Awareness of Microaggressions

An example of microaggression, I dealt with when I was a child, was the fact that I was singled out. I had a friend, who I thought was my friend, but actually wasn’t. When it came to the two of us laughing and talking everything was fine, until she started hanging out with her other friends and completely forgot about me. While being in her presence, her friends would laugh at me, call me names and pick on me and all she would do is laugh. At times I defended myself, by talking about them in front of them as well as finding ways to make them angry as well as her. Once her friends started disappearing, she re-entered the stage of being my friend. Being called poor, trashy, dirty, calling my mom names, because she wore a wig hurt me. As time progressed, I ignored their comments as well as the girl who I thought was my friend that never was. The next school year, became better for me. They realized that I was a person, who cared less about what they thought. It took a while for me to understand, that they pick on people who are less than them (their lifestyle) but not better than them. Sure we moved into a better house, with better clothes, and my attitude was the same, except I ignored them completely, I made myself stronger.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

My husband thoughts on culture and diversity is the roots of where you come from, learning from diversity (other people as well). Diversity means learning from other culture. Learning from others makes you a stronger person.


My brother-in-law thought on culture and diversity is culture meaning family backgrounds, customs. For example, Mexicans celebrate the day of the dead, where they remember the loves, family history and past generations. His definition of diversity is do not know the meaning.

My best friend definition of culture and diversity is the quality of understanding a person’s belief, values, ideas, family background, religion, customs that make us different from others. Diversity means understanding and respecting different people such as their gender, race, age ethnicity just to name a few.

With their regards to culture and diversity, I can’t help but agree. Each one of them gave me their personal definition of both words and I respect and understand their meaning of culture and diversity. However, their response is what makes them unique. I can’t give them the definition of culture because the term of culture is endless. An example of what I leaned so far is based on my husband, my brother-in-law and best friend definition. Each one discussed the importance of learning and understanding a person’s beliefs, values, ethnicity as well as family history. As I got to know each one of them, I had to accept and respect their values, beliefs, ideas, ethnicity and religion. What makes them so special is what they value and believe in that makes them unique; I guess that’s what I love about them, their opinion!

My Family Culture

Three items I would take with me are:


• My grandfather’s flag, from the military representing freedom.

• My family album, representing events as well as faces that I love

• My bible, because it represent my belief and faith in the lord.

My feelings if I were told only to keep one would be disappointment, angry, betrayed, and upset.

My insight is realizing that my family heritage is important to me. It defines who I am, what my family represents, what my family values are as well as what we believe in. My family has come from a long line of ancestors who worked hard to make their name mean something. I want to continue the legacy as Thomas who never gives up.

When I Think of Research...

As I look back at the beginning of this class, I have gained knowledge about research. In this experience I
have learned how to:

Find and understand raw data and information

Ask a research question

Survey the literature

Formulate an informed opinions through the study of my research

Manage my resources

Cite sources

Entered the discussion, or conversation, of other writers and scholars in my field

Learned how others in my field use primary and secondary resources

Decide my point of view, for my research

Collect Evidence

Draw Conclusions based on the research

The research process is, for many of us, is just the way we do things. We research the best buys in cars and appliances, best schools for our children and ourselves as well as the job we all want. Research expands and adds to our experience and knowledge, providing us a broader base for thinking and writing. It enables us to become experts in areas not directly related to our everyday life. When we engage in research, we build valuable critical skills that serve us in other areas of life. We learn to ask interesting and thoughtful questions, gather and interpret data, read critically, form opinions, manage and understand conflicting information.

Challenges I had was finding valuable resources that tied into my study. I acknowledge the source of all evidence as well as help from my colleagues, my teacher, and the web and to each of you, I say thank you! My perception of an early childhood professional is that we are people who work with or on behalf of children and families in early childhood settings.

Research Around the World

The topic I will be discussing today focuses on Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in Africa. After reading several research topics done by students in Africa that are in different committees, I will list a couple of them for you. The topics listed here are topics that were interesting to me that focused on early childhood devlopment . Parents’ and Other Caregivers’ Perception of Early Childhood Development Needs and Quality: A Study of the PLAN-Assisted Programmes in Bawjiase, Ghana by Stella Etse, Improving Multisectoral Cooperation and Coordination in Support of Early Childhood Development Programs in Tanzania by George Kameka Incorporating Indigenous Stories of Basotho in an ECCD Programme at Leseli Community Centre by Phaello Ntsonyane Traditional Child Care Practices in Tanzania: Supplementing PLAN Training Programs by Leoncia Salakana Using Indigenous Material for ECCD Curriculum in Malawi by Mary Phiri.


From reading about the article, “Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in Africa”, I learned from exploring this international early childhood website was “the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) is an innovative(pioneering) and multifaceted(all around) approach to addressing ECD capacity building and leadership development in Africa. The ECDVU is supported by a range of international, regional and local organizations, including the employers of participants. It is a unique training and results-oriented program that uses face-to-face and distributed learning methods including: residential seminars, web-based instruction, CD-Rom and print material support, and a 'community of learners' strategy within and among cohort countries. To meet the ECDVU’s child and social development objectives, it employs a number of approaches to post-secondary education that are ‘non-traditional’ in nature, it includes: recognizing the strengths and expertise that exist locally and regionally; incorporating these ‘voices’ and experiences into the learning process; promoting sustainable, interactive networks that reach rural as well as urban populations; and using computer technology as a means for developing strong information and communication systems within Africa.” This is awesome!



Noteworthy information:

How the candidates are chosen through networking of the ripple effect and the generative curriculum approach each candidate must meet. Candidates are chosen by their country committees as emergent leaders to improve the well-being of children, families and communities in their countries.

Retrieved from:

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php

http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

Research that Benefits Children and Families-Uplifting Stories

Due to the high volume of child obesity, I decided to readdress this topic once again. Child obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Child obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Child obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.

In discussing child obesity, I came across a native woman who lives in Albany, GA that has a passion about child obesity and ways for children to say healthy and stay fit. Pamela Jackson founded The Youth Becoming Healthy (YBH) Project in memory of her brother, Bernard Green, who died in February, 2004 from complications of morbid obesity and other related illnesses. Pamela Jackson decided to meet with the local school system in Albany, GA and create a policy to benefit the youth’s health and eliminate child obesity so the children won’t suffer like her brother did.
Fitness centers have been placed in elementary and middle schools giving the students the opportunity to participate in a safe and physical activity program at the school they attend. Community leaders partnered with Pamela Jackson to provide nutrition, education and other services, to meet the needs of the students. She has received numerous awards and recognition for her efforts to fight childhood obesity including one of CNN's 2009 Heroes and profiled on Larry King Live.

Pamela divides her time between her non-profit organization, consulting business and working on her doctorate degree. She is also an advocate for implementing mandatory PE in all elementary and middle schools, as well as a policy maker, making changes at the state and federal level.

Please click this link to see an advocate at work!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS5xvJyGHpw

My Research Journey

The topic I chose to analyze and do research on is ways parents and teachers foster social developmental skills in young children. From infancy, children are active member in our world. Interactions with parent(s) are the first type of social exchange for infants. An exchange from the parent(s) and the child creates an attachment. Exchanges such as facial expressions, movements, and verbal interactions help create an attachment. With an increasing number of children enrolled in center-based programs, educators and caregivers play an important role in promoting the development of social skills. By analyzing ways to foster social development in young children will strengthen my social skill as an adult so that I can build a supportive relationship with families and their children.

My personal experience in relation to the topic would be based on my infant stage, where I learned facial expressions, hand jesters as well as body language. Through these examples given by my parents was a guide to promote learning. As an educator, it is our role to facilitate and encourage social behavior as well as provide the assistance to develop a social network that supports our young children.

If any of you have any insights or information concerning ways parents and teachers can foster social development for young children, please email any information is valuable.