Professional Hopes & Goals

       My one hope that stands out over all my professional goals for working with families from diverse backgrounds is to reach them on a level that is comfortable, open and leads to positive results for their children. This hope is built on making sure that as an educator I am effective and efficient enough in my practices that all of my families and children are benefiting from them.
     One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to work to benefit each area of diversity. By working to benefit each area of diversity I would be a vessel to get others thinking and acting in the proper way towards others that are different. Educating adults on the importance of understanding equity, diversity and social justice and how they are working for or against their families and children as well.

     My fellow colleagues, I have truly enjoyed the insight that I gained from you all through out this course. As this course comes to an end it means different things to each of us. One thing that you all may have in common that is different from me that this course is the end of my journey here at Walden. I have completed the Master's program in Early Childhood Studies, and I am very excited about what this means for my career. As I leave Walden, I wish each and everyone of you many blessings and success with reaching your goals and hopes in your careers, as well as your personal lives.

Thank You all!!!!!

Welcoming Families from Around the World

The family's country of origin is Busan, South Korea. The countries majority religion is Buddhism, and the language is Korean established in an alphabet called Hangul (Szczepanski, 2015).

Five ways that I can prepare to be culturally responsive is by first gaining a true understanding of the families

• Researching the families culture, religion, and customs.
• Based on the research make the appropriate accommodations to the learning environment to make the family feel welcomed and familiar with some aspects of the classroom.
• Collaborate with other teachers and staff about the family's customs, traditions and religion which could affect how the family is perceived.
• Introduce South Korean literature, interpreted newsletters, introduction to the classroom, as well as use the international calendar to incorporate holidays, or at least learn them and respect them. 
• Schedule a time to actually sit down with the family to discuss their expectations, if any, give them an insight on our program and give them a chance to get to know me and our staff as well as learn about their family.

By embracing the family's culture at the same time introducing the child care environment would be a way to create a collaboration between the family, and the learning environment that gives a solid foundation in the beginning. Building a comforting, solid foundation in the beginning of the partnership is a way to ensure a successful transition into the program and for the child.

Reference
Szczepanski, K. (2015). South korea: Facts and History Retrieved on the Asian History website
http://asianhistory.about.com/od/southkorea/p/South-Korea-Facts-And-History.htm

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice and Oppression

     "Get to the back of the bus, girl." "Eyes down, and do your work." These are phrases I remember my grandmother using in stories she would tell us, my siblings and cousins, about how things were for her when she was a child and growing up. My grandmother passed away at the age of 96 years old last year. She would lecture us about the importance of education because that was a luxury that she didn't have full access to like we do now. When my grandmother was six years old she had to begin working, as a girl, and African American girl, the future or life for her was stapled to being a maid, and caregiver. Born in 1916, she often experienced the likes of racism, prejudice and oppression most of her life. Voting, diplomas, and the freedom to come and go as you please were all dreams for my grandmother.
  For my grandmother her rights as a human being were striped from her. Equity was something unheard of unless you were apart of the dominant culture. Reading, writing and arithmetic were things that my grandmother did not have the privilege of capitalizing on. With very little education, she was able to learn the basics of writing her name, and adding and subtracting.
     When ever I think of this type of oppression and prejudice, although things have evolved somewhat from how they were for my grandmother I get overwhelmed. I get overwhelmed by the thoughts of how it mentally and emotionally destroy a person to be stripped of their power because of their race. I am grateful that today we as Black people have more control over our own lives.
   Now after several laws and changing in the mind set of people on equal rights, this problem still exist to a certain degree. By continuing to gain an understanding of diversity, equity, microaggressions, and isms we can continue to work, so that all people can live free. Just like Nadiyah spoke of in the video, racism still exist, but in new ways where people are oppressed or discriminated against because of their hair, or choice in whom they love (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).

