Final Thoughts…

 

 

As a teacher, a mentor and a leader I have found that while I am always moving to support others, I am always continuing to learn myself. The journey of my formal education coupled with the abilities to use what I have taken away in my daily experiences has brought me through to a full circle view of what I have accomplished. In completing my masters program, I have learned that the communicator I am and the leadership style that I have displayed have brought me into a place of huge growth and opportunity. I have a chance to move forward and impact my community wholly so that children and their families benefit. Another take away has been for me the basic needs of families. Education is important but we have an obligation to support families and help them meet their basic needs first, education will then follow. This is something that while I am aware of, I think sometimes it can fall to the side as we focus so largely on the importance of early learning. The focus should be on whole wellness, this of course encompassing that learning. Third I am taking away the ideas and methods of research and how they can impact my work. There is always going to be issues that need support and research may or may not be there to meet the need of my demographic and community. Conducting research, using qualitive data, quantitative data and other methods will give me the ability to continue to positively affect more families in my community when I observe a need that maybe can’t be solved or affected until more research is needed. In looking ahead, the long-term goal I have is to achieve my doctorate. In completing this current piece of my journey more than those previous I have a feeling of anything is possible and I also have a passion to support the education of teachers so that those teachers can move to impact the education of children in my community. While early education is my passion and heart, I do want to perhaps receive a doctorate in a related field. Only time will tell…

In saying goodbye, I hear the words of so many songs that I know would be used to capture the moment and wishes for others. For each colleague that has made this journey with me my hope is that you each move towards the dreams and “what if’s” you have chosen for yourself. What a huge impact we could each, make if we can achieve each of those passions. To the professor of this final piece of the journey thank you for giving your time and messages. It is my hope that you again hear my name in a positive context doing impactful work and I hope the same for each of my colleagues. The journey has been real…Peace out everyone!!

 

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=its+closing+time+lyrics&view=detail&mid=EC778D32B131A69D3D57EC778D32B131A69D3D57&FORM=VIRE#

 

International Roles in the ECE Community

Often I think and focus on how I can make a difference within my own community working to educate children and support families. Having my focus be so close to home and using the many resources I can to support these families I have to remember that internationally the need for education and family support is also great. Save the Children is a national organization that I have been lucky enough to support and will continue to do so. This organization supports the health and wellness of the whole child from the aspects of nutrition, health, relationships, shelter, stability and the right to be free from abuse. I find this to be an important part of what this organization does. Each child must have their needs met wholly so that they can learn and develop. Save the Children works to empower vulnerable communities to build resilience, improve food security, and strengthen financial capability to transform their livelihoods and ensure that no child goes hungry (Save the Children, 2019).  Working in the U.S. and 120 countries Save the Children works to reduce the causes of child morality through preventable health problems, works with communities to sustain livelihood through food resources such as farming and wells for water and when a crisis occurs, they offer support in these continued areas. With current positions posted on a separate career site this organization one opportunity is to be a site coordinator. Working with an afterschool program in a community this position maintains program aspects and wellness for each child with Save the Children and works in partnership with the school and community. This is a position like managing a program. Qualifications for this position include experience working with children and families as well as a bachelor’s degree or higher. I am qualified for this position currently.

Another National organization supporting the wellness and whole development of each child is Children International. This organization has a specific focus on global poverty and how it can be positively supported. Through education this organization brings to light how health is affected by poverty, does a lack of education cause poverty and does poverty cause a lack of access to education. In answering these questions this organization supports children and communities to overcome specific challenges related to poverty and how education is affected. Poverty and health are strongly linked. Health problems can plunge people into poverty or keep them from escaping it, and those in poverty are more likely to suffer disease because of lack of treatment. It’s why we focus on improving health for kids (Children International, 2019). Opportunities working with this organization include sponsoring a child or children and building community centers. These centers are where families and children can come for educational support. With 20 team members located and working for Children International in the state of Arkansas there isn’t any available position openings that I could move into. Qualifications for these positions vary including education and experience working with children and families locally. Positions include Agency director, coach and volunteers.

Child Family Health International is another organization I feel passionate about. In the U.S. we have a lot of debate on vaccines for children and should we or shouldn’t we. No matter the stand or side Child Family International works to educate families on health and wellness including vaccines. Through global health care programs and education throughout the world Child Family Health International seeks to educate each child on the importance of health and wellness and how that will impact they own life and community. In ten countries around the world this organization also offers immersion programs and intensives where the focus is education on public health and community education, maternal child health and HIV information. CFHI impacts are far reaching and include community-based empowerment and development, while educating the next generation of global health leaders and change agents, as well as advocating for mindful global health programming (CFHI, 2019).  One of the offices located in Oakland CA host a director and assistant director of the programs and outreach, book keepers. While these positions are not currently open to be filled the qualifications are previous experiences with outreach organizations and extended education in the field of leadership.

