Making Cultural Connections with Families

I have a student that is from the country of Chad, which is found in central Africa.  There are five big points that I need to know in order for me to be culturally responsive to this child and his family. These points are as follows:

1.)    Who or whom does the child live with and why do they live with these particular person(s) if it is not biological parents?

2.)    What is the educational background for this child?

3.)    Does this child have any particular special interest?

4.)    How do people in his home country work and live?

5.)    What main language does this child speak, and how much English does this child know, if any?

6.)    I would want to learn about the country Chad.  So,  I would do research on the internet, read books, and do research with DVD’s or CD’S on Chad.

Asking and looking for answers to these questions from the family or guardians would help gain insight to the child’s and child’s family background.  These are questions that reach beyond the surface of the child’s race, culture, and ethnicity.  It helps myself as a educator get to the heart of the matter with the child’s actions.  For instance, if the child is fearful, little education, and live with adoptive parents.  It could mean that the child has come from a poverty-stricken, war-torn country that has many refugees.  His parents were not able to give him the safe, caring environment he or she needed.  In return, the parents placed their child up for adoption  for a better life in America.

Building Up Power

My Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

My Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

I have experienced bias particularly when I have been in groups with people and I have ideas for a project that totally get ignored.  For instance, I remember, having to work on with a group of students to read a book in junior high on the novel, A Christmas Carol. The school did not have enough funding for everyone to have a class set of the novel, so it was up to us to share as copy as a group of three.  I distinctly remember the other to girls who I had to work with were purposely not letting me see novel while were reading it during class.  I had asked nicely to please put the novel in the middle desk between us that way three of us could see it.  However the girls just put the novel in between the two of them.  Now, I do not know what caused these two girls to do this, but it definitely put me in a situation where I became a much more introverted person in my junior high and high school years.   When I was younger I was a much more extraverted child and loved singing, dancing, and acting.  My mother will even tell you that I changed from being that girl who love saying, “I will only sing for big crowds.”  to a child who has not sung a solo for the families at holidays or even a solo at church  in over fifteen years.  This specific bias diminished equity in myself because anytime group projects came up I did not really want to provide my opinion anymore simply because I did not feel important enough to stand up for myself.  I think there is a part of me is finally realizing at thirty years old that I have to begin putting a little more confidence in myself and take action for some balance of power to begin in my life with peers.  To me, if you see something unfair happening to someone you must stand up for yourself or the person it is happening to.

Microaggression and Being Aware of It

This past school year was very interesting for me because I had an assistant that was very difficult to work with because she wanted do things a certain way and I wanted to do things a certain way.  At one point during the year, it got to the point to where she did not want to help me do anything to discipline the children anymore in the classroom.  For instance, there were times that I felt my assistant did not get the full story on what was going on with the child and would punish the child before there was any reasoning behind the actions of the child.   It was for little things like the child needing to get a tissue when they are in line.  However, I am saying that I don’t agree with letting the child just get away with anything, but there is a point where you have to listen to a child and understand where he or she is coming from.  Especially, since there are circumstances that children come from that need to be address.

At one point this year, my assistant decided to explain in front of the children everything she thought I was doing wrong.  First of all, I found that being a microaggression because she made me feel like I was not doing anything right.  Now, I felt she could have talked about this situation with me during a time when the children were not in the classroom, but I understand that sometimes my assistant could be very direct and to the point without realizing she was doing so at an inappropriate time.  I know this is a silly microaggression  but it did hurt what I was trying to do with the children at the time,  because she took the focus off my lesson.

Culture's Interwoven Beauty

Through the different definitions of culture I received from my mother, my husband, and a friend who is a different religion than myself, I found that each had an different aspect of culture to point out.  My mother brought up the importance that culture is something is part of our background.  My friend brought up the fact that it is what we believe, and my husband made the point that culture is the actions and routines we do in our day to day life. 

Each of my family and friends’ definitions provide important information for examples.  To elaborate, my mother’s definition brings up the point that we get our culture from family.  Next, my friend pointed out that our culture is shaped by our beliefs.  Finally, my husband pointed out surface aspects of our culture dealing with how we cook, clean, work, and dress. Several aspects that have been left out of the definition of culture were how people learn and socialize within their culture.

