Hope's Blog
While we try to teach our children all about life, Our children teach us what life is all about. ~Angela Schwindt
Collaborative Learning Community
I have really enjoyed this course and learning more about my communication style. I have learned a lot about myself and how I communicate with others that will be beneficial for all the children, families and staff that I have contact with every day. I truly appreciate all my colleagues and the information that they have shared that contributed to my understanding and learning as well. I wish everyone luck in their future endeavors and if I can ever offer any support or guidance please contact me at hopeemanuel@gmail.com
Adjourning
I think that
the groups that I have found it hardest to leave are the ones that I got to know
really well. I have found my most successful groups to be people that I met
with often and became somewhat of a support group as well. We learned a lot
about each other and in return we figured out how to effectively communicate
with one another as well. In most of my group situations I have had a final
project to present with them and then we celebrate with by going to lunch. As
far as the group of colleagues I have formed in my masters program, I think
that it is difficult to adjourn from them, but not as hard because we haven’t met
personally and then each new class brings a few more new people to the group. Knowing
that we have built relationships with people who are passionate for the same
things and able to be a resource when needed helps the adjourning process and
is essential to teamwork.
Conflict Resolution
My recent conflict that I have been dealing with involves my
son’s preschool director. She continues to place a note on my sign in/out page
stating that I owe money. I disagree and don’t understand why she thinks I owe
money. I pay on time regularly and I couldn’t understand why she thinks I owe
money. I first decided to avoid the situation and wait to see if the director approached
me. However nothing changed. I then decided to try and speak with her, but every
time I dropped my son off, the director walked the other way and never
addressed the situation with me. This happened multiple times so I was pretty
upset and finally ready to discuss the issue with her. I remember that I needed
to remain calm and respectful and listen to her side as well. I listened to her
side of the story and I explained mine and she didn’t seem to care what I was
saying. Finally, I asked her to provide me with a statement so we can compare
her records with mine. We finally determined that she credited the wrong
account with one of my payments. I was
frustrated because I felt it was her job to communicate with me better and
discuss the situation with me in person instead of writing a note every day. I
am curious how my colleagues would have handled the situation if they were the
director and how they would handle it if they were me.
Communication and Culture
When I think about the cultural
diversity that I see in my neighborhood, in my workplace, and also at my child’s
school, I do find that I communicate differently with different groups and
cultures. I think that I have gotten to know many of the people I see each day
in work, in my neighborhood and at my sons school and I have become aware of
how to communicate and interact with them based on what I know about them. At
work I interact and communicate differently with my staff who have been working
for me longer. We are able to joke with each other a bit more because we know
each other well. When I communicate with my supervisor however, I am more
reserved and professional. At my sons school I often speak with one staff
member about baseball because he really enjoys the sport and so do I, however,
another male teacher hates sports and we often talk about current events. I
also communicate differently with people based on my feelings and happenings
throughout the day. In the morning I may be real friendly and say hi to many of
my neighbors and at the end of the day I tend to be more reserved because I
have been around people most of the day and often want to be alone with my son
when I get home. This is sometimes difficult though because I have to walk by a
play structure to get to my apartment and many times the children that are
there want to play with my son and then the parents want to talk with me. I
have noticed that I often walk by real quickly and make sure to be on the phone
or try to be occupied with something. I know I may come off rude and I don’t intend
to, but I prefer to have some time alone.
Communication skills
I found it really difficult to watch the show without sound, and it wasn't much better with sound ether which is probably why I have never seen the show before.When watching the show without sound, was able to guess pretty accurately about what was occurring by observing their actions, eyes and expressions. I also observed their age and the props they had. However, I still didn't understand it exactly and missed on some of the specifics that were important. I couldn't tell that some of them were related or one of them was a young father and so on. Watching this show without sound and then with sound makes me think about the assumptions I am guilty of making from time to time. Sometimes I assume things based on observing others interactions and behaviors and I realize that I may be right sometimes, but sometimes I could also be wrong.
Competent Communicator
When I think of someone who is
a competent communicator I think of my father. My father is very intelligent
and shares his knowledge with me. We are able to discuss various topics and he
holds my attention because he knows so much and teaches me new things. I can
also trust my dad, which to me is very important when communicating. I know the
information that my father is telling me is honest and truthful and that if he
is ever unsure of something he lets me know and seeks to find the answer. My
father is not afraid to admit when he is wrong and to let me know when I am
wrong as well. He does a great job listening to me and others. I would love to
model these behaviors because I think they are examples of what great communicator’s
exhibit and should strive to always model.
Professional Hopes and Goals
One hope that you have when you think about
working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds.
When I think about
working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds, I hope
that will continue to remember and apply all that I have learned throughout
this course. I hope that I will continue to make children and families feel welcomed.
I hope I provide an environment that incorporates culture from all backgrounds
and I provide a program environment where everyone feels as though they belong.
One goal you would like to set for the early
childhood field related to issues of diversity, equity, and social justice.
My goal that I have
set for myself is to take what I have learned and share it to my staff and
childcare directors that work for me. This course has made a strong impact on
me and taking what I have learned and bringing it back to my staff and my programs
will have a huge impact on my community as a whole.
I have learned a lot from this course from the readings and resource videos, but especially from the discussion posts and interactions with my colleagues. I truly appreciate everyone’s opinion, ideas, questions, thoughts and advice. Without my colleagues, this course would not have been such a success, so thank you all for everything!
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