Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggressions are brief everyday indignities that may be verbal, behavioral or environmental, they are usually communicated intentionally or unintentionally that contains an insulting message and often causes severe psychological stress and harm. Microaggressions reflect views of inferiority/superiority and inclusions/exclusions and they can happen outside the level of awareness of well-intentioned individuals (Laureate, 2011).

Whether I have paid attention or not I have been a victim to some microaggressions and I have been the one to say some microaggressions to others. Just this week I was talking with some co-workers when the lady I was speaking with hollered out, "Isn't it only Africans that drive taxis?" I was so shocked because she asked the question so loud and second we sit around a lot of people that are of the African/Nigerian descent - all I could say to her was that she needed to be quiet before she ends up in the HR office.

I know I have been a victim to microaggression - I remember one time in high school a Mexican girl asked me if all we (African - Americans) really ate was "watermelon and fried chicken"? I remember being so mad and wanting to say mean and nasty things back to her but my teacher got to her before I could and sent her to in school suspension.

In my opinion I think that we as a people (country) should really pay attention to the things we say to each other and about other cultural groups and how it may affect others.

References:

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Microaggressions in everyday life [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

After talking to three of my close friends and family I was very shocked to find out that we all think or see culture and diversity differently, which is not a bad thing. I decided to talk to my close friend Terrin who is African American just as I am but she was raised in a nuclear family and I wasn't so I was expecting her answers to be a just a tad bit different but it turned out to a big very big differences in what we believe or see diversity and culture as. Terrin's definition of culture was that basically culture is based on different people and their beliefs, values, and ethnicity - her definition of diversity was somewhat similar: diversity to her means that there are different people, different cultures, different sexual orientations that at some point come across one another, there are going to be people with different ideas and diversity can also include people with disabilities who are not the same as their peers or people from all around the world - they are usually treated differently because they have different needs than a person who is in tip top shape. Terrin stated that when she thinks of the words diversity and culture she imagines the picture where there are kids and people of all ethnicities and cultures standing around the world holding hands and I can definitely agree with her.

I also talked with my other friend Ahmad who is from the country Jordan which makes him Jordanian - Ahmad is very different from me and his upbringing is definitely different than how mine was. He explained to me how he thinks culture and diversity go together hand and hand - you cannot have diversity without different cultures being present in the world - no two people are the same or no two different types of culture groups are the same. He stated that they way he grew up in Jordan is a lot more stricter than the way kids are growing up here - he stated although he remember having lots of fun and good memories kids in the USA are very lucky individuals and most are not grateful which is heartbreaking to him because he knows plenty of children overseas who would die to live like Americans or just to have the same things and opportunities as we do.

Last but not least I spoke with my friend Earnest, when he was asked for his definition of culture he explained to me when he thinks of the world culture and what it actually means he thinks of people's background, how they were raised and the environment that they were raised in and how it has molded them into the adult or child that they are now. To him diversity is the difference between people, such as economic status, social stature and their level of their success in their life.

As I reflect on my friends answers I cant help but to notice that their answers are things that I have learned during this course so far or it was things that I already knew and thought for myself. The word culture refers to how particular groups of people live. It is the way we eat, sleep, talk, play, care for the sick, relate to one another, think about work, arrange our kitchens and remember our dead. It includes the language we speak, the religion or spirituality we practice (or do not), and the clothing, housing, food and rituals/holidays with which we feel most comfortable (Derman-Sparks, 2010). Culture is an everyday thing that we live - whenever you feel uneasy about something that someone may be doing that you are not used to that means they are doing things that are normal to their culture and not particularly yours.

References:
Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves
Chapter 5, "Learning about Culture, Language, & Fairness" (pp. 56–60)

My Family Culture

If my immediate family and I was a part of a major catastrophe and we had to evacuate to a different county whose culture is totally different from ours and we were only allowed to bring 3 small items with us that may represent my family's culture I would have to bring:

1. Magazine with Barack and Michelle Obama on the cover and all of the other African-American literature
2. African-American dance
3. African-American holidays and observances

When I get to the new country I would explain to others that the reason why I brought a magazine with Barack and Michelle Obama on the cover because after 43 Caucasian presidents he was the first African-American president of the United States of America and he won majority vote for both of his terms making him the 44th president of the United States for the last 8 years.  

Although African American dance is nothing tangible it would be something that I could bring with me and would never have to worry about it being taken away because again it is not tangible - I would share all of the different hip hop dances, jazz, line dances and other dances that is very popular in our culture and would explain that dancing and having a good time is good for the soul and in our culture many find peace in dancing - sometimes dancing can help relieve stress and make you forget all about your worries. Hakuna matata. 

The root of the African American culture to me would be the holidays that we celebrate every year to remind us what our ancestors went through in order to pave the way for us, again this is not a tangible thing - this would be something that can not be taken away as well. I would explain how African-Americans all over celebrate Kwanzaa, Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr Day, Black History Month (celebrated every February for the whole month). Kwanzaa happens every December 26- January 1 and on each of the seven days it honors a different principle that is believed to be the key on building strong, productive families and communities in Africa. Juneteenth (celebrated on June 19th every year) is a day where we celebrate the liberation of black American slaves in Texas on June 19, 1865. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday that honors the civil rights leader which is celebrated yearly on the third Monday in January.

