My Goals!

     My hope and goal for working with children and families that come from diverse backgrounds is that we—early childhood educators- continually educate ourselves so that we can meet the needs of the population. I think this falls in line with the Goals for the Anti-Bias Teacher.  “You will increase your awareness and understanding of your own social identity in its many facets (gender, racial, ethnicity, economic class, family structure, sexual orientation, abilities/disabilities) and your own cultural contexts, both childhood and current” (ABE Goals 1& 2) (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 21).

     To my very supportive colleagues, I appreciate your encouragement and responses throughout this course and program.  You are truly amazing! I wish you much success in the future. In the event that I could ever be of assistance to you, please contact me via my personal e-mail. (yolondahonore40@yahoo.com) Best Wishes!

References

Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards. Anti-bias Education For Young Children and Ourselves. 2010. NAEYC. Washington D.C.

Creating Art!

For this assignment I chose to create a photo collage!

In this course, I did have to rethink Early Childhood Education.  There were many topics  I had not considered before this academic journey.  I first had to observe the bias within myself before I could continue in this course.  I asked myself questions like: How would I respond to a child and their family with same-sex parents?  Am I  partial to traditional families?  Am I a fair educator? How do I view the poor? The handicap? Is using the retarded acceptable? Are the class materials that I read to my students favoring one group of people and isolating another? Do I present the world to my students?  Am I portraying a narrow view of the world to my students?  Am I accepting of other cultures?  Do I accommodate students who do not speak English? This course was excellent for me because it had a mirror effect.. I saw myself.  Now I am able to admit my biases and work on it for the greater good of my profession,  student and their families.  Did this course assist you in finding your stance as an early childhood educator?  Are you diverse or are you willing to become diverse? 

Shhhh! We Don’t Say Those Words Here!

Shhhh! We Don’t Say Those Words Here!

Setting: Two 6 year olds were engaged in a conversation in the corner of the class about their teacher who had just sent them into “Time Out” for misbehaving. 

Student 1: Hey Man, did you see those?

Student 2: It was ginormous!

Student 1: What fool?

Student 2: Mrs. Lilly’s cups.

Student 1: Man, I don’t know what you talkin about.

Student 2: Mrs. Lilly got da biggest butter cups I eva seen. (While cupping his hands into his chest area)

(Both students look at each other and start to laugh.)

     I overheard this conversation while I was a junior camp counselor at the district recreation department summer camp.  I was fifteen years old and I told the boys I would tell Mrs. Lilly if they were not quiet.  I had no idea of what to do because I didn’t want to get them into more trouble.

     With the knowledge I have gained from this course, I could have approached the boys without reprimand and could be objective.  I now would say, “Guys, people come in all shapes and sizes. I have friends who have large body parts and some friends who have smaller body parts.”  Look at you two, Harry is taller than you Sam but you guys are still nice guys even though you are in punishment now.  “Do you know of people who have different shapes, maybe a different color, or talk different?” I would try to provoke the children to think about themselves and how they are different from others.  Then I would explain to them that it is all right to be different.  From the Resource video, Start Seeing Diversity Race/ Ethnicity, the author says, “The best pictures are those that encourage children to make comparisons then make connections.”  I would use this as an opportunity to compare and connect. 

    

Resource

Start Seeing Diversity Race/ Ethnicity https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_2819641_1%26url%3D

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

     As a teacher in a high poverty school district, I hear young children interact with each other inappropriately quite frequently.  The window to my class faces the playground and I am able to hear many conversations from children.   I can recall hearing a high pitch scream coming from a group of children. I quickly ran to assist but much to my surprise it was only a group of children acting out being cheerleaders.  Right in the middle of the girls cheering was a little boy—he was the “head cheerleader.”  Without success, I tried to get in the middle of the circle to investigate. So I decided to just watch from the outer circumference.  The “head cheerleader” had all the dance moves, timing and flips of a real cheerleader. I was amazed at the ability of that child.  I started to clap at the end of his routine.  Another child approached me and said, “Mrs. Honore’ why you clapping for that faggot?” I was appalled that a Kindergartener knew that derogatory term. So I asked, “You didn’t think he was good?” He replied, “I hate gays cuz they always trying to act a girl.  And my big brother said he likes to punch them in the nuts!”  These types of comments were from an influential person in that child’s life. The authors of a text say, “Children are influenced by others’ attitudes about gender behavior” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 92).  I felt sad because he is being taught to discriminate against homosexuals at an early age.  This child has the power to influence other kids because he puts credibility to his comments when he said his big brother said this.  Negativity perpetuates at an alarming rate. 

