What I Have Learned

One hope I have when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is to build relationships that consist of respect, honesty, trust and understanding. I believe when teachers are working in an anti-bias environment they should be well trained and licensed. An effective anti-bias teacher will go deeper into liberation in order to help young children to over- come their biases. Early childhood educators have deep faith that all young children deserve the opportunity and resources to fulfill their potential goals in life (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

One goal I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice would be to teach young children how to respect and understand other people differences. Teacher should observe each child throughout the classroom setting to make should there is no act of discrimination seen among them. All children are created whole, endowed with innate, with dignity and wonder, and worthy of respect (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

Dr. Klein,

Thank you for teaching a course that helped me to understand my own biases. Thank you for the comments, for answering my e-mail at an appropriate time, and thank you for the feedback.

To my colleagues,

This has been an amazing course for me. I have enjoyed reading you all posted and have learned a great deal of new information. Thanks for sharing your insights with me. Good luck on your journey!!

Reference

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Creating Art

World Peace Begins With Me, and people getting together.

Throughout this course, I have gained many insights on diversity, culture and family culture. It doesn’t matter what family a person grows up in as long as they are part of a peaceful, caring and trusting family with strong bounds that consisted of love, safety, happiness and encouragement. No matter what culture or race is present in the classroom setting, educators should teach students how not to discriminate and to respect, trust and appreciate other people differences. Early childhood professionals are always in contact with people of different culture and different races. Professional should gain a complete understanding of racism and racial identity in order to help support young children that may or may not have prejudice views. Helping to uncover and examine young children act of discrimination can help to eliminate behavior problems early in life (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). By helping young children to understand any discrimination thoughts, will help them to have peace within themselves and peace with children of all colors.

Young Children of all Races should know how Peace Begins in A Living World!!!

Peace is many things.

Peace begins with saying I am sorry.

Peace begins with not hurting others.

Peace begins with honesty and trust.

Peace begins with showing cooperation and respect.

Peace is being quiet, caring for peers, and giving hugs and kisses.

Peace is opening the door for old people.

Peace is praying, loving, seeing animals sing, being patient, sleeping, writing, sing to nature, and watching swans swim.

Peace is giving love to nature, giving joy to people and planting flowers in the spring.

World Peace Begins With Me, and people getting together.


Just a thought!!

We all walk the earth with a heart inside, so let put aside differences and join hands.

When prayers and dreams are answered, only then we will realize that world peace and harmony make us all.

Sometime, showing facts and coming up with ideas about cultures, will give young children a better picture concerning thoughts and feelings of prejudice they may or may not have toward other people.

References:

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).

Diversity Poems for Kids, Diversity Kids Poetry, Diversity Top ...www.4to40.com/poems/default.asp?k=Diversity Cached

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

I can remember one incident that just took place last week when my cousin came home to visit his mother that was in the hospital. It was three of us in the room visiting with auntie when her son knocked at the door. My cousin was escorted by his girlfriend who is a white female. My little four year old niece ran and jump to his arm like she always do with a big smile and hug. He gave her a big kiss on the forehead while squeezing (hugging) her slightly. He asked her to say hello to his girlfriend and he introduced her to the rest of us. My niece came back over to my sister and I, she said “my cousin got a white girlfriend, why”? The young lady looked as she felt out of place, but I explained to my niece that why it did not matter about color. I do not know whether she understood or not, but she appeared happy afterward.

I am glad to have explained to my niece about color and difference. I how she understands well enough to know that everybody have their own differences. Adults have to teach their children early in life about other people differences. Young children learn as they grow and develop in life. As children grow and develop, they should be allowed to ask and answer questions appropriately. When young children are growing up in life, they receive different communication experiences that end up shaping their thoughts and feeling (Harro, 2010). My niece was very acquainted with my cousin other friend, so she wanted to know what happen to her.

As an anti-bias educator, I would have explained to my niece in the same way. I noticed she did not ask the question loudly, but the young lady heard what was said. I want her to be able to ask and answer questions without thinking she have done something wrong. Young children should notice the differences and similarities about other people. If a child ask a question and educators do not know what to say, they should explain that I do not have an answer right now, but I will get back with you later (Derman-Sparks & Olsen Edwards, 2012). It is essential for young children to listen and to express their feelings using appropriate language early in life.

References:

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

Harro, B. (2010). The cycle of socialization. In M. Adams, W. Blumenfeld, C. Castaneda,Harro, B. (2010). The cycle of socialization. In M. Adams, W. Blumenfeld, C. Castaneda, H. W. Hackman, M. L. Peters, & X. Zuniga (Eds.), Readings for diversity and social justice (Figure 6.1 on p. 46, 2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge.