Good-bye

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
The true meaning of what diversity and culture is in the classroom. How every child culture needs to be represented in the classroom?
FINALLY, we are advocates for all children and we can make a difference in the world.
My long-term goal is to be able to be successful enough that I can actually spend time to improve childcare in foreign countries and in third world countries.
I cannot believe it is over. This has been such a wonderful experience. Thank you to all of you for giving me your time when you responded to my blogs and discussions. Every message has been appreciated.
Thank you to my Professors you have made such an impact.
My children are grateful that my journey is over because they have their mother back.
I sit here and wonder what am I going to do with all my free time?
I will miss all of you. Good-bye

Jobs/Roles in the ECE Community: Internationally

International School Services
http://www.iss.edu
Teachers needed around the world. It could actually be an adventure teaching in different countries.
Fhi360
http://www.fhi360.org/
Child Welfare and Protection Technical Director
Requires a Masters Degree in social work or closely related field.
This job would be fulfilling having the opportunity to work with other countries to improve child welfare.
Save the Children
http://www.savethechildren.org/site/c.8rKLIXMGIpI4E/b.6115947/k.8D6E/Official_Site.htm
Community Based Education Specialist
Advanced degree in Education

Rio Salado Community College

Faculty- Early Childhood Education- This is the one that I am really interested in.

Department of Education-Arizona

There are multiple jobs throughout the valley.  I am missing my early childhood certification and the teaching certificate.

Department of Education-California

Child Development Consultant-position provides statewide leadership and support to promote quality early learning programs for children, their families, and the greater childcare community.

I chose the three organizations because working in the educational field appeals to me.  I believe that working I will be able to affect a child’s education if I am working at one of these agencies.

Exploring Roles in the ECE Community: Local and State Levels

First Things First of Arizona

Web site http://www.azftf.gov/

Currently no job openings

Southwest Human Development

http://www.swhd.org/

Jobs:

Family Support Specialist, Kinship Care & Adoptions Home Recruitment/Kinship Assessment- Bachelor’s degree and strong assessment and excellent writing skills.

Family Support Specialist-Healthy Families- skills needed is a bachelor’s degree in education

Early Head Start for Ages Birth to Three-Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education

State of Arizona

https://secure.azstatejobs.gov/pljb/azgovjobs/mainjb/applicant/index.jsp

Jobs:

QUALITY FIRST SCHOLARSHIP SPECIALIST- Bachelor’s degree, any equivalent combination of experience, training, and/or education.  While not required, preference will be given to those individuals who possess Scholarship distribution/planning experience financial aid background, I am lacking the experience of scholarship and financial aid background.

Association for Supportive Child Care

WWW.asccaz.org

Jobs:

Early childhood specialist-position provides training to early childhood programs.

I am not familiar with of all accreditation self-study processes.  The self-study processes include but are not limited to AMS, AMI/USA, COA-ASP, NAC, NAEYC, NAFCC, and NECPA (I work at an accredited school).  I would need to train as a validator in one (1) of the approved accreditation bodies from the above list.  I would have to be familiar with the following assessment tools such as: The Environmental Rating Scales (ERS) (that include the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS), Infant/Toddler Environment Rating Scale (ITERS), Family Child Care Environment Rating Scale (FCCERS), and School-Age Care Environment Rating Scale (SACERS)), the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), the Program Administration Scale (PAS) and the Blue Print for Action.

PROGRAM SPECIALIST/QUALITY FIRST COACH-Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education

I chose these organizations because I already work with them and I see the impact they are making with young learners.  I believe one of these organizations is a fit.  I want to make an impact on families and children.

 

Adjourning Phase

The groups that were the hardest to say good-bye to were the ones that we all got along.  My center in California was difficult to leave because we were a great team.  The only reason why teachers have left that center is that they move away from the area.

I believe that high performing groups are harder to leave because everyone worked so well together.  The groups that are not high performing are the easiest to say good-bye to because I personally do not want to deal with the group anymore.

When it is time to say good-bye to all of my colleagues, I will post my gratitude for all of their feedback and support given to me throughout this course.  Adjourning is closure for a group of people who been brought together.  The group needs to find a way to say their goodbyes.

The closing ritual that I experienced was when everyone in the group shared once thing that they learned from the group.  I have not experienced any other closing rituals.

