Wrapping Up

Walden University course EDUC 6357  has been both challenging and exhilarating.  It has stretched my mind and my emotions.  I have discovered things about myself that I didn't know, both for the good and for improvement.  I have enjoyed learning about myself and about diversity.

     One hope that I have when I think about working with children and families with diversity is that I will show them unconditional love and acceptance, even when I may not agree with the choices that they may be making.  I want them to experience respect from me so that they feel they can be themselves.  I want what's best for my students and their families; I want my students to feel that school is a safe and comforting place where they feel loved and accepted.

     A goal that I would set for the early childhood field regarding diversity and social justice is that each classroom would reflect the personalities and cultures of the students within.  I would like to see each classroom be a happy, cheerful place, with color and pictures and toys that express the diversity of the students.  My daughter recently started as a lead teacher in a toddler room.  The previous teacher did not make the room a happy, comfortable place where parents would want to bring their children.  She is using pictures of the students around the room, art projects and posters to improve the atmosphere and make it feel more like a home for her students.  By simply rearranging the classroom she has made both the paras and the parents feel that their child is being well cared for and accepted.  It makes me sad to think that there are many classrooms in the field that are like that one was originally was.

     I would like to thank my colleagues for their supportive comments in the discussion boards and blog assignments this semester.  They have helped me realize that I may not be where I need to be regarding diversity within my classroom, but I am on my way to making diversity a priority with my students.  I have enjoyed reading their posts and answers to discussion questions as well.  Together we are learning.  We may not change the world, but we can change the lives of the students we are privileged to teach.

Creating Art

 
YI am not an artist in any sense of the word!  This is a difficult assignment for me because of that.  My creativity seems to be limited to projects preschoolers can make!  So I decided to take a little different path.  I have read some beautiful prayers that were like poems.  I can't rhyme either, but I think I can develop a prayer poem that illustrates my journey through becoming more anti-bias.  I don't want to offend anyone, but I believe in Jesus and God the Father so that's who I pray to.  Here's my creation...

Father, help me to see

To see those whom You love.

You have created all things and all peoples

From every part of the earth

You love them all.

Jesus, You call me to love too

Not just those who are like me

But those who appear different than what I am used to.

When You walked this earth You didn't see differences in people.

You saw through the eyes of love all the diversity You created

And You saw them all.

Rich, poor, old, young, beautiful, broken, Jew, Arab, Roman, Gentile and every other ethnicity

Varying abilities physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually

You treated every person with respect and love...(except the Pharisees who had hearts of hate).

Father, give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that is tender toward those that You love.

Let me be able to acknowledge the beauty in differences

Let judgment have no place in my life.

Grow me, unsettle me, transform me into what You would have me to be.

Let truth and justice be on my lips, spoken in love.

Thank You for the beauty in the peoples You have created

Help me to see, love, and teach about that beauty to all the little ones You've entrusted to me

And their families as well.

Thank You for loving me....help me to radiate that love to everyone You bring across my path.
Amen.r different than what I am used to.

When You walked this earth You didn't see differences in people.

You saw through the eyes of love all the diversity You created

And You saw them all.

Rich, poor, old, young, beautiful, broken, Jew, Arab, Roman, Gentile and every other ethnicity

Varying abilities physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually

You treated every person with respect and love...(except the Pharisees who had hearts of hate).

Father, give me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that is tender toward those that You love.

Let me be able to acknowledge the beauty in differences

Let judgment have no place in my life.

Grow me, unsettle me, transform me into what You would have me to be.

Let truth and justice be on my lips, spoken in love.

Thank You for the beauty in the peoples You have created

Help me to see, love, and teach about that beauty to all the little ones You've entrusted to me

And their families as well.

Thank You for loving me....help me to radiate that love to everyone You bring across my path.

Amen.

"We Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

My niece was in the grocery store with my sister when she was about four years old. While they were waiting in line to checkout , my niece pointed at a lady ahead of them in line and said in a loud voice, “Mommy, look at that fat girl! Why is she so fat?” My sister was mortified and tried to hush my niece, then distracted her with something in the cart. She whispered a quick apology to the lady in front of them but did not really make eye contact.

My sister may have communicated the message to my niece that it is not okay to talk about physical differences or why people might look different from one another. By suppressing my nieces childlike curiosity in this instance, my aunt may have helped to instill in my niece the belief that she should keep her questions about differences to herself. She may also very well have intimated that it is bad to be fat; this message was reinforced later in my nieces childhood when she became heavy and my sister kept putting her on different diets. To this day, my niece has lots of issues with weight and has suffered from anorexia. The root of these issues may well have begun when she was small and absorbed her mother’s beliefs about weight and people who are overweight.


An anti-bias educator may have responded to a similar situation by telling the child that people come in all shapes and sizes, and helping the child think about the people in that child’s life and how their body shapes differ. For instance, the educator could point out taller and shorter adults that the child knows and ask the child to compare his or her own body to others. This approach would have led to frank discussion of bodily differences and the message that it is okay to talk about differences. Another strategy might be to turn the question back on the child, asking the child why he or she thinks that a person might be fat. This may give the teacher a glimpse into children’s misunderstandings and help the teacher figure out how to address these misconceptions. For instance, a child might believe that the person is fat because they have a horse in their stomach, based on hearing someone say, “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!” Other children may not have misconceptions and may give logical reasons based on their life experiences and/or what they have been told. If a child says that she thinks people are fat because they eat too much junk food, the teacher might acknowledge that is one reason people may be fat, but give the child some other reasons as well (e.g. some medical conditions make people gain weight). Above all, an anti-bias educator would emphasize respect regardless of physical differences.

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Gender, gender identity and sexual orientation are very complex topics and diverse experiences related to them are crucial to a child’s healthy development. “Gender is the first core identity that gets young children’s attention. It develops very early: By age 2, children begin to describe themselves as boys or girls, although they are not yet sure what that means” (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p.90).

It is important that diversity is discussed and explained within the classroom. As a teacher, I want to ensure that I am prepared to do so in a way that it is honest, and ethical. I want to provide an environment that is safe and understanding and teaches diversity in a way that is rich and meaningful to my young students. As a classroom teacher I hear often, “You can’t play in the house area” It’s for girls or “These tools are only for boys.”  As a teacher,I want to take the time to let my students know that these are not true. I really liked the way in which the media segment showed the teachers asking the children questions about their thoughts. “Why do you think girls cannot be doctor’s?” or “Has anyone ever seen a female doctor?” I also loved the way that the children were always part of the learning process. They were not just told, “Girls can be doctors too”- the learning came from them collaboratively. They even went out into the community so that the children could see for themselves that gender roles are not only linked to what they perceive. One boy even caught himself using a stereotype which showed his ability to reflect and realize that his thinking was incorrect (Laureate Education, n.d.).

The classroom activity outlined in this week’s gender media segment showcased the stereotypical thinking children exhibit about gender at a very early age (Laureate Education, n.d.). I also really liked the reflection piece that the media representation brought into perspective as well. “Are we more likely to view boys work as important?” It is important to instill diverse learning experiences for the children in our care and to provide anti-bias education to all students. This therefore means that as educators, it is our responsibility to reflect on our actions and unconscious biases so that they are not impeding our judgement and the development of the children in our care.

Much like Tina’s experience in using racial slurs unintentionally and without recognition, so many people today use the term “that’s so gay” without even realizing the meaning and connotation strung behind it. It has become so common place that people say it negatively without remorse or thought. We need to teach children that words can hurt and even they hurt unintentionally they still have a huge impact and often consequence. It is important for all children to see their culture in their classroom. “…when children’s life experiences are invisible, and they hear and see negative, stereotypical, or untrue representations of their lives, shame, confusion, and low self-esteem will likely result (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2010, p.123).

References:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

Learning from Another's Life Story. (n.d.).  Tina. Retrieved from: http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/2dett4d/Walden/EDUC/6357/CH/mm/audio_player/index_week3.html

Laureate Education (Producer). (n.d.). Start seeing diversity: Gender [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu