Impacts on Professional Practice

When I think of the isms that I have faced in my life I think that isms that come to mind would be racism. I grew up in a family that was multiracial. I remember being a young child and hearing nasty remarks. Growing up in the south multiracial families are often talked about and looked down upon. I grew up with a nephew that was biracial. He was picked on and called ugly names. I remember the hurt in his face when people would make such nasty remarks. I remember thinking "How ugly can people be, especially to a child that has no control over his situation?" The consequences that children and families that I work with today may experience from my personal experiences would be positive. I see the hurt that racism causes to families and I would be mindful of the things that I say and how I treat those families and children. I would ensure that my classroom setting was warming to all families.

Effective Communication

I recently observed my sister trying to get my three year old little boy to pick up his toys and get his shoes on so that we could head to the beach. I watched from a far so that he wouldn't try to run to me and think that he was going to be free from completing his tasks. My sister quietly but firmly spoke to Carson. She prompted him to pick up his toys and grab his shoes so that we could head to the beach. He fell out in the floor and refused to do anything. She reminded him that he wanted to go down to the beach and if he didn't pick up his mess and get his shoes on then he was not going to the beach. Carson sat up, looked around and pouted but picked up one toy then stopped. My sister had bent down and started hand over hand with him and began to make him pick up toys. By the time he was ready for his shoes to be on..he was doing that himself. My sister reminded him of what a good helper he was and how everyone likes a good helper. He said, "Im a good helper"  My sister praised him for picking toys up and they raced out the door to the beach. He was smiling and ready to go.

I liked that she quietly but firmly spoke with him to get his attention and that she had to assist him with the hand over hand in order to get him started with picking up the toys. I think that its important to get on eye level with the child and encourage them as much as possible to get a task completed. My son is strong willed and at times talking does not work...we have to try many different techniques in order to get him involved such as the hand over hand, singing songs, and making the task a game. I am learning much on effective communication this week with children.

Creating Affirming Environments

My envisions of an Early Childhood Setting is one with bright colors, centers for learning, such as reading, dramatic play, etc. In order to full fill the anti-bias views, I would ensure that m setting welcomed each culture and had pictures, books, and toys from all cultures. I would also want my center to be very welcoming and a place that parents felt welcome to sit in on a class or just to pop in. I would have a big colorful rug for story time. I would also allow each child to pick a book each time. I would also do a weekly show and tell so that each child has a chance to bring something special to them or their family. I also would ask families to come in and talk to the children on diversity as we study differences and culture. I believe that it is extremely important to get families involved within the classroom and to me this would be a great way. 

Early childhood education is the building foundation for child's learning and I find it important to get parents on board early so that their children will form a love for education, change, and diversity.