Practicing Awareness of Microaggression

One example of microaggression that I have detected this week took place right in front of me at work. A little girl was sitting and doing her work with her grandmother right beside her because it was almost time for school to dismiss. Suddenly, another little girl who has been stereotype as being a troubled child came over and shouted out loudly in the girl's face. In defense of her granddaughter, the grandmother replied openly by shouted, 'move away, you good for nothing ugly dirty girl and let fly pitch on you because you are in their category'. By  echoing those words the little girl ran to the other side of the classroom. Right there and then the teacher turned around and address the matter. When the little girl that did the act was asked why she did what she had did, she replied by saying, 'I was only playing with her, she is my friend and now I am sad.'
Based upon what I viewed as the microaggression took place, I personally believed that it was a childish act displayed by the little girl's grandmother and as a mother she should not have done that because what if someone else did that to her grand child I am sure she would not have liked it. It was very obvious that she had hurt the child's feelings.

My observation experiences about micraggressions this week has definitely taught me that everyone has feelings and in life we should think before we act and measure the words that are use to speak to others. It has also taught me that I should never ever try to solve a problem when I am angry but rather do so when I feel calm about a given situation.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

This week's assignment was indeed an interesting and informative one. I had the privilege  of asking four persons about what culture and diversity meant. These are the answers that I received:-

Mrs B.Anderson ( former teacher, 65years old) stated that when she thinks of the term culture she strongly believes that it has to do with one's way of living , doing and expression of self in terms of their culture, religion, ethnic beliefs and values. While diversity has to do with the similarities and differences that exist round one's beliefs and values from a worldwide perspective.

Mr. S. Bramwell (22, chef) argued that culture has to deal with one's beliefs and family values. While diversity has to do with the world itself and how one interacts with it and others.

Miss. Powell (32, lecturer) stated that culture has to deal with person's way of living and beliefs that exist and is executed by family members so as to meet the needs of the dominant society at large. She strongly believes that diversity has to do with how one sees, operates within the family and the society.

Mrs Lazo (British, nurse, 45) outlined that culture is ethnicity that exists in regards to one's gender, race, religion,beliefs and values. While diversity to her means the inclusion of family culture and the society's culture that works and upholds similarities and differences.


Based on what I have been exposed to in this course about culture and diversity I can say that the answers that I have received are somewhat near as the persons seem to have an idea and clear understanding towards the terms of culture and diversity. For example Mrs Lazo is from a different culture from the other persons that were asked the questions. Yet her answer was very profound and similar to what the others had to say. I also liked the definition that Mr.Bramwell and Mrs Anderson gave as they terminologies were clear and precise.

As I reflect on what was done this week, I can truly say that I have proven that though I may share similar social identities with others we do not necessarily share the same viewpoints at times I have also seen that everyone is unique in his or her way and depicts the whole matter of culture and diversity in the manner in which these aspects are executed in their family culture from an early stage in life.

My Family Culture

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.


If I had to decide on three items to take with me that I hold dear and represent my family culture would definitely be my bible, family album and my navel cord. These items are very precious and dear to me. First, for my bible, this is very valuable from a child growing up as well as it a way of keeping in touch with God. It is also keeps me focus and relax regardless of what is going on around me. Second, my family album which holds most of my family happiest moments spent together. It also upholds photos of older family members that I do not know. Third, my navel cord, this is very special has it upholds a great bond between my mother and I. It is where I got all my nourishments that were needed for me to develop properly from within my mother's womb.,


If upon arrival I was told that I would not be capable of taking all three items but rather one I would be very devastated. This is because all three items play a significant role in my life as well as towards my family culture. Secondly, I would be so confused as it would seem as if someone was taking my breath away from body. I definitely would feel like the whole world has turn upside down and I am beneath it. However, if I was really caught in the position wherein I had to choose I would definitely choose my bible. This is because Jesus is the center of my life and without him I am nothing. Secondly, without Jesus I would not have a family neither would I have a mother to give birth to me. 


From doing this exercise, there are definitely insights that I have gain about myself, family culture, diversity and/ or cultural difference. I have gain that both family culture, diversity and cultural differences do intertwine and work collaboratively. Therefore, if one part is damage then it has an impact on the other factors that exist. I have also gain the insight that there are times when we are face with certain situations wherein we have to make a sudden decision to save our self.





 

When I Think of Research

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

In  quest for knowledge and being engaged in this course, I have gained that in order to execute a valuable and authentic research; the information and resources used have to be of credible source, reliable and most of  all valid. In ensuring thus, it helps in creating a positive atmosphere for the steps in the research process. Today, I am cognizant that research helps in the total execution of my roles as an educator as it gives information that is deemed to be very authentic and efficient towards making meaningful interventions for not just children that I interact with but also developing a strong and positive relationship with parents/ guardians.
Secondly, I have learned  that there is a third methodological or research paradigm that can be used in executing a research that helps a research to be powerful, informative, complete and balanced (mixed method approach).


