Practicing Awareness of Micro Aggression

This past Tuesday a young women, of a different race, asked me "Why can black people keep their hair oily and don't have to wash it everyday". I am not a licensed cosmetologist, therefore I did not know the appropriate answer. All I could tell her was that hair textures vary from person to person, not necessarily because of one's race. I honestly believe that she did not meant any harm. When reviewing the resources for this week, it opened my eyes to just how often scenarios such as this, and the discussion board, occur.

Week 4 resources have allowed me to realize that discrimination does not have to be as open and obvious as a burning cross. People often tend to say or act in ways that are totally oblivious to them as being racist or discriminatory.

Perspectives on Culture and Diversity

For this blog assignment, there were many people that I could have chosen to give their definition of culture and diversity. However, the three people that I chose are based upon their age, wisdom, and profession. My 81 year old grandmother, who is a former teacher has traveled all around the world with my grandfather, who was apart of the arm services. Mother, as she is called, defined culture is a common practice that a group of people or society. These practices can include language, dress attire, religion, and social interaction. She defined diversity as the differences among society. Diversity can include family size/style, race, age, and religion. The second person who defined culture and diversity was my twin sister LaQuincia. Quincy define culture as group of people who lived, believed, and interacted in similar ways. This group of people may be of the same racial or ethnic back ground, as was as religious background. Diversity is defined as the differences among people, that make them all unique/ The last person I spoke with is of a different racial background, as well as age. My supervisor Wendy defined culture as a group of people with similar practices, beliefs, physical characteristics, and/or religious beliefs. Diversity was defined by Wendy as unique characteristics that distinguish individuals apart from others.

Based upon the definition of culture and diversity, some examples of what has been discussed thus far in this course are culture including including similar practices such as language, race/ethnicity, social interactions. Examples of diversity discussed thus far  are family size/style and age.

Based upon the definitions taken from all three subjects, there does not seem to be an examples that have been omitted.

Hearing how my grandmother, sister, and supervisor perceived culture and diversity made me realize that both terms have broad definitions. Culture and diversity go far beyond race and ethnicity. These terms also made me realize that culture and diversity seem to go hand and hand. Similar characteristics are what make up culture and these same characteristics, in addition to individualized characteristics, are what make us diverse.  

My Family Culture

If I were given the option of bringing 3 personal items with me I would bring a picture of my Great-Grandmother Armathia Cousar Roper, a copy of my maternal grandmothers Bachelor's Degree, and a Bible.

The picture of my great grandmother is sentimental because she raised my twin and I. She is mainly responsible for setting the foundation for my life. She instilled so many values into me. My maternal grandmother's Bachelor degree, from North Carolina A & T University , is important because she was the first person in our family to receive a college education. My grandmother instilled the importance of an education in her children (my mom and her 5 siblings), which my mom instilled in my my twin and me. Education is an important part of our family culture. The Bible signifies  the importance of having a personal relationship with God. Faith is an important part of our family culture as well.

If I were informed that I would have to give up two items I would feel upset, sad, and confused. All three of these items are significant to who I am and a significant part of my family culture. I would not know which items I would give up. I would be hurt and possibly refuse to give them up.

This assignment has allowed me to reflect on what is important in my family and in my life. Without these influences in my life, I honestly do not know where I would be or what type of person I would be. I'm truly grateful!

When I Think of Research

Over the past eight weeks, my perspective on research has broadened. I have learned the meaning of various new terms. the importance of refining of research questions, equity challenges in research, and how research impacts the ECE field. 

My ideas concerning research have changed because I now understand the research does not have to a complex drawn out topics that consist of alot of data. Research in the ECE field can be on a topic such as the importance of play. I also realized that validity is important in ECE research. This can be done through the use of various methods, such as direct observation and interview, or using multiple researchers to interpret data.

I have learned that it is important to follow the research design process. It allows one to determine what will be research, how the research will be conducted, how the topic related to time, place, and people, how the data will be collected and analyzed, determine if there would be a possible set back and test the design by conducting a test pilot.

The only problems I have encountered were time management and specifying a research topic. It wasn't until week 7 that I fully understand how a research topic should be correctly stated. I will be sure to apply all changes to this week’s application.

My perception of ECE professionals has not been altered by this course.


I wish everyone the best in all future courses and professional endeavors. 

Research Around the World

I chose to browse the Early Childhood Australia, which can be accessed at http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/.  The following topics have been researched:

-Aggression and young children
-Engaging families (Communication)
-Using digital photographs in ECE settings
-Emotional literacy (feelings/emotions in young children)

I was honestly surprised to find out that the topic of bullying is being research in Australia. I viewed bullying as a major problem in the U.S. because of our culture and the emphasized placed on fitting into the "norm".

I discovered that Australia is in process of changing the child-staff ratio of children under 24 months to 1:4. The changes will take place in 2014. I believe that lowering the child staff ratio will be beneficial to young children. As a former infant room Lead Teacher, I found it some what difficult to give 5 infants or toddlers the individual time that they need.

Uplifting Stories- Research That Benefit Children and Families

My oldest niece, Jakyla, was born in December of 2000. From birth she was a happy, healthy newborn who was very alert. Around 2 months of age, my sister Constance, Jakyla's mom, noticed some unusual jerking movement that Jakyla would experience while she slept. Once Jakyla was taken to her pediatrician it was determined that she was having seizures. Over the next couple of months Jakyla's seizures began to intensify, causing her to be hospitalized many times. Right before her first birthday Jakyla's pediatrician's determined that not only was she experiencing seizures, but that she was physically and mentally delayed. After being taken to specialist in Durham, NC Jakyla was given only a year to live. On this December, Jakyla Amara Patrice Sams will be 12 years old. Although Jakyla was not the direct participant in any research, research that has been conducted on the medicine that she takes has helped her to live 10 years past what doctors predicated. In addition, Jakyla is enrolled in public school and research has been conducted in order to determine the best curriculum needed to aid children who have similar medical, physical, and mental conditions.

My Research Journey

For the purposes of this course, I identified the topic of developmental stages as an EC topic that interest me. I chose this topic for a particularly sweet 11 lb (as of 2 weeks ago) reason, my daughter Andrea. My daughter will be 2 months on Wednesday March 13, and for the past few weeks I have noticed that she has been doing things that are unusual to see in her developmental stage. As an undergraduate student, I was a B-K major before changing my  major to Sociology. Even as a Sociology major, I took several B-K courses as electives. Due to my educational background and work experience I am familiar with the developmental stages of children. However, now that I am a mother, I am further interested of in learning even more about this topic.

The simulation process has shown my how to properly gather my thoughts and concentrate on one idea at a time. Thus far this course has allowed me to truly identify the importance of a credible resource and the difference between what’s credible and what's not. I am interesting in knowing how my colleagues who work and have families balance home, work, and school. This course is going to allow me to get back to the root of conducting research and writing a research based paper.