Team Building and Collaboration

Trust us we got you!

The group that was the hardest for me to leave was the religious organization that I was a part of for five years.  This group consumed my life; I lived and breathed this organization.   I was there for the forming stage of this group, and went through the storming stage as we began experiences, individual and group conflicts, while setting rules and regulations.  As we established the agreed norms that governed our organization, I settled into what I felt was a comfortable fit with a group of people whom I considered my equals both religiously and socially.

     We accomplished tasks that some recognized as impossible.  First we established a not-for- profit organization, formulated and established a food co-op, and involved the entire community in the venture. Together we formed a cooperative Sunday religious class for the adults and children including an informal childcare setting for parents who had to bring their children to class. 

     The organization was going well until the leadership changed.  This person did not have a clue as to how to lead a group, she had a bullying leadership persona.   She had to have the last word,oftenf in fac,t the only word.  The group adjourned shortly after her appointment.

     I was saddened by the dismantling of our group, and I have never had the opportunity again to be a part of such a dynamic group of people.  The religious organization that we represented was also saddened and as a result of our dismantling, lost many services and funding.  As individuals we are contacted periodically hoping that the Phoenix will rise again, but it has not happened as of yet.

     I think the groups with the clearest norms are the hardest to leave.  For me I understood the direction we were moving in, and the goals that were needed for the participants and the community.  The closing of this group was devastating to me due to the lack of a closing ritual. 

     I am not sure how I will adjourn my relationships with my Walden University colleagues.  I imagine that I will keep a long distance writing relationship with most of my colleagues at Walden University.  It is difficult to fathom not communicating weekly as I do now.  However I will give my email to everyone and ask the same of my colleagues.  Adjourning is an important part of life.  When proper adjournment is not preformed it leaves an incomplete feeling.  Proper closure is important and necessary  for many aspects of life.

Communication Skills: Language, Nonverbal, Listening

I am obsessed with  The Cooking Channel, and the show “Chopped” is my favorite show.  When I received this assignment I was stumped because I watch a limited amount of television because most of the other shows are full of sex, violence, and stupidity.  When I watch this show, I get a chance to learn more about the art of cooking and I am entertained at the same time.

This show has a  panel of three notable judges and a host.  The show starts off with four cooks, each cook is given a basket for the first course of the most unlikely food items to cook.  The judges select the one that should be chopped (eliminated).   This continues course by course for a total of three courses until the last cook is standing.  This cook will win $10,000 by the process of elimination.  

I tuned the program off and watched without the volume, and it was amazing that I could read the faces and body language of the judges and the contestants as cooks competed and were judged.   The contestants that were frowning and sweating seemed to be having the hardest time constructing the meal, and the ones that looked comfortable seemed to have the basket under control.  

Once the plates were presented to the judges, their body languges comfirmed the looks on the contestants faces.  One judge smiled and nodded her head after tasting the dish and put the fork down, the second judge after tasting the food looked at the plate and with a look of disappointment fell back onto the back of his chair. The third judge picked the fork up, but he did not touch the food on the plate.

When I played this segment over with the volume, their body language had told the story.  The contestant  that was sweating did poorly.  The judges’ expressions  and body language clearly showed their feelings.  The first judge that smiled and nodded after tasting the dish said her food was delicous,  then said  that the seasoning was perfect. The second judge (fell back on the back of his chair) then said this rice is under cooked, and the third judge (who did not touch the food) said the his meat was raw.  From this exercise I learned that the body can speak unspoken words.

The communication and listening skills and strategies that would be most effective for fostering the well -being of children and their families would be the nonverbal listening skill.  We communicate so much of our inner feelings with our body and our silence.  If we listen carefully, silence can actually be deafening.  We must also understand what our own body language is communicating to others.  A smile goes a long way, and a frown goes even farther, so we must be mindful of how all of the languages we process, and how we communicate them.

Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management



What to do? What to do?



An employee was asked to attend weekly two hour professional development workshops.  Her response was “I cannot attend because I have four children and I must go home."  I reminded her that these workshops are a part of her job requirements, and important information such as; state guidelines including vital demonstrations on how to introduce cognitive development through arts and crafts.  Again she rejected the request for her workshop attendance.

I asked her if she felt it was fair to the other staff who are attending that also have children and other legitimate reasons for not attending the workshops.   She responded, " I cannot attend."  I told her since this is a job requirement you will have to make a decision to attend the workshop or resign.  The employee said “Friday will be my last day."