Reference
 Laureate Education. (2011). In her own voice: Nadiyah Taylor. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

Awareness of Microaggression

     Experiencing micro aggression is one of those things you never forget, even in conversations with others who have experienced it stands out strong in my mind. I would like to discuss a friend of mine whom experienced micro insult from a relative. A friend of mine is a lesbian female in her early twenties. She always dreamed of being a mom, but because of her love interest the thought was easier than the actions. In her attempt to express to family members how she wanted to become a mom, and her options. A cousin said to her, "why would you want your child to go through all of the troubles you are going through now." Once my friend got over the shock of the comment, she asked, "what do you mean by that?" Her cousin said, "You are gay, and your child will grow up to be gay, and have to go through the same issues with acceptance that you do." At this point, my friend said that she was so hurt on the inside that she couldn't respond to react to the comment. The micro aggressive remarks from her cousin implied that if you are a gay or lesbian person that when you have children they will be gay or lesbian too.
     Even though this week we were suppose to discuss a situation where we experienced micro aggression ourselves, I though that this topic was more interesting to discuss. For a person of the gay or lesbian statue there are many other stigmas and stereotypes to discuss, but I found this to be a very serious topic. In my years of being an Early Educator, I have had the privilege of working with a few families of the same sex, and their love, nurture and care was on the same level as the other parents that take good care of their children. As far as their children growing up to be gay or lesbian because they are gay and lesbian is something that should not be stamped on them. I think it goes into the same category when you say to people because you are a single parent, then your children will grow up to be a single parent.
     Hearing stories like this makes me think of my teachings from the Bible that talks about how we as people should not judge one another, God is the only judge. Even though I may not agree with a person's life style, I still believe in respecting others and giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. Parenting and influence is one of those things that the topic is so broad and wide that the best thing to do is hope for the best outcome for all of our children.

Reference
Laureate Education, Inc. (2011). Microaggression in everyday life. Retrieved on the Walden website https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_6529245_1&content_id=_23292860_1

Valuing Culture:Looking Beyond Surface Culture

Friend#1: Diversity is the differences that are known and seen in individuals that determines how we react to one another. Culture is the way that a person is taught or raised. Relative #1:Culture is the inside of a person shining through the outside. Diversity is when a society accepts differences amongst one another. Friend#2: Culture is everything the a child is taught as they grow up, on how to act, think, walk, talk, love, and dwell. Diversity is understanding and making strides to accept people who are from a differewmt race, religion and culture. The connection that I saw in the definition that !y friend and relative made to the one that I have read about is the simplest ones from the videos with Ms. Derman-Sparks where she and her counterparts. The discussions between Ms. Derman-Sparks described diversity and culture as being the way a person is taught to live Laureate Education Inc., 2011). The aspects of culture that were ommited in our conversations were those of surface culture. Even though the topic of surface culture is something that is a obvious idea of culture, it was something that I thought would come up. The only thing that was discussed about surface culture was race, no one was categorized or stereotyped. As I listened to others give their insight on diversity and culture I couldn't help bit think about how my own ideas of culture and diversity were viewed. Society is blossoming into a new way of thinking which was present in the thoughts of my peers and relatives. The views of others is going deeper than skin tone and social class. Reference Laureate Education Inc., (2011). Family culture:dynamics interaction. (video file) Retrieved from http:\\class.Walden.edu

My Family Culture

Three items that come to mind that are significant to my family that I would take on this journey would be a Bible, photo album and my wedding bands. This is how I would explain to others what the items mean to me. I would explain that the Bible represents the totally of my family. Our dynamic as a family comes from the significance of the teachings of the Bible as followers of Jesus Christ. The Bible would be a way for the future of my family to always have something to hold on to that connects us to God. The photo album would have pictures of my grandmother, grandfather, mom, siblings, my husband, and his grandmother, grandfather, mother, father and siblings. The photo album will be a way to have an image of the people that are very special to me on hand at all times. Last, the wedding bands would be the second important. I can have something to glorify my marriage as well as pass on to my daughter, or son when there time comes to marry. I can start my on family tradition and cultural practice with the rings and albums. Maybe once a year we celebrate using the pictures. I would be devastated upon arrival, if I was told that I had to give up all of the items except for one of the them. I would feel stripped by anyone of the items being taken away. I would feel so hurt because everything that I owned and cherished was taken once, and now I would only be left with one thing. The choice would be very hard. Just like the parents entering our classrooms from other cultures having to be striped and taken away from their comfort zones (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011). I honestly think that I would have a panic attack, a moment of breakdown; crying, screaming, yelling and eventually the feeling of defeat once I realize that this was gonna be my new way of living. It would take the love from my family to bring me to a sense of peace. I think that having my family around me would actually be more important than having the items, so I would be able to live with only one item. The insight that I got from this assignment is that the memories and time that we would spend together would make up for all of the material things we loose. That is what my family culture is about any way; the faith that we have, that keeps us safe allows us the peace in knowing that everything will be okay as long as we continue to pass on our belief in God, and each other. Reference Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Family cultures: Dynamic interactions. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu