Practicing Awareness of Microaggression

Well, my husband and I just relocated from NYC to NC.  What a huge difference?  During this time of transition my husband and I had to get NC licenses.  We went to the DMV and they go through all the formalities and ask questions.  Well, my husband went first and the gentlemen asked him all the formalities and also asked him What race are you?  My husband answered White and my ethnicity is Latino.  They also asked my husband numerous times to validate his address.  It seemed like they didn't believe the address he was saying was his. Now, you might ask what is the big deal.  Well, the big deal came when it was my turn to go to the teller and she didn't ask me the same questions my husband was asked.  So sometimes it takes a while to realize a microaggression has actually happened.  I felt this was an example.  It was subtle and I'm sure the man was well-intentioned.

My observation experiences this week affected my perception of the effects of discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people.  The biggest thing that changed my perception is the way I view people by the way they are dressed or speak.  Are they speaking with slang words, or accents.  I realized the stereotypes I have are based on first impressions.  Just the fact that I think I know a person's cultural background by looking at them, shows that I follow a script in my mind that is full of stereotypes. 

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

I asked my brother, who is a Marine what is culture.  He said, culture is given to you.  It is built on traditions and traditions build culture. Culture is the way you live.  Culture is derived from people making you who you are.  This way of life is passed down from generation to generation.    His definition of diversity are the differences in culture.  Diverse entails the differences evident in each specific culture. Based on what my brother said I think he hit the nail on the head with his idea of culture.  I asked him this because he has traveled the world and he is a male perspective. 

I also asked my brother's mother-in-law, Louann,  what is culture.  She was brought up in a foster home and her perspective is different.  She attributes her culture as Mexican.  She doesn't know what she is ethnically but identifies herself with how she looks.  She looks Latina so she identifies with that culture.  Diversity is change and how each person is different.  


I think the answers I received demonstrate how diverse people's perspectives can be.  Also, I am reminded that to most people culture is what is touched upon on the surface.  No one really gave me a "deep" cultural answer.  I was really taken aback by Louann's answer and perspective.  She wasn't raised by biological parents so she assumed the culture of the people she thinks she looks like.  She doesn't even know if she is Mexican.  For all she knows she is Arabic or Egyptian.  I wonder if knowing that truth would cause her to identify herself differently.  
 

My Family Culture

If I had to choose three items that represent my family culture I would take a wedding album, a cookbook, and a piece of Puerto Rican Taino art.  My wedding album is very important because it represents the family, and how it celebrates a family wedding.  The wedding album is representative of several generations of family.  The cookbook has been handed down from my mother to myself.  She received Cocina Criolla from her stepmother who had given it to my mother.  This cookbook was later translated into English and my mother gave me this new version.  My mother matched the English version with the Spanish version she had and wrote notes for me to follow.  This was given to me as a wedding gift.  The Taino art was a piece of art that my husband and I purchased on a trip to PR.  It was the first real piece of art we purchased and we treasure it.  If I was told that I could only keep one personal item and had to give up the other two items I brought with me I would be devastated.  How can I choose which is more valuable when I value all of them in different ways?  As  a result of this exercise I realize how important family is. I think it is true for all cultures though.   

Research around the World

I looked at


http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/

Some current research topics are bullying, legal issues in childcare, and social and emotional learning as a bases for curriculum.  By exploring this international website I see that there are more similarities than differences.  Major problems such as bullying are problems worldwide. they also have the same concerns as we do such as who should be picking up children from the child care system.  Safety of all children is also a concern.  Some information that was available was a book that principals can purchase in order to build the parent- school relationship.  It was geared towards parents and was called Your child's first year at school: a book for parents.  I think it is vital that schools build relationships with parents.

When I think of research....

Taking this course has not been easy.  It was a lot of terms to remember and I actually had to create a research simulation.  Through that assignment I was able to understand all the components that make research possible. 

My ideas about research have changed.  I didn't realize all the components necessary to plan and set-up your design.  I learned about all the various designs and ways to conduct research.  There were so many choices it was hard to select just one. 

Some challenges I encountered had to do with all the terms that I had to explain on assignments part 1.  I really had to do an extra bit of work and really go online and research the research terms. 
My perceptions of an early childhood professional have not really changed.  they work hard and are experts in their field.

To all my classmates, Kudos to us for reaching the end of this road. 

Research that Benefits Children and Families

Share a positive example of the effects of research on children and/or families


When I conducted a qualitative research project with two of my former students I believe it had  positive effects on them and their families.  I personally had an added component to discuss with parents and they felt I was giving their child "special attention".  I think parents believing I was giving their child special attention and the fact that I chose their child made them more aware of what was occurring in the classroom and they paid more attention to their child's work. Please note that I had the opportunity to loop with my class from second to third grade and was able to conduct research on the writing workshop model.  So I worked intensely with their child with their writing and parents saw a big difference in the development of their child's work not only in the writing but across the board.  Whether it was because I had looped with the class and had a keen sense of areas of weakness and was targeting those or getting one-on- one attention helped I really don't know.  But I choose to believe that the research I was conducting had a positive effect on the children and their families.

My Personal Research Journey

I have chosen to look at factors that determine when and if a child meets their developmental milestones.  The factors I will look at will be bilingualism, gender, and # of siblings.  This was not an easy topic to select but the one that hits closest to home.  As  a parent of an 8 month old and a 2 year old I am always wondering if what my children are saying and doing appropriate for their age.  I think many parents have this concern and as educators we can help parents and families by being more knowledgeable in this area. 

As a new parent I made sure to meet their health needs by visiting the doctor.  When I started to take my daughter to the doctor, they had a completely computerized system where they asked me developmental questions and if my child was meeting them.  They would write my responses and gave suggestions also on how to meet certain milestones.  For example, they encouraged some tummy time to build my daughters upper body strength.  I thought it was great but unfortunately, each time I went to an appointment I was seeing a new doctor.  I wasn't comfortable with this, so I switched doctors and what a difference it was.  Medically, my doctor is great but she does not have this computerized system in her office.  So I feel, that I have to be the one asking the questions and be better informed about developmental milestones.  The doctor isn't sitting down with me and asking me a plethora of questions concerning development like the previous clinic. 

Now as an educator, I think I am a little well-versed with what is expected and when (especially with taking courses through Walden) but not all parents are.  I think there needs to be a bigger push for education in this area.  Some doctors press for a child meeting milestones by a certain point while others take a more laissez-faire attitude about it.   They tell parents don't worry, give it more time.  The reality is for some kids they don't have time to wait.   I think there should be a more systematic system in place to catch developmental delays early before a child starts school.  This should be standard and maybe my research can help this along.