Time Well Spent

Time Well Spent

I'm not good at goodbye's. Farewells. See ya later's. However, I am excited to be finished with this program. There were times I was not sure I would make it to the next class, let alone to the finish line.
I have learned that I am committed to my work and advocacy for Early Childhood Education. This program has not only cemented my passion for young children and families, but it has also given me colleagues that have shared their wonderful experiences with all of us.
I realized that I am stronger than I once thought... I still cannot believe that I finished my master's degree and was a damn good mother at the same time! The program taught me to think deeply about issues and trends that exist in the world of Early Childhood Education. With these thoughts, I was able to apply them to my children and what they might encounter in the future world. These thoughts also pushed me closer and closer to my goals.
But more than anything, I learned from the program that Early Childhood Education is a topic that should be talked about more and more within our federal and state government. Furthermore, I learned that we cannot more forward and better our field without research.
My long term goal is to continue to make a difference. In a large way. In a small way. One child at a time. This field is not about money, prestige, fame or recognition. This field is a selfless one. Therefore, even though I wrote my paper about imaging my future from the perspective that I could accomplish anything, I would be happy and satisfied with just continuing to make a difference. If all my dreams come true, then so be it.
I'm glad that I took this program online. With excitement, I can report that I have read about people from all over the world just by being in this class. More importantly, I have learned about other states in the U.S. and what their Early Childhood Education programs entail. I realized that CA has a long way to go to match the success of other states. Unfortunately, none of us have ever met face to face. However, you have rewarded me with your experiences, stories and thoughts about the ins and outs of our professional field. Reading your postings has allowed this stay at home mom of three year old twins a lifeline to the Early Childhood Education field. For that I am grateful.
Good luck to you all...

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Save the Children: "Save the Children gives children in the United States and around the world what every child deserves – a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. When disaster strikes, we put children's needs first. We advocate for and achieve large-scale change for children. We save children's lives."

On the site, there are plenty of positions that are available that I could apply for: Assistant teacher for Head Start and Early Head Start Program Manager. Although none of the positions are available in CA. Each requires a BA in Early Childhood Education or Child Development and experience working with infants and toddlers.

UNESCO: "UNESCO works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. It is through this dialogue that the world can achieve global visions of sustainable development encompassing observance of human rights, mutual respect and the alleviation of poverty, all of which are at the heart of UNESCO’S mission and activities."
On the website, there are currently no positions available.

OECD:"The OECD provides a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems. We work with governments to understand what drives economic, social and environmental change. We measure productivity and global flows of trade and investment. We analyse and compare data to predict future trends. We set international standards on a wide range of things, from agriculture and tax to the safety of chemicals.
We also look at issues that directly affect everyone’s daily life, like how much people pay in taxes and social security, and how much leisure time they can take. We compare how different countries’ school systems are readying their young people for modern life, and how different countries’ pension systems will look after their citizens in old age."
On the site, at this time, there are no positions that I could apply for.

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: National/Federal Level

National/Federal Organizations:

1. National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education

• The National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education has a mission to advocate the involvement of parents and families in their children's education, and to foster relationships between home, school, and community to enhance the education of all our nation's young people (National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education). 
• The coalition seeks to: serve as a visible representative for strong parent and family involvement initiatives at the national level, conduct activities that involve the coalition's member organizations and their affiliates and constituencies in efforts to increase family involvement and provide resources and legislative information that can help member organizations promote parent and family involvement (National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education).
• Job posting: no postings on website

2. National Education Association

• The National Education Association has a mission to advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the nation to fulfill the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world (National Education Association). 
• Furthermore, the National Education Association is dedicated to research on parental involvement in education.
• Job posting: no positions that I qualify for and no positions in their state affiliates 