As I review the different strategies, perhaps I could have used the cooperative type of strategy.  Perhaps I could have offered child care for her, or allowed her to attend every other week.  This was a difficult decision, and I could not think of a solution.  When I conferred with my colleagues their position was, it is in her job description, and she should have to comply with the rules.

Who Am I as a Communicator

 

Communication is teamwork!



I was surprised and elated that what I tried to portray as a communicator also shined through to others.  Each person that took the survey answered the questionS exactly as I did.  I was afraid that perhaps I had conjured up this wonderful communicator by the name of Sauda Mujahid, so as I examined the results of the survey, I was happy that others saw in me the same light.

I listen empathically and try to connect with my parents, children, staff, and colleagues.  I respect the people that I communicate with, and respect everyone’s point of view.  If I am in disagreement with someone’s views I do not attack their character, I challenge their position, not the person

The verbal aggressiveness scale was unanimously scored by the three of us.   I maintain a good balance and consideration for others.  Their viewpoint is important to me.

The insights that I gathered from this exercise are; one, communication is important to everyone concerned, two whether we are aware or not aware we are being judged.

Communication and Culture

Yes, I do communicate differently with different groups and cultures.  I realized early in life that it was imperative to know how to speak to different people and groups.  I spoke to adults at; school, church, library, concerts, home, and I also  have friends.  I had to know what language that was necessary to use for each of the groups.  Of cause I used slang to my friends on the block, howeve,r I had a different slang for my friends at school because they were of another culture.  I dared not use slang to adults, howeve,r the language I used with my family was less formal than the language I used to the adults at my church, school, and library.  The early lessons in communication aided my in the communication skills that I had to develop later in life.   

     Now I try to understand the different culture communication patterns, than I try to stay within those cultural guidelines.  My Latino families’ culture recognizes the father as the head of household, and all question must be posed to him until he gives his wife permission to speak on his behalf.  The same protocol is used for the Middle Eastern families, however, they rarely emit their authority to any female in the family.   For some of my younger neighborhood parents, I have found the best way to enter their circle is to speak a little ghetto-eese with them, this lightens up our relationship because it gives them a sense that I understand where they are coming from, and that I do not think that I am  above them.  Of cause I speak to my grandparents very respectfully, and based on their understanding of the subject matter, I try to explain slowly and clearly.

     We all have a culture regardless of where we are from, and if someone disrespects our culture that someone will close the communication doors shut.  I am always aware of who I am speaking to, this allows me to address them properly.

What is Communication?

Grandmas' Wisdom

 

 

My grandmother exhibited the best communication skills that I can recall.  She had a way of explaining a situation that gave us both cause and effect with the history of the family. She usually based her communications one her wealth of knowledge and experience.  She was always very explicit and gave clear examples of the information she was communicating.  

     One day I remember my cousin kept repeating the same statement several times.  My grandmother said “Say what you have to say one time, that is enough!”  She went on to explain to us “ cousin John Thomas was not all there", and he would just walk around repeating himself, no one took him serious, in fact we thought  of him as being "one short of being all there”. She went on to say that the town had a catch phrase for anyone who said anything more than once, they called them John Thomas, and everyone knew that people in question were repeating themselves.  From that point “John” became the term we used for a repeater.  I could be in a crowded room and when I heard her whisper “John” in my ear I held my mouth and said 'oops' because I knew I was being redundant.   She had a gift of communicating words which gave her the ability to paint a picture in my mind’s eye. When she was finished explaining (painting) a situation, I was able to see the whole scenario in the mind.  The explanations are now over fifty year old, but when I think of them I can see the pictures clearly.

     I have adopted some of my grandmother’s communication skills.  I explain in detail to my children and parents using familiar examples and phrases, it works well for me.  By the way everyone in the office knows what I mean when I say “John”, normally we just start laughing. It is wonderful to be able to communicate with so few words.  She taught how to illustrate through words and experiences and my listeners enjoy and learn as I did.

Professional Hopes and Goals



Teaching and living diversity



Learning about diversity


     When I think of families from diverse backgrounds, this interpretation for me is more than just people from different places.  My families are diverse in so many ways, I have the very young mothers who have been raised by very young mothers, and I have young and older grandmothers that have taken the responsibility of raising young children, I have fathers raising children alone,  older sibling raising the younger brothers and sisters in a household with substance abuse parents. 

     My hope for my children and families is that they find the services needed to help them acclimate into a warm, caring, culturally tolerant, healthy environment.  My hope is that the world becomes kinder and welcomes diversity with an open heart, mind, and spirit.  

