Julie's Early Childhood Studies: May 2012

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Microagression?

This week was a very crazy week. I was in charge of organizing a Training Day for our staff. I had arranged a mini-conference with 7 classes that staff rotated through. The Training Day was Friday 25 May, 2012. It was an amazing success. I think as we going through the daily hassle and bustle of life we don't reflect enough on the intricacies of the conversations which take place throughout the day. I tried to listen for any microaggression but to my knowledge I did not witness any. The only situation which I feel came close was during a class I was teaching. The audience was diverse in many ways. The one aspect I was to describe is educational microaggression. Even though it is not addressed in the course reading I felt it is pertinent. One of the participants is fresh out of college. She had an Education Degree and although she was not the only employee with a degree she is the only one who knew who Piaget or Erikson were. One staff member made a comment about being a "Smarty Pants". I felt that Christy was bothered by the remark, and stopped answering questions. I think terms like "nerd", "brown nose", and "blondie" could all be considered microagression.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Defining Culture and Diversity

The feedback I received about how different people defined culture and diversity, had one common thread. At first most people said, “I don’t know.” “That is a hard question to answer.” Several people said let me think about it and get back to you. Once people did provide responses, there was a clear connection between what I have learned and the definitions I received. Everyone said it was a way of life. My friend Carmen Lee is Puerto Rican. At first she couldn’t provide a definition. But then she said “Culture is a combination of what makes me different. I don’t know how to explain it. 15 years ago my culture was totally different because the places I have been and the things I have done have influences who I am today.” She went on to define diversity by simple stating, “Diversity is all the cultures of the community. It is like everyone meshes together.” Another friend was very eloquent when she defined culture and diversity. Heather Lassiter responded, “Culture would be everything that defines a group of people- from the way they act to what they hold dear. Diversity is how this differs among people, from individually to regionally, racially, etc.” My daughter, Katrina who is 19, could not define either one. I was shocked. She gave me examples but couldn’t define either one.

I think that Carmen Lee’s answer was more personal and individualized. While Heather’s answer more broad and inclusive of all. I think the aspect which was omitted from both of the answered was who influences culture. They do not talk about such things as their parents, grandparents, or family lineage. How is culture created?

After reflecting on the responses I received, I felt that culture and diversity are not topics discussed often. The initial response of everyone was puzzlement. I approached friends from various ethnic backgrounds in the hopes of receiving diverse responses. Carmen Lee is from Puerto Rico, while Heather is Caucasian, Yolanda is African American, and Maria is Hispanic.

People have a difficult time putting definitions into words. They can give examples but feel bemused by the subject.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Catastrophe

What three items would I take with me, if I had to leave my country and home forever?

My family cookbook: My cousin has created a cookbook, where he solicited input from everyone to submit favorite recipes. The cookbook is amazing; it has the recipe for my Aunt Delima’s Christmas goodies, which she made every year during the Holidays. She would deliver a box full of cookies and treats a few weeks before Christmas every year. She passed away about six years ago and her recipes live on. My mother submitted a recipe for her Chicken and Dumplings. My children will always have those recipes and my family will live on because of them.

The importance of this cookbook is the connection it gives me to my ancestors.

My external hard drive for my computer: I have pictures, medical records, important documents, resumes, account information, an address book, music, books (including the Bible), and a great deal of useful information stored on it.

This hard drive holds the information which defines who I am, where I have been and where I am going. It is the locket of my life.

My Laptop: My laptop can keep me connected to others and help me learn about my new location, including customs, the culture, and language. I can utilize the translator to help me communicate my needs and begin to understand various aspects of life in my new surroundings.

This laptop provides me with a means to connect with the past, learn about the present and plan for the future.

If I had to give up all but one of those Items I would keep the external hard drive. Even though my Family Cookbook is a connection with my ancestors and has strains from use from when I recreated my mom’s Chicken and Dumplings. I also have the cookbook saved on my external hard drive. Eventually I would be able to have access to a computer to connect with others. But, the information stored on my external hard drive is irreplaceable.

I am very proud of my culture, my past and where I am going. I assimilate into other cultures easily as I have live in Turkey and England. I have traveled throughout Europe and understand how to function and get around with little assistance. I embrace different cultures, respect customs and traditions and face all challenges as a learning experience.