3. Parent/Teacher Association

• The PTA has a Family Engagement Commission that acknowledges parents as the first teachers of their child and realizes the integral role that parents play in the total development of the child (Parent Involvement).
• Furthermore, the commission supports parents/guardians and family caregivers by: strengthening/teaching parenting skills and encouraging involvement in schools and at home, supporting the understanding of childhood development stages,  providing resource materials and networking with agencies and groups focusing on parent involvement (Parent Involvement).
• Job posting: no positions are posted on the PTA website at this time

References:

National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2014, from National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education: http://www.ncpie.org/AboutNCPIE/

National Education Association. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2014, from National Education Association: http://www.nea.org/home/19583.htm

Parent Involvement. (n.d.). Retrieved May 19, 2014, from California State PTA: http://www.capta.org/sections/parents/parent-inv.cfm

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

            My first organization is based locally, but it a funded by the State of California. The overall organization is called First5, but each office is located in a specific county. First5 offers all different types of programs to anyone with a child under the age of five. Not only do they provide new parents information and avenues to local resources, the offices also provide developmentally age appropriate classes for families to attend each week. Furthermore, the organization offers home visiting services, parent support, literacy programs, child care quality information and preschool scholarships. Within the organization I was able to find two positions that are within my county of residence. One job title is a Family Support Specialist and the other one is a Program Supervisor of the Family Support Specialists. Both require a bachelor’s degree, 12 ECE units, two years of experience in the field and bilingual in Spanish.

            My second organization is Head Start. Although it is federally funded, each location is situated inside schools and child care centers that exist in every county. The Head Start organization for Contra Costa County provides full or part day programs, Early Head Start for children up to the age of 3 and a home-based model that provides home visits. The county lists quite a few different positions within the Head Start organization: infant/toddler teacher, master teacher, site supervisor positions and program manager positions. Each position has specific requirements. However, I have realized that I will need to start out teaching because all upper positions require teaching experience.

            My third organization is directly related to my Capstone Project. Parents As Teachers is an organization that provides resources and information on the topic of parent involvement and the benefits to each child. On the website, a specific job is posted that relates to acquiring funds from other organizations to continue Parents As Teachers goals each year. Although it requires three years of experience in the “art” of acquiring funds, which I lack, I would still love to have a position such as this one. I think it would be highly rewarding to know that I am a part of the funding process, which would bring the issues and topics of parent involvement to others on a larger scale. 

Thank you to fellow colleagues

Hi All,
I wanted to personally thank all of you for your wonderful posts and stories during this 8 week class. I realize that by reading about your experiences, I learn more and more everyday through each one of you. Our class on communication has also reminded me that collaboration with each other is a very important task in our professional field. We have to remember to stay open-minded in regards to different approaches on curriculum, classroom environment and children's behavior. I appreciate the depth of your sharing during this class, especially those who relay classroom experiences. It makes those of us who are not in the classroom feel like we are there with you!

Adjouring

Adjouring

Usually, when I think about how a group project or paper came to an end, they last thing I think of is a "sad time." I am so relieved and excited to be done that I don't think of missing my group members. Most of my group projects have awarded me with friends that would move on with me into other classes or at the very least a learning experience or two.

I remember that for some projects the instructor would ask for our feedback about how our group members did during the process. Sometimes we would even get the evaluations back from the other group members and be able to see our strengths and weaknesses. Again, it was all about learning from each other. Therefore, I would have to agree that in this case, adjourning in this fashion was an essential stage of the teamwork.

Honestly, I'm not sure what it will be like to finish up here at Walden. I wish that I could say that I have gotten close to all my colleagues, but the truth is that with online classes, it is harder to have that classroom environment that fosters camaraderie. Although, I will miss the stories and great personal experiences that others share in their postings and blogs. I know that I have already learned a lot from each of you and I appreciate your honesty in sharing.

Conflict Resolution

Conflict Resolution

Currently, I am a stay at home mom. So my conflicts are mostly between my twin boys and I or between David and Andrew themselves.

