What I Have Learned

What I Have Learned

 

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)

One hope that I have when working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that more programs will be developed for the purpose of helping more diverse children and their families.  There should be better policies enacted that will support early childhood programs that will offer diverse education for all children that is of high quality.  As an educator I hope that I can better build on the knowledge that students bring into classrooms, particularly that knowledge which is shaped by their family, community, and cultural histories.  I hope that early childhood teachers continue their professional development regarding diversity and anti-biased education in order to ensure that they provide every child the care that they deserve and a high quality education. 

One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length)

One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to the issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to continue reflecting on cultural differences and become the leaders in equity and diversity education.  Educators are children and families first experience in regard to formal education; therefore we should engage them in all aspects of this area. 

A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

It has been an honor and a privilege to have worked with each and every one of you.  These last eight weeks have been a positive learning experience for me.  I am thankful for the knowledge and open communications we had during our discussions regarding our experiences with diversity.  It was sometimes hard experiencing huts and disappointment from the past but all in all we kept a positive outlook in order to help prevent this from happening to others.  I wish you all much success in your continued educational journey. 

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

 

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art

CULTURAL DIVERSITY

 

                                          

THIS IS MY PIECE OF ART WHICH IS SEEN THROUGH MY EYES AS CULTURAL DIVERSITY.  THROUGHOUT SOCIETY WE INTERACT   WITH VARIOUS CULTURES IN ORDER TO LEARN ABOUT THEM, RESPECT THEM, AND APPRECIATE THEM.  ART IS A FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We Don't Say Those Words in Class!

 

We Don't Say Those Words in Class!

 

A time when you witnessed an adult (or yourself) reprimand or silence a child after he or she pointed out someone they saw as different (e.g., "That lady talks funny," " That man only has one leg!" "Why is that man so pretty!"). Include what the child said and what the adult did or said in response. (Note: If you cannot think of a specific time ask a friend or family member.)

 

I can remember a time when I witnessed a little child point at another child in the grocery store because they had a cleft lip.  The child said “ma he has an ugly mouth, why does it look like that”.  The mother responded by saying “he was born that way, sometimes people are born different from others, but does not mean they are bad people because they look different”.

 

What messages might have been communicated to this child by the adult's response.

 

The message that I feel that was most likely conveyed to the child was that when people look different it does not mean that there is something wrong with them; they are human just like everyone else. 

 

 

An example of how an anti-bias educator might have responded to support the child's (or classroom’s) understanding.

 

An anti-bias educator could teach a lesson in class about adults as well as children with different kinds of disabilities.  They could focus on how some of these differences allow them to do many things just as well as those without differences are able to do.   She could invite children and adults to the classroom to speak about disabilities and differences and their positive effects.