Scholar Practitioners Who Impact Future Change

Scholar Practitioner to Lead Evaluation Initiatives

One of the top role that I have as a scholar practitioner is to educate my stakeholders on the importance, the use and the benefits of doing program evaluations. Helping everyone understand the purpose is a very important step to having them participate. “Teachers impact children’s experiences directly by their daily actions in the classroom, but center directors impact children’s development and learning by structuring the conditions that support teacher effectiveness” (Bloom & Able, 2015). Not only for teachers, but for all stakeholders, they are more willing to participate if they feel that they are supported and involved. Just simply letting them know how program evaluation affects us is different than actually showing it to them. Walking them through the process, showing how different aspects work and providing a data story or visuals can always help. 

Barrier To Avoid

It can sometimes be hard to understand others' situations or the circumstances they are caught in. . A barrier to avoid is being biased or prejudiced about others who do not want to be involved. We all have our point of view and prioritize. Kallemeyn, and Phillips, found that administrators who have a more flexible definition of parent involvement tend to have more positive views of parents and perceive higher levels of involvement (Bloom & Able, 2015). It is important to know that not everyone is free and is willing to be involved. What is important is to know how we can integrate other’s schedules to our evaluation process, which is accommodation. 

To Minimize this Barrier

As a leader it is always important to keep an open mind about everything and everyone. “Inspirational leaders demonstrate that they care about others, first, for who they are and, second, for what they can do. In other works, exemplary leaders regard others first as “human beings,” rather than as “human doings” (Baker, 2014). It is important to consider that not everyone will be okay with the way we provide our evaluation process for some many reasons. It is important to understand how to accommodate other, similar to understanding their different diversities, cultures and even language. 

Reference

Baker, E. L. (2014). Leadership and Management—Guiding Principles, Best Practices, and Core Attributes. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 20(3), 356–357. https://doi.org/10.1097/phh.0000000000000063

Bloom, P.J., & Able, M.B. (2015). Expanding the lens—Leadership as an organizational asset. Young Children, 70(2) https://www.naeyc.org/resources/pubs/yc/may2015/expanding-the-lens

Evaluating and Supporting Early Childhood Programs

                                                            Scholar Practitioners as Program Evaluators

The main goal of program evaluations is to improve and help programs succeed. For the content of this course, EDDD 8084, it will help me understand why program evaluations are important, the implementation of program evaluation and effective practice of program evaluation. The Head Start/Early Head Start Director, Michelle Zapata, mentioned that data collected from evaluation is used to create plans, set goals and objectives, and enforce policies and procedures to serve the families and children (Administration for Children and Families, 2018). This helps me create an understanding of the importance of program evaluation and how I can help families understand how they can help us improve services through program evaluation. My question and or concern is for effective practice of program evaluation. How can I help families understand and honestly complete program evaluation? How does relationship with families affect the program evaluation results? And with my busy schedule how can I effectively and efficiently implement program evaluation?

Programs depend on evaluation to improve quality (Laureate Education, 2016a). Gaining knowledge regarding implementing program evaluation can impact the quality of the service I provide. “Some of the outcomes include more parent involvement; parents better understand the quality of the services that their child is receiving in care” (Laureate Education, 2016a). The lack of parents understanding the quality of service does not help with the improvement in quality. Through this course I hope to gain more understanding regarding program evaluation and how I can get parents to be more involved and to understand the importance of program quality. I am looking forward to a very resourceful course and to improve the program evaluation at my current work to help our program improve through reliable and honest results of program evaluation. 

Reference

Administration for Children and Families. (2018). Voices from the field: Plan to succeed - developing and sustaining. Retrieved from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/video/voices-field-plan-succeed-developing-sustaining

Laureate Education (Producer). (2016a). NAYEC accreditation [Audio file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

Together We Can Make a Difference

                                                        Fostering Classroom Communities

Early childhood education has been proven through so much research that it is important for young children to be successful in grade school and in life. The success of a child is not only dependent on the school, but also dependent on parents and home environment. The following dissertation summary is about the influence of parent and teacher involvement in a child's learning outcome. 