I have to admit that sometimes when it is a conflict between me and one of the boys, I tend to use challenging strategies. I fully know that this type of strategy is used to benefit my needs, but sometimes as a parent that is my only option. For example, if I am in the grocery store and one of them is having a melt down because they have sat in the cart, strapped in, for too long, I have to diffuse the situation so that I can finish my shopping. Some people might say that I should just up and leave the basket and exit the store! However, I look at it from the direction of....it was a challenge to get here in the first place and I am not giving up until I am done!! Therefore, I usually talk to them or reprimand their behavior if it needs it, but I always finish my shopping!

Most of the time, when it comes to conflict between the boys, I try to take a cooperative strategy approach. If I am aware of who took who's car and who was playing with said care first, I usually try to diffuse the situation by giving back the car to its' rightful owner and then discuss with the "stealer" how it is not okay to take other people's things. But I do try to make it a win-win outcome by giving the "stealer" a different car that is not being used by anyone. Compromise is tough but I do use it as an outcome when I do not know exactly what they are having the conflict over. Sometimes I come into the room too late and just see them tussling on the floor! I guess this is what boys do! However, I want them to understand that putting your hands on someone else does not solve the problem and that it is better to use your words. Again, tough for a 2 year old because they are just getting to the talking stage. Yet, I want them to learn that physical force is never the answer to a problem. In this situation, the nonviolent communication is the best tool because it promotes discussion of feelings in regards to the situation and then allows not only compromise but compassion for how the other person feels.

Who Am I as a Communicator?

Who Am I as a Communicator?

I think the one thing that surprised me the most about the evaluations this week is that I see myself "elevate" communication anxiety and my other evaluators do not. Throughout my life, when I describe myself as "shy" most people tell me that they do not see me this way. However, deep down I know that I deplore public speaking, meeting and talking to new people, and eye contact when talking to someone. I am fully aware that all of these difficulties derive from a lack of social skills, in a certain sense, that are a direct result of my childhood.

Furthermore, another aspect that I learned this week about communication is that although I am a people-oriented listener, my evaluator also gathered a score that put me in the verbally aggressive section as well. Although I scored on a moderate level, my evaluator scored me in the significant level. In all honesty, I can concur with this finding in regards to my relationship with the evaluator. Which then led me to understand that I communicate differently with different people in my life.

So, I pose the questions: Does anyone else find this to be true? Do you communicate the same with every person in your life?

Cultural Communication - Week 3

Cultural Communication

Do you find yourself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures?
    If yes, in what ways do you communicate differently?





After much thought, I have come to the conclusion that I communicate with everyone, all groups and cultures, that same at first. Oddly enough, I realized that when I speak to someone of a different culture, that is not the first thing that comes to mind. Good or bad? I don't know. However, I think as I linger in the conversation with the person or a group of people, I then start to realize that there are cultural differences between us and I try to be respectful of those differences.

Based on what you have learned this week, share at least three strategies you could use to help you communicate more effectively with the people or groups you have identified.

1. The concept of cultural myopia, or a form of nearsightedness grounded in the belief that one's own culture is appropriate and relevant in all situations and to all people (O'Hair & Weimann, 2012) was a very large barrier in my life at one time. However, now that I have had experience with other cultures and have learned to be open to the differences that we may share, I can say that I no longer have trouble with cultural myopia. Therefore, my first strategy is to always remember to be open to other cultures and to practice active listening when participating in a conversation with someone from another culture.

2. Another strategy is to withhold judgement long enough to gain a deeper understanding than first impressions allow (Gonzalez-Mena, 2010). In other words, it is better to practice informational listening and empathic listening when talking with someone from another culture because it will allow you a better understanding of the person's intent and feelings. If a person is quick to judge someone from another culture, it can lead to generalizations and stereotypes.

3. Another strategy comes in the form of understanding that just because you do know about a person's culture, that does not mean that you can predict their behavior (Gonzalez-Mena, 2010). Again, generalizing other can lead to stereotypes that can then be based on to students and other parents or colleagues that we come in contact with each day.

