Time Well Spent

LESSONS LEARNED…

1. A primary goal of programs should be to see children develop in a healthy, holistic manner, they should be willing to accommodate all children regardless of age, physical abilities, ethnicity, religion, or gender.
2. Diversity is unavoidable and should be embraced. Bringing together people of various backgrounds with different life experiences can generate ideas or perspectives that others may not have ever considered or been aware of.
3. Being an advocate in the early childhood field demonstrates passion for children, their, families if the field itself. Finding what you are passionate about and becoming an advocate is an important part of an educator’s professional journey.

LONG TERM GOAL..

In the future, I look forward to creating a legacy for myself by creating an early childcare from the foundation up the caters to ALL children and their families.

FAREWELL AND BEST WISHES!

Working with colleagues in this course has allowed me to become even more open to feedback and to deepen my thinking. Many times as I read the responses to my discussion post, I thought to myself  ‘wow, I did not even think about it that way’. This is an example of how supporting each other is also a tool to stimulate thinking.

As we prepare to move onto to becoming education professionals, it is my wish that we continue to use the knowledge gained and intentionally make the effort to apply it to our careers and our everyday lives.

I imagine Early Childhood Education through these words…

It was a pleasure working with you! Please stay in touch.

Email: jontae_edgecombe@hotmail.com

 

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

Examining international organizations allows us to see the approach people around the world take in solving issues that are very similar to ours. Adding the perspective of diverse people can add value to finding solutions to challenges while keeping connected to what is going on arounds us.

International Organizations the focus on teachers and inclusion:

1.World Federation of Associations of Teacher Education

The organization gained by attention because it does ongoing research on important topics in the early childhood field, including inclusion.  In this research group the concept of social justice is interpreted through the lens of unequal power relations in, to and through education. Attention is directed towards effective learning for all. In other words, inclusion concerns everyone in all contexts.

Job opportunity: Recruiter

Requirements: 3-5 years experience in Early Childhood Education

This particular job opportunity would allow me to become connected with many teachers from around the world who are interested in emerging themselves in research in this field.

Link: https://www.worldfate.org/

2. The Center for Global Inclusion

This organization thrives on supporting educators, children and families to find the support they need when it comes to inclusion and diversity. Additionally, they offer resources and training to teachers in inclusive classrooms and offer financial assistance to teachers wanting to further their studies.

Job opportunity: Talent Development Coordinator

Requirement: Bachelor’s degree in the education field, 5 years experience in education, willing to travel

Link: https://centreforglobalinclusion.org/

3. ​Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI)

ACEI is a global community of educators and advocates who unite their knowledge, experience, and perspectives in order to exchange information, explore innovation, and advocate for children. The organization appealed to me because educators become engrossed in caring for children who are vulnerable. This includes children who are homeless, disabled, mentally unstable and the like

Link: https://www.charities.org/charities/association-childhood-education-international-acei

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community

Save The Children has been an organization that I have been becoming familiar with recently. Save The Children is working to appeal to policymakers to find ways to reunite children with their families who have been affected by separation at the U.S. border. I appreciate the organization because goes into details about the areas where individuals can help children other than education. These areas are the following: health, livelihood, protection, and advocacy.

Job opportunity:

A position of interest that is currently available is a Program Development and Quality Manager. Qualification are a university degree, 4-5 years experience in developing programs, good analytical skills and a cooperative attitude.

Children International is an international nonprofit humanitarian organization that helps children end the cycle of poverty in their communities. It aims to address children’s critical needs through early intervention and regular interaction in community centers. The goal is to help children overcome the effects of poverty, support their education, and prepare youth to contribute to society. This organization resonates with me because children need basic necessities in life, such as food and drinking water, in order to function as a human and as a student.

Child Care Aware is the national network of more than 700 child care resource and referral centers located in every state and most communities across the U.S. These centers help families, child care providers, and communities find, provide, and plan for affordable, quality child care. The organization is important because many families struggle to find affordable quality care on their own. Every child deserves quality care.

Job opportunity:

Child Care Aware of America is currently offering a job opportunity as a family consultant. The requirement for the job is a Bachelor’s degree with 5-10 years experience in working with children.

References

Children International https://www.childreninternational.org/

https://savethechildrenactionnetwork.org/

https://usa.childcareaware.org/careers/

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community

Communities of Practice are organized groups of professional people who share the same interests in resolving an issue, improving skills, and learning from each other’s experiences (Wegner, n.d.). Locally, in Nassau, Bahamas, there are many organizations that pride themselves off of working together to achieve goals and strengthen skills.

