What I Have Learned EDUC 6357

• I hope to create an environment where all children and their families feel welcome and feel as if they are a necessary part of our learning environment.
• I hope that the early childhood community works to develop curriculum that works to support and involve families in the lives of their young children now and as they grow. 

I want to take this time to thank my fellow classmates. It has been a tiring journey of self exploration and discovery. I pray that we all have come out of this course braver and stronger. 

We are the World

Children Say the Darndest Things

The honesty of a child can show the world as it is. After talking with a friend about her daughters experience with a handicapped child who walked with braces it became evident that parents need to address differences among people with their children at a young age. After some research I found a wonderful resource through Baby Center: Expert Advice. They suggest:

• Address your child's curiosity
• Answer questions matter of factly
• Watch your words
• Emphasize what's the same
• Take advantage of teaching moments
• Don't allow jokes or bullying

The expert advice is wonderful on this website and helps parents prepare for those awkward conversations that come from being unprepared. When we show our children that these topics make us uncomfortable they then carry that fear or insecurity with them. 

Early Childhood Education and Sexuality

The topic of sexuality is deeply personal and opinions are usually based on religion. Telling someone that their opinion of human sexuality is wrong, is wrong in itself. As an early childhood educator I believe it is my job to create an atmosphere of love and respect, without crossing into acceptance. Acceptance of homosexual behaviors cross into family choice. I do believe that early childhood centers should make each student feel welcome and make sure that they are validated as a person, no matter what type of family they come from. Inclusion of books or items depicting same-sex partners is not necessary. Students have access to both male and female dolls, can draw or color their family type, and can relay family stories during sharing time. This type of inclusion is the safest for all involved. We have made a point to include all family types, without bringing in the overt approval of same-sex relationships. Children like to explore and pretend. "Indoctrinating impressionable school children with pro-homosexual beliefs is an easier way of changing public attitudes than persuading adults," according to the Family Research Council.  " "Homophobia" is a term that stigmatizes those with traditional values by implying that they (not homosexuals) are the ones with a mental illness (even though recent research has concluded that "homophobia" in this clinical sense actually does not exist. [11])." A subject as touchy as sexuality is best left to parents and their personal choice on how they chose to raise their child. As an educator it is my job to protect each of my children and the beliefs that they are raised with, both homosexual and heterosexual beliefs need to be protected until the child is old enough to decide on their own.

Collabortive Communication: The Hard Good Bye

The hardest group of people for me to leave behind in life were my cohorts during undergraduate. I worked closely with the small group of ladies (with the exception of the two gentleman) to develop the skills needed to teach in an elementary classroom. We were together every night from 6-8PM. We shared life stories, families, pitfalls, lesson plans, lunches, and stories. 

The picture below is at our final party before graduation. We got together to exchange contact information, eat and hand out awards. Leaving a group like this behind is hard, but that is how we grow and network in life. I imagine the best way to leave a group as close as this is to exchange information and share in the experiences we have had and will have in the future.