References
Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2010). 50 strategies for communicating and working with diverse families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

Communication and TV- Week 2

Communication and TV

I used an TV show that is controversial for the assignment, on purpose. "Real Time" with Bill Maher is a great example of communication.
With the sound off, I see facial expressions and hand gestures that all seem exaggerated. However, when I turn the sound on, I can see just by the nature of the issues that are being discussed that these types of communication are warranted.
When Bill Maher does his show on HBO, of course he can swear and say things that could not be said on regular TV. Yet, when you take a Democrat like Bill Maher and put him with a GOP or Republican, it seems that only certain types of communication is inherent. Obviously, more times than not there is arguing going on and interruptions by both parties during the conversation. The topic or issue is usually one that sets both sides up against each other. Therefore, conflict is inevitable.
Slang is used, as well as many euphemisms. But more importantly, even when the sound is off, there is a tension that you can see on both sides of the issue. The proximity of the guests on show is quite interesting as well. Usually, Bill Maher sits on one end of the table and the guests sit next to him in the order of political views, with the most clearly different point of view as far a way from him as possible. Furthermore, I think that Bill Maher's listening skills are tainted by his political agenda. He is clearly a passive listener and does not practice active listening at all during his conversations. I think he displays overconfidence is when what he knows when it comes to the issue at hand, which then does not allow him to openly listen to the speaker. He has selective listening and displays defensive listening when he responds with aggression and beings by arguing with the speaker.

My "aha" moment came when I realized that when discussing difficult topics, such as politics, you need to have an open mind. It is important to stay focused and listen fully to the speaker, whether you agree with their statements or not. It can be hard to put aside your view points on certain issues, but it is important when trying to collaborate with colleagues.

Competent Communicator

Competent Communicator

After some thinking, I realized that one of my professors at Fresno State is the perfect example of a competent communicator. She was awesome communicator in all situations, but excelled in one on one conversations. She maintains eye contact, nods her head when she understands a point that you are trying to make, and only responds when she is sure you are done talking. Her feedback is usually on target with your questions and she keeps the answers focused in a positive direction. She never interrupts the speaker and never looses eye contact with the person.
This professor modeled some great communication tactics that I do in fact use when in conversation with others. I have learned to keep eye contact, wait to speak until the other person is done speaking and use good feedback when answering questions within the context of the conversation.

Professional Hopes and Goals

Professional Hopes and Goals

My most significant hope for working with families of diverse backgrounds is that I can make them feel comfortable asking questions that pertain to the well-being of their children. I want all parents to have a voice for their children and to know that they are their children's biggest advocate. I hope that all parents will know and understand that I am not here to judge them in any way.

It seems overwhelming to write that my goal for the early childhood field, in relation to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice, is to have world peace. However, I feel that if I start in my little corner of the world, then I am adding to an overall better place to live.

Thank you to my colleagues this semester for you openness and honesty in regards to the tough topic of diversity. I know that with new knowledge and the personal stories from you, I have gained a better understanding about races, ethnicities, cultures and customs that I did not know before this class.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Lately I have been looking into my family tree. This class on diversity has catapulted me into wanting to know all about my ancestors.

So, for this assignment, I would pick that my family would be from either Sweden or Germany.
The five ways I would prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards the family are as follows:
1. Start at the library and gather as much information on the country of Sweden and Germany.
2. Learn to read and speak in their native tongue (as much as possible, until I could become proficient)
3. Ask friends and family if they knew anyone that migrated from these countries so that I could get a first hand account of what it may have been like in their country
4. Speak with colleagues that belong to organizations that are in Sweden or Germany.
5. Attempt to gather as much information on their home land, especially in regards to the other races, ethnicities, and social classes that exist in their individual towns and cities