Communities of Practice

1. The Preschool and Daycare Council is a body that oversees the policies and procedures of all daycares in the Bahamas. This particular group is of interest to me because they have firsthand knowledge about any changes that are made in national practices and constantly seeks ways to improve the overall quality of Bahamian daycares.
2. Parent School Unite is an organization that mostly consists of parents who are interested in partnering with their child’s school to improve the community. The organization is heavily involved in making schools community-minded, which is an important aspect of early childhood education.
3. Bahamas Daycare Director’s Council is a group of directors who aim to keep current with issues and trends in the field while also seeking new ways to improve daycares. Being a part of this particular group provides the chance to be knowledgeable about the most recent events and concerns in the field.

Job Opportunities

Private or Public School Inspector

– This position would require knowledge about preschool curriculum, safety of the physical environment of schools, a Bachelors degree and a minimum of three years working in the field.

Reference

Wenger, E. (n.d.). Cultivating communities of practice: A quick start-up guide. Retrieved May 17, 2016, from http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/equal_consolidated/data/document/0709-cop-guide_en.pdf

 

The Journey Continues…

The past eight weeks have enlightened on me on how to be a better team player, as well as how to be a more efficient. Working with colleagues in this course has allowed me to become even more open to feedback and to deepen my thinking. Many times as I read the responses to my discussion post, I thought to myself  ‘wow, I did not even think about it that way’. This is an example of how supporting each other is also a tool to stimulate thinking.

As we prepare to move onto to future courses, it is my wish that we continue to use the knowledge gained and intentionally make the effort to apply it to our careers and our everyday lives. Communication and collaboration are both skills that can we cannot run away from- we experience them in some form each day of our lives. As we continue to move through the program, keep pushing and keep striving!

If you wish to contact me, feel free to do so via email: jontae_edgecombe@hotmail.com or jontae.edgecombe@waldenu.edu.

 

Do We Depart or Continue- The Adjourning Stage

As I think about adjourning, I think about how easy it is to leave some groups (it’s almost a celebration to leave) and how difficult it is to leave others because of the relationships that are formed.

I believe that groups that are hard-working and those that form genuine bonds are hardest to leave. There are groups that work so well together, it seems as though you have been together and known each other for many years. One of the most memorable groups that I have ever been a part of  is a singles ‘small group’  in my church. I can keenly remember the very first meeting where everyone seemed like a stranger. By the second meeting, when we began sharing tiny details about our lives that there become an openness and sense of belonging in the group. The group involved people who were single, dating, contemplating marriage, some who were healing from abusive relationships, and those who were just trying to figure themselves about. Despite the diversity, the group was able to share experiences that we all could relate to and learn from each other.

At the closing of the group, we had a final dinner where their was laughter and tears. There was a sadness that was present because it felt as though the bond we shared would be broken. Our group leader made a proposal- to make a life-long continuation of the group. Our group still meets once every other month to catch up on each others lives. In the adjourning stage, group members may chose to maintain their relationships (O’Hair & Weimann, 2015).

At the conclusion of our master’s program, I can imagine that we will all reminisce on having to discuss with our peers and make connections with colleagues from all over the world. Adjourning is a necessary stage because new projects come about, new ideas need to be created, and persons must move on to the next level.

Reference

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

Managing Conflict

It seems as though conflict is an unavoidable part of life, but there are ways to resolve conflicts effectively. Personally, at some point, I can recall having a conflict or disagreement in every aspect of my life- professional, personal, and casually. With having to deal with so many personalities, cultures, and beliefs, people will often have differing opinions, thoughts, and ideas.

As I think of a recent disagreement with a close family member, it seemed quite difficult to compromise, especially because the issues involves young children. This means that much thought must go into the decision-making process and reasonable strategies must be used to resolve conflict. Over the past week, there has been several strategies that can be applied to my personal conflict as well as other conflicts that may arise.

The first strategy that could be useful is to note that collaboration is necessary to resolve conflicts peacefully (The Center for Nonviolent Communication, n.d.). It would be wise for me as well as my family to have an open discussion about the issue and understand be active listeners so that we can work together more effectively. If we both approach about the situation with the belief that collaboration is necessary in order to make sound decisions, the process of resolving the conflict should be a lot smoother.

Another strategy that can be used to resolve conflict is to be aware that “humans are designed to relate to each other (The Center for Nonviolent Communication, n.d.). In order. In order to resolve conflict, beliefs should be shared openly, whether the two parties agree or disagree. As we communicate, we must  make an effort to respect the thoughts and beliefs of the other person even if we disagree. This means that even when the situation is trying or difficult, common ground should be found.

After discussing with a colleague, she shared that she goes by the following phrase in order to resolve conflict more easily: ‘be slow to anger’. After she shared this phrase, I thought about how helpful it would be if we all had a phrase or principle to do our best to adhere to when resolving conflict. Although conflict is sometimes painful, it is a necessary part of growing an understanding of issues and becoming more effective communicators.

