and understanding on how to collect and prepare for the research. Learning different approaches in the research studies not just one but several to see which work the best. Research is very important in find out information about different families’ ethics, and developing relationships. Learning about the children likes and dislikes and how they learn in different interactions activities and their wellbeing.(Mac Naughton and Hughes, 2009,p.84).

References:

Mac Naughton, G. and Hughes, p.2009 Doing Action Research in Early Childhood Studies, Open University Press, Berkshire. This book has suggestions about how to overcome the particular ethical challenges posed by action research.

Research Around the World

What are some of the current international research topics?

A guide for Effective School and Parent Collaboration: a Cooperative Development and Delivery Approach

This research is about how children reach the benefits when the school –parent develop healthy relationships. Researchers have discovered that when families, school and communities get involve helps the programs operate with the proper standards, and skills to improve the learning and growth of young children needs and development skills.

Assessment of Interaction and Stimulation in Single-Low-Income Families

This research resource is about the interact and stimulation presently taking place in single- mother low-income families. “Research has shown conclusively that children learn more quickly and develop more rapidly during the early childhood years than at any time, particularly if they receive love and affection, attention encouragement en and mental stimulation, as well as nutritious meals and good health care.”

Involving Fathers in Early Childhood Care and Development

This research is about the role fathers’ involvement in child development and care. It is essential for fathers to play a role in upbringing of the children. It is about culture, beliefs and other influences that fathers’ have on their children. It also tells about how the fathers’ have the effect on the grandparents.

What surprising facts/insights/ new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

            The insights I gained from this international early childhood website is that it is supported by their own employers and participants. I am amazed because this website explains on how they use face-to-face learning methods. In the homes, web-sites, CD-ROM and print materials and community of learners’ tool among counties and they also has to be certified in working with young children. The website tells the importance of improving the health of children, families, and communities in their countries.

What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

            I learned that this website is about training and different methods mostly with face-to-face seminars with one year degree. This website focuses information on the importance of leadership and local engagement in support of diversity and social equity in the early years. “The purposes of this website, the Unit’s work are organized into two broad areas: (a) Majority or “Developing” World, including Indigenous communities (b) The Minority or Euro-Western World

RESOURCES:

MARFO, K., Pence, A., Levine, S. (2011) Strengthening Africa’s contributions to child development research: overview and ways forward. Child Development Perspectives.