TIME WELL SPENT!!!

This has been one heck of a journey!!! But I cannot complain one bit. The fact that I'm even here writing this blog is such a blessing. I have climbed many mountains and have walked through many valleys to get here...both spiritually and physically...

As I reflect on what I have learned in this program, my mind becomes flooded with thoughts. I have learned so much! But when I think about what got me through this program, the one thing that comes to mind is "God's power". I could not have done this without Him. From being homeless for to now owning a condo, I cannot dare say that I did this on my own. I was homeless before I started this program and was homeless for about a year into the program. Being in a situation like that while going to school is not easy. But it is possible. On top of that, my father passed in the middle of the program, and he was only 50 years old. It was, and still is, a mind-blowing experience. But everything happens for a reason right? So with that being said, my first deeply felt lesson that I want to share is: always keep the faith! No matter how hard things may seem or how impossible they may look, never give up on your vision, your mission and your dreams! If God brings you to it, He will definitely bring you through it. If He showed something to you, then it must be real...take it from me!

Another lesson is: regardless of differences and specials needs, all children deserve a chance at receiving high quality anti-bias education. Growing up in Detroit, Mi, I was blessed to receive quality education regardless of my surroundings and other physical attributes. This is something that I hold near and dear to my heart. People maybe able to take away material things but no one could ever take away a person's education once they have received it. My daddy taught me that....

Last lesson that I am going to share is: never be afraid to face your imperfections. After all, they make us who we are and we can learn a lot from them. Dr. Teri has to be one of the best professors I've ever I had. At first, I thought she was too hard on me. I have always excelled in school but I struggled in the beginning of our Capstone. She ripped my papers apart and a couple of times I cried (lol). But to receive a perfect score on my Capstone Project brought me great joy. I had to face those papers again to see what I needed to fix. I think I had a minor anxiety attack as I pulled the documents up for review but I did not fant (lol). If I would have let my pride get in the way, I probably would not have learned from my mistakes. I plan to enroll in an MSW program in the Fall and I am pretty sure that I am going to do a lot of writing. But I can honestly say that I am confident in moving forward in my education because of her. Thank you Dr. Teri and thank God for you! 

I have a ton of long-term goals. But to sum them all up, my long term goal is to always be a great example for children, not just on the professional level, but on a personal level as well. These children need someone to look up to on a regular basis. Let's be honest; not all children have a positive role model to follow. I am thankful for my parents but I sometimes wish they could have been better examples for me. However, if they would not have been, then I do not think my passion would be as strong for children as it is now. It runs really deep for me; and I believe a lot of that comes from my childhood experiences. A lot of times we do not understand why things happen the way they do, but we just have to trust that God knows what He is doing and He does not make any mistakes.

With that being said, to my classmates, thank you thank you thank you for your encouragement, feedback and critiques. They are much appreciated and they have helped me a great deal. Dr. Teri, thanks again for being such a wonderful professor. You have helped me become a better student and a better writer. Val and Jo...get ready for we have a mission to complete!!! Everyone else, I will see you at the top! It does not stop here! Love you all, God bless and keep up the good work!!! We made it!!! Hallelujah...

Brandee Pierce

email: bpierce6383@gmail.com, brandee.pierce@waldenu.edu

Facebook: Brandee Katrice Pierce-TheArtist...Everyone please add me!!!!!

For those who want my phone number, feel free to email me and/or Facebook me!!! Yay!!! :-) 

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

I came across three international organizations that work for positive social change for children and families: All God's Children International, Child Fund International, and International Child Art Foundation.

"All God’s Children International is a licensed, nonprofit child-centered ministry, answering God’s call to serve through adoption, orphan care and missions" (All God's Children International [AGCI], 2013 p.1). AGCI's vision consists of giving hope and facilitating change for children around the world. The organization seeks to provide a better life for children within their family of origin, country of birth, or with a forever family through adoption. It aims to achieve the vision by creating a culture of communication, honesty, ethics, compassion and commitment (AGCI, 2013). AGCI does not have any job openings at this time. But one can apply to go on missions trips. I chose this organization because I believe it would be a good resource to have as I am working toward opening a Christian-based school. Who knows? I may be able to sponsor children overseas and they can become students at my school. The possibilities are endless.

Child Fund International's mission is to help deprived, excluded and vulnerable children living in poverty to have the capacity of become young adults, parents and leaders who bring lasting and positive change to their communities (Child Fund International [CFI], 2013). The organization also promotes societies whose individuals and institutions participate in valuing, protecting, and advancing the worth and the rights of children (CFI, 2013). I chose this organization for reasons similar to picking AGCI. In addition to that, I definitely want to help children living in poverty to grow into successful adults who give back to their communities. CFI has some job openings that are very appealing to me.