References

Child Family Health International. (2019). CFHI Impacts. Retrieved from https://www.cfhi.org/cfhi-impacts

Children International. (2019). Global Poverty and Health. Retrieved from https://www.children.org/global-poverty/global-poverty-facts

Save the Children. (2019). Global Programs and Advocacy. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.org/us/what-we-do/global-programs

 

 

 

 

Roles in the ECE Community

In my experiences and work with children over the years one of the organizations that I have relied on has been NAEYC, National Association for the Education of Young Children. I have always identified with the philosophy behind the organization and brought it into my classrooms. This national organization is one that I one day would like to be a part of. Moving to be a part of the daily NAEYC life is one option as I am in another state, but becoming an assessor is also something I think I would enjoy while also being challenged to grow. Together with our members, community partners, and network of affiliates across the country, we proudly ensure that the early childhood profession exemplifies excellence and is recognized as performing a vital role in society. Alongside you, NAEYC is the national voice of the early childhood community (NAEYC, 2019). Holding a role in the community is one that I work hard to have, to work with children and families. NAEYC supports that role wholly. The National Children’s Advocacy Center is another organization that supports the philosophies that I have. This organization responds to child abuse on a national level through service, education and leadership. With an online library of resources that is used by people around the world the advocacy center accepts donations and members throughout communities seeking support from children to stop various forms of abuse. The National Children’s Advocacy Center (NCAC), located in Huntsville, Alabama, revolutionized the United States’ response to child sexual abuse. Since its creation in 1985, the NCAC has served as a model for the 1000+ Children’s Advocacy Centers (CACs) now operating in the United States and in more than 33 countries throughout the world (National Children’s Advocacy Center, 2019). In thinking about educating children and working with families often basic needs must be met first. Both NAEYC and the advocacy center offer resources that support families, communities, on how to meet the basic needs of a child. Therefore, I find it so important. When children have their basic needs met then they can learn and grow but often the meeting of these basic needs is overlooked. In thinking of my third support I move to the community of leaders that I am surrounded with. In my community there are those who lead, manage and teach early learning programs. I find that each of these 12 individuals that I have contact with bring me knowledge and support as well as that ever-important sounding board. When we can share our experiences, struggles and triumphs with others we are having valuable learning experiences to hold onto. With each of these three communities that support the work I am seeking the job I am wanting is becoming even more clear. It is my goal to move into the field of higher education, teaching those that teach our young children. I have observed that teachers are not prepared to come into the classroom, and I want to support that positive change in this area within my community. I am qualified through my experiences in the early learning field and in my education and I am at the forefront of looking to make this move.

References

NAEYC. (2019). Our Work. Retrieved from https://www.naeyc.org/our-work

National Children’s Advocacy Center. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.nationalcac.org/get-involved/

 

 

 

 

 

Early Learning Communities

In my years of working with children and their families I have come to value the resources that our county provides. I live and work in southern California and as I look back twenty years resources were not so prevalent or even sought after to a certain degree. I have certainly seen this change with families seeking information on everything from funding to education to health and wellness. I have learned that I need to be informed as does my team because these families come to us assuming we are knowledgeable and can help them and it is our responsibility to do so as it supports the learning of the child. Here are three organizations that I work with and refer to my families for support:

The Riverside County Office of Education- This organization offers family support through funding and education as well as hosting their own early learning programs. In addition to this family support the agency offers a wide range of training and learning opportunities for teachers and other professionals working in the field of early learning. Trainings are no cost and available regularly always covering a range of topics that support those individuals that support families.

Mt. San Jacinto- This junior college hosts the local early learning department that offers the child development classes that teachers need to take to meet state requirements. In addition, they host regular monthly seminars and workshops for teachers and administrators working with children and their families. The information offered through these workshops supports community involvement and how to support families through the offering of counseling and continued adult learning. The community also hosts directors networking group where directors are invited monthly to trainings and offered regular community updates on family support services.

Temecula Head start- This community offers early learning services for children ages 1-5 and offers a network of administrators who are each working in the field. Through this community administrators can collaborate and support one another through learning experiences and for support in their daily function of family communications.

In each of these resources there are job opportunities available. Of interest to me are the positions where I can teach, train and mentor adults that are working or seeking work in the field of early learning. I subscribe to multiple sites online that offer position updates and openings as I am looking toward my next career move. The experience I have had teaching and working as an administrator have qualified me for this role as I am beginning to seek it. The completion of my formal education is also a component to how I can meet the requirements for these roles which I currently as able to do.