     My one goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field in relation to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice, is to have all of the early childhood professionals trained in diversity, equity, and social justice.  Our children live the greater part of the day with early childhood professionals that may not have a clue about diversity.  With such important issues affecting our children’s emotional, cognitive, and social development, it is paramount that our administrators train their early childhood professionals on diversity, equity and social justice.

     Training is the one goal that I believe could make a difference to our children and their families.  When early childhood professionals truly understand cultural diversity, the equity and social justice awareness can be practiced in our classroom. This new awareness and understanding will trickle down, up, and out to a new army of culturally diverse educated savvy communities.

     I will have to repeat myself by saying this “I miss the banter of the open discussion of the brick and mortar classroom environment however, that is not physically affordable for me at this time.  I thank you all for the discussion board and the interaction that you have brought to it.  I truly enjoyed and appreciated your comments, and feedback, your shared information, and part of your own personal life.   Thank you!!!

       

Welcoming Families From Around the World

                                                      

Welcoming Families From Around the World

El Salvador is the county of origin for my incoming family:

First I will contact the El Salvadorian Embassy to learn of the fundamentals of this country, and inquire about; the population, the economics, averages, family income, and how they earn their income i.e. agricultural or industrial.

Next I will visit an El Salvador Restaurant to get a feel of the foods that they partake of and how they share their meals.

I would visit the church where the population is El Salvadorian to understand the religious practice of the people, to be certain that I will not offend the family.

Next I would ask the priest “who is head of household when both parents are together”.  I need to know who to direct my future questions to, and who will have the ability to give permission for our everyday plans i.e. trip and scheduling.

Welcoming Families From Around the World

El Salvador is the county of origin for my incoming family:

First I will contact the El Salvadorian Embassy to learn of the fundamentals of this country, and inquire about; the population, the economics, averages, family income, and how they earn their income i.e. agricultural or industrial.

Next I will visit an El Salvador Restaurant to get a feel of the foods that they partake of and how they share their meals.

I would visit the church where the population is El Salvadorian to understand the religious practice of the people, to be certain that I will not offend the family.

Next I would ask the priest “who is head of household when both parents are together”.  I need to know who to direct my future questions to, and who will have the ability to give permission for our everyday plans i.e. trip and scheduling.

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression



 

    

 I remember entering the five & dime store with my grandmother. In the sixty’s the five and dime store was equivalent to today’s dollar stores, however most items cost more than a nickel or dime.  I was just browsing, and looking around.  My grandmother never allowed us to enter a store without our own money.  “You don’t have money, you have no need to go into a store, you’ll just get in trouble”, that was a steadfast rule. 

     I kept seeing this man following me in the store, I purposely zigzagged through the store slowly, but he was still there right behind me.  At first I said to myself maybe it is because I am only twelve, but I saw other children that were white browsing in the store, but no one was following them.

     I finally walked over to my grandmother and shared what was happening to me with her.  When he saw me talking to my grandmother, he quickly turned around pretended to be browsing. My grandmother walked over to man, and with an angry high pitched voice said “my granddaughter has her own money and just because she’s a Negro doesn’t mean she is a thief”.   The man turn red “no no I was not following her, she looks like a nice girl”.

     The manager of the store heard my grandmother’s angry voice, and rushed over to where we were “What’s the problem miss"?  My grandmother explained the occurrence (children did not speak to adults in those days) so I just listened.  After hearing the whole story the manager apologized to the both of us, and gave my grandmother a coupon, she give it back and told me to come, we left the store.

     It was clear to me that I was not equal to the European American girls who were also browsing.  My skin color automatically told this man she has no money and she is going to steal.  I did not have the right to even look at the merchandise.  Maybe we should have pasted my money to my forehead or something.  I felt less than other youth in the store.

     The man should have been admonished in front of us, and he the security person should have apologized to us.  The real problem was that the store’s policy was “watch all negroes”.  The respect for all people was not the message of the day and it should have been and it should be now.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions



"We did not land on Plymouth Rock, Plymouth Rock landed on us"



Discrimination is a hellhound that gnaws at Negroes in every waking moment of their lives to remind them that the lie of their inferiority is accepted as truth in the society dominating them.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

     I was in my office rearranging health records when a European American man walked in and asked for an employment application.  This gentleman was applying for a maintenance position, and he was standing near my desk waiting for me to address him. 

     A European American salesman enters the office, scans the room and immediately looks at the applicant and said “I would like to speak to you” the applicant said “why do you want to speak to me” the salesman said “aren’t you the director”?  The applicant pointed to me and said “she’s the director”. The salesman looked sheepish as his face turned red “oh, oh yes how are you”  before he could finish I said “I am very busy at this time, leave your card and I will contact you when and if I find the time".

