As I reflect on this class and experiences thus far, I am very appreciative of the knowledge I have gained.  I have had the pleasure of corresponding with some of the brightest minds in this field today and took all feedback to heart.  I think you all will go far in this field because you are compassionate people with a thirst for knowledge.  It has truly been a pleasure to have taken this class and all of these learning experiences with you all.

Team Building

Team Building

                                                                

After reading about the adjourning stage, it was very evident that I did not miss the group that I had many problems working with during a group project. I was pleased that the project was over with and did not feel any need to stay connected.

One the other hand another group that I work with in a training called “Seven habits of highly effective people” We bonded as a group, there were goals that we were trying to accomplished and worked hard to ensure that everyone succeeded.  In the end, we all knew we can use each other as resources outside of the training. It was very difficult to say good bye and we still kept in touch as a group. We ended our three days training with a lunch which helped us celebrate our accomplishments.  I believe adjourning is essential because it allows the team to celebrate their success and build a network.

Adjourning our group in this course will be bitter sweet; I have met great individuals but also very excited to see my accomplishment of earning my master’s degree. In our case, the celebratory will be a graduation ceremony and some of us will continue to keep in touch.

I recently had an argument with one of my sisters and it quickly became a shouting match.  I wish I could go back and use some of the communication skills I have acquired.  Before the conversation turned into argument, I could have been more responsive and in tune to the conversation I would have been more sensitive to the underlying problem at hand.  A little cooperation and compromise would have put a halt to the argument almost immediately.  It dawned on me that neither of us was willing to budge and that caused a problem in communication. I could have definitely used the 3 r’s and been respectful, reciprocal, and responsive.

Upon taking those assessments I was unsure of what the high score would be however, I ranged at the 50% mark which to me meant I am an ok communicator with room to grow.  I realized after the assessment that I am really not that comfortable speaking in front of people.  I talked to one of my sisters and a co-worker to get their feedback and was shocked that they both thought I was a good communicator as well as public speaker.  The times I have had to speak I studied and practiced and I guess I used the proper eye contact and body language because they were impressed.  I believe my problem is more in me when I doubt myself.  I am used to talking around family so that is ok.  I also have to meetings but I think my anxiety would come in if I had to speak to a large group.  Two insights I learned this week is not to make assumptions about anyone.  I also learned how important body language, eye contact, and facial expressions are when communicating effectively.

Communication and Culture

Communication and Culture

I will say I do communicate differently with people. When I communicate with my friends and family it is different from communicating with families I work with, coworkers, colleagues or strangers that I meet for the first time.  I am from a different culture so I like to communicate with everyone the same way that I will want some else to communicate with me. I work with a lot of Hispanic families and strategies used to communicate effectively is ensuring that there is a translator present at all time to ensure that families with limited English are getting the same information as everyone else. 

When I am around my family and friends, I feel free and relax to speak my mind but when working with families we have make sure we are sensitive and respectful in order for them to gain our trust and work together in the best interest of the child.

When communicating with the populations of families I work with, some strategies use are:

Listening carefully to be sure they are understood and validate what they say.

Follow up on any questions/concerns to ensure that their needs are met.

Pay attention to nonverbal cues and make sure that respect is prevailed at all times.

 For this assignment, I chose to watch a show called “Keeping Up With The Kardashians” this is a show that I would not normally watch but chose it because I hear a lot about it and it appears to be very popular.  Watching the show with no sound was actually quite entertaining because that family was all over the place.  They had so many different things going on that I enjoyed figuring out what they were saying and meaning with their body language.   They are a very affectionate family so they were very touchy feely.  They use an enormous amount of facial and hand gestures.  They also use eye contact a lot as well.  When I watched the show again with sound I was surprised that I was pretty much dead on with their discussions and remarks just off of body language. I could tell when they were angry, arguing, happy sad, confused, and etc.  I could tell when they were having serious conversations or being sarcastic with each other.  They are very hands on and allow a lot of room for play in their theory and ideas.  I enjoyed the show will probably continue to watch it.

