What I've Learned!!!

Throughout this course I have learned many new things. My mind has changed alot about things as I have gained new knowledge about as "diversity" and "bias" has taken a new meaning. I want to make sure that I serve all the students and families with the best learning experience possible and I want them to feel welcomed when they enter into my classroom. I want to make a difference in their lives and guide them down the great path of learning and being a team member. I want to continue to be the voice for those who may feel they can't openly epxress their opinion. I want to work with those and help make a difference. If we don't help take a stand then who will. Again, we want the best for our students as we would want for our own children. I also want to take the time to say to each and everyone of you I wish you the best of luck in whatever you may do. I hope you all reach your dreams and goals and life carries you to the fullest. Again, God Bless You All and Best of Luck!!!!!

What Do You Say?

I remember when my boys were younger we went a family gathering out of town and a family member who my boys had never seen was there. Their child had celebral palsy. My boys had never been around anyone who had a disability such as this and they really did not know what to think. They were scared at first but then through alot of talking they were a little bit at ease before we left for the day. I explained to them that everyone is differnt and that God did not make us all the same. Even thought someone may not be like you they still want to have friends and be loved just like you do. I explained that the person will not hurt them but when they act scared of that person how it might hurt that person's feelings. I explained we need to treat everyone the same regardless of how that person is. As the years went by my boys never had that fear anymore of seeing someone with a disability. I have always taught them you don't make fun of anyone and if you can't say anything nice about someone then don't say anything at all. Being a classroom teacher and explaining this to my students I will tell read stories and talk with them about how each and everyone is different. We have a saying in our classroom and we say it often "Everybody is different, nobody is perfect" and they understand this. Some of the things I would incorporate in my classroom when discussing with students someone who has a disability would be no two people are the same -- some differences are just more noticeable, a disability is only one characteristic of a person. People have many facets: likes and dislikes, strengths and challenges,children with disabilities are like all children in that they want friends, respect and to be included, children can be born disabled or become disabled from an accident or illness. You can't "catch" a disability from someone else, just because someone has a physical disability (when a part or parts of the body do not work well) does not mean they necessarily have a cognitive (or thinking) disability and children with disabilities can do many of the things that they can do, but it might take them longer. They may need assistance or adaptive equipment to help them. When talking to children about peopel who may be different I try to use clear, respectful language when talking about someone with disabilities and most of all listen and talk with my students.

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child I would let them know that a person's sexual orientation has no effect on how a person does their job. I also feel that a person's sexual orientation in a personal issue and if that person does not want to discuss their sexual orientation then they should have that right not to. As long as a person is doing their job to the fullest and children are learning on the level the should be it doesn't matter what a person is. People have a right to be private if they choose. I do know that children need to be exposed to diversity because as we all know we live in a very diverse world. If you have ever used or heard homophobic terms such as "fag," "gay," "homo," "sissy," "tom boy," or "lesbo" as an insult by a child toward another child? Or, by an adult toward a child? Describe what occurred. How might these types of comments influence all children? (Note: if you have not had a personal experience, ask a family member, friend, or colleague) I have heard the term "that is so gay" used by young people in society. I have often been told that this is reference to something that is stupid or ignorant behavior. I often hear children use this term to refer to others who they think are gay. In today's soecity alot of times young children really don't know what these words mean, they are simply using them because they have heard an adult use them. Young children really don't have alot of concept to what "fag", "gay, and all of those words mean unless they have been taught in their home environment what those words mean. As an educator I think we need to explain to children the correct way to use these words and approach others when using these words. Again, as we all know we live in a very diverse world and chidlren will be exposed to alot of diverstiy in their lives but we must be prepared to help them understand.

Farwell

Time has went by quickly these last few weeks. I have gained so much from this class be reading everyone's blogs and discussion. I plan on taking some of this new information back into the classroom and use. I have enjoyed meeting everyone in the class and hope to continue to share some classes with some of you later on down the road. I want to wish each and everyone the best in their journey to complete their degrees. I have quite a few more classes to go before I finish but my experiece with Walden has been great. Best of Luck to all my classmates!!

Adjourning!!!!

When I think about adjouning I think about this stage as being essential to teamwork because I feel that it allows for some closure in certain situations that we may face in our everyday lives as well as in the workplace. Thinking about this I would have to say the hardest good-byes are the ones where everyone has worked as a team. I also feel that it may be difficult to leave the high performing groups because those are the groups you have worked together especially in my workplace to acheive the goals we have set for your families and children this school term. I feel that at the end of each school year we have our end of the year gathering with families and childreon, we pack our classrooms up and turn in all of our reports to center manager and we prepare for the next school year to come. Having to say those good-byes even though it is only for 3 short months it seems hard, especially when you work with co-workers who work real close together and set goals to acheive throughout the year with you children and you work hard to make sure those goals are acheived before May comes. I feel that adjouning is a essential stage of teamwork because as we finsih one task we prepare to move on to the next one. Also as I leave Walden in the end of my journey I feel it being hard to do because along the way we have formed a mutual respect for each other online. We have formed and stormed in building with our peers online. I wish everyone the best in whatever they do. Best of Luck to all!!!!!

Conflict Resolution

Recently at work we have had some conflicts that have come about. Alot of the conflict issues are due to stress in getting ready for this quality rating observation of our center. It has been alot of work in the long run and alot of ideas and words have been passed among workers. We have all been under alot of stress and this has brought alot of conflict among each of us. We have been more snappy and getting on each other nerves more. We don't agree and see eye to eye on alot of the issues that are involved in this process. We all are having to work on the many issues we are facing but at the end of the day we usually have apologized to each other as we now this is a very stressful time for us. I see the NVC stragies working during this time because as we know nonviolent communication works and needs to be become a part of helping us in situations on the workforce or whereever we need it. As time has passed with this process we are getting ready to face we co-workers are beginning to learn how to deal with the tension and stress better each day.

Commuicator

This week assignment I really enjoyed. It gave me a better understadning as to who I am as a communicator. I also like having two other people evaluate me. My listening style profile showed I and my other evaluators rated as a people-oriented. I do find this true as I do try every hard to treat people in the way I want to be treated. I try to be understanding and listen to them. I do find myself showing empathy and concerned with emotion of others and I do use my listening sytle to build relationship with others. On the commuication anxiety inventory and verbal aggressiveness scale my rate and one of my evalators were close in range. I was moderate in the verbal aggressiveness scale and I do find that I maintain a balance between respect and consideration for others and I beleive in being fair. I was also moderate in communication anxiety inventory and I do feel somewhat uncomfortable about some communication contexts. I do not do well in public and I do not like to speak in small groups or public. I kind of sit back and listen and keep to myself. Again, I did enjoy doing ths application this week. I do know I need to work on being more open in group settings and not be so shy. I do plan to work on this in the future.