One is a National Director in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Those who apply must have a college degree or above in community development/social science or relevant discipline. Applicants must have 5-7 years experience in managing development programs at a senior management position. Prospects must also have experience in emergency programs, and/or community development. CFI prefers that applicants have experience in managing large institutional grants (CFI, 2013). Prospects must have a proven track record of strong management skills with complex programs and a large number of staff. Applicants also must be experienced in child focused programming (CFI, 2013).

Another opening is in Pasig City, Philippines and it is for a Technical Specialist (Education). Applicants must have 5+ years technical experience in program design, implementation, management and evaluation of development programs (CFI, 2013). Prospects must have demonstrated strong technical expertise in all or any of the following areas: Early Childhood Care and Development, Child-Friendly School Systems, K-12, Reading Recovery Programs and Alternative Learning Systems CFI, 2013). Applicants must have above-average technical writing and proposal development skills, preferably with extensive knowledge of the donor environment in the Philippines and Asia. A writing sample will be required for prospects being seriously considered (CFI, 2013). I didn't see any education requirements, which was very shocking to me.

The third one I found is in Los Angeles, CA as a Regional Philanthropy Officer. Candidates must have a B.A. in Marketing, Public Relations or related discipline or equivalent relevant experience (CFI, 2013). Applicants must also have ten years of successful experience in major gift fundraising or development, preferably with an international or development organization (CFI, 2013). Prospects must be highly energetic professionals with excellent interpersonal skills and a track record of building donor relationships and closing gifts. Significant domestic, and some international travel is also required (CFI, 2013).

In conclusion, there is the International Child Art Foundation. "The International Child Art Foundation has served as the leading art and creativity organization for American children and their international counterparts since 1997" (International Child Art Foundation [ICAF], 2013, p.1). The organization's mission is to enhance academic performance and imbue global citizenship by nurturing children’s creativity and developing their empathy through the power of the arts. Its vision is to develop creative and empathic 21st century learners and leaders for a better future for all (ICAF, 2013). I chose this organization because not only am I working to open a Christian-based school, but I want it to be a creative arts school as well. Therefore, I believe that this organization would be a good resource to have as I develop the school and even afterwards. I believe all of these organizations are good resources to have for all early childhood professionals. I'm glad I found them.


References:

All God's Children International. 2013. About Us, Careers, Missions. Retrieved from http://www.allgodschildren.org/

Child Fund International. 2013. About Us. Retrieved from http://www.childfund.org/

International Child Art Foundation. 2013. Home. Retrieved from http://www.icaf.org/

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

Three National Organizations I have chosen:

National Association of Elementary School Principals
"The mission of NAESP is to lead in the advocacy and support for elementary- and middle-level
principals and other education leaders in their commitment to all children" (National Association of Elementary School Principals [NAESP], 2013, p. 2).

I chose this one because I will be the CEO/principal of my own school one day. It would be a good idea to have access to a support group that consists of other principals as well.

National Child Care Association 
This association is helping to preserve a parent's right to choose the quality of a licensed, center based provider of early education and care. "The Mission of National Child Care Association is to promote the growth and safeguard the interest of quality early childhood care and education focusing on licensed, private providers of these services" (National Child Care Association [NCCA], n.d., p.2).

I chose this one because I believe that parents should always have a right to choose quality child care and education for their children.

Social Media Community (Of Practice)
Social Media Community of Practice identifies opportunities and challenges to improve government use of social data, and collectively address them for the shared benefit of all agencies. They support the creation of online communities that provide opportunities for citizens to collaborate, participate, and engage with their government (Howto.gov, 2012).

I chose this one because it was very interesting to me. But one thing that is unique about this CoP is that you have to work for the government (and have a government email address) in order to join it. I have been considering working for the government lately. I have taken an interest in other position in the education field as well...

Three job positions that interest me:

Deputy Superintendent (Buffalo, NY)
Candidates must have a Master’s degree and a NY State School District Administrator (SDA) or School District Leader (SDL) certificate by the time of appointment. A Doctorate Degree is preferred. Candidates must have 8 yrs. of supervisory experience. In addition to that, candidates with successful administrative experience in an urban school district with a large racially and economically diverse population are preferred (NAESP, 2013).

CEO: The Ewing Marion Kauffman School (Kansas City, MO)
Requirements: 3+ years in a school leadership role (or equivalent experience); Minimum of 2 yrs. teaching experience, preferably in a “whatever it takes” or “no excuses” school environment (or equivalent experience); and Bachelor’s degree required, advanced degree preferred (NAESP, 2013).