Summary

Dissertation Title: Teacher and Parental Influence on Child’s Learning Outcome

Collaboration is an aspect of communication that builds trust and understanding regarding the common goal that helps bring success to the group’s purpose. Parent involvement is known to provide a solid foundation for the child’s future success. Teacher’s qualification and enthusiasm creates a motivated and determined foundation for the child’s future success. The problem is the lack of qualified and determined teachers, and the lack of parent involvement contributes to the inadequate learning outcome for the child. There is no support, collaboration, communication and trust amongst parents and teachers creates imbalance in learning outcomes. The purpose of this dissertation was to understand the relationship between teacher and parents, and how it can influence the child’s learning outcome, and to understand the connectivity of home and school environments and its influence on children's achievements. Then to identify the barriers that make a positive parent and teacher relationship a challenge. 

This qualitative research had 12 participants of three different early childhood programs with two teachers and two parents from each program. All the participants were women due to their willingness to participate in the research. The researcher conducted interviews for both parents and teachers, individually, and also provided a survey for teachers. The researcher also used case study to compare the findings. The researcher concluded that parent involvement and teacher’s professionalism does have an effect in the child’s learning outcome. Parents who are involved in their child’s education increases the child’s performance and achievements. Teacher who is professionally trained understands the importance of parent involvement and knows how to build a positive relationship with parents and encourage them to participate. 

Relevant Resources

There are three resources used by the author that is relevant and reliable for the study. One of the resources was the National Association of Education for Young Children also known as NAEYC. The NAEYC is a non-profit organization that focuses and promotes high quality learning for young children through practice and policies, and they use well credible research to back up their resources. Another resource is Early Childhood Education Today 9th edition textbook written by Morrison, G (2004). The book provides research-based information regarding high quality early childhood education and authentic teaching practices. Last resource is the Journal of Early Childhood Teacher Education articles, which the others used about seven articles from this journal. This journal provides research that supports teacher professionalism. This helps teachers understand different issues and trends regarding teaching in early childhood education programs.  

Dissertation Fostering My Career

Part of fostering supportive learning environments through positive classroom cultures and classroom communities is engagement. This dissertation provides information regarding the importance of parent involvement and teacher’s professionalism that support child learning outcomes. The engagement of both parents and teachers helps foster a supportive learning environment through positive classroom and home.

Reference

Benjamin, M. D. (2015). Teacher and Parental Influence on Childhood Learning Outcomes. Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 1673. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1673

Time Well Spent

Below are all that I have learn throughout this program:

• Children are known to have a brain similar to a sponge that soaks up all the information they can retain. The information is then squeezed out when the right context occurs. Emotions and reactions are part of the information that children retain and develop. Emotions are strengthened during toddlerhood, when children improve in memory and mobility (Berger, 2016). As children reach the second year of their life, they have gained so much knowledge regarding their surrounding and developed rapidly. During this age a toddler grows self-awareness, where he or she realize that they are their own selves, which is different or separated from others. This forms the stage of “me” and that’s “mine” (Berger, 2016). “Children will discover new ideas when given the chance”, Piaget’s believe regarding early childhood education. On the other hand, Vygotsky believed that “children learn from other children, without adult guidance” (Berger, 2016). Urie Bronfenbrenner believed that “The family seems to be the most effective and economical system for fostering and sustaining the child’s development. Without family involvement, intervention is likely to be unsuccessful, and what few effects are achieved are likely to disappear once the intervention is discontinued” (McEntire, 2008).