I wouldn't feel any type of way if I was told that I could only keep one item because the other two would remain embedded in my soul and brain for the rest of my life so I would have no issue with giving up the magazine with the Obama family on the cover. 

Research Around the World

Sleeping and night waking was one of the current international research topics that I ran across on the Early Childhood Australia webpage that I found pretty interesting to read more about. According to the Early Childhood Australia webpage night waking and settling are common issues among young children. Night waking can affect children from six months to four years of age. It is important to point out that waking at night is normal for the very young; it is only if this pattern continues into middle childhood that it can be a sign that there may be some issues. 

The website points out that having a relaxing ritual at bedtime is very important when putting children to sleep. The website encourages parents to read bedtime stories or sing songs or even play some soft quiet music to encourage sleep instead of playing games or letting them watch television or screens right before bed because it usually results in over-excitement. 

Early Childhood Australia (ECA) has been a voice for young children since 1938. They are the peak early childhood advocacy organization, acting in the interests of young children, their families and those in the early childhood field. ECA advocates to ensure quality, social justice and equity in all issues relating to the education and care of children aged birth to eight years. 

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

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories **Option 2**

If I had the means and the knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the early childhood field without any limitations or restrictions I think I would have to do some research on the personalities of the parents or legal guardians and how does it affect the personalities or behavior of the children so I guess my question or hypothesis would be: "Does the behavior or attitude of the parents or legal guardian play an important role in the behavior of the child(ren) and their attitude?"

Being that I have worked in several different settings of early childhood education I have come across numerous children and they have all had different types of attitudes, personalities and different behavior concerns. When working with children that are more mature than peers of the same age group I tend to wonder what their parents are teaching them or rather who they are watching at home to pick up on a certain behavior or attitude. I remember growing up and wanting to do some of the things that my friends were doing but my mom may have not necessarily cared for the way I was acting and she would always say, "Don't do what your friends are doing because they are going to get you in trouble; or she would say you need to find a different group of friends to hang with." 

The purpose of the research study would be to simply show parents how they act around and towards their children have an effect on how their children act in school or interact with others away from home. The research will present many positive contributions to the children and their families especially the families where the child was experiencing a lot of behavior issues; hopefully, the research can bring awareness to the parents and legal guardians to watch the language that is being used around the child and the behavior or attitude that is being portrayed in front of the children as they are nothing but sponges soaking up every new thing that they see and what they assume to be normal behavior. 

Physical Development in the Early Childhood Education Field

The topic that I have chosen for the simulation in this course is physical development which is such a great and important developmental milestone. The major and most important physical and gross motor skill that a child will learn is learning how to walk and walking up stairs with alternating feet, usually when children first start walking up stairs they will place both feet on the stair before proceeding to the next step to ensure that they will not fall. Usually what happens when it is time to go back down the stairs the child becomes confused or scared and will usually cry for someone to pick them up or some children just turn around and scoot down the stairs backwards.

The reason why I chose this topic is because in the past I have worked with many children that have physical disabilities or gross motor skills that have taken some time to develop and I am always interested in learning new facts and different ways to keep those children involved with the classroom without singling them out. 

The insights that I have gained so far by starting on some research on this paper is that not only at age 3 and 4 do children learn how to climb/walk stairs but they also gain some better upward body mobility which means that they are able to catch and throw things better with better speed and accuracy. I also learned that at this age and developmental period it is good for children to learn how to ride a bike because they are able to peddle and steer a tricycle. 

I am looking forward to reading everyone's simulation/research paper about their different topics that interest each one of you all. If you ever come across any information on  physical development and gross motor skills feel free to send the info to me via my blog with the URL.

Good Luck Everyone!

My Supports

When I hear the word support I think of numerous definitions. Support means to bear or hold up; serve as a foundation for, to sustain or withstand without giving way; serve as a prop for, to undergo or endure, especially with patience or submission; tolerate, or to sustain under trial or affliction, to maintain by supplying with things necessary to existence; provide for, to uphold by aid, countenance, one's vote, etc.; back; second, to maintain or advocate. 

There are numerous things that I come in contact with that support me whether it be family or things around the house that support me.

My study room supports me in helping me remember what my goals are for my life. Here in my study room I have a vision board that have different clippings or images and scriptures about the things that I want to do and the direction I want my life to go. It also has a calendar posted that have due dates listed everywhere to help keep me on track with my assignments and tests.

My grandma and godmom are a part of my emotional and financial supports. My grandmother makes sure that I am financially ok and that everything that I need is taken care of. My godmother is very emotionally supportive - she makes sure that she is always there for me whenever I may need her to listen or to just give me advice. 

Church and prayer is a part of my spiritual support. I was brought up in a church going family so therefore I do believe in God and everything about Him. When I attend church on Sundays I feel so much better about starting the upcoming week I also feel 100% refreshed and relaxed. Whenever I run into trouble that my god mom or grandmother cannot fix I always turn to God and prayer and He will see me through whatever the situation may be. 

My supports are a big deal to me and I absolutely wouldn't know what to do if they were gone. The benefits of my supports are that they help keep me sane and not to stress out about things that are not of major importance. It would be very difficult for me to go on in life without my grandma and godmother but I am sure that I would learn how to cope and to go on in life without them because that is what they would want me to do. I definitely couldn't go on without my God- that's just silliness.