The most important benefit of my preparations would be that I would make the families feel welcome in our country. I would hope that my understanding of where they come from would easy the transition period and make them feel that we in the United States do in fact care about their home land. Also, communication for the families would be easier if I was able to speak and read/write in their native tongue. Furthermore, I would hope to show the families that I have an in depth understanding of their culture, customs and ethnicity. All of these aspects would greatly benefit me because I would feel that I am encouraging the families to feel comfortable and wanted here in the United States.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Of late, the most influential situation regarding prejudice was in the movie, The Help. If you have seen this movie, you know what I am talking about. If you have not seen it, I encourage you to watch it with an open mind and open heart.
The movie is based on a book that was written by a white author, however, the stories in the book are all told by black "maids" from the South in a time when segregation was still abundant.
With that said, you can imagine the types of prejudice, bias and oppression that were described and acted out in this movie. From major racial slurs, to out right mean and hatred for black people is all riddled throughout this movie.
For the most part, I cried during this movie. I have never seen such a moving expression of how people can be so unloving and hurtful to another human being just because of their race. These "maids" were made to use an outhouse to relieve themselves, eat in the kitchen and never with white people, and basically take abuse and racial slurs from their bosses just to keep their jobs.
Usually when I watch this type of movie I feel an overwhelming sense of guilt and shame that my "white" ancestors would treat other human beings this way. I know it was another time; another world. However, it does still exist today in some parts of our country.
I can only hope that a movie such as this was an eye-opener for others. I can only hope that we are a country can learn to love and respect each others differences.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

The microaggression that I experienced this week:

My friend was actually telling me "stupid women" jokes. It was very offensive to me as a women. However, the surprise really came when the male friend said that he heard the joke from his female cousin. When I realized that a women was the initiator of the joke, I felt even more disrespected and violated. I was highly insulted that another women would think that jokes like that are funny and would even care to repeat them.

I'm sure there were other forms of microaggressions this week that I missed. With that said, I feel that I had an extensive amount of growth during this week's topic. I realized that, although words are said with unintentional hurt, it can scar a person and be psychologically damaging. I have also learned that I will never quite understand what it means to be discriminated against because of the color of my skin. And no matter how hard I try, I will never fully understand the types of prejudice and stereotypes that others may experience.

Furthermore, I have also learned that people do in fact have some major issues in regards to stereotypes and discrimination. I think it is hard for some people to be self-aware. In conjunction, I have serious doubts that most people want to change their perceptions about others. Unfortunately, I wonder if there will even be a world without prejudices, stereotypes and discrimination.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

One person wrote that they think culture equals tradition. And that diversity is a bunch of different cultures coming together.
Another person wrote that diversity is a bunch of different things, people, places... but that culture is about traditions and the way a certain community does things.
The third person was more literal in their definitions but expressed that diversity means different races and ethnicities coming together and that culture has to do with how people treat one another.

Obviously, the simple definitions of the terms are presented here in what people think diversity and culture means to them. However, I think that people fail to see the importance of why we have different cultures and why diversity is so important in today's society. I also have to point out that I posted the question: What is diversity? What is culture? on my Facebook page so that I would get a lot of replies. Sadly, I only got the three replies. This led me to wonder if people are afraid to talk about cultures and diversity, as if these topics are taboo.

I felt that the biggest omission was the conversation that should have taken place about the topics of diversity and culture. I was surprised that with the diversity of my friends and the variety of different cultures that exist among them all, that there was no conversation or sharing going on on my post.

Mainly, I felt that people may be so busy in today's society to even see each others different cultures and share about our diversity.