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

My ideas  of doing a research have totally changed because at first I thought research was very frustated, boring, time consuming and irrelevant. Howvever, today, I am rather elated, enthused and energized about executing a research on my own.

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

I have learned that the whole process of planning, designing and conducting research all collaborate and depend on each other for a complete a research. Therefore, all three elements have to be done timely so as to help the smooth sailing of the research process to take place and be effective.

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

My first challenge that I encountered was writing a hypothesis. However, with the aid from looking closely at various examples given in the course resources, I was capable of overcoming such challenge. Secondly, was differentiating between a qualitative and quantitative research. Nevertheless, with reading about thus as well as viewing examples of these researches I was able to identify the differences that lied between both researches.

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

 My perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course in a number of ways. One of such is the whole matter of research is an effective process that should be used to help guid one's practice as well as the more current research that is done the better interventions can be made towards the holistic development of our children and self.

Last but not least, I want to take time out to give thanks to all of my colleagues and instructor for your support and feed backs that were given throughout this course. Indeed they were very effective towards my well being. Thanks again and all the best to you all in your other courses!!!!!!     

Research Around the World

As I view the assignments for this week I chose to browse the following website http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/. Therefore, I am able to answer the following questions in this manner.

What are some of the current international research topics?

 Some of the current research topics include- 

• Child care improvement
• Quality early childhood services
• Increase investment in child care accessibility
• Fair, inclusive, quality education every child's right
• Resources to support service, families and children
• Majority of providers back quality reforms in early childhood sector                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
  As I browse through this website it was one that amazed me. It was fully equipped with a lot of informative information that is very vital and important towards the field of early childhood education and care. I have gained some facts in regards to children's behavior, parenting, social/emotional learning, service-family relationships by just browsing through the catalogue section of this international early childhood website.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    
  What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?
  I found out that ther are different organizations that jointly plays a part in the upliftment of the early childhood sector. I also realise that they are runned using a code of ethics which loudly and clearly speaks about quality as it relates to children's welfare.      

Research that benefits children and families- Uplifting Stories

For this week I chose Option one and here is a research story done on a family:-

I hit the breaking point as a parent a few years ago. It was the week of my extended family’s annual gathering in August, and we were struggling with assorted crises. My parents were aging; my wife and I were straining under the chaos of young children; my sister was bracing to prepare her preteens for bullying, sex and cyberstalking.

Sure enough, one night all the tensions boiled over. At dinner, I noticed my nephew texting under the table. I knew I shouldn’t say anything, but I couldn’t help myself and asked him to stop.

Ka-boom! My sister snapped at me to not discipline her child. My dad pointed out that my girls were the ones balancing spoons on their noses. My mom said none of the grandchildren had manners. Within minutes, everyone had fled to separate corners.

Later, my dad called me to his bedside. There was a palpable sense of fear I couldn’t remember hearing before.

“Our family’s falling apart,” he said.

“No it’s not,” I said instinctively. “It’s stronger than ever.”

But lying in bed afterward, I began to wonder: Was he right? What is the secret sauce that holds a family together? What are the ingredients that make some families effective, resilient, happy?

It turns out to be an astonishingly good time to ask that question. The last few years have seen stunning breakthroughs in knowledge about how to make families, along with other groups, work more effectively.

Myth-shattering research has reshaped our understanding of dinnertime, discipline and difficult conversations. Trendsetting programs from Silicon Valley and the military have introduced techniques for making teams function better.

The only problem: most of that knowledge remains ghettoized in these subcultures, hidden from the parents who need it most. I spent the last few years trying to uncover that information, meeting families, scholars and experts ranging from peace negotiators to online game designers to Warren Buffett’s bankers.

After a while, a surprising theme emerged. The single most important thing you can do for your family may be the simplest of all: develop a strong family narrative.

I first heard this idea from Marshall Duke, a colorful psychologist at Emory University. In the mid-1990s, Dr. Duke was asked to help explore myth and ritual in American families.

“There was a lot of research at the time into the dissipation of the family,” he told me at his home in suburban Atlanta. “But we were more interested in what families could do to counteract those forces.”

Around that time, Dr. Duke’s wife, Sara, a psychologist who works with children with learning disabilities, noticed something about her students. 

“The ones who know a lot about their families tend to do better when they face challenges,” she said.

Her husband was intrigued, and along with a colleague, Robyn Fivush, set out to test her hypothesis. They developed a measure called the “Do You Know?” scale that asked children to answer 20 questions.

Examples included: Do you know where your grandparents grew up? Do you know where your mom and dad went to high school? Do you know where your parents met? Do you know an illness or something really terrible that happened in your family? Do you know the story of your birth?

Dr. Duke and Dr. Fivush asked those questions of four dozen families in the summer of 2001, and taped several of their dinner table conversations. They then compared the children’s results to a battery of psychological tests the children had taken, and reached an overwhelming conclusion. The more children knew about their family’s history, the stronger their sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem and the more successfully they believed their families functioned. The “Do You Know?” scale turned out to be the best single predictor of children’s emotional health and happiness.

“We were blown away,” Dr. Duke said.