Elementary School Principal: New Horizons Charter Academy (North Hollywood, CA)
Requested and Desired Experience: At least 5 years of successful full-time educational/administrative experience in a K-12 program; A familiarity of working with students with special needs; A minimum of one year experience in a school based administrative position; Bilingual- Spanish and English. Candidate must also have a Master's Degree (NAESP, 2013).

I can see myself working in these positions although I may need more work experience and training. But it is good to have an idea of what is out there so that I can know what to push for in the near future. We're almost done!!! *Hallelujah*


References:

Howto.gov. (2012). Social Media Community. Retrieved from http://www.howto.gov/communities/federal-web-managers-council/social-media

National Association of Elementary School Principals. (2013). Leading Early Childhood Learning Communities. Home. Members. Retrieved from https://www.naesp.org

National Child Care Association. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved from http://www.nccanet.org/index.cfm

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

I chose to my research in California. I came across an article titled "California Collaborates in State and National Efforts: Communities of Practice for Transition". "Children with disabilities and their parents face many important transitional junctures in their lives. The first formal transition is the one that parents navigate when their child turns three years old and the teachers, therapists, and supporting organizations all change" (The Special Edge, 2008). With that being said, the state of California wants to aid in that transition and make it as smooth as possible. There are many communities of practice that are involved with the improvement of the transition. The three I chose to research were: California Department of Education (www.cde.ca.gov), California Department of Rehabilitation (www.dor.ca.gov) and California Association of Family Empowerment Centers (http://cafec.org). I chose these three because of their mission statements. I truly believe that their missions and purposes tie in with what California is trying to do.

The mission of the California Department of Education is to "provide a world-class education for all students, from early childhood to adulthood" (CDE, n.d.). The Department of Education serves the state by innovating and collaborating with educators, schools, parents, and community partners. Together, as a team, they prepare students to live, work, and thrive in a highly connected world (CDE, n.d.). "California Department of Rehabilitation works in partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living and equality for individuals with disabilities (Department of Rehabilitation [DOR], 2013). The California Association of Family Empowerment Centers works to provide information, resources, technical assistance, and systems change advocacy to a statewide network of local Family Empowerment Centers (FECs) who provide family education, support, empowerment, advocacy, and parent-professional collaborative activities to families of children with disabilities ages 3-22 years old (California Association of Family Empowerment Centers [CAFEC], n.d.).


I came across a position called an Educational Fiscal Service Consultant. The requirements are as follows; knowledge of school administration practices, school district business practices, financial management, and staffing; principles of governmental fund accounting, education program cost accounting, interim financial status reports and year-end expenditure reports; public school law and finance; automated financial management systems and software applications; and general knowledge of other areas of operations. Applicants must have the ability to interpret data, solve administrative and fiscal problems, and speak and write effectively. They must also be able to establish and maintain cooperative relations with local, state, and federal officials (CDE, n.d.).

Another position I came across is an Educational Programs Consultant. Those interested in this position Retmust have experience in Education Technology. The possession of a Teacher Librarian credential is desired, but not required. But applicants must have excellent writing and presentation skills. In addition to that. they must have experience in the process of instructional materials adoptions (CDE, n.d.).

The third position I came across a position called a Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. The requirements include either a Masters or Doctoral degree in counseling or a closely related field. A person may possess an active certification as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor. Also, students in the last academic year of their Masters or Doctoral program in this field (or closely related field) may also apply (DOR, 2013). I just told a few friends that I plan to get my Ph.D in some kind of counseling. But I am thinking of getting my certification in it first along with my teaching certification. I have been thinking about moving to California so I could see myself working in a position like this, and all of these positions for that matter. I may need additional education and training, but I am sure the extra effort would be worth it!


References:
California Association of Family Empowerment Centers (n.d.). Home, About us. Retrieved from http://cafec.org/about

California Department of Education (n.d.). Home, Jobs at CDE. Retrieved from http://www.cde.ca.gov/

Department of Rehabilitation (2013). Home, DOR Employment Information. Retrieved from http://www.dor.ca.gov/

The Special Edge (2008). California Collaborates in State and National Efforts: Communities of Practice for Transition. Retrieved from http://www.calstat.org/publications/article_detail.php?a_id=104&nl_id=14

Thank you...

I would like to thank all of my colleagues for accepting me and making this class very interesting. I attempted to take a communication class in my undergrad...let's just say that this class was a lot better. I learned a lot from all of you. Some of you I have had classes with before, such as Arica and Greg. Thank you both for accepting me as your colleague once again. I hope to see all of you in my future courses. Please feel free to email me at: bpierce6383@gmail.com if you wish to give me your contact information. Or you can give me your email and I will send you my information. We're all on this journey together so we must stick together!

Special thanks to Dr. Walker for being an awesome professor. Thank you for your insights and allowing us to express our own. I gained much knowledge on a lot of things while taking this course. May Yahweh bless you all! See you at the top!