     I am African American woman in a room with a European American man, I must be a secretary or clerk and he must be in charge in his mind’s eye.  I felt disrespected and invalidated for a moment.  I have lived as an African American in these United States for sixty years, and not too many things surprise me about being black in America.

The racial microaggression; he was verbally and physically unintentionally communicating were insulting messages that reflected his view of superiority.   

    

     The observation this week opened a door to a new understanding of the effects of; discrimination, prejudice, and/or stereotypes on people’s prejudgements.  I think before I speak to those of other cultures. This week’s observation has given me sensitivity to the desensitized attitude that this dominant culture has shared with me, and I allowed myself to believe that my remarks and subtleties were alright.   I have prided myself on being open minded and fair, until this week.  I have a lot to think about.

Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

 

Person one:

The definition of culture is:  “the family, home, my religion, my particular cultural nationality, the norms and values of my particular culture”.

Diversity:  Different types of culture, different nationalities, with different races,

Person two

The definition of culture is: what you get from your immediate family, what you see, what you hear, pictures in your home, all become apart of your culture

The definition of diversity is:   differences, diversity is going to be there no matter where you are or what culture you are involved in.  How you deal with it, is how your family presents diversity to you.

Person three

The definition of culture: Your heritage, religion, nationality, family background

The definition of diversity:  economic diversity the poor verses the wealthy, the old verses the young

Person Four: 

Culture:  trait particular people, traditions, particular ceremony

Diversity differences between people and their: culture, religion, belief, style, 

Fifth Person

Culture is:  a way of life including spirituality, mode of dress, foods, and the way a family interacts.

Diversity is:  the many differences among people.

 The people that I interviewed spoke about the culture of family, race, tradition including ceremonies.  The diversity they spoke of was differences between people; their culture, and religion.  Knowing cultural ceremonies will give you an understanding of why East Indian bride wear red dresses because white is a burial color for their culture.

Some of the aspects that have been omitted are; community connection, recreation, historic events, gender roles, housing arrangements, extended family relationships, intergenerational relationships, ideas about education, health care, showing emotions, and migration. The people that I interviewed gave surface culture, and what I learned in this course is that deep culture exposes ad explores more of who the person is.  A persons who practices a certain faith i.e. Orthodox   Judaism; men wear large black hats and curled side burns, and the women do not show their hair instead they wear wigs.  In this sect of Jews, they place the men in the front and the women in the rear.  Understanding this culture will allow you to get along with other cultures better.

As I listened to these four people speak about their understanding of culture and diversity I realized how shallow my understanding was prior to this course.  There is so much to learn about a person’s culture and how to respect the cultural diversity in our world. 

My Family Culture

 My Family Culture

The first item would be a small black cast iron frying pan.  The first time I left home after marriage, I took my grandmother’s cast iron frying pan.  That pan was in her kitchen for as long as I can remember, and every time I use this pan I think of those wonderful days of my youth and grandma.

The second item I would take would be my book of worship. I would want to be reminded of God’s Mercy, and how those before me were brought through their struggles.

The third item would be a picture of my family to bring additional comfort, and invoke the better times.

If I could only keep one item I would keep my book of worship.  This contains what I need to survive the storms of life.

The insight that I gathered about myself is that I do not have a lot of posessions that I hold dear.  I have faith and I hold on to that.  My family culture presented faith to me as a child, and I continue to hold on to it.

When I Think of Research

Prior to taking this course I did not have a clue concerning research.  I learned how to look at research articles and make a determination concerning the credibility of the article.  I have obtained an insight into the research process, and how researchers gather information.  I believe the greatest asset for my program is that I understand how to: obtain consent from a child and interview, observe, and collect information.

When I entered this course I had the naive belief that all research was done in a just equitable way.  I quickly discovered the truth about research, information gathered ,is done based on the biases of the researchers.

Planning, designing, and conducting research in early childhood is done ethically.  Planning a good research question and refining it . Investigating the subject and settling on a research design that will suit the research project.  Set up interviews and observations to assist in gathering supportive documentation. 

Early childhood ethics I saw as a challenge.  Child must be treated as the teacher, and the interviewer, and or the observer must consider themselves as the student or learner.  Children cannot be used as objects to complete some ones , but as a vital assistant to help the research achieve goals of equity.

I have gained an enormous amount of respect for the quality early childhood professionals.  There is a great amount of sorting through; truths, injustices, innuendo, and lies to establish the information that we need to help our children.  We just cannot take some ones point of view and run with it.  Early childhood professionals must be researchers to sort out the right research. 

