What I Have Learned:

One hope that you have when you think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds (any format and any length)

I hope that I can take all the information and ideas that I received throughout this course into this upcoming school year and continue to use what I have learned to help educate children on differences, and anti-bias approach as well with families from diverse backgrounds.

One goal you would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice (any format and any length)

I would like to see the early childhood field continue their work in educating families, children, and staff on diversity and equity in education. We are often the families’ first experience with formal education and have the ability to make lasting impacts.

A brief note of thanks to your colleagues

I have especially enjoyed this course. To hear the life experiences of each of you have broadened my perspective on people. I would like to thank you all for sharing your point of views and also sometimes being patient with my blogs and discussion because my daughter just had a new born baby who was only 4lbs, doing classes on line, working a full time job, and still keeping active in church and my sorority. I thank each and every one of you. Be Blessed.

Creating Art

What does Diversity mean to me?

Diversity means every person or group has unique characteristics, abilities, beliefs, opinions, traditions, and appearances that can be different from others around them.

Diversity means to me all types of religions, races, ethnicities, cultures, etc., living in harmony, free of any and all prejudices.  Equality and diversity should go hand in hand.

 Diversity can refer to many variations of experiences, backgrounds, values, beliefs, etc. present within our communities and our world.

 The existence and, more importantly, the acceptance of differences or heterogeneity in class, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, physical capabilities, and other cultural, social and political backgrounds.

 A celebration of individuality

Diversity is a variety of people working together as a whole and not letting differences divide them.

 Diversity is so important in the world today especially for children. This book “Children Just Like Me” will teach children about the dreams and beliefs, hopes and fears, and day-to-day events of other children's lives, understanding not just the obvious differences between one another, but discovering the extraordinary similarities.

 

                                                  

"We Don't Say Those Words In Class"

One day in class I remember I had gotten a new student and this child was very developmentally delayed when it came to his speech. That did not stop this kid he talked all the time. Well one of the students who lives by him always messes with him and thus particular day I here’d the other student say out loud, “Why do you talk like that, I cannot understand what you are saying.” I had to stop the boys from arguing because the other student also studiers. At that time I had the students sit on the floor and we talked about why we don’t talk about other people and I also read a book about differences.   

What messages might have been communicated to this child by the adult’s response. In my response I wanted the students to understand that we don’t make fun of other people just because they are different and I really think the students got it because on another incident that same student was messing with the same kid who had a speech problem and another student told him that Mrs. Johnson said, “It’s not nice to make fun of Bryan because he is different.” I thought that was so sweet of a student to defend another student because he was different and a that point I did not have to step in because nothing else was said and Bryan continued talking as usual.

Sometimes when you think children don't understand what you are talking about  they will surprise you and because I stopped and talked to the children about talking about other students and people in general I was able to here what they had to say and also read and show pictures about how we treat people no matter what.