Observing Communication

Communication is being a good listener, showing sympathy, respect, and concern toward other people. When communicating with others, one should know when to listen, how to show expressions and what tone of voice to use. Also, when people communicate, they can show negative expressions, which can be intentional or unintentional depend on the situations. There are many ways individuals can communicate in order to be a successful. Having knowledge about effective communicate will help professionals to meet the goal of being effective communicators in an appropriate setting (O’Hair, Wiemann, 2012).

On Tuesday, January 21, I observed one of me neighbor and her little girl as they communicated with each. She is a stay at home mom, married, with two children and three grandchildren. Her youngest child is three years old and will be starting day care this summer. I observed the mother as she teaches her child how to say and recognize her ABC's. The mother would write letters of the alphabets on paper and have the child to show her the different letters. I noticed the child being very quiet and well manner to be a three year old. She asked and answered questions pertaining to the alphabets just like a big girl. Sometimes, we should just listen, be calm, show interest and not make assumptions or judgments about young children (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010). She did not ignore, turn her head, talk loud or ran around doing studying time. They both communicated with each other better than some teachers I have seen communicating with students. The mother strategy was that they will study before having lunch, and she will give candy for a snack.

The connection the mother had with her daughter was great. They communicated well and efficient throughout their studying. I can tell she had experience working with her child for a long time. According to Lisa Kolbeck the experience working with children, the way I know a child is to see their play, and the way I can find out about their play is to first watch them, and then ask them questions about where they are in their play-mind (Laureate Education, 2010).

When observing the mother and her child, I did not see any problems with the way they communicated with each other. The communication I observe did not affect the child’s feelings. The child’s mother made her feel confident in what she was doing. The mother praised the child even when she made a mistake, and her to repeat them again. I think the mother had a plan to organize and combine information together so that her child can succeed in school. Words are symbolic a sign used to represent a person, idea or thing (O’Hair, Wiemann, 2012).

As young children find their identity, they have the ambition to learn, so it is important for educators to separate diversity, subjectivity, and uncertainty from the learning environment. Unless adults guide their young children the right way, they can develop negative reactions from being around people who behave in unfamiliar ways. (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010) Listening and communicating with all young children is essential in the early childhood field. There should be no bias or prejudice shown toward a person’s identity, which consisted of different language, race, gender, religion, family structure, morals, abilities, disabilities, ethnicity and sexual orientation (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010).

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).

"Communicating with Young Children" (Laureate Education, 2011). Retrieved from http://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=_419753

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

Creating Affirming Environments

Creating an anti-bias learning environment is very important. I will start of by learning each individual child as their love one signs them into school (Laureate Education, 2011). I will also learn more about them as they learn about each other. I believe each child should have the opportunity to learn about other people differences through books, pictures on the bulletin boards, doors, closets, toys, posters, arts and where ever there are room that are appropriate in the classroom to place pictures. Young children not only need to see themselves in their learning environment, but they need materials that honor diversity both within and beyond their own group identity (Derman-Sparks, & Edwards, 2010). This will help children to gain respect, promote friendship and to be honest with one another.

There will be activities on diversity that would open young children minds to want learn. They will be able to ask or any questions of feeling they may have about biases or prejudices. Also they will learn to welcome and respect each other family members or staff members when visiting the classroom. Young children will learn that no prejudice or bias remarks will be tolerated in the classroom environment. Whoever enters into my classroom will know immediately who is in my program because the room will reflect family cultures (Derman-Sparks, & Edwards, 2010).

References:

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

Laureate Education. (2011). "Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community" Adriana Castillo