Effective Communicator

Our blog assignment for this week is to identify someone who is a competent communicator. The person that I have chosen is my supervisor Kristin. There are several things about her communication style that I admire and would like to emulate. 

1. She is a great listener. It is very clear that when you are telling her something she is giving it her full attention and not trying to think ahead or twist the conversation around to make it about her-two communication techniques that I do not admire. She asks clarifying questions and makes sure that she has a clear understanding of what you are saying before she responds. These listening skills are effective because it shows genuine interest in what the person talking has to say. I want to model this skill because I believe any communication where the parties feel as if they are really being heard is more productive.
2. She is brief, to the point, and straightforward. She has the ability to gather her thoughts and articulate what she wants to say very succinctly. She is not afraid to speak her mind and make decisions. This makes it very easy to understand what it is she is saying and what it is that she needs or expects from me. This skill is effective because it makes information clear. I want to model this skill because I believe that people listen better to short, clear statements. Long diatribes that "beat around the bush" cause messages to sometimes get lost.
3. She uses reflective dialogue techniques and facilitation skills. She recognizes that there is a great deal of expertise in our group, and she uses questions and guiding statements that help us work together to get things done. These skills are effective because it allows input from all parties involved in the communication and keeps the conversations moving in the right direction. I want to model these skills because makes the time that we spend together communicating meaningful and valuable, and on task.
4. She doesn't personalize communication challenges. She understands that people don't always agree with what she has to say, but she doesn't get bogged down by the emotions of the communication. She sticks to the facts and continues to communicate even when that communication is difficult. This skill is effective because it keeps communication moving even when people disagree. I really want to model this skill because I know that emotions can derail conversations. Separating passion and fact is valuable and allows everyone involved in the communication to feel safe about continuing the conversation.

Professional Hopes and Goals

            As this class draws to a close, I am asked to reflect on one personal hope that I have for myself in regard to working with children and families from diverse backgrounds, and one goal that we have for the Early Childhood field related to diversity, equity, and social justice.

            My hope is that I can make each child and family that I come in contact with feel supported and celebrated for who they are and where they come from. My goal for the field is that courses like this one are offered for all early childhood professionals-in trainings, college courses, conferences, etc.

This work is so valuable and having opportunities to talk about diversity and learn from one another is the only way to prepare the teachers to work with the children on social equity. We must lead by example and advocate for this work; it will make a difference!

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead

 

            Thank you all for walking beside me on this journey to learn more about diversity, equity, and social justice. I have learned a lot from all of you and I wish you well on your next adventure.    Carolyn

Welcoming a Family

       The assignment for our blog this week asks me to think about ways that I would welcome a family from a country that I know nothing about into my child care program. The family that is coming into my program is from Swaziland, a small country in southern Africa. There are five things that I will do to help prepare myself to be culturally responsive to this family.

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                      First, I will learn what I can about the country. This is not so that I can make assumptions or generalizations about this family, but to educate myself on a place that I know nothing about. This will include talking to someone who is familiar with the Swazi language and customs so I am respectful of boundaries and beliefs and do not do anything to offend the family when they come to meet me.

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                    Second, I will find out if the family speaks English and if not I will invite an interpreter to the orientation. There are several dialects spoken in Swaziland so I will make sure to have someone who speaks the family’s language. Once they have started, I will ask the family give me a few key phrases and words in that language so the teachers can label things in their classroom and be able to speak to children in their native language during critical times (i.e.: when they are upset). I will invite the family to contact the interpreter as needed if they have issues to discuss, and I will schedule the interpreter to return when it is time for Parent/Teacher Conferences.

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           Third, I will find out what kind of food the family eats so that we can make sure and include food items on our meal and snack menu that the children are familiar with.

·         Fourth, I will make sure that there are photos, pictures, books, and materials in the center that represent this child and his family on their first day in the program, so they see themselves represented and valued in our space. Once they have started, I will invite the family to share music, stories, and other things from their culture in the classroom. I will incorporate items that are familiar to the child into the curriculum so all of the children have a chance to interact with them.

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                    Fifth, I will set aside time in my schedule to get to know the family well and create a relationship with them. I will find out what is important to them, and what they want for their child. I will listen to their ideas and feelings, and partner with them to make sure that my program is a safe, nurturing place for their child and them. I will ask them to share their culture with our program, and assure that the information that they share with me is evident in our program.

     These preparations will help the family and child feel welcome by letting them know that who they are as people, and their culture, is valuable to our child care community. It will give them the message that we want to honor who they are and where they have come from and not just expect that they will conform to the program as it was before they arrived. The child will recognize that he and his culture are important. It will benefit me by broadening my horizons and my anti-bias skills, and it will allow me to become a partner with a family whose culture is different than mine.    

A Prejudice That Affects Me

            A prejudice that affects me that I would like to focus on is what it means to be Wiccan. Witches and witchcraft are portrayed in the media as evil, ugly, and devious. Some people even think that witches worship the devil because of the way they are portrayed in movies and television. This is an inequity because nothing could be further from the truth. However, because of prejudice and lack of knowledge, people hear that I am a witch and immediately conjure up (no pun intended) a vision of me with a group of women, huddled around a caldron full of entrails, casting a spell to put a hex on someone.

            Although I completely understand how people use this stereotype to create a vision of what a witch is in their mind, it also frustrates me. For many years I felt as if I needed to hide my spiritual beliefs, especially from those in the early childhood community, because of this prejudice. I was certain that if they knew, they would not want me to work with their children. I have many great skills with children and I didn’t want this aspect of my identity to jeopardize my ability to do what I love. As time went on I felt more secure in educating others about my beliefs. Wicca is an earth based spirituality that is similar in many ways to Native American beliefs. We celebrate the changes of the seasons, and believe that all things in nature are sacred. We do rituals that use natural elements such as water, fire, earth, and air to focus energy and send only positive intents into the universe. This ability to be able to calmly stand in my truth has helped me not only educate others about my beliefs, but it has also helped me to be more accepting of theirs.

            I believe that knowledge is the best way to bring balance back into any situation. The very term “inequity” means not equal or out of balance. If people would recognize that prejudice is often based in the fear of what is different, and then take the time to learn the facts instead of basing their feelings upon stereotypes, they would be able to be more accepting and less judgmental.