My Supports

Within my daily environment, I find the computer and
internet to be supportive to my needs. It supports me within my private and professional life. While at work I use the internet to receive training, seek professional development opportunities for our staff, find resources for families, search for websites to help with curriculum development, find out
information about possible field trip locations, print maps, keep current in NAEYC accreditation updates, and receive newsletters from professional organizations.
Within my private life, the internet provides my schooling,
recipes for healthy meals, weight loss tracking, shopping, keeping in touch with friends and families, maintaining my pet’s certifications, and entertainment.
The benefits of my computer and the internet are numerous. I
am able to sustain relationships from people in distant locations; I can further my education, maintain good health, saves time, and energy, and be more resourceful at my job.
If I did not have my computer or internet, I may not be able
to continue my education in the field I desire because the local university does not offer the course of study I wanted.
If I had to go to the library or elsewhere to do my schoolwork, it would take me away from my family for many hours during the week. If I did not have my computer or internet at work, I would not be as resourceful to staff, families and children.
If computers and internet service was not available to me at
any location, I would have to drive to the different helping agencies in my community to find resources. I would have to call NAEYC for updates and resources. I would probable talk a great deal more on the phone. I would attend expos and conferences to learn about companies who have goods and services for children as well as attend the workshops.

I am often nervous about completing homework
on Sunday’s. I often have physically debilitating migraines, which effect my cognitively as well, as physically. My thought processing is inhibited and I have to hibernate in a dark room. I take a daily preventative medication, which lessens the frequency. However but, still several times a month I get excruciatingly bad headaches.
I have incredible support from my family, doctors, and medication. My family supports me by taking on the responsibilities of the house, being quiet, providing me
with medication, and a cold compress for my head. My husband and daughter will pick up the medication from the pharmacy, or bring me to the Emergency Room if
the medication does not provide relief. My doctors are amazing. My neurologist is very thorough through diagnostic test and experimenting with a variety of medication. She is trying to improve my quality of life. The Emergency Room staff
provide a quiet dark environment, and medication which relieves the pain within a few hours.
The benefits of these supports allow me to recover more quickly, fell loved, and allow me to finish
any required work. Without the support system I have for my migraines, I would be in pain for a number of days, losing work and unable to complete homework assignments. Without my daily medication, I would have more frequent and
intense migraines. I would be isolated in my bedroom without being able to engage with my children or husband. Without my husband and children as supports, I would feel isolated and helpless. I would not be able to complete homework by
the required due date. The ramifications of not having quality supports would prevent me from furthering my education.
Without the reassurance of my supports, my life would be a great deal more secluded, hinder my professional growth, and inhibit my quality of life.

Quotes to Inspire

On Parenting:
"Parents often talk about the younger generation as if they didn't have anything to do with it."
Dr. Hiam Ginott

On Teaching:
" I've come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element int the classroom. It's my daily mood that makes the weather. As a teacher, I possess a tremendous power to make a child's life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration. I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations it is my response that decides whether a crisis will be escalated or de-escalated and a child humanized or de-humanized."
Dr. Hiam Ginott

On Respect:
"Respect according to [people] should not depend upon the way in which they spend their working hours. In a social sense there shuld be only one class- The great class of humanity."
Eglantyne Jebb

On War:
"All wars are waged upon children."
Eglantyne Jebb

On Passion:
"I have a passion to create a safe and just world."
Louise Derman-Sparks

On Motivation:
"It's an instrinsic motivation, knowing the work I do will benifit the lives of children."
Raymand Hernandez MS Ed

Personal Childhood Web

Having a large family has been a complete blessing to grow up in. I have 4 brothers and 4 sisters. My parents we married for over 50 years. My dad passed away 5 years ago and my mother is still living in Plattsburgh Ny in the same house we lived in when I was growning up. My dad was 1 of 4 and my mom 1 of 7. I have 56 first cousins who I know very well growing up. It is difficult to pick just 5 people who influenced me the most. But here goes;

My dad was a hard working small business owner. He worked hard and provided for his large family. We had everything we needed and then some. He was French Canadian Indian with dark brown hair and a bushy mustache. He taught me how to work hard. He taught me many life skills, which help me throughout ever given day. I have manners and a lot of common sense. I can eat at fancy restuants and talk about world politics, realigions, and travel destinations. We watched 60 Minutes together every week and also snuck in a bit of Sunday Morning before Church. He taught me to dress up if I was going to the bank, lawyers or doctors. Most importantly he taught me patience.

My mother is a short little woman who while growing up always had a belly. She is French and Irish. Mom taught me to believe in Jesus Christ. She always had food in the pantry and on the stove. She taught me hospitaility. She also taught me how not to cook.

My brother Bryan is a short little guy with a bit of a belly on him. He is just a couple years younger than me and we think he has William's Syndrom. but he has never been diagnosed. He taught me to be tolerant and accepting of everyone. He taught me that playing your air guitar and dash board piano is perfectly acceptible for an adult as you drive down the road.

My Aunt Delima was my dad's sister. She died only a year before my dad. She was a large woman with jet black hair and a loud voice. She lived about a half hour from us but, we got together quite oftern. She taught me that family was always worth your time. She came to every family gather no matter how small. She baked the most amazing Christmas goodies and to this day Christmas is not the same. She taught me the importance of family.