• Every person represents diversity, and diversity begins with an individual person. Social identities are known as the different roles we play in our lives, which makes up who you are as a person. “Many forms of social identity exist, reflecting the many ways in which people connect to other groups and social categories” (Deaux, 2001). We relate to each other through our many forms of social identity. We all bring our own individual social identity into our family social environment. Our social identities (diversities) change and as we learn to adapt to new environments. Each family is unique and different than any other families. They are diverse within themselves, due to the different social identities in their family. The different diversities are known as different family cultures, which are different way of life each family practice (Harris, 2008).  As a child learn more about their culture, they will feel a sense of belonging in which they will learn to accept and coexist with children of different cultures (Smidt, 2006). “Developing a cultural identity is a fundamental and complex task for all young children and one that takes place initially within the family and then broadens out into wider community and society” (Smidt, 2006, pp 106). When people start to disregard other’s differences, and start to disagree, disapprove, and dislike people of different diversity, conflicts and inequalities will emerge. When conflicts and inequalities emerge, problems are created, which could have been prevented. We create our own mindset and view of people, which are certainly not true (Gorski, 2007). We create issues for ourselves and others, which are not necessary. When we start to recognize diversity, equality and social justice will become an idea of opportunity. When we start to see and accept that people are different in their own way, we provide equal opportunity and social justice for them to be who they are. “In educational settings, love connotes that all humans deserve the right to dignity, freedom, and equal opportunities. On the other hand, hate in educational settings is defined as a lack of compassion and lack of respect for the rights of others” (Boutte, 2008). When we show more love than hatred we give a change for people to be themselves and practice what they believe. Afterall, we weren’t born to hate, we were taught to behave and act in such way.

• Through this program I have deepen my knowledge and understanding of early childhood education, and it has helped me eliminate some biases that I had against most of the “isms”. I have come to understand the importance of caring and getting to know other people for who they are and where they came from. Through this program, I have gained knowledge and skills regarding communication, which has prospered and advanced me in making effective and ethical decisions in communication skills. In order to build an effective and efficient relationship and partnership with people we communicate with every day is to create a respectful and inviting environment that includes trust, having accuracy and being open minded, and understanding others point of view without judgement. Communication can be a challenge, but when engaged, if a person joins with his or her own sets of views, without the willingness to learn, he or she is not going anywhere. Communication is all about being open and understanding. In early childhood education, effective and efficient communication is needed as a skill to build positive relationship with families.

Long term goal: My long term goal is to continue working with young children helping them learn and grow, and advocate for them. In any area of work I go in within early childhood education, I want to remain as usual working with children and their families to help and support them.

Special thank you to all my colleagues and Dr. Dartt for this wonderful course. I learned so much and I have gained so much as an individual who is passionate in working in early childhood education. Thank you to all my colleagues for sharing their ideas and perspectives, which helped me open up my mind. To Dr. Dartt for all the comments and question that got me thinking and expanding my thoughts, thinking outside of the box. I greatly appreciate everyone, and wish you luck on your future journey. Congratulations to all graduates!

Community of Practice: Internationally

Save the Children

A program that helps children with their growth and development not only academically, but also physically, emotionally, mentally and cognition. This program provides advocacy, education, well-being and emergency help and support. What struck me the most is how much they involve and educate the parents about the well-being of their child and the importance and fragility of childhood.

Employment Opportunity:
Head Start Teacher I

"The Head Start Teacher is responsible for the general and day-to-day operations of a Head Start center with more than one classroom assuring regulatory and legal compliance with federal, state and local regulations, communicating with parents and the community and monitoring of staff" (Save the Children, n.d.). 

International Step By Step Association

The passion of providing, promoting and inspiring for quality and equality in early childhood education is what I like about this organization. They provide services that help and support early childhood education and ensure children, especially the most vulnerable ones, receive the best and equal opportunity to grow and develop as an individual.

Employment Opportunity:
There are no employment opportunity listed on the website. If I were to choose to work with ISSA, I would want to be a teacher or an advocate for children in early childhood education that ISSA is part of. 

United Nation Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

UNESCO works to uses culture difference as a means of education to increase knowledge of different culture, and promotes and encourage scientific research. UNESCO works to promote mutual understanding amongst people of different culture.  

Employment Opportunity:
The employment opportunity that UNESCO lists are mainly secretarial and directors, which are not of my interest. I would choose to work in education field for UNESCO educating people, especially children about different world cultures and how we can benefit from learning and accepting different cultures. 

Reference

Save the Children. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm

International Step By Step Association. (n.d.). Retrieved November 28, 2011, from http://www.issa.nl/index.html

 United Nations Education, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). (2011). Retrieved from http://www.unesco.org/new/en/unesco/about-us/who-we-are/introducing-unesco/

Community of Practice: National/Federal

Communities of Practice

National Education Association
"The nation's largest professional employee organization, is committed to advancing the cause of public education" (NEA,n.d.).

Employment Opportunity:

Organizational Specialist:
"providing organizing advice and assistance to assigned local and state affiliates on a variety of areas, such as developing and executing strategic organizing plans, organization development, strategic planning, capacity building, team building, and education reform"(NEA, n.d.).  This position help support NEA's goals and research. 


Center of Responsive School

A non-profit organization that develops and delivers responsive classroom professional services and products to educators worldwide.

Employment Opportunity:

Education Consultant and Coach

This position is to support teachers and school leaders in implementing the literacy block effectively through the adoption of highly leverage pedagogical practices as well as appropriate common core-aligned texts, common curricula and assessment strategies and also support teacher leaders and teachers in deepening their content and pedagogical knowledge related to early literacy instruction at professional learning/training sessions and team meetings (CRS, n.d.)

Open Doors for Multicultural Families

An organization that provides services, information, and programs to diverse families. Services such as education services, social services and other services for children and their families. They also offer training and workshop for families (Open Doors for Multicultural Families, 2017).


Employment Opportunity:

Leadership Consultant

This position is to lead educators to implement anti-bias curriculum, provide effective leadership coaching, and provide effective instructional practice in the classroom (Open Doors for Multicultural Families,2017).


Reference

CRS. (n.d.). Work For CRS. Retrieved from https://www.responsiveclassroom.org/about/crs/work-for-crs/

NEA. (n.d.). About NEA. Retrieved from https://www.nea.org/home/2580.htm?cpssessionid=SID-1F0A3785-7CBFD8F8

Open Doors for Multicultural Families. (2017, December 06). About Us. Retrieved from https://www.multiculturalfamilies.org/about-us/

Communities of Practice

Communities of Practice

Department of Education (Public Schools)
They provide free education which provides resources and opportunities for children to grow regardless of who they are. 
Employment Opportunity:
Education assistant is something I would consider doing.

Provides assistance to a professional educator by performing a variety of educational related supportive tasks; receives training in instructional/counseling related tasks; and performs other related duties as assigned.

PACT Hawaii

Variety of programs including Free and Affordable Early Childhood Education to poverty level families, who cannot afford preschools. 
Employment Opportunity:
Family Advocate 

The Family Advocate works directly with families in the areas of social service, health, nutrition, dental care and family engagement, helping them identify and meet their own goals. This position is under the direct supervision of the EHS Child Care Partnership Program Manager.

Working with families is something I enjoy doing, and with my current education and experience I qualify.

PATCH Hawaii (People Attentive To CHildren)

Child care resource and referral (CCR&R) agencies, they provide child care resources to families and people wanting to be involved with early childhood education.  

CCR&R services have evolved from grassroot efforts to help parents find child care, to well-developed systems that support parents, providers, and local communities in finding, planning for, and providing quality child care. PATCH is the only Hawaii member of the Child Care Aware National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (NACCRA)

Employment Opportunity:
PATCH Trainer is somewhat like a teacher, but for grown up people who seek to learn more about Early childhood education.

Conducts classes for PATCH; assures the provision of necessary materials and supplies for each class; familiarizes oneself with the training materials and equipment; distributes, gathers and completes paperwork related to each class; sets up and cleans up before and after each class; returns training materials and necessary paperwork to PATCH offices within a timely manner.