Research Around the World

Some of the current international research topics are:

            Safe Water

            Immunization

            Sanitation

            Nutrition; adequate diet, proper feeding, monitoring growth rates 

·    What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

Informal child minders (IMs) are uneducated women ages 30 to 50 who travel from the north to the south (urban centers) of Ghana. They are equivalent to American day workers. They survive by traveling to urban centers, and are paid by the day to carry loads for the housewives and businessmen in the marketplace, earning a menial living.  They are also paid to watch the street children (SC), ages 2 to 8, who are the children of the IMs. Other IMs care for these children and are paid by the IMs working parents. The IMs that have children between ages 2 to 8 are called street children SC, they are called SC because they are left in the street under trees while their mothers work.  There are IMs that watch and feed these children for a fee from the IMs of these children. Children under the age 2 must be placed on the backs of their mothers’ as they lift and work.

 What other noteworthy information did you find on this website? 

The services that are offered to the children and families such as; education, health, and nutrition.

According to the Bernard van Leer Foundation (1994a), the best solution to problems of children, families and the community is the integrated model which gives parents just one door to approach for services - when they knock on this door, they find a broad range of programs, services and activities on offer.

 This to me is noteworthy because these children and families no longer have to go to several places or agencies to receive the necessary assistance.  One agency can facilitate their basic needs.  For these children and families these services are essential for the survival of the people in this area of Ghanna.

Research that Benefits Children and Families

Research that Benefits Children and Families—Uplifting Stories

I am appalled at a system that allows children and families to be deprived of basic social and health services.  Children that have speech or behavior difficulties are denied services from their school district, if their intelligence level is on or above normal.  This means a three year old who is on or above his level of maturation is not eligible for a speech therapist.  If this child’s family income is low to moderate, we are talking about a working poor family must find the money to pay for a speech therapist, or have insurance to cover this expense.  When we evaluate the insurance of the working poor rarely is this type of service available to them.  The state or county only allocates funds for services for children who are below the academic standards for their age grouping or severely delayed (special education).  We are now looking at a system of the haves and have not’s.  Children from families that have jobs that pays well, and provides comprehensive insurance coverage do not have a problem, however the children on the lower end of the income spectrum are at a left out of the equation.

My research would revel to the necessary municipalities the need for these very vital services. At a time when our country is falling behind the rest of industrial world in creativity and production we cannot afford to allow another generation not to be ready to meet the challenges ahead of us.  This above average three year old financially disadvantaged child is fine at this time, however by eight years old he will be teased because of his speech which will impact his self esteem and finally impact his academics in a negative way.  We must give our children the needed resources as early as possible; this is the best head start for our children, for our families, and for our nation.

  

  

Your Personal Research Journey

http://youtu.be/3uRdyZTpCW4

 

I chose “how abuse affects a child emotionally” as my simulation sub topic.  I witness the effect that abuse has on my children daily.  These children are vulnerable, and often fall victim to the hands of their caregivers.  I have children in our program that are victims of abuse, and they have been emotionally scarred.  These children are abused by their father and their mother who often turns her head in denial because she is a victim as well.  This family is in a program called Protective Services, and this program is supposed to monitor families and help them feel safe.  This family is not safe nor is they protected from their abusive male that does not live with them, he terrorizes these girls and their mother.  The system has not protected these girls.   When I suspect maltreatment as a mandated reporter I must report my suspicions, these children are trained not to tell, and if there are no bruises the report goes unfounded.

The girls are cowardly, and emotional distraught.  They love their mother and father, but they are definitely afraid of the father, and are always on their guard.

  This week I began to research abuse causes, to derive a solution for this family. 

What more can I do for them?  Colleagues, do you have any advice for me? 

Reflection: Final Blog Post

• Post at least three consequences of learning about the international early childhood field for your
• professional and personal development (any format, any length)

Professional Development

1        I gained more momentum in my quest to help my children and families      

2         I was able to meet a person who wants to help me deliver hope to children and   families

3        I was able to look at my environment and realize the potential growth

Personal Development

4        I was able to see how much more I needed to learn about early childhood education

5        The importance to just listening because the answers may there waiting to be heard

6        Most of all it is ok if what I want to achieve takes longer than I expected, I have to be patient.

• Post one goal for the field related to international awareness of issues and trends and the spirit of collegial relations

I want to collaborate with the International Child Resource Institute, and obtain some of the knowledge that the organization can lend me, and bring it back to my community.

                                                                

                

                                                                                

                                                                                  

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