I find that the way each of these people’s definitions overlap with one another.  I have found that my friend’s definition about how a person’s belief’s shapes each person’s day to day routines.  For instance, a person might dress modestly because he or she believes that being modest is important to one’s religious beliefs.  However, one’s religious beliefs can be shaped by from the person’s cultural background, meaning that the parent’s belief’s religious or non-religious can shape a person’s views on how they see the world.  All aspects of culture are very interconnected and make us who we are.  Both the surface culture is effected by our deep culture and vice versa.   

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"A Change in Culture"

Dear Dairy,

       My immediate family and I have taken three things on our unexpected journey to a new country where we will have to start a new life after the U.S.’s infrastructure has been complete destroyed by a surprise attack on Washington D.C.  The first thing we wanted to take was our family Bible, the next thing I wanted to take was a picture from my wedding with all my family in it, and finally I would have to take my family’s book of history.  I told authorities that I want my Bible because in the time of chaos and confusion it would bring me peace and comfort.  I would also use the family Bible to keep up with some history of the family because I believe it is important to know where I came from and the future generations came from.  I would want a picture of the people in my family from my family so I can remember a wonderful day with wonderful people.  Finally, the book on the family history written by my uncle would be very important because it has important information to provide the future generations.

            My feelings were crushed when they told me that I could only keep on personal item from.  I asked if I could place the picture of my family in the family Bible.  They told me I could, but I still had to give up the family history book and, I was crushed because there are stories and details that I need specifics on so I can tell future generations about our family history.  I have learned that one of the biggest insights that I have right now are it is so important to know where you come from so you can understand where you are going.  I think my faith will help me stay strong and grounded in the new country and knowing my family history will help keep the foundations of the old traditions.

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·         Until next time,

·         Kelly 

"Research: A Wider Perspective"

Insights that I have gained from our Building Research Competencies class that are research is an area that takes specific planning in order to gain the details that he or she needs for his or her data. Next, the way your research is gathered it takes flexibility because there might be days where from the findings of one day might lead you to take a different approach another way.   

My views about research has changed because I used to think that research done by people who lived in “ivory towers”, but I now realize that research can be done by anybody who has a concern or interest in their specific academic field.  For instance, as an early childhood educator I am seeing a great need in providing services to low-income families that need assistance on how to help provide a healthy academic, social/behavioral, and physical childhood.  In the area that I live there are many people who live in low-income situations that are not able to send his or her child to preschool.  I am interested to see the effects where an early childhood educator can provide techniques and resources to these parents.   

            When it comes to planning a research study it is best to have a variety of ways to collect data that can present information from many viewpoints, but, all draw towards to the same conclusion.  The way the research study should be conducted is where the participants can be informed clearly of what is expected of them and let it be known that the study is not going to harm anyone. Some of the challenges that can be encountered from research are that people do not always have the time to be on your schedule to conduct research so it is important that you realize when to expect the unexpected when it comes to scheduling and how results come out from your study.

            As an early childhood professional, I have realized that it is important to look at the purpose of research in a variety of ways.  For instance, as an educator, I can conduct research daily by finding the best way to present a standard from Common Core or I can use research help develop my interest for a particular topic or issue I see in the Early Childhood Field.

“Early Childhood Research: Australia”

In a media release sent out in December 7th of 2012, Early Childhood of Australia made the statement about that “All tiers of government need to work together to ensure that sector growth can keep pace with the demand for early childhood education and care according to peak children’s body Early Childhood Australia.” (ECA, 2012)  The need for this for is the growing demand of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers are attending early childhood centers in record numbers in Australia.  According to ECA, “There is an increase of 8% in the utilisation of Long Day Care in the 12 months to September 2012. Over 250 new services are being established every year.” (ECA, 2012)   However, the growing demand of child care provides certain challenges according to ECA CEO, Samantha Page, “In some communities where there is an under supply, parents can wait up to a year to access a service which is very stressful for families who need to work.” Therefore, Page presented ways if these challenges were overcome how children would benefit. For instance, “Children benefit from quality early childhood education; employment participation is supported; families are more likely to stay in the area; and employment opportunities are boosted through the jobs available in early childhood service.” (ECA, 2012)  I find that we need to be more collaborative with state and local government just as they are calling for in Australia.  The ECA provides information through RIPS (Research in Practice Series), which, “Provides practical, easy-to-read resource, offering effective new approaches for those challenging issues which arise in the care and education of young children. Early Childhood Australia's Research in Practice Series is an essential resource for those involved in the early childhood field. The books are idea-rich and to-the-point" (ECA, 2012)

Reference 

http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/