Riverside County Office of Education- www.rcoe.us

Mt. San Jacinto- www.msjc.edu

Temecula Head start- www.headstartprogram.us/city/ca-temecula

 

 

 

Communicating Differently

I find the subject of communication one that is very interesting when we start to examine how we communicate within different arenas. As a professional I do have one mode of communication with my peers and supervisors. I find that power dynamics come into play even if that isn’t the intention. When one person has power over another the dynamic can cause one or both of the people to handle conflict unproductively (O’Hair, Wiemann, Mullin & Teven, 2015). While I make a huge effort to not exude this dynamic over my team, I defiantly experience it from my supervisor. Communication is not respectful or reflecting of each of our personal schemas. When I communicate with families I tend to listen, listen a lot. In many instances they simply want to be heard and that is the best thing that I can offer them. I communicate differently based on the group that I am a part of. Primary groups such as family and close friends share goals and relationships making communication effective. Support groups that come together to address issues can experience conflict and that’s when my conflict resolution skills come into play. While conflict resolution and nonviolent communication skills are a part of all communications at some point, the group and relationships that I am a part of have determined how much these skills are utilized. Effective communication comes in managing conflict. People rely more on indirect verbal messages and nonverbal communication than on what is actually said (O’Hair, Wiemann, Mullin & Teven, 2015). Communicating effectively is in recognizing those non-verbal communications and indirect verbal messages. Perceptions vary from person to person and culture to culture. Awareness of perceptions will allow us to recognize cultural differences and clarify behaviors. Each of these are tools for successful communication.

References

O’Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

 

Thank you

As my personal journey of education and professional experience evolves I am forever grateful and thankful for the feedback that I get from my peers. Thank you to each of you for sharing your learning experiences with me. It is my hope that each of you has gained some insight from my interactions with you as well. Good luck to all!

The Five Stages of Team Development-Adjourning

In considering the five stages of team development forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning each one has a place in the dynamic of group relationships. With specific focus on the adjourning stage each member of the group has the opportunity to reflect on both their failures and accomplishments while asking the question of whether or not the group will continue to work together. Many groups though clearly not all eventually disband (O’Hair, Wiemann, Mullin & Teven, 2015). For each person in the group the stage of relationship that is most important to them varies, this to in opinion by how much trust they have put into the group and how much that trust has turned into the communication in relationships they have received. When I think of grouping, personal experiences of grouping, for me I relate these stages to my work and peers. In the dynamic of the twelve leaders that I work with the opportunity for sharing and working together is several times monthly. I have found that what I put into the group is what I get back out of it. If I build trust, I am then able to have others trust me. Building trusting relationships makes them hard to leave. Recently I moved away from my peer group of more than fourteen years and the relationships that I have lost are the most significant piece of that move that has affected me. Each member of the group brought a different dynamic and management style. This is what made my separation so difficult. At times I had the opportunity to learn from each person and appreciate each of them for different reason. It’s not the performance of the group, high performing or otherwise that makes the separation difficult, but the knowing I am losing some of the dynamic I had and have to move forward to seek the trust in new relationships. Professional relationships such as this while work well when we have them often dissipate without adjourning stages. I don’t think this negates the success of the relationships or the trust, but circumstances sometimes permit a quick separation rather than the celebration of adjourning stages. I do wish the opportunity for celebration of success or of the relationships in general is something I was able to experience this time, but it doesn’t negate the positive experiences I have had. Similar to this work experience is the one that I have with colleagues in my master’s program. I would anticipate adjourning to be in celebration between us of the accomplishment that we have just achieved. While this part of the journey will be closed, the professional relationship with some will be beneficial as it carries into further professional experiences. Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork I think because we each need the emotional closure of what relationships bring. Termination rituals offer the closure of one stage while leaving the opening for another and future relationships outside the group in that’s what the parties seek.

Resources

O’Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

 

 

 

 

Handling Conflict

When I think about conflict in my life the first thought I have is to run away from it. As a child there was a lot of conflict within my home between my parents and then directly related to how they cared for me and my sister. Now, I know that we must deal with it when it comes and if positively done so, we can learn from it and continue to grow. One of my biggest conflicts is in the relationship I have with my mother. I struggle with internal conflict in having a relationship with her, she’s my mom how could I not. The conflict comes from a place in my childhood and the memories I have of how I was treated. Her needs came first and how she communicated with me was in the needs of her interests. I didn’t know this then, but I know this now. Our relationship is much the same now. We are communicating regularly and see each other often but my guard is always up. I know that each conversation with revolve around her and her needs, not me or mine. Arguing which most people directly relate to conflict doesn’t even happen that often anymore but is explosive if it does. I stay quiet, share just simple things to minimize conflict and protect myself. Managing conflict for me is managing dynamics, both mine and the other persons. In any relationship one person has power over another if he or she controls something that the other person values (O’Hair, Wiemann, Mullin & Teven, 2015). This is something I always revert to. My mom knows I value the relationship we have, and she controls it, her behavior is accepted rather than questioned. I am tying to be productive in my conflicts, especially with my mom. To believe that conflict can be productive rather than destructive you have to actively engage in it (O’Hair, Wiemann, Mullin & Teven, 2015). I engage with my mother, listen, accept her views and attempt to make positive decisions. I am, it is a work in progress. I am interested in feedback on how other handle conflict with family. You can’t always walk away or end relationships. You must handle the conflict. How do others do it? How do others protect themselves and still have relationships without productive conflicts?