And then something unexpected happened. Two months later was Sept. 11. As citizens, Dr. Duke and Dr. Fivush were horrified like everyone else, but as psychologists, they knew they had been given a rare opportunity: though the families they studied had not been directly affected by the events, all the children had experienced the same national trauma at the same time. The researchers went back and reassessed the children.

“Once again,” Dr. Duke said, “the ones who knew more about their families proved to be more resilient, meaning they could moderate the effects of stress.” 

Why does knowing where your grandmother went to school help a child overcome something as minor as a skinned knee or as major as a terrorist attack?

“The answers have to do with a child’s sense of being part of a larger family,” Dr. Duke said.

Psychologists have found that every family has a unifying narrative, he explained, and those narratives take one of three shapes.

First, the ascending family narrative: “Son, when we came to this country, we had nothing. Our family worked. We opened a store. Your grandfather went to high school. Your father went to college. And now you. ...”

Second is the descending narrative: “Sweetheart, we used to have it all. Then we lost everything.”

“The most healthful narrative,” Dr. Duke continued, “is the third one. It’s called the oscillating family narrative: ‘Dear, let me tell you, we’ve had ups and downs in our family. We built a family business. Your grandfather was a pillar of the community. Your mother was on the board of the hospital. But we also had setbacks. You had an uncle who was once arrested. We had a house burn down. Your father lost a job. But no matter what happened, we always stuck together as a family.’ ”

Dr. Duke said that children who have the most self-confidence have what he and Dr. Fivush call a strong “intergenerational self.” They know they belong to something bigger than themselves.

Leaders in other fields have found similar results. Many groups use what sociologists call sense-making, the building of a narrative that explains what the groupis about.

Jim Collins, a management expert and author of “Good to Great,” told me that successful human enterprises of any kind, from companies to countries, go out of their way to capture their core identity. In Mr. Collins’s terms, they “preserve core, while stimulating progress.” The same applies to families, he said.

Mr. Collins recommended that families create a mission statement similar to the ones companies and other organizations use to identify their core values.

The military has also found that teaching recruits about the history of their service increases their camaraderie and ability to bond more closely with their unit.

Cmdr. David G. Smith is the chairman of the department of leadership, ethics and law at the Naval Academy and an expert in unit cohesion, the Pentagon’s term for group morale. Until recently, the military taught unit cohesion by “dehumanizing” individuals, Commander Smith said. Think of the bullying drill sergeants in “Full Metal Jacket” or “An Officer and a Gentleman.”

But these days the military spends more time building up identity through communal activities. At the Naval Academy, Commander Smith advises graduating seniors to take incoming freshmen (or plebes) on history-building exercises, like going to the cemetery to pay tribute to the first naval aviator or visiting the original B-1 aircraft on display on campus.

Dr. Duke recommended that parents pursue similar activities with their children. Any number of occasions work to convey this sense of history: holidays, vacations, big family get-togethers, even a ride to the mall. The hokier the family’s tradition, he said, the more likely it is to be passed down. He mentioned his family’s custom of hiding frozen turkeys and canned pumpkin in the bushes during Thanksgiving so grandchildren would have to “hunt for their supper,” like the Pilgrims.

“These traditions become part of your family,” Dr. Duke said. 

Decades of research have shown that most happy families communicate effectively. But talking doesn’t mean simply “talking through problems,” as important as that is. Talking also means telling a positive story about yourselves. When faced with a challenge, happy families, like happy people, just add a new chapter to their life story that shows them overcoming the hardship. This skill is particularly important for children, whose identity tends to get locked in during adolescence.

The bottom line: if you want a happier family, create, refine and retell the story of your family’s positive moments and your ability to bounce back from the difficult ones. That act alone may increase the odds that your family will thrive for many generations to come.

“This Life” appears monthly in Sunday Styles. This article is adapted from Bruce Feiler’s recently published book, “The Secrets of Happy Families: How to Improve Your Morning, Rethink Family Dinner, Fight Smart, Go Out and Play, and Much More.”

A version of this article appeared in print on March 17, 2013, on page ST1 of the New York edition with the headline: The Stories That Bind Us.

Personal Research Journey

Upon beginning this course, I am fully charged and enthused to choose a specific topic that I deem to be of utmost interest to me.
The topic that I have chosen is, " How to deal with behavioral problems in the classroom?"

My personal reason for choosing this topic is because the whole matter of behavioral problem is not just about children acting up at times in the classroom but its a wide matter that I believe has to do with both internal and external factors. Based on my experience I think I need to indulge in gaining adequate knowledge for both my personal and professional upliftment in executing my roles and responsibilities in a positive and meaningful manner.

Upon creating the research chart, I have gained insights towards creating a research on my own as well as learning about different terminologies that are used in the research process that i consider to be of utmost use to me and my accomplishments within this course.

Therefore, my colleagues I kindly ask you to share and send any information that you have about this topic to me so as to help me gain the knowledge that I need and I too will do the same to you all in return as we work collaboratively to achieve our goals.