As I am completing my Masters in Education and have some experience in Early childhood education, I am able to apply for these position. 



Reference

EHR. (n.d.). Department of Education Hawaii. Retrieved from https://ehr.k12.hi.us/hrprod/faces/p/ap/pages/ApJobRequestDetails.jspx?id=59166PACT Hawaii. (n.d.). 

Parents And Children Together. Retrieved from http://employment.pacthawaii.org/Job_Details2.aspx?job_id=946PATCH. (n.d.). 

Patch Hawaii. Retrieved from http://patchhawaii.org/

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

We need to teach children to see the similarities and the good in people. To treat all their experience with others different and separate. Like meeting a friend from Asia different from a another friend from Asia, because they might both come from the same place, but they are two total different people. Even for one family, each child is different than the other even though they have the same mom and dad. We are all unique in our own different way. My passion is to help children and their families see the difference in people, but know through heart we are all the same. To learn to accept one another. 

Thank you to all my fellow colleagues from EDUC 6358 for a very informative and resourceful eight weeks. I have learn more than what I expected to. I wish you all the best of luck and hope to hear from you soon. 

Impacts on Early Emotional Development

 East Asia and Pacific

This region faces income inequality that creates social inequity and widening disparities that affects the population. This inequality creates segregation and equal opportunities for households and young children. 

UNICEF works to manage and implement programs that supports children's rights in 28 countries across the region of East Asia and Pacific. UNICEF is working to help children earn their rights to holistic development. UNICEF is trying to help children achieve their full potential regardless of their abilities, gender or other difference and to receive equal opportunities to education, health care, nutrition, protection and cognitive stimulation. 


Many children who have disabilities are denied the rights to live and reach their full potential in this region as they lack the programs and resources, and or they are denied the access to programs and resources. Children with disabilities are most likely to experience violence or higher risk of emotional abuse. Many children do not receive equal education opportunity due to their gender. Boys are more likely offered higher education opportunities than girls. In this region common gender barriers is that girls are to do domestic work and taking care of siblings, set up for early marriage and sexual abuse, while boys are to face corporal punishment such as spanking, unsupportive classroom environment and irrelevance of curricula for work. 

UNICEF recognizes the crisis that young children face in this region, where they try to help them reach their full potential regardless of what they face and to be given the equal opportunity to be who they are. 

The Sexualization of Early Childhood

I feel like the topic of sexualization should not be shared with young children, as the need to remain innocent and imaginative as they can be without thinking about sexualization. For example children who are exposed to topics of sexualization would make comments about others and will affect how they visualize themselves. A child will comment about a woman's breast due to how she is dressed. Another one is that a child will grow up to dress up in clothing that express their sexualization which attracts and expose them to risk. Child will lose self-respect, respecting their own body and define beauty in a whole different way. The topic of sexualization should be shared to children who are going through puberty instead of early childhood children. 

AVOID THIS

KEEP THIS

Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

Living in a World of "-isms"

Though the world has been through so much changes, behaviors and perspectives from many years ago still are practiced to this day. Unfortunately, those people who were discriminated and unaccepted, many years ago, are the same people till present day who are still looked down upon, insulted and mistreated. As depressing as that sound, so many schools and societies are teaching younger children to live in a world with no bias, a world of peace and love. In the field of early childhood education, the professionals try their best to educate the children and their families in living an unbiased life, where they accept and kindly understand different cultures and religions.

Ableism

People are all different in their own uniqueness. One strength I have is the ability to understand and observe my environment to know when to act, and react and to whom. Though my limitation is overthinking situation, which creates so much mixed emotions that can affect my work and ability to perform, in other words, I am too emotional. I at most times take other people’s problem as my own, which can distract me from my daily routines, assignment and work duties. How I understand the world sometimes make people feel comfortable enough to open up to me and ask me for help, which is what I am passionate about doing, helping others. Sometimes I judge others based on their able-bodied, which makes them feel uncomfortable to interact with me, such as how we look at them with an "aww" facial expression, creates an atmosphere of feeling bad about their situation. My emotions always gets the best of me. 

