Hopes and Goals

One hope that I have when I think about working with children from diverse backgrounds is that we work closer with families to truly determine how their families culture and traditions can be represented in the classroom.  Rather than stock our classrooms with things and approaches that we determine represent their diversity that we take all of our cues from the family.

One goal I would like to set is that I as an early childhood professional can create more opportunities for families to get involved in the classroom.  Parents are a child's first teacher, however so many of the families that we work with don't believe this to be true.  I want to work to empower them to feel like a strong and able voice at the table.


Dear Colleagues,

Thank you for a wonderful 8 weeks.  This has been a challenging and at times exhausting course.  As we near this special Holiday may each of you be blessed and full of Joy.  I am wishing you well in your future studies and hope to bump in to you in future course work.

Sincerely,

Heather Merrill

Being responsive to culture in the classroom

The country of origin I chose is Kazakhstan, previously part of the Soviet Republic and situated in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.  Still and communist country and working on a balanced foreign policy.

5 ways that I will be culturally responsive to the family:

*  I will research information about the culture of their origin
*  I will work to bridge the gap between home and school, through my homevisit
*  I will use my gathered information to adapt my teaching style
*  I will bring things representing the families culture in to the classroom ie. pictures, dramatic play items, food, books, etc.
*  I will ask parents to share stories and traditions with the class

My goal is to create a learning environment that brings all of the children's cultures in to the classroom.  By researching information about a families culture I can become more sensitive and mindful.  I intend for each of my students to bring their home culture to school with them, offering feelings of safety and comfort.  The connection between parents and teachers is vital and can enhance a child's learning.

Prejudice

When I first returned to the United States, after 4 years of living in Monterrey, Mexico, I entered in to a conversation with an older man.  He inquired as to why I had been living in Mexico and as we began to talk I knew that it might possibly end badly.  He felt he had found an outlet to voice his disgust for the hispanic families living in the United States.  He spoke openly about other nationalities working and living in the U.S. as he felt a level of pride that entitled him to live here but no one of differing cultures.  He felt that if they were unable to speak english they did not belong.  I openly shared my opininions of embracing others and showing each individual respect.  If our world functioned under the same feelings and opinions that this man did, no one of differing languages and traditions would be welcome in this country.  His feelings of ownership wouldn't allow any equity amongst the differing groups.  I was truly enraged by this conversation and recognized how far we have to go, as a country, to reach equality and equity.  Laws, employers, educators and society at large would have to change to allow for equity for immigrants.  We need to embrace and celebrate difference in order to gain compassion.

Micro aggression

Just this week I had an exchange with a stranger, who approached me, to ask me about my 4 year old daughter.  She is adopted and biracial.  She mentioned how cute she was and asked if she was mine.  I said yes and she said, "adopted"?  After replying that she was indeed adopted the woman made a statement that was intended to praise my "good deed" of adopting as well as to discriminate against the african american race.  Her comments illuded that my daughter would be better off with me, because "they" can't seem to take care of their kids.  Unknown to this woman, who intended to sing my praise, I value my daughters heritage.  I celebrate who she is and recognize that without her biological parents she wouldn't be here.  Unfotunate circumstance and poor choices can happen to anyone and categorizing it by race was very dimeening. 

With each exchange similar to the above mentioned I feel more and more irritated.  My faith in God helps create my view of others.  In God's eyes we are all created for a purpose and He doesn't see us as a certain color or status. 

Culture and DIversity

Culture-
1.  The richness of a people group.  The deep rooted places and traditions of a place.
2.  A group of people's way of seeing and interpreting the world.
3.  The ethnicity of social groups.


Diversity-
1.  Differences between people..  What seperates people from one another.
2.  Having different types of people making up a larger group.
3.  Different qualities in people.


There are some similarities in what we have studied and the above given definitions.  There is deep roots in culture, far past food, music or race.  We too have found that a people group's culture affects how they see and interpret the world.

One thing not mentioned is social identities.  How culture and diversity are represented in a persons identity, unique to them.  Culture and diversity is created by the many groups that make up our social identities.

As I looked at the definitions I was given I realized that there is a surface understanding found in each definition.  As we continue to better understand our own social identities we will move past the surface understanding of other's culture and diversity.  This is a great opportunity for us to become fully aware of our own surroundings and how each of us interact with the world.

My Family Culture

If I was evacuated to another country I would take:

1.  Bible...this represents my faith and the core of my beliefs
2.  Photo album representing the history of my life thus far
3.  Some U.S. credential that represents my identity.

Trying to communicate the meaning behind my items I would first attempt with verbal language and gestures.  My emotions and actions could carry some of the feelings and meanings behind the items. 

If made to choose only one item I would, without doubt, keep my Bible.  It is the source of strength and faith that I would need at a time such as that.

Blending cultures can require us to adapt in a way that forces us to leave behind important parts of our lives.  This exercise encourages me to work harder to show value to each family's culture and differences.  Working to include their culture can support their attempts to maintain their own heritage, beliefs and traditions.

Thank You

Thank you colleagues for challenging me and keeping me encouraged when this course took its many many turns..  Mrs Walker thank you for helping each of us to finish strong!!