What I Have Learned

Children are shaped by their family, community, and their cultural history. I hope to make a difference as an educator, to first understand families who are diverse in ways such as different culture, economic status, and sexual orientation. As an ant-bias teacher I plan to encourage students to express their own ideas, to be themselves and respect others cultural differences. I am going to learn about the families and communities of the students I teach so, that I can do a better job in the classroom. Examining what you have learned over the years will be a little like eating an artichoke: you have to peel off the layers to get to get clearer about your experiences and assumptions now (Derman-Sparks & Olsen 2010).

One of my goals I would like to set for the early childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to recognize the biases and difficulties each type of family faces, and assure families that I support and value their unique contributions, in hopes to create a classroom community where children and their families feel safe and welcomed (Derman-Sparks & Olsen, 2010). 

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.

To Dr. Snider and fellow classmates, this for me has been like lying on a sofa with a psychotherapist. I have learned that so much of my identity is shaped from my cultural background and that I have to deal with it and learn to help shape the lives of all children in diverse cultures. My experience in this course has shown me how easily my biases and stereotyping can be formed. Words can’t tell you all how much I have learned and how grateful I am for all the support you gave to me. I hope our journey will continue together. Good luck to all and thank you.

Kathleen 

Start Seeing Diversity Blog: Creating Art: 
My Poem

I grew up in a place where the culture was known

Community in harmony like singing a song
I lost my father at an early age
My mother's life turned a page

I lost my grandmother in the prime of her life
Being with older sister became a fight
Learning a new language in school was cool
Getting to know other cultures and eating different food

What we want is to feel safe and accepted in a new place
To see the world as a place for us
            Making friends and being loved in the face of diversity

                     After writing my poem I found this amazing poem I thought you may enjoy 
                                                                    reading!

The Colors Of Diversity

		THE CRAYON BOX THAT TALKED
		By Shane DeRolf                     While walking into a toy store                         The day before today                        I overheard a crayon box                         With many things to say                         “I don’t like Red!” said Yellow                         And Green said “Nor do I”                      “And no one here likes Orange                        But no one knows just why”                         “We are a box of crayons                          that does not get along                         Said Blue to all the others                        “Something here is wrong”                     Well, I bought that box of crayons                         And took it home with me                         And laid out all the colors                       So the crayons all could see…                      They watched me as I colored                      With Red and Blue and Green                    And Black and White and Orange                       And every color in between               They watched as Green became the grass                         And Blue became the sky                                         The Yellow sun was shining bright                       On White clouds drifting by                     Colors changing as they touched                         Becoming something new                     They watched me as I colored                                    They watched me till I was through                     And when I finally finished                         I began to walk away                      And as I did the crayon box                      Had something more to say                                                “I do like Red!” said Yellow                        And Green said, “so do I”                       And Blue you were terrific!                         So high up in the sky                                           “We are a box of crayons.                         Each one of us unique                       But when we get together                      "The picture is more complete”

Colors of Diversity - Scouting Web Retrieved from

www.scoutingweb.com/scoutingweb/SubPages/ColorsDivers.htm -  

"We "Don't Say Those Words in Class!"

 My grandchildren (three girls) come to me on the weekends their mother and father are on night shift at the same time. They know the other children in my neighborhood, which is mixed with White and Black families. They are always excited to play with the other children, when they come over. They have grown up together in a way because; they have been playing with each for quite a lot of years now. A few weekends ago they were playing with my White neighbors children ages range from 4, 6, 8 and 15 as they always do. My grandchildren range from 7, 10 and 13.  My granddaughter noticed they had a new dog in their back yard and asked them when did they get the new dog. One of the children told her when and then said to her (my dad says he only barks at black people). This is not the first time they have said words that are offensive about people of color.

I have always felt their father was prejudiced and this just only confirmed my thoughts to be true. As an anti-bias educator I said to her to explain that they are friends and the words were hurtful because, they are too young to know the difference in what they are saying, they are just repeating what they have heard. I did not get upset with them because, I have come to love these children very much, I just felt sorry for them that they may grow up with hate in their heart for people they have never met.  Their father is not very friendly so. I did not attempt to talk with him. “As you persist through the challenging times and see the fruit of work, eventually anti-bias education becomes a part of everything you do. It becomes a way of life” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010 p. 20).

Derman-Sparks, L., & Olsen Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: NAEYC.