     I would respond to a family member who is opposed to a homosexual caring for and /or educating his child by first trying to understand their rationale behind their decision.  I would attempt to encourage the family member to judge the person by his or her merits and not their sexuality.  I would make sure the family member has some facts and statistics related to homosexuality and teaching. Also, I would make sure my families know facts about sexual identity. Additionally,   I would even allow the misinformed group to have an open forum with a lesbian, a gay and a transgender.  I think people are afraid of the unknown. 

Resources

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

 

 

Week 8 Already?

To All My Wonderful Colleagues and Professor,

I just want to that you guys for being so supportive.  As I sit here thinking about this course, I feel as though you were a great group to collaborate with because I felt like such a part.  I feel honored!  Dr. Thomason thanks for your guidance and supportive comments.  I enjoyed your scripture thoughts! Thanks! To all my cohorts, I am always just an email away (yolondahonore40@yahoo.com ). 

The Final Stage of Team Development --Adjourning!

     I am experiencing the adjourning phase right now.  I have worked at the same school for 18 years.  The administration and teachers have come and gone but for the most part, I have really enjoyed my experience at this school. I can say that I have really been supported by a particular group of teachers at this school.  I have seen weddings, and births, and experienced death among the staff. This year I requested and received a transfer to another school because I want to meet new teachers and glean from them.   One experience that sticks out the most with me is when our group member passed.  It was heartbreaking because we were not able to say goodbye.  We knew she was ill but not unto death.  One day she came to school, the next day she was dead.  Nothing could prepare us for that.  We had just completed the behavior part of the School Improvement Plan.  She was a worker dedicated to taking up the slack for those who did not work in our group.  Our group members were allowed to leave school and attend her funeral service that was our goodbye. I wished I realized how sick she really was.  From that experience, I am more cordial and interested in my coworkers.  Our group was not high functioning but we made the best of it by pooling our resources together to complete the job.   I think adjourning is important because it closes the gap of completion. 

     For my Walden University family, I have a bitter sweet feeling about graduation.  I desperately want to graduate but I will miss the support from my colleagues.  This group really helped me work my butt off.  I felt like I could not be satisfied with displaying mediocre work, I had to give my best because we were/are learning from each other. Here it is important what you bring to the table.  I hope that I am able to attend the graduation ceremony—I will make my best effort to be there.  I want to meet each and everyone that I have shared this experience with. 

 

Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management

Statewide testing… Value added scores…lesson plans…. Weekly highlights… testing meetings… kids at nursery before 6:45…family in town for 2 weeks…. Housework… setter late again…are just a few of the things I am dealing with this week.  My housemate’s job is to help me with the kids.  She wants to choose chores that are convenient to her schedule...no sacrifices! WTH kind of assistance is she lending me?  I give her a reduced room and board in exchange for her services.  I feel like she is not living up to her end of the bargain.   Sick and tired that’s what I am. Do you see a conflict? I surely do.  I am getting the short end of the stick.  What am I to do? What have I decided to do to end this conflict? First and foremost I have decided to communicate my feelings to her and allow her to air her grievances.  I am not going to attack her but I will address my concerns that involve her.  I will not get into a shouting match because no one listens when this happens.  I will use some nonviolent communication skills for this situation. I will pay special attention when exhibiting 2 of the 4 components on NVC (http://www.cnvc.org/Training/the-nvc-model).  I will listen empathetically and I will honestly express my feeling.  I will address the issue today because it has festered long enough. 

Reference

http://www.cnvc.org/Training/the-nvc-model