Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend, Teacher, Student

        Microaggressions occur throughout many interactions.  I observed several when my oldest daughter visited.  They were directed toward my younger, teenage daughter and were not meant to harm her, but they did none the less.  The microinsults and microinvalidations were said in jest, but you could see the impact on my youngest daughter’s face.  She was hurt by them and quickly tried to hide that she was hurt.  When I observed this, I began to hurt for her.  I did not realize what the impact was on my daughter.  I did not know how to respond before now.  I have a better understanding of what to watch for now.  So, it is more prevalent in the observations and experiences I have.  Experiencing them myself this week, I have become more vocal in identifying them towards the person who has made the microagression.  I am pointing them out and holding the person responsible for what they have said.  It is uncom...

I asked three people whom I know to provide me with their definition of culture and diversity.  The following are their responses.  Kathy: (65 year old, Caucasian, female) Culture is can, be the cast system, the environment you are brought up in.  The way you do things. Diversity is the differences in culture, more than one portfolio.  Tina:  (38 year old, Mexican American, female) Culture is the beliefs and traditions carried by people. Diversity is the integration of varying cultures. James:  (30 year old, African, male) Culture is the way I live and the customs and traditions I grew up with.  The music I listen to, the food that I eat and the clothes that I wear. Diversity is the blending of people who are different in the ways they look act and live.  Based on the answers I received and what I have studied in this course the answers are basically correct, culture is made up of our environment, the way we live, and the tradition...

If a major catastrophe happened and I had to be evacuated to another country, I would take a picture of all of my children together, a baby blanket, and my Kindle.   The photo of all of my children together is a reminder of all of the people I love and will miss because they will not be with me (two of my children are grown and live outside of my home).  The baby blanket provides a sense of security when things are difficult for me, and because I have shared the blanket with all of my children.  The Kindle is so I can read and escape the uncertainty of what is going on around me.  It also has a photo gallery with all of our trips and family get-togethers so I have access to memories.  It provides a sense of focus and control when the world around me offers none.   If upon arrival into the host country I was informed I could only keep one item, it would be very difficult to decide   The photo provides a visual for all of the memories I...

I feel my simulation is important to the field of early childhood because it provides evidence that the brain can grow/ develop neuron connections even when there is a deficit in brain development.  My simulation also supports why we do what we do.  Some early childhood educators learn early in their careers that interactions, language, and activities support brain development.  This will provide more support for why. If I were to conduct my simulation, early childhood professionals, therapists (physical/occupational), neurologists, and children would benefit.  It would support early childhood professionals for why we do what we do; therapists for what they do to help children; neurologists for the studies and work they do; and children by minimizing the developmental delays and encouraging neuron growth and development overall.  As a result of this course, my perceptions of early childhood professionals have been supported.  Early childhood professiona...

For research around the world, I explored the website for Early Childhood Australia,  http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/ I learned that the organization is working to " Ensure Equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children in the Early Years".  The research indicates that 40 percent of  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children enter school "developmentally vulnerable".  It also states that roughly half of the indigenous children are going to attend an early childhood program.   A new position statement was created that established goals to lessen the gap in domains;  provide permanent funding for indigenous children ages three and four years to attend a minimum of three days per week of an early childhood program with teachers who have a bachelor's degree; and to "invest in quality Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander  community-controlled integrated early years services , through a specific early education progr...

If I possessed the means and the knowledge I would conduct research studies on brain development and challenging behavior.  I imagine these studies would positively impact children and families.  Learning about what in the brain, or how the brain is affected by challenging behaviors will help us to better understand and better handle challenging behavior.  There are so many questions regarding challenging behavior.  I would like to determine the answers to some, if not all of those questions.  These studies would be longitudinal, covering at least one year.  They would involve children of all age groups beginning at the age of 2-years and continuing through the age of 14-years.  The studies would include testing children for developmental delays and disabilities as needed.  All resources available to children and families would be utilized.  The studies would be all-encompassing.  The vast age range is due to challenging behaviors o...

After reflecting on subtopics for my research simulation, I selected: Rewiring the brain in early childhood.  While this topic is spread out over several different areas of brain development, it truly holds my interest.  I have a 22-year-old daughter who suffered brain damage after contracting Bacterial Meningitis and developing Hydrocephalus as a complication.  She is a fully functional young adult; however, we struggled through her early years and were told she would not survive past the age of 5 years.  Through physical and occupational therapy, and by providing experiences for her, we rewired her brain and she has accomplished all the things we never thought she would be able to do.  I am very interested in how rewiring the brain can affect the development of children with disabilities and special needs.  I have read articles on children becoming successful adults even though they were born with a debilitating form of cerebral palsy.  My inte...