At the end of the day, we are all different, with our own abilities, we are in no position to judge others of their lack of ability. I may feel bad for a person who was forced to amputate both hands, but it did not stop them there, they can do almost everything that people with two hands do. Sometimes people with disabilities do not want to be criticized for the lack of able-bodied, they want to be known for what they can do instead. It is time to ask before assuming. Ask a person if they need help, instead of always assuming that they do. 

Observing Communication

Observing Communication

At the store, while doing my grocery shopping I over heard a conversation between a child who is about three year old and his mother. The mother spoke in an angry tone, where he swore at the child for not keeping still, and keep touching everything. The mother told her I swear I will spank you in from of everyone if you do not listen. Earlier, the child was trying to make a conversation with his mother, but the mother told him that his distracting, that is when he started to act out. When the mother threatened him, he talked back to his mother. The boy responded to his mother in a tone that is so disrespectful. 

I notice that although the mother seem to show that she is in control and has the authority, the child does not respect her in a manner of communicating with her because of how she talks to him. The child talks back because that is what they do when they have disagreement. Both mother and child argue back and forth without anyone listening and other talking, and vice versa. What we say and do to our children, most likely what they will do back to us. 

If the mother gave the time to listen to her son, hear what he wanted to say, he would not be acting out. Even with a hyper active child, going to the grocery store, ask them to help to make use of their energy and active self. There are so many strategies that parents can use to keep their children from misbehaving and teach them appropriate manners. 

Creating Affirming Environments

“Anti-bias work is essentially optimistic work about the future of our children” . In a anti-bias setting, I believe that it is important to highlight the different diversity in the classroom. If there are no evident diversity, create and share the most common diversity in the classroom. The work of anti-bias education is integration of working together with the families to understand their diversity rather than make assumptions.

Setting:

• Classroom will be an open, safe and welcoming environment for everyone. 
• The classroom will present as a setting where parents are comfortable to ask for resources from teachers and to clarify any misunderstanding. The setting will make parents and families feel safe and welcome to leave their children and know that they do not need to worry too much. 
• The environment will be accessible for everyone regardless of their needs. 
• The setting will be an easy access for families and children with disabilities such as wheelchairs. 
• Classroom will provide diverse books and activities that children and families can engage in
• Diverse books and activities can help families and children understand and be exposed to other cultures and diversities.
• The classroom will present posters and other graphic arts of diversity. 
• Posters and arts that are diverse can help families understand images in different ways and learn diverse language. For example graphic images of tools and equipment around the classroom is stated in English and Spanish. 

These setting are set to increase diversity in the environment and setting. As :anti-bias work provides teachers a way to examine and transform their understanding of children’s lives and also do self-reflective work to more deeply understand their own lives”. We try and present a setting where we can stop and think of how we want it to be presented to ourselves as diverse family. If I was from a diverse family, how would I want the classroom setting to be like, to represent and to be presented.

What I've Learned

One hope for diverse families....

Not be afraid to ask and to open up. Sometimes it takes time, but a simple question can lead to a conversation, that will in return provide you with all the help you need. 

* I migrated to the United States, and like most diverse families, I felt left out, stupid at times, and lost. It is simply because of culture, values, and moral differences. I felt ashame to ask, as I thought people will think I am stupid, which is not the case. I made things up in my mind that made me not feel comfortable not to open up. As I finally had no choice, I asked, and that led me to a whole new level of knowledge and understanding. 

One hope for early childhood professionals with diverse families....

Do not begin to judge other families for what they do and who they are, and to never give up on hope that they do not care. 

* Sometimes it takes a person to change another's life, and sometimes it takes time for others to realize the help they need. As an early childhood professionals, we will encounter so many different types of families, those who care and those who do not. We need to encourage and motivate them to be active in their children's education, and to understand the importance of helping their child. It may take time, and sometimes it may not be you who changed the person's life, but at least you never gave up. 

