Creating AFfirming Environments

If I were to open my own Family Child Care Home, there would be a number of things that I would do to ensure that proper guidance, warmth and love is dispelled. First, I would ensure that it caters for different families and their beliefs, thus I would ensure that it displays a variety of materials that highlights different cultures so as to exercise and maintain an anti bias environment. Second, ensure that children are sensitized about other people's culture and practice so as to ensure that respect, love and honour is given to all. One way of doing thus is through storytelling. These crucial anti-bias tools introduce children to the love of reading as well as to human differences and similarities (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Third, is to create various play areas that depicts an anti bias free scene which is developmentally appropriate towards children's growth and development as independent individuals. This was strongly emphasized in Adriana's home care for example the area where she had the couch where children went that catered to their emotional needs (Laureate Education, Inc. 2011). Fourth, children must feel safe, loved, and nurtured to develop the basic trust they need for healthy development (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). Therefore, the manner in which they are welcomed into my home care has to be outstanding. One way that I deem of doing such is to have different activities for them in the morning for example puppet show, sing along activities, games, manipulative activities for example, colouring, puzzles. Fifth, this aspect is very critical, having pictures displaying different family background. This aspect can be rotated so as to allow everyone to feel a sense of equality. Sixth, maintaining a safe environmental structure both in and outside of my family home care environment.

References

Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Strategies for working with diverse children: Welcome to an
anti-bias learning community. Baltimore, MD: Author

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and
ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children
(NAEYC).

We Don't Say those Words in Class

I cannot think of a specific time in life when I witnessed such incident. However, in talking to colleagues of mine one was capable of sharing an instance. She said that she has a child in her classroom who had the sickle cell disorder real bad wherein he had to wear braises on his legs. One day during play she heard two boys mocking him and called him a robot. She said instantly she intervened in the play activity and reprimanded the boys for doing such action and started to talk to them about why it was wrong to behave in such manner.

One message that was communicated to the boys that were mocking the little boy was that what they were doing was not a nice thing to do. Second, they were taught that it was not nice in letting others feel bad about themselves whether or not they have a n illness or not in life.

One way that an anti bias educator might have responded to support the child's or classroom understanding is by educating the children about the importance of not mocking others as some persons are easily intimidated and cannot facilitate such actions. Second, educate the children about the fact that in life some people were born with a number of health issues nonetheless, they should be treated with respect and given love and a warm welcome at all times.Third, within our class all is special therefore, we use kind words at all times when communicating with each other.

"Start Seeing Diversity Video" Blog: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Being tolerant is an action that should be articulated from members of the society. This is so as we are living in a society that is diverse and uphold different beliefs, practices and values. Therefore, I would respond to a parent/family member who informed me that they did not want anyone who was perceived or reported to be a homosexual or transgenic to be caring for, educating or interacting with their child by stating to them that individuals who might or is pursuing such practices have a right to express their own beliefs. Secondly, its not everything that one perceives about another means that it is so, sometimes its just allegations that are passed about what him or her thinks about that particular individual. Third, not because the person who interacts with your child or is educating your child lives a particular lifestyle does not means that he or she will impart such acts on your child/children or family. Fifth, even if such perceptions are correct what should be the focus is that of the educating of your child/children because when it comes to be a professional one has to think about displaying cohesion among all so as to get the best results as possible. Sixth, cohesion, is an important factor in generating a positive group temperament, or climate, in which members take pride in the group, treat other with respect(O' Hair & Wiemann, 2012).

On numerous occasions I have heard homophobic terms being used as an insult by adults to a child as well as from a child to another child. From these experiences I can see the hurt and pain that develops of such instances. I can recall a colleague doing thus and the child has grown with the fear of others as he walks on the street . Sometimes he hides and wait until it is dark before he goes out. He has grown with so much stereotype wherein he doe not have enough friends because he is disliked. Therefore, in doing thus I strongly believe that it poses a very negative influence on all children.