The Fifth Stage of Team Development

Adjourning (as well as the other stages) is a very essential stage in team development. It's like the conclusion to a research paper. I believe it brings “everything together”: ties up most (if not all) of the loose ends. When I think about the groups I have been a part of in my lifetime, the ones I liked the most were those that had the best “endings”. We were one on accord with what we were trying to do; we had the same vision. By the time the meetings came to an end, it was already established that we were on the same page. And that felt really good.

I would say that the high-performing groups and those with the clearest established norms were the hardest to leave. When I think about the groups that may have had both of these “qualities”, I think about my church choir and band. We had the same vision in mind: to win souls. Music is a tool to bring people on one accord anyway so I believe that played a huge part in our unity. We would always pray before and after practice. So even if we did veer off and lose focus, I believe the prayer put us back on track. 

I imagine that the adjourning from my colleagues will be somewhat similar to the adjourning from the choir/band. Although I may not communicate with some of them outside of this program, I believe that we all have the same vision in mind. We all have a passion for children (at least I hope we all do). We all want to make a difference. We all want to make a change in society. With that being said, I will always feel connected to my colleagues for these reasons. I will always know in my heart that we are serving our purpose. I do not believe we would be in this degree program if we were planning to do otherwise.

Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development: A case study. Retrieved from http://www.projectsmart.co.uk/the-five-stages-of-team-development-a-case-study.html

Nonviolent Communication is the Key!

I just started a new job working in sales. I like the job a lot; there is so much to learn about selling home security systems. I had my training about three weeks ago and it was pretty intense. There was a lady in the class who apparently had more sales experience than me. We had to do a "role play" and needless to say, I still needed more training (lol). But everyone in the class made mistakes when they did the role playing. So it was no big deal...so I thought.

After I was done, my trainer asked did anyone have any feedback on how I did. The lady with all the "sales experience" had something to say, which was not applicable to what I had done. I am not going to lie, at first, I was offended. "Who are you telling me anything? You are in this training class just like I am". But instead, I "stopped, looked (at her), and listened to what she had to say. And I am so glad I did because that could have turned into a mess! Nonviolent communication is always the best way to go when trying to resolve a conflict. So, I took a deep breath and told her what was really true and my trainer backed me on what I said. He turned around and came down on me but he can do those things...HE'S THE TRAINER! And what he said was right. So I took the correction for what it was.

With that being said, the "stop, look and listen" strategy was something that I was reminded of this week. But learned it more in depth. And I believe that the "stop" part is the most important part: "Stop. Take time to prepare. Take a time out. Count to 10. Take a deep breath. Remember, 'everything starts by stopping'". This is so true; and working through this conflict proved it. 

Another strategy I learned is called "alternative dispute resolution" or "ADR". ADR refers to any process or collection of processes established to resolve disputes without trial or violence. As I mentioned in my application assignment, there is no set way to resolve conflicts in a nonviolent way. But there are many ways to resolve conflicts peacefully. I believe that was proven true working through this conflict as well. What do you all think? Feel free to give feedback. Thanks in advance!

http://www.acrnet.org/Page.aspx?id=691

http://www.thirdside.org/SKILLS_01.cfm

Who Am I as a Communicator?

As I think about the similarities and differences between how I evaluate myself as a communicator and how others evaluate me, one thing that surprised me the most is how my mom and good friend evaluated me as a communicator. They evaluated me to be a better communicator than I evaluated myself. That motivated me a great deal because it showed me that some people view me better than I view myself. I gained quite a few insights this week. I will share two:

1) "Always continue to follow the 'Platinum Rule'"; "Do unto others as you would want them to do unto you". Although this rule was brought to our attention last week, I do not believe we can be reminded of it too much. 

2) "We must (continue to) be unbiased and open to receive different people and their ideas". This ties in to the first insight I shared. We want people to be open to receive who we are and what we have to offer. So we must give that same respect to other people and receive them as well.

I truly believe that these two insights inform my professional work and personal life because they can be applied to people of all ages and all backgrounds (everyone)! 

Communicating With My "Peoples"

As I begin to reflect on how I communicate with people overall, I have come to realize that I do communicate with different people in different ways. When I communicate with my colleagues, I try to be as respectful as I can because we are "dwelling" in an educational environment, where we can learn not only from our instructors, but from each other as well. Versus when I communication with people in my neighborhood, I have to give a "tough yet soft" image when communicating with them, but I am still respectful. I'm nice to people but also let them know that I can protect myself in case they want to try some "slick stuff". In this case, I would say that my non-verbal cues "speak" louder than my verbal cues. 

