Author Archives: acurling

Communication and Culture

“Expanding the world inside one’s own head is the means to understanding people who are different from one’s self, and it goes way beyond just celebrating differences in ethnic foods, music, and customs. By acknowledging that each person has a different reality, you take the first step toward beginning to understand it.”  (Gonzales-Mena, 2010, p.Continue reading “Communication and Culture”

What Is Communication?

Before we begin, we must be clear that “communication is the process by which individuals use symbols, signs, and behaviors to exchange information” (O’Hair, D., Wiemann, M., D. I., & Teven, