Week 6 : The Adjourning Phase

After working with Jesse and Tristan to give Hannah (a 4-year old girl battling leukemia) a birthday bash, saying goodbye was the hardest part.This was difficult because we had the rewarding feeling of knowing that we worked together with a common goal of helping a child and her family. Hannah was a part of this team but did not get to celebrate her 5th birthday with us. However, Jesse, Tristan and I promised Hannah's family that we would make annual donations to the Children's Hospital which would benefit other children battling various forms of cancer.

While working on my master's degree here at Walden, I will cherish the memories, lessons and experiences that my colleagues have shared!

Adjourning is an essential stage of team work because it allows each member to celebrate the differences they made in their work to achieve a common goal. It's not the easiest stage, but focusing on how team work has benefited a cause is the best feeling in the world!

Week 5: Conflict Resolution

I remember having a disagreement with my niece about her using the computer and cell phone for several hours each day. She looked at me and yelled “I need more freedom….I’m 13 years old….I feel like I can’t do anything anymore!” I became impatient and walked away because I wanted to avoid having any kind of screaming match. Studying this course content and information related to conflict resolution has provided relief and more opportunities to successfully resolve conflicts with others in and outside of the classroom. I will now use a different approach when handling the same disagreement with my niece. I would be more patient by listening to and accepting her perspective of feeling bored and wanting to do more things. Both of us could compromise by allowing her to use the phone  and computer for 1 to 2 hours per day. I understand that she has a social life and should be allowed to socialize with her friends. She should understand that I am concerned about who she is communicating with and for how long. She also has to understand the dangers that are present on the internet and phone chat lines. We have agreed that 1 hour of computer use will be devoted to studying while the 2^nd hour will be used for hanging out with friends. Any further advice from my colleagues is welcome and appreciated!

Week 4: Being Evaluated As A Communicator

I found the experience of evaluating myself as a communicator very simple. I only looked at the positive things. I know that I am a great listener. I am also polite most of the time.  Having someone else evaluate me as a communicator was a bit challenging because I was able to look at myself from differing perspectives. The two people who evaluated me as a communicator pointed out two important weaknesses.
1. They found that I was extremely shy.
2. They also found that I was too passive and avoided participating in debates.

 Teachers should not be shy. Teachers should not be too passive because they are the voices of many children! After hearing their opinions, I agree that I have a long way to go in becoming an effective communicator!

Week 3: Effective Strategies for Communicating Across Cultures

 

I find myself communicating differently with people from different groups and cultures. Sometimes I find myself being passive to avoid saying anything that may be offensive to the other person.  I tend to be more attentive.

1.      I think it is essential to develop active listening skills to understand what is being said.

2.       I am more patient and curious to learn more about the person’s language, religion, parenting style, musical selections and childhood.

3.      I avoid using any type of slang or jokes that can be interpreted as offensive. I don’t allow any prejudice and stereotypes to interfere with my communication. I treat each person as an individual by applying the golden rule.

These things are important because there is an increasing amount of diversity in our schools, neighborhoods, families and workplace.  The main goal is to help others feel valued, respected and loved through meaningful relationships!

Week 2: Observing Communication on Television

I chose to watch a reality show called The Bad Girls Club for the first time. While watching the muted episode, I thought the girls were family members getting into physical altercations about something sensitive. Based on the nonverbal behavior that I observed, these girls were expressing anger toward each other. The scene was chaotic. I made the assumption that these girls were wild, rude and lacking in self control. I think my assumptions would have been correct and incorrect if I had been watching a show that I knew well. It would depend on the individuals that are being observed. After watching the episode twice, I have the clear understanding that violence is the worst form of communication. Patience, respect and consideration for others will help me to be a more effective communicator!

Week 1: Demonstrating Competent Communication Within A Certain Context

My sister Courtney is a wonderful mother to 4-year old Melody. She has demonstrated competent communication skills through her parenting style. She recently witnessed her daughter having a verbal altercation with a playmate about a toy. Courtney calmly explained to both girls that it is always good to share some materials with others. She stated "I have a good idea......I understand that there is only 1 bicycle available to ride.....Melody....Allow your friend Minnie to ride the bike for 5 minutes.......Then you will also ride the bike for 5 minutes.....This is how we solve our problem....This is a great time for sharing." Both girls smiled and continued to play, remembering Courtney's instructions and following directions. This is an effective communication skill known as compromising. This is also teaching social skills to young children. Courtney was very patient and enthusiastic while speaking to both girls. She encouraged them to work as a team. She was teaching both girls how to make good choices. I would want to model some of my own communication behaviors after this person because Courtney's communication behaviors revealed positive results. This communication behavior supports children developing meaningful relationships with each other. Children often imitate behaviors displayed by their parents or adults. According to O'Hair & Wiemann (2012), "Most of the skills we need in order to communicate must be learned." Courtney's daughter (Melody) has applied this effective communication behavior to her daily life as she plays with her friends.

References
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. (2012). Real communication: An introduction. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's.

My Professional Hopes and Goals

When working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds, I have the hope of helping everyone succeed by creating an inclusive environment that allows everyone the satisfaction of being appreciated by others.

One of my goals for the early childhood field is making sure that all families have the resources they need to fully nurture their children. This is important because the parent/family/caregiver is the child’s first teacher and can make the largest impact on the child’s decisions.

I would like to thank my wonderful colleagues for sharing their experiences, ideas and insights related to equity, diversity and social justice. My colleagues have deepened my understanding of a variety of topics in the early childhood field!