With this being said, I believe I have come up with three strategies that I could use to help me communicate more effectively my colleagues and those in my neighborhood. Although I communicate with them differently, I believe these three strategies will work across the board. 

NUMBER ONE: "Follow the Platinum Rule"; 'Do unto other as you would want them to do unto you'. Simple yet complicated. We as humans can be selfish when we speak to others, not considering what we are saying to the others or what they want to say to us. But we want everyone to listen to us. It doesn't work that way. We must respect one another in order to receive respect from one another...

#2: "Be careful of what my non-verbal cues maybe given off or 'saying'": Sometimes, the words that come out of our mouths are "silenced" by our non-verbal cues. Or sometimes we may say (or write) something that has a "subliminal" message attached to it that can be taken out of context. Along with that, we may not say one word but our body language/facial expressions have the potential to speak volumes.

3) Constantly be aware of "cultural myopia": 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'H air & Wiemann, p. 45, 2012). Everyone is different, period. Regardless of how many similarities we may have, we are still individuals. So we have to open-minded when communicating with each other. Everyone has their own unique way of thinking and expressing themselves. As along as we can respect each other while these actions take place, we should be ok! I truly believe that....

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

Verbal/Nonverbal Communication

I watched a show for the first time called "State of Georgia". Raven Symone is the star! Let me first say that this show is hilarious and it is available on Netflix. :-)

But as I watched the show with the sound turned off, I thought that the relationship between her and a Venezuelan girl (Majandra Delfino) was just a business/co-worker relationship. They worked in a perfume store together. But as the show went on, I saw that they were more than just co-workers. They were like "partners in crime". Then there were scenes with Raven Symone, her friend and an older lady, Loretta Divine. I assumed that Loretta Divine played Raven Symone's mother. But I later found out that she was actually her aunt who was "very popular" among the "male celebrities" lol.

At times, I would see Raven Symone and Majandra Delfino make certain faces, as if they were not happy about something or thought trouble was on the way. However, Loretta Divine smiled a lot and had her share of cocktails lol. So she seemed happy most of the time. Raven and Majandra did a lot of fast moving together, as if they were always on a mission. In different scenarios, Raven smiled a lot and used her arms in some way to emphasize excitement: whether it would be lifting them up, and/or wave them around rapidly

After watching the show with the sound on, my assumptions were pretty close but not exact. The friendship between Raven and Majandra was deeper than I thought it was. Yeah, they are "partners in crime" but come to find out, they moved to New York together from Georgia in order to pursue their dreams. So that displayed a strong bond to me. It was one particular scene where Raven auditioned for an acting role and the guy who was doing the auditions rejected her. But later in the show, she goes back and entices him with her "curves" and fatty food. At first when I watched it in silence, I do not know what was going on. I thought they were having a dinner date and he did something that she did not like at that time. But come to find out, he rejected her previously because he felt she was "too big" to play the role she tried out for; not to mention, he used to be "big" himself. But he lost a lot of weight over time and it went to his head. So when she went back to his place, she was on a mission to show him that "thick girls" can play sexy roles too, and that he still had an undercover love for fatty food. :-)

I believe my assumptions would have probably been more correct if I had been watching a show that I knew well. Just for the simple facts that I would have already known who each character was and what they are capable of doing; versus with this show, I had to put everything together while watching for the first time. However, you can never be too sure what is going on when you watch something in silence. We still need sound and words (language) to tell us what is going on for real. That's why I wish (sometimes) that children came out of the womb talking because it would make it easier to find out if something is wrong with them or if something happened to them. Babies are coming out of the womb advance these days so for all we know, that just may happen lol. But I must admit, it was fun analyzing this show without the sound. It was funny to me then. But watching it with the sound really brought it home. This proves once again that language and nonverbal cues should always work together in order for effective communication to take place (O'Hair & Wiemann, 2012, p. 98). 

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

Blog 1: Competent Communication

When I think about those in my life who demonstrate competent communication, a few people come to mind. But the person who sticks out the most is my mother. Let me tell you that this woman knows how to get her point across to someone, and I'm her child so...I have taken on some of her characteristics of course. I believe that her communication is effective because once she is done expressing herself, everything is clear and there is no confusion or unanswered questions. However, as her child, I have not always "appreciated" how she would communicate to my sisters and I. But now that I am older, I understand why she did what she did and how she did what she did. She was looking out for us because she had our best interest at heart. Sometimes, she would hold things in before saying telling us what is going on but when she did, all the cards were laid on the table. I am the same way at times and I believe that is something that we both need to work on. However, we tend to not say things because we feel that no one else but God would understand us. So we would keep it to ourselves. With that being said, I do model communication behaviors from her because..she's my mom! And she has taught me what she knows. I may not always agree with how she communicates but at the end of the day, as long as we know what it going on and our questions are answered, we really cannot complain! I have made some improvements in my communication over the years but there is still room for improvement. And I am mature enough to admit that....