Resources

O’Hair, D., Wiemann, M., Mullin, D. I., & Teven, J. (2015). Real communication (3rd. ed). New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s.

Who I Am as a Communicator

In reflecting on how I individually communicate and how others view me as a communicator I find that there is often a lot to think about. In the past and through the completion of the communication inventories I have found that I always fall into the same margins for communication. I am an emotional thinker and communicator, a people pleaser, so to see that I have a low anxiety for communicating with others is never a surprise. In my communications I want to make others happy, share the information, any information in a manor that leaves other individuals informed but not feeling upset or displaced. In the real world this is something hard to do. My verbal aggressiveness is moderate according to the inventory, but low when viewed by others. This I find to be super interesting and surprising. As the people-oriented communicator, I wouldn’t think I would be moderately aggressive, but I do know where it comes in. I tend to stay quiet, communicate quietly or not at all at times then when situations arise, I am viewed as aggressive. This will continue to be an area of work for me individually. One of the insights I gained through this experience is the awareness that you must be aware. Individually we each must communicate honestly and be honest with ourselves about how we communicate for our skills to grow and improve. Another insight I am gaining is that for communication to be positive no matter the circumstance we must be impartial, not judgmental. This is such a hard thing for me, I think for so many of us. Again, it’s about growth and how we can become stronger communicators. Through our continued development we will each then be better educators as we develop relationships with our children and families.

Communication Skills & Styles

Television offers entertainment and so many other opportunities for learning. We find them everywhere not just in homes and I would think that it would be even in a rare instance to see a home without television, but I do know those homes do exist. In my home we do watch television, sometimes intently, sometimes its just noise in the background and everyone has their like and dislikes. I tend to like older black and white movies and shows, re runs from the 90’s, things that make me feel happy. In watching a show both silently then with sound I chose a drama that I know has a reputation for being intense, Law & Order SVU. As the show began within in the first few seconds, I watched a murdered girl be found in an alley, the intent on the faces of the detectives very serious. Assuming at this moment that of course the communication was what happened to her and how are they going to determine who did what. One of the things I noticed a well was that the nonverbal communication grabbed my attention right off. Of course, with no sound I could see that the actors were talking, but I was able to watch the cues they were giving because there was no sound. Recently I heard someone say, “Communication is easy.” I disagree. Talking is easy; communication, which means an exchange or communion with another, requires greater skill (Walters & Fenson, 2000). The exchange I witnessed here and throughout the program showed that the non-verbal cues that each actor communicated with allowed me to follow the story without hearing a word. The detectives have a relationship of respect and of wanting to protect one another which I saw in their actions as well a how they made eye contact and communicated. These are the relationships to focus on, as these are the key roles in the series. My assumption is that they each are feeling the pressure of finding the answers for what happened to the girl that had been found but at the same time also having joy in the job that they have chosen to do. In Passive or Attentive Listening, we are genuinely interested in hearing and understanding the other person’s point of view. We are attentive and passively listen. We assume that we heard and understand correctly. but stay passive and do not verify it (Nadig, 2010). In watching the actors and the non-verbal cues that each portrayed I observed a lot of attentive listening. There is also what I see to be a romantic relationship between two of them, which can only assume is not something that is allowed. This then showing me their communication of secrecy and attraction. After I watched the episode, I flipped it to immediately start over with the sound. The first thing that caught my attention was that the dialogue was extremely intense. The language was very direct and meant to convey to the audience the seriousness of the drama. With the sound on I listened to the words used, focused way less on the non-verbal cues. The communication between the roles was almost what I had gathered from the non-verbal cues, the seriousness of solving the crime. The characters have a respect for one another and caring to make sure that each is safe as spoken in dialogue but also a drive to get a means to the end, solving the crime. I don’t think my assumptions would have been different had I watched a show I’m familiar with because right away with no sound I watched the non-verbal cues first and then with sound heard the verbal communications. I would have made these choices no matter what was on in front of me. After watching the show with the sound, I found that what I had gained from watching with no sound was exactly what I heard with the verbal communications. This brings insight for me to know that we are giving away volumes with our non-verbal cues and communications. I was able to grasp the content conveyed just by observing these non-verbal communications.

Resources

Walters, J. & Fenton S., (2000). A crash course in communication. Retrieved from https://www.inc.com/articles/2000/08/20000.html

Nadig, L. A. (2010). Tips on effective listening. Retrieved from http://www.drnadig.com/listening.htm