Reference

The Center for Nonviolent Communication. (n.d.). The center for nonviolent communication. Retrieved from http://www.cnvc.org/

 

 

Communication Evaluation

 

Having the opportunity to evaluate myself as a communicator was a unique experience. Often times we communicate openly and freely, without giving much thought to our communication skills. In light of this, it was interesting to learn that my perception of communication and the perception of my communication skill through the eyes of others, had both similarities and differences.

It was surprising for me to learn that others believed that I was more accommodating and mindful of their thoughts and feelings than I believed that I was. I try my best to be a good listener, share my thoughts and ideas respectfully, and respect those of others. In striving to be an effective communicator, “it is necessary to stretch our perception and see through the eyes of others” (O’Hair& Weimann, 2015). Through all of this, I never realized that people actually took note of how effectively I communicated, whether  it be good or not so good.

Throughout the course of this week, I can say that communicating seems easy for some people. They just seem to have a natural flair for conversation. They listen well and have a strong sense of confidence, or even a charisma, that endears them to others. On the other hand, some people struggle with certain areas of communication and experience discomfort or disinterest.

Reference

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

Communicating with Cultural Differences

As I reflect on cultural diversity, I am aware that this type of diversity exists in my family, workplace, and in my community. After learning about ways to communicate with diverse groups, I have come to realize that sometimes we unknowingly adjust our behaviors and conversations to relate with diverse groups. For example, being from a small island, Bahamians and many other Caribbean people have an accent as well as a cultural dialect. When surrounded by people of different cultures, we often withhold using our dialects and use standard English in order for others to relate to what we are communicating. In order to improve communication skills in diverse groups, there are several strategies that can be used.

The first strategy that can assist in effectively communicating with diverse groups is to be sensitive towards the differences that may exist between oneself and the other person. When communicating with someone of a different culture, it is very likely that there will be differences. However, respecting the differing views, beliefs or opinions even if we do not agree with them. Being sensitive to matters avoids discomfort or defensiveness (Gonzalez-Mena, 2010).

Another strategy that can be used to develop more effective communication between different culture is being empathetic. At times, it can be difficult to relate to the  culture of another person. However, we must be patient enough to “look at what they are doing through their eyes rather than our own” (Gonzalez-Mena, 2010). By doing this, we open ourselves to view things from another person’s perspective and sometimes make sense of it.

The final strategy towards diverse communication is to avoid making assumptions. Asking questions respectfully will assists in gaining further information about beliefs of behaviors that may be unclear. It is best to avoid “assuming that you know what other feel, think or believe” (O’Hair & Weiman, 2015). It can be quite uncomfortable or even annoying when someone assumes that they know something that you did not have the opportunity to explain or express.

If these strategies are used correctly, communicating with someone with a cultural difference may be a bit easier.

References

Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2010). 50 strategies for communicating and working with diverse families. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

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

Verbal and Nonverbal Communication

Watching a television without the sound leaves the plot of the story up to character interactions, body language, and one’s imagination. Indeed an interesting experience!

Interpretation of show without sound:

Watching the television show “Somewhere in Between”, a show that I would not usually watch, was even more interesting without the sound. Based on the interactions of the characters, I gathered that their was a family dynamic, consisting of a mother, father and child. The family also visited an older woman, who I assumed was the grandmother of the child. Based on the setting, it seemed as if the father was an attorney because of his appearance in court and the mother worked at a news station. The plot of the story seemed to be a house break-in by a man and woman that resulted in the child being held hostage. The distressed look on the mother’s face when she listened to the phone call showed that the child was in trouble.

Another family with an older woman, man, and child was also featured who seemed to be having challenges with a family member in prison. When the child saw the face of the imprisoned man on the television screen, she was distraught, as if he meant something special to her.

Interpretation of show with sound:

After watching the show with sound, it was determined that the man, woman and child were a well-off family which consisted of the father who was a well-known district attorney and the mother, a news producer. The child was in danger during the house break-in as the brother of imprisoned man threatened to hurt the child as a blackmail scheme. The father who was attorney had wrongfully imprisoned a man on death-row and the man’s family was going to take justice into their own hands by threatening the family.

Lessons learned:

After completing this exercise, it can be said that interpreting body language and observing interaction can give some insight into what someone is experiencing or feeling. Although I was able to make some connection about the character and plot, because there was no verbal communication, some assumptions were a bit off.   Using verbal language serves as a means of expressing more complex emotions or feelings or to share information (O’Hair et al, 2015). In this case. being able to hear sound, which meant hearing information that was shared on the show added to the effectiveness of the communication. Both verbal and nonverbal communication work together to make a sense of a situation as interaction are made.

Reference

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