Reference

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real Communication: An Introduction. Bedsford, St.Martin's

Reflection and thank you

As I reflect being a part of this course, it was one that was very interesting and informative. I entered and felt like a blank slate but today, I am feeling knowledgeable about different aspects of the communication process. I am cognizant that collaboration is one of the most significant element that aids in having an effective and efficient communication amongst other people on a daily basis. Second, being a part of this course has opened my eyes to see that communication on a hold is a broad process that entails different point of views being that we are living in a diverse society.

However, I would want to thank all of my colleagues that I have worked with throughout  this course. Indeed your valuable insights have been very meaningful in the upliftment of my thoughts. Today, I feel rounded and more inspired to meet the needs of the society. Therefore, I wish you all the best in your other courses.

Adjourning

As it relates to working in groups, it is one that I have found to be very challenging. This is so as there are many different groups in which I have been apart of and the same things keep occurring. For example, I always end up doing most of the work. Last year, I was apart of a group at my place of employment and we were given a specific topic wherein we were to formulate a display. There were approximately six of us in the group and when it was the day before the display I found out that three of the members of the group did not start doing anything towards the display which was due for the next morning. I had to sit all night with the other two group members to do the things that the other three persons had decided to do. I felt very relieved in leaving this group. This year I was placed in another group which will be finishing next month and I can attest that I feel it so much because in this group it is fully organized, obtains good relationships amongst all group members, mutual trust and understanding is evident and being exercised. When it comes to respect, this is fully established.

In regards to adjourning from my colleagues in this master's programme. It is one that will be very touching and emotional. This is so as I have bonded with everyone in the different groups to which I have been assigned. Each week I have worked collaboratively with everyone, shared our thoughts and in return have gained a vast amount of knowledge that will help me both professionally and personally. Therefore, adjourning from this will be very emotional for me as I will be filled with tears of joy, sense of accomplishment and mixed emotions.

Communication Conflict

As I view the assignment for this week, I felt relieved towards it as I can attest to something that I have been struggling with at work. The conflict is that we are given a literacy coordinator to implement various strategies that the ministry thinks will be beneficial towards uplifting the literacy skills of children on a national level. However, what is so appalling is that the person that is designated to do thus is not so familiar with her goals nor is able to give feasible feed backs to us as educators. When I asked her a certain question she pertuded a number of attitudes that were indeed not welcoming. This led to a number of disagreements among us. Though it is something that sounds feasible yet it starts out negatively based on the communication that is being established. This is simply because there is a level of disrespectful behaviors that are being pertuded by the coordinator. However, being the person that I am I remain calm throughout this issue. 

Upon reading the resources this week, I have obtained knowledge of how to deal with conflicts both on a personal and professional perspective that have given me a number of valuable insights about what to do. First according to the three S assumptions I have found out that a conflict is a natural and healthy process that is necessary for making progress and dealing with injustice. Second, I have an important role to play in transforming conflicts around me. Third, I have gained that in using the three S skills I  am capable of creating an atmosphere for positive collaboration to take place that in turns brings about positiveness among all. Fourth, I have been reminded by these resources that in everything there is good therefore, as educators, my aim is to put aside childish behaviors and focus on what is at hand and that is the education and care of the young children with whom I interact with daily. Fifth, I have found out that with the utilization of some of the three R's principles, I am capable of dealing with conflicts that arise on a hold. Sixth, in educating my colleagues about such principles, they too have realized the purpose of resolving conflicts and aree willing to apply the different strategies as issues arise.

Reference
The Third Side. (n.d.). The third side. Retrieved from http://www.thirdside.org/

Communication Skills

As I reflect on the assignment given this week,it was one  that was quite interesting and informative. As I evaluated myself and saw members of my family as well as colleagues do thus it was quite appalling. It was very interesting to see that my communication skills were very good and have touched the lives of so many persons. It was very nice to have observed the differences that were mentioned as well as the similarities that were found. The overall outcomes were indeed very close and verbally I was deemed to be moderate. This one was very surprising to me because I am normally a very reserve individual who dislike talking publicly but I was very glad t see that others perceptions were different. For my professional I feel empowered to do even more as my self esteem and self concept have been enhanced which have helped my self efficacy to unfold  within a positive and unique manner.