Professional Hopes and Goals

When I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds, I hope that it turns out to be an "easy challenge". Somewhat of an oximoron, I know. But on the surface, I work very well with people. That is easy for me. However, for the most part, I have been around people who have a similiar background as I do. But the "challenge" comes in when I start dealing with people with different backgrounds who have different points-of-views. Although I have quite a bit of experience with working/learning/interacting in diverse settings, there is still that "slight feeling of being uncomfortable" that causes me to doubt that I am able to do it in my own business. My facility will be available to "everyone". My concern is when they walk into the facility and see that it is ran mostly by my family and friends (not because I'm being prejudice or anything, they are just very supportive). Or when they hear that it is "black owned", I hope that I am not judged for that. I understand that I cannot control anyone else's actions or thoughts. But I want a fair chance just as the children do. Let me prove to you that me "having brown skin" has nothing to do how I run my business and how I care for these children. I was born with this passion. Therefore, the passion was in me before I even developed a "color".

"Mandatory Diverse Outreach", would be one goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity and social justice. What that would consist of is reaching out to different people from different backgrounds in different ways.For example, with a child care facility, we could have a "street team" who goes out to different communities, especially diverse communities and tell them about the facility and what services we offer. But the "underlying main purpose" would be to search for people from different backgrounds who we don't service in the center, or who haven't had a chance to get into my facility for whatever reason (didn't know about it, no transportation, not confident in English, etc.). We should make it our business to try to service every ethnic background possible, ON A CONSISTENT BASIS. Not just when we feel like it or when we're feeling all "diverse" and everything. It should be an on-going basis.

With that being said, I would like to thank my colleagues for embracing me as a classmate. I believe we displayed a wonderful example of diversity, We all had similarities and differences and that made the course very interesting. We got along just fine and that shows that people from different backgrounds can get interact with each other and learn together. I wish you all the best as we continue our EC journey. It keeps getting better and better!

Special thanks to Dr. Darragh for instructing the class and participating in our discussions. Best wishes to you as well. :-)




God bless you all!

Welcoming Families From Around the World

The name of my family's country of origin is "Timbuktu". 

Five ways in which I will prepare myself to be culturally responsive towards this family:

1. Do some research on the country; look on the internet and find out certain things about the country.

2. Since I would be the owner/director of a child care center, I would inform my staff about the information I found so that they can be more knowledgeable as well.

3. Then I would inform them to let the children know that we're getting a new student who is new to the country; Be nice!

4. Along with that, I would meet with the staff and come up with a "welcoming party" or something like that to make the child and the family feel more comfortable. I would have them to have the country's flag displayed in the classroom and I would attempt to have some food from their country or have them wear some clothing from that country. I would want them to feel at home away from home, especially on the first day of school. First impressions last...

5. Thereafter, I would personally meet with the parents and let them know that we are happy to have their child in our facility and that we are happy that they decided to give us a try. I would also inform the family that we will do our best to make sure that their child, as well as every other child, is treated fairly with love while receiving a quality education.

I believe that these preparations will be good for myself and the family because they would allow me to learn more about the country, which I knew nothing about, and ensure the family that my facility welcomes diversity, instead of rejects it. I say this all the time; we all need each other and we can all learn from each other as well. No man knows everything. So we should be open to learn something new everyday!

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

There is small city outside of Detroit, MI called Warren and it was known to be very prejudice against minorities, especially "black" people. However, by me attending Michigan State University, I figured I conquered the "racial barrier" that exist between some black and white people. I had been learning and interacting with white people and people from all over the world so how can anyone be prejudice towards me now? I'm too well rounded! So I thought...

My friend, her boyfriend at the time and I decided to get something to eat out there one day. I can't remember what took us out there exactly but all I know is, we were hungry and wanted food fast. So we found a diner that looked faily decent. But when we walked in, there were nothing but white people in there, both eating and working. And I mean that. No black people or "people of color" anywhere, not even a few of them. My friend's boyfriend and I instantly started feeling uncomfortable however my friend didn't see anything wrong at the time. She just wanted to eat lol.

We're standing in line, behind some white people and the hostess is treating them with the upmost respect. However, when it came our turn to be seated, she instantly says, "there's going to be a 20 minute wait", with a rude tone and then she walked away from us. And when my friend's boyfriend tried to ask her a question, she walked away while he was talking. Needless to say, we did not continue our stay there...

This event diminished equity because the hostess implied that black people were not as worthy to eat in a timely fashion, or at the same time as white people I believe. That event still boils my blook because we were really hungry and we did not have a car. So we were on foot/catching the bus and taxis and stuff. That works up an appetite in itself! I believe this event took place in 2002. I would have thought the segregated eating places would have been played out by now. I felt like I was in a time warp, because I couldn't believe that we were dealing with something like this in the 2000s!