When I think of an effective communicator the first person I think of is President Obama.  President Obama has a commanding demeanor about himself that makes you want to listen to him.  I have watched several of his speeches and he looks into his audience giving eye contact which I believe to be very important in getting someone to actually hear and believe in what you are saying.  He speaks with authority and yet talks at a moderate tone which gives listeners a chance to listen as well as comprehend what he is saying. Yes, I would want to model some of his communication skills because I feel he is effective.  I would like to be able to speak in front of large groups without a quiver in my voice and be effective in making my words heartfelt and informative.

My Personal Research Journey

 

     I have chosen to research and look up information related to young children and the effects of poverty.  I strongly feel that researching this subject matter will benefit the students, families as well as myself on a professional level because I will gain better insight, compassion and empathy for most of the families I work with on a daily basis.  This will also help me become a better person and educator as I learn to build better healthy relationships with children, parents, professionals and colleagues.  I would love to hear from other colleagues who may have done similar research in the past or who may have some insightful stories to share that is related to young children and the struggles, issues and concerns of poverty.

EXPANDING RESOURCES.

EXPANDING RESOURCES.

 

I believe this is a great exposure by making contact with professionals in the field of early childhood outside the United Sates. After reading the options that we have, I sent emails to 6 different professionals. I chose Europe , Canada and UNICEF(Nigeria) . Some of the emails have bounced back but am still waiting on some replies.I was little bit nervous in the beginning but I realized later that this is a great opportunity to learn more globally about the issues facing the field of early childhood.
I chose UNESCO(United Nations Educational,Scientific , and Cultural Organization). I like this site because they focus on attaining quality education for all and life long learning. They also foster cultural diversity, intercultural dialogue and a culture of peace. I am glad to be part of this class.

"MY SUPPORTS"

When I think of a support team or system I think of those and those things that help me to meet my goals, challenges, and just everyday life moments.  My colleagues are very supportive at work with helping to make sure myself as well as our department provide high quality customer service.  In all aspects of my job I rely on my co-workers because we work as a team.  From paperwork to charts and all services in between we support each other.  I also think of my mother as a huge support to me.  She is able to help me with my day to day as well as help with my kids.  My mother keeps on track with important events.  I also rely heavily on my cell phone.  I have important numbers that I use every day.  I use phone reminders and calendar to stay on track.  My cell phone also keeps in touch with my loved ones.

 

I would truly not get through my day without these supports because they are my backbone.  It is important that I work well with my coworkers because we have a common goal each day and must be on one accord.  I love that my I have a relationship with my mother because she keeps me on track and focused family wise.  I also do not know what I would do without my cell phone because I am constantly on the go.  My phone allows me to stay in touch and keeps me just a phone call away from family, friends, or emergency contacts.  I do not know if I would be able to function on such a high level without these amenities because I am so used to them.  I would have to completely retrain my thought process.

 

The challenge I chose to imagine would be to take on another job.  I would need my current job to continue to be at the A-1 level it is because it is top priority.  I would need to stay in synch with my co-workers.  I would also need to turn to a support system for my kids.  Even though are of age to be able to help themselves I would still need that guidance for them when I am not available which would more so fall to my mother.  I would need to be organized and on time which would require me to be able to mulit-task.  I would rely heavily on reminders and notes as well as a calendar of events.  Without these supports I would not be able to work two jobs, go to school, and still have time for family and friends.  Without all my supports my life would be chaos.  As stated earlier I would really have to evaluate things and figure out what things I can do and those I cannot instead of taking on so many.

Breastfeedig

        Scientific research suggests that breastfeeding might reduce cancer,ovarian cancer and now the risk of developing diabetes. Women who breastfeed for at least one year were about 15% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those who never breastfed. Breastfeeding has numerous health benefits for babeis.

        One of my co-workers chosed to breastfeed her baby. She say she decided because of the great benefits for her baby. It helps to develop her imnune system and it also is a natural way to give her a good source of nutrition.


                                                        Breastfeeding in Africa

In Africa,more than 95% of infants are currently breastfed,but feeding practices are often inadequate: feeding water, and other liquids,to breastfed infants is a widespread practice. The rate of breastfeeding is low particulary in West Africa. The importance of breast milk as a food resource of African countries is generally not recognized. The success in promoting exclusive breastfeeding has been limited in Africa and new promotions methods are needed. Infants of all mothers, whether HIV positive or not,will benefit from improving the rate of exlusive breastfeeding.