My Family Culture

My Family Culture

I'm sad to report that the only item I would take with me and keep is my computer. Within my computer lies the past, present and future of me, my family and extended relatives. I would begin by scanning and saving all of my family photos that are still loose or in photo albums, so as to keep these memories with me as well.
I'm sure we all notice that our lives revolve around the computer. Our photos get stored here, our homework is stored here, our personal papers and things like budgets are stored here on our computers everyday. Most importantly, the computer has given us all the tools to communicate and keep in touch with our family, no matter where they live in the world. Social media sites such as Facebook and MySpace have offered us tools to IM with our family and friends, send emails and update the status of not only our daily doings but also our daily whereabouts. We have other forms of communication, such as Email, Instagram and even Twitter to allow us to be connected every minute of everyday of our lives.
Needless to say, this may seem like a cliche to some. However, all I have our photos to remind me of my family and friends. I wouldn't go so far as to call myself alone, but my mom lives one place, my dad another, and my best friend in another! Without my photos and social media sites, it would be hard to keep up with the daily going-ons!
Although I am lucky to have strong bonds with family and friends, it is unfortunate that my family is not heavily into a "culture." I know that I am some German and some Swedish. One set of grandparents comes from Massachusetts and another set came from Illinois. Beyond that, I do not know much about my family origins or the culture in which they came from.
My main insight when it comes to family culture is: I question whether or not my relatives did not carry on their culture, what ever it may be, because they came to the United States as foreigners, were made to assimilate and were stripped of their cultural differences. 

When I Think About Reserach...

When I Think About Research...

Oddly enough, the biggest insight I have had from taking this course is that actually doing the research project would have been easier than the simulation. Although, in doing "only" a simulation for this class, I gained a new respect for the class that I took as an undergraduate that required we do an entire research project, including the 20 page paper!
It was with great excitement that I dove into doing the research simulation because I, in fact, do love reading others' work. I was surprised that some of my colleagues had mentioned that they had never read a research article before taking this class. I wondered, "How can one go on working for years in a specific area like Early Childhood and NOT read a research article?" However, with this reality came a reminder that as I forge into my career once again, I will be sure to riddle my staff members and colleagues with research articles.
For the sake of argument, I think research is wonderful. It maybe not always be easy to read or understand, especially once the statistical significant results are thrown into the mix. However, it is a great feeling when I have an idea/concept that I think will work great for the children in my classroom or will be helpful in engaging parents to spend more time in the classroom, and find articles that discuss the pros and cons of the very same ideas and concepts.
Research is all about trying things out. What works and what does not work? Furthermore, I think that by doing the actual research project for this class, I would have had better answers to some of the questions we were asked to provide. I am not good at guessing the answers. I am much more inclined to search them out by collecting data and analyzing my results.

Research Around the World

Research Around the World
European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA)
www.eecera.org
 

• What are some of the current international research topics?
•  Early Education for diversity: starting from birth
• Companionable learning: mechanism for holistic well-being development from birth
• The dynamics of early childhood spaces: opportunities for outdoor play?
• Children and the outdoor environment
• Introducing children's perspectives and participation in research
• Breaking methodological boundaries? Exploring visual, participatory methods with adults and young children
• What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?
• I was highly surprised to see such a vast array of research topics to look at on this website. I also felt it was interesting that the European Early Childhood Education Research Journal groups together topics for special issues. This seems to be an easy way for reference on a specific topic and is a helpful way to share information with parents and staff. Furthermore, the journals incorporated articles and research from other countries, such as China and Australia. 
• What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?
• I found it very helpful that some articles had free access to them and all topics included the abstracts. Both are always very helpful when doing research and searching for specific information on a topic.

Research that Benefits Children and Families - Uplifting Stories

Research that Benefits Children and Families

Option 2:
I think that if I had the means and ability to do research, I would continue on or start a new avenue in regards to academic testing and how it does or does not effect children's academic success. As of now, one of the theories states that standardized testing hinders children's academic success and can put them on a path of lower academic achievement due to not passing these tests. I would do research on how important it is to do standardized testing with children who are in Kindergarten and what type of emotional effects these tests can have on these children.
I feel that doing research on this topic will help parents to understand if they should send their children to schools with standardized testing. Also, I think parents will have a better understanding of what takes place during these tests and the type of content that exists on these tests. I have noticed that parents tend to trust the school districts rules and regulations about standardized testing without ever asking whether or not it is right for their child. I know that the government does in fact enforce these rules about the testing, however, if more parents knew the benefits and risks involved in the outcomes of these test, maybe they would be more likely to speak out against them.