That event showed me that we still have a long way to go. Granted, it is better than what it was. But if that level of segregation usually only exist in the south, yet, right outside of Detroit, we experienced the same thing, then that means that segregation and prejudices exists EVERYWHERE!

The hostess and the practice of restaurant would have had to change in order for this incident to be changed into an opportunity for greater equity. People of all colors should be able to eat wherever they want to eat. I must admit that Warren has improved a lot over the years. My cousin (who's black) lives out there now and she loves it. So there is hope for society to change as well. It may happen taking baby steps but as long as steps are being taken, we should be ok. A change is coming!

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

I was watching the Dave Chappelle's show on DVD and one of the cast started a conversation about Asian people. He said something to the effect of when he may ask an Asian where he/she is from, and his/her reply is "the united states", then his response would be "you know what I mean". Although he was joking, he expressed a racial micoaggression because he was implying that all Asian people are born in Asia somewhere and those who are in the United States came over after they were born. We all know that is not true. However, that reminded me of Dr. Sue (who is Asian) when he told the story about the woman asking him where he was from and where he was born. At first he said that he was from Portland, Oregon then later told her that he was born in the United States. My observations from this week has increased my awareness of how there are so many stereotypes for different ethnic groups. I believe comedians such as Dave Chappelle bring stereotypes to the light but in a joking way in order to keep us from getting upset about them. It makes me sit back and ask myself "who came of with all of these anyway?" Words are powerful and so is unity. You get enough people involved, you can create a mighty force, whether it be good or bad. But I am a firm believer that good things last forever and bad things pass away eventually. I am praying that these stereotypes will disappear one day soon, or at least be identifiable to the point where people will know what they are and not give in to them. 

"Microaggressions in Everyday Life" (approximate length: 27 minutes)

In this program, Dr. Derald Wing Sue presents a lecture about the concept of microaggression in everyday life.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I interviewed aunt (age 64), my best friend (age 31) and my cousin (age 16). I asked them all what their definitions of culture and diversity were and their responses are as follows:

Aunt:

Culture is how we live, think, how we dress, what music we listen to etc.

Diversity is the breakdown of the differences in all of us.

Best Friend:

Culture is our way of life, what we believe and customs we follow.

Diversity is what makes us all different however it also allows us to dwell together in unity.

Cousin:

Culture depends on the person and how they were raised.

Diversity consists of different people of races and who have different beliefs.

I believe all of these answers include what I have learned in this course thus far, as well as what I knew about culture/diversity beforehand. None of them mentioned anything about language but I can see how that was overlooked because we speak English. Their thoughts on culture/diversity has influenced me to want to dig deeper in this topic. This class has allowed me to do that a great deal thus far and I am looking forward to learning more.

My Family Culture

If a catastrophe took place in my country and we had to evacuate, three things I would take would be a Bible, a radio and a cell phone. I was raised Christian and I still practice Christianity as an adult. My grandmother (Bigma) taught us many values and lessons from the Bible and they have helped us all during rough times. I would consider a catastrophe to be a rough time...

I'm a musician, my mom is a musician, and my entire family loves music. So I would have to have radio around so that we can listen to some good tunes. It's only right...

I know that cell phones have not always been around but we looooooooooooove our phones...can't live without them lol. This is how we keep in touch with each other though. My family is scattered across the city of Detroit and the United States. So we need them...

I would be sad if I could only keep one thing but if I had to choose, it would definitely be the Bible. Everything else I can live without, but only for a short while. However, I cannot live without the Word of God.

My insights have been strengthened about my culture and my family culture as a results of this exercise because I did not realize just how strong these items effected our culture until now. I realize that they are important but I do not think I really made the connection to these things and my culture until now.

When I Think of Research...

•What insights have you gained about research from taking this course?

I have gained many insights about research from taking this course. I had a little knowledge about research before, but there was so much that I did not know. For example, the mixed methods approach was an eye opener for me. I had an idea that some research would require using both qualitative and quantitative research but I thought two different research processes would have to take place in order for that to happen. However, with the mixed methods approach, one can conduct a single study yet draw more accurate conclusions.

•In what ways have your ideas about the nature of doing research changed?

My ideas about the nature of research have changed because I always looked at research to be somewhat of a boring subject. But after taking this course, I am more excited about research and I am looking forward to doing my own. I took two research classes in my undergraduate study, yet I feel as though I have learned more taking just this one class.

•What lessons about planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood did you learn?