Conflict Resolution

A group of teachers went to dinner and did not invite everyone at the center.  The director took it personally and was very angry.  I personally did not care if I was invited.  As the assistant director, I understand that sometimes the teachers do not include us.  The disagreement I had was the way my supervisor spoke to one of the teachers who went to the dinner.  She verbally snapped at her in the lobby in front of me and some other teachers.  It was unprofessional and I felt bad for the teacher.  If she had been respectful, she could have spoken to the teacher in private and maybe the teacher might have had a positive response.

I actually went and spoke to the teacher just to make sure she was okay.  She was angry and very upset.  I could see it in her.  There was no point to telling the director how the teacher felt because the director would have gone into the classroom and only made things worse.

Who Am I as a Communicator?

SURPRISED

I was surprised at how I was rated by my two evaluators on the Verbal Aggressive Scale.  They scored me levels significant and high.  I never realized that people perceived me as an aggressive communicator.

INSIGHTS

I need to improve on my communication when it comes to verbal aggression.

I need to have more confidence in myself when it comes to public speaking.  My assessors have more confidence in me than I do in myself.

Communication

I do find that I speak to people differently.  One family that is from Jordan I speak softly and slow when I speak to the mother.  I always make sure to be attentive to her because this is how she is with me.  I find that I mirror her behavior and return that behavior out of respect.  On the other hand, I have a mother from Korea and English is her second language.  I find that I speak in very short sentences and loudly to her to make sure she understands.  First, she is not deaf but I find that speak loudly.

I have learned to avoid fake listening.  I have found that it can be harmful as well as embarrassing (Beebe & Beebe, 2011).  I have also learned that it is important to understand that every culture is different and we do not necessarily talk the same to everyone.  Finally, miscommunication between people can occur because of word that has different meanings in different countries.

 

Beebe, S. A., & Beebe, S. (2011). Interpersonal Communication and Diversity: Adapting to Others. In Interpersonal communication; Relating to others (6th ed) (pp. 85-114). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

Scrubs

Volume turned down

     The show that I watched was Scrubs.  The show took place in a hospital.  Based on the way the two men characters are laghing, nudging each other I would think their relationship is friends.  The other relationship is the relationship between the two men (in scrubs) and two other men who are wearing doctor’s jackets.  The two men in scrubs follow the two men in doctor’s jackets.  The men in the jackets seem to be telling the men in the scrubs what to do.  The men in the scrubs nodding in acknowledgment after the men in the jackets said something to them.

The older man’s expression shows anger and when he moves his mouth, he opens it wide and the other men’s eyes get wide.  Then one of the men’s expressions change his eyes get wide whenever this girl walks into the room.  The characters are looking confused: their look is a puzzled look.  They appear to be overwhelmed.  This was observed by the way one of the two men takes a deep breath and then exhale.  They also appear to be having fun.  This is observed when they were laughing.

Volume turned up

     Based on what I observed the assumptions I made about the men in scrubs were nurses.  The two older men in the white jackets were doctors.  I thought the plot was about a hospital with doctor and nurses.  The relationship between the man and woman I thought based on the looks that there was a romantic interest.  I believed the romantic interest was just with the man not with the woman.

My assumptions have been corrected after watching the show with the volume up.  First, the show is about a hospital, but it is a teaching hospital.  The men in scrubs were not nursed but first year doctors.  The men in the jackets are doctors but they are also teaching the men in scrubs to become doctors.  I was correct about the two men (in scrubs) are friends.

My “aha” moment

     I was right about the romance interest with the person but I was wrong about the girl.  I thought she was not interested based on her facial expressions I was wrong she was interested in the man.  I have learned not to try to read someone facial expressions.  You can be reading more into what they are thinking and that can cause problems.

My Dad

When I think of someone who exhibits the behaviors of a great communicator I think of my Dad.  The way he speaks to people draws them to him.  He can walk into a room and not know a soul and be able to strike up a conversation with someone and continue the conversation.  The behaviors I see it that he ask the people he is talking to open-ended question, he rephrase what they said and then inserts his opinion.

If I could communicate like my Dad, I would want to be able to communicate with others like he does.  I would use his approach  and be able to continue with a conversation with someone you just met.  I do not want to have that uncomfortable moment when there is nothing to say.