Thank you everyone for participating in the discussion and helping me expand my knowledge, understanding and perspective. I wish everyone good luck with your journey through early childhood, and hope to hear from you with other EDUC courses. 

Start Seeing Diversity: Creative Arts

We are all one family, but different yet we are all the same. We are all related, we have our own talent and skills that makes us who we are. We all have our own diversity, coming from different nationality background.We are all different and unique individuals, but we are all the same, from the same island, related to each other and share the same values. 

We Don't Say Those Words

I remember a time when my daughter was 3 years old, we went to the store, and she saw this man driving a scooter in the store. Truthfully, the man was big. My daughter pointed at him and said “wow mom he is fat”. I quickly took my daughter’s hand down and walked away real fast. I felt so embarrassed. My daughter looked at me with a reaction that questioned why I did what I did. I always talk to my daughter about honesty and to tell us how she feels or what she thinks. Later in the store, I told my daughter that it is so rude to tell a person that they are fat, big or something is wrong with them. Yes, it might be the truth, but sometimes somethings like those, such as our opinions about others should not be said out loud. We will often times hurt people’s feelings when we say such things. After that day, how my daughter describes people changed. Instead of saying do you remember the fat guy, she would say remember the guy that riding the scooter in the store. She now tries to eliminate what she feels is rude to be saying about people, and describing the environment or situation a person was in. She would at times ask if a certain word is rude to use or not.

My daughter felt confused about my respond to her honesty, I felt like I had to explain myself quickly afterwards to eliminate the confusion and help her understand why I did what I did. She later understood how some of our opinions about others can hurt their feelings. Afterwards, I taught my daughter how to replace some negative descriptive words with positive words, such as fat or big with husky or tall. Even some words we use as command or request such as shut up with please lower your voice or indoor voice please.

Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

I feel that gender identity is a sensitive subject when it comes to early childhood education. It is sensitive in a sense that children may at most cases view everyone as friends and as a girl or a boy. When we start children at a very young age to start labeling other people, that is what they will grow up to do. Homosexuality would be something that a child discovers at a later age, but not during early childhood education. It is important to maintain the innocence of a child rather than informing them of what is not necessary at their age. This goes the same to books. Books should for early childhood education should avoid putting labels to others, especially homosexual, disability or any form of race. Children are better off learning about these subject at grade level school. 

Best of Luck

Thank you everyone for the opportunity to learn and grow in this course, I wish you luck with your future plans. 

Teamwork

I have not experience being in a group and finding hard to leave. Most group that I join were required of me and when the work was done we all left without any issues or difficulty. Although during high school, it was hard to leave all my fellow classmates as we’ve grown so much, got to know each other like family. For my master’s degree journey, I would feel like any other group. We got to know each other and helped each other through our journey, but the end comes we are going our separate ways to success. Adjourning is important as we all get closure that we completed the project, we gained something from the project and working with each other, and that we know the results of our work.

Conflicts

An argument I had with my cousin regarding something we saw on the news. My cousin had an opinion about what was on the news, which was different compared to mine. Although I feel like I know something regarding the topic, I had to stand down, because I knew our conversation is not going anywhere. My cousin, is the type of person that would always defend what she thinks and never wants to be wrong. She would go out of her way to prove her point, when she finds herself wrong, she’ll cover it up with a lot of “buts”. Arguments with her can never go anywhere, and is hard to resolve. At that point I would step down, say “okay, I respect what you think”. I would let everything cool off, in a while, I would come back and present to her what I know and how I feel. 

I feel that I somewhat apply the 3Rs with my arguments with my cousin. I do tell her I respect her perspective. I give it time till I respond, but in a way that we both have an understanding and common grounds. It is not because I want to prove my point as well, but it is to let her know that she was wrong, or that there are can be two sides of one issue.