I have learned a lot of lessons about planning, designing and conducting research in this field. But one thing that stuck out to me the most was how to go about getting consent from the children and their parents. That is something that has to be done when conducting research in this field. Otherwise, one will run the risk of encountering some major challenges.

•What were some of the challenges you encountered—and in what ways did you meet them?

Coming up with a research question was probably my biggest challenge. At first it was too broad but after working with Dr. Myers, I was able to come up with the perfect question for my research (Thank you).

•What are some of the ways your perceptions of an early childhood professional have been modified as a result of this course?

The best way to say that my perceptions of EC professionals have been modified as a result of this course ties in with how they deal with children who participate in research. Truthfully, the way we are supposed to handle children should be the same all across the board. We should not choose to treat children one way then turn around and do something different when research is being done. I know that some professionals deal with children differently when research is being done but I believe that is not fair to the children. With that being said, whether research is being done or not, EC professionals need to make sure that they are staying professional at all times.

Research Around the World

I chose to write about the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) website. They have quite a few research topics listed but the two I chose to elaborate on are as follows: "The Development of an Integrated Early Childhood Development Urban Model Training Program for Informal Minders and Community Volunteers in Ghana" and "The Status of Coordination and Supervision of Early Childhood Education in Ghana".

The Development of an Integrated Early Childhood Development Urban Model Training Program for Informal Minders and Community Volunteers in Ghana is developed based on an integrated approach towards the holistic development of the child. The objectives of the project are to identify and develop appropriate training curricula, methods and materials to be used in the training of informal minders (IMs) and community volunteers (CVs). The integrated approach was used to develop the training modules they use.


The Study of Coordination and Supervision of Early Childhood Education in Ghana was conducted in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions from August to December 2003. The main objective of the study was to identify the factors that have engendered the current problems militating against the successful implementation of early childhood education in Ghana. Specifically, the study examined concepts such as early childhood care and development (ECCD), surveyed types of Early Chilhood Development (ECD) programs in the country and presented a general framework for the subsequent discussion.


I came across some interesting information as I navigated through the website. But one thing that stuck out to me the most was the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) "generative curriculum". The generative curriculum encompasses the following characteristics:

• a learner-focused approach - drawing as much as possible on the learner's experiences in their personal and professional lives;
• an ecological approach - placing individuals, programs and policies into an interactive and dynamic context and seeking to plan activities and interventions to maximize resonating impact throughout the larger ecology;
• a capacity building approach - aiming to strategically strengthen the capacities of participants to effectively fulfill their mandates in their professional position and to be accountable to their constituents and the broader ECD community in their countries. Although most education activities claim this as a general 'purpose', the ECDVU program addresses capacity development in a specific, strategic manner.
• a co-constructive approach - encouraging each learner to draw upon provided curriculum material as well as their own in-country experience and data to derive their own perspectives and applications;
• a multicultural approach - considering ideas, research, and goals pertaining to child care and development from many different cultural sources, including (but not limited to) African and Euro-Western sources;
• a cohort driven approach - encouraging collaboration, reciprocal learning among peers, and consolidation of networks within and between learners representing each participating country.
• an historical approach - exploring 'how we came to be here' vis à vis the evolution of various theories and constructions regarding children and their care and more recent international development activities focusing on children's care and development.

All of these things (meaning the research and generated curriculum) tie in together and they focus on the betterment of children and education. It is interesting to see other countries taking a stand in the early childhood field. I believe that we can all work together for our children. It takes a "village" to raise a child. So I guess it is safe to say that it takes the whole world to raise all of our children.





Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Developed and maintained by the University of Victoria, Canada, this virtual university is the international gateway for early childhood research worldwide. Through the link below, you can access ECDVU’s Sub-Saharan Africa portal. The second link takes you to a list of current early childhood research conducted by students in Sub-Saharan Africa.http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php
http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/major_reports.php

My Personal Research Journey (extension granted)

The topic I chose to focus on is research in the early childhood field. Seeing as though I am taking a research class, I am open to learning everything I need to know in order to conduct research within this field. I have done research before but not much within this field so I am looking forward to doing some. I have learned a lot thus far, especially about the quality of research. I believe that is something that we all should learn about so we will know what to look for while doing research. I have learned how to analyze research articles and where to find information. Now that I have this knowledge, I know my research experiences are going to be good and informative. I read about the girl name "Genie" in our textbook who was isolated in her family's home for years. Of course researchers wanted to investigate and do research on her to see how she was effected by this. However, it is believe that the research that took place may have cause more harm that good on her behelf. With that being said, I want to make sure that I conduct research that will benefit children, period. I do not want my research to cause any harm on our children in anyway. And that is why I chose this topic for the simulation. Colleagues, feel free to give feedback. I am open to all suggestions at this point. Looking forward to learning more with you all!