Evaluating Impacts on Professional Practice

I have experienced many "isms" during my years of teaching, the only ones that resonate with me the most are LGBTism and ageism. I had a difficult time reaching out to children and families of LGBT, due to the fact that I didn't agree with their life style and I didn't want anything to do with them. I had to remind myself that their children need help and support, just like every other family. I didn't have to neglect their child(ren) because I didn't agree with their life style. The consequences that the family and child(ren) suffered, was my lack of educating and support. I wasn't open to collaborating or communicating with them family.

Ageism was more of a judgmental/stereotype I did with people/families. I would think parents or families that were young didn't know how to take care or educate their child(ren). They were young, what did they know about raising children, they are still young themselves; those were some of the thoughts going through my head. Some families would prove me right and some would prove me wrong. I had to look past the age of the family and look more into the need of their child(ren). Children don't get to choose their family (majority of the time), so I couldn't take how I felt about their family out on the child. The consequences were my lack of understanding and providing appropriate education to their child or family.

Observing Communication

Provide an account of your observation. A teacher and a child were in a general conversation about small things

Describe what you noticed and learned. The teacher was engaging in conversation with the child and giving the child their attention. The child was very excited about what they were talking about and seemed to enjoy the teachers company.

Make connections between what you observed and the effective communication strategies presented in this week’s learning resources. What could have been done to make the communication more affirming and effective? I believe the communication was affirming and effective. The child kept talking and the teacher stayed right there with the child, giving them their attention. When another child would come over, they would reach out and acknowledge them by touching their hand or head, or holding in a side hug.

Share your thoughts with regard to how the communication interactions you observed may have affected the child's feelings and/or any influences it may have had on the child's sense of self worth. From what I observed, it seems that the child was happy and felt safe. They kept talking and no matter if another child came over, they didn't stop talking.

Offer insights on how the adult-child communication you observed this week compares to the ways in which you communicate with the children. What have you learned about yourself this week with respect to how well you talk with and listen to young children? In what ways could you improve? I give children the attention needed when they want to talk to me or tell me something. There is nothing that changed in how I communicate with children.

Creating Affriming Environments

•  Reflect on what your setting would look like: My setting would be in a home, I feel children will feel more comfortable in a familiar setting. I would make sure to have a rooms designated for play, eating, and sleeping. I will also make sure to have handicap accessibility.

• What elements you think you might want to include and for what reasons: I will make sure to have toys that are diverse in every way possible. I will have dolls, puzzles, cars, trains, coloring, manipulatives, books, animals, etc. I will make sure all areas are visible, such as writing, block, sensory, dramatic, kitchen, table and floor centers. I want to give my children that ability to explore what they want and feel free to be expressive as they want. In the book section I will have books on animals, feelings, friendship, culture, and differences. I have read books like these to my students and they seemed to enjoy it. 

• The various ways that you will strive to ensure that every child and family feels welcome and respected: I will make sure to post pictures and posters of different cultures and races. I will make sure every family knows they can come to me with any concern they have about my center and feel free to give suggestions. I will allow each child to express themselves and ask questions they are curious about, while teaching respect.