Practicing Awareness of Microaggression

This week, we had a new child start in our center.  She is from India and did not understand any English.  Mom and Dad dropped her off and said "Have a great day."  This little girl was great during circle, activities, and outside time.  At lunch she started to cry.  She cried continually for two hours.  The children started to get aggravated with her.  They told her to stop crying, that she was being a cry baby, etc.  I felt badly for this little girl.  While screaming, she would come to me for the occasional hug.  I asked the classroom teachers to ask the parents to write down a few survival words.  We then held a circle time with the children.  We explained she was new.  Then we asked if they remembered how they felt on their first day.  We then asked what we can do to help the new girl feel wanted and loved.

It is so important that educators take the time to know their children and families so they can protect them from harm and teach the children how to accept all other children and families.

Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

This week I spoke to three people that are close to me and asked them what there definitions of culture and diversity were.

1. Scott feels that culture is ethnicity and religion.  He said diversity is change and the different ways people lived.

2. Daniel said that culture was a combination of race, ethnicity, religion, and backgrounds.  He said that diversity was the different ways people live.  This includes sexual orientation, family dynamics, economic factors, beliefs, and values.

3.  Vanessa said culture is a persons background, including religion, beliefs, values, language, ethnicity, and where they are from.  She said diversity is the different ways in which people live and why.

The answers that I received touched on the surface of culture and diversity.  They all mentioned ethnicity and religion.  This course is teaching me that culture and diversity encompass so much more than just the surface.  It also focuses on why children and families behave the way they do, it focuses on self identity, and it focuses on the emotions and feelings the children and families have.  I have realized a couple of things from asking others for their definitions of culture and diversity.  First, they have the same definitions I did at the beginning of this course.  It is also helping me to realize that by knowing and understanding what culture and diversity fully means, we as educators can ensure that we are passing the accurate definitions to our children, families, and staff.  As a result, everyone would be learning to accept and value others for their similarities and differences.

My Family Culture

     There has been a major catastrophe that has forced me to leave my country and seek refuge in a destination unknown. I was told I could take three items with me.  These would include:  my bible, my family photo album, and my grandmother's engagement ring.  I would bring my bible because it would keep me centered and positive through out my journey.  My family photo album chronicles my family not only on special occasions, but every day routines.  My grandmother's engagement ring is a remembrance of the strong bond I had with both my grandmother and grandfather.  If I was told, upon my arrival at this new place, I could only keep one of these items, I would feel panicked and devastated.  I would have a difficult time choosing which item to keep.  My bible is important, but I will always have my faith.  I will always remember the bond with my grandparents.  After some serious thought, I would keep my family photo album.

         (This is an extremely old picture of my family with my great-grandparents from Italy)