Sometimes I don’t think we as teachers know exactly how much
of a difference that our families input as far as curriculum can be. I have
realized in the six years that I have been teaching early head start that the
more I recognize parents as teachers in the classroom the more eager they are
to participate in the classroom, which encourages students to do their best because
they don’t want to disappoint parents or teachers. Our always great pleasure in
working with families who have different cultural back grounds than me, mainly because
I know they will be a lot of learning going on between us. Especially with me I
love asking questions about their culture and seeing how I can make the
classroom more comfortable for them, real artifacts are one of my favorites.
When you learn about the culture of a person you to
understand who they are better, and it also helps to explain why they may have
a certain attitude about things. When
working with children and families of diverse back grounds, one of the most important skills we need to develop in teachers is their ability to build on the
knowledge that students bring into classrooms, particularly that knowledge
which is shaped by their family, community, and cultural histories (http://www.hfrp.org/family-involvement/fine-family-involvement-network-of-educators/member-insights/how-can-we-prepare-teachers-to-work-with-culturally-diverse-students-and-their-families-what-skills-should-educators-develop-to-do-this-successfully).
It is amazing how much we can learn when we talk to families of different
cultures. One hope that I have when working with children and families who come
from diverse back grounds is that they notice the endless effort that I put forth
to make them both feel comfortable in their new home away from home (the
classroom). I want them to feel welcomed upon having their first conversation
with me and even more comfortable when they come in the class, and see that I am
open to any ideas that they might have to give me.
The early childhood field is growing everyday with the positions that we
have for jobs and the topics that we are now recognizing more. Now if the pay
scale would expand that would be wonderful, even still the passion that drives
us to do what we do helps to ease the pain of the low salaries that we receive.
The one goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field related to
diversity, equity, and socials justice is quite simple. It’s that all early
childhood programs that seek accreditation from the NAEYC show proof that they are
implementing an anti-bias curriculum, I would hope that this would go into
effect within the next five years or so. Maybe this would boost the morality
for all of these things to be addressed in the early childhood classrooms.
Over the last past eight weeks I feel that we all have
grown together in so many ways. Every week I have looked forward to seeing you’ll
posts especially your blogs they were my favorite. I wish each and every one of
you’ll nothing but success in next classes and climbing up your professional
ladders. I know whatever you’ll plan to put your knowledge towards will be
nothing but great and a huge contribution to the early childhood education
field. Remember to stay encouraged and always be your biggest cheer leader, the
best is yet to come! Thank you for giving me the pleasure to share this class
with you’ll. Dr. Horton you have been an awesome professor thank you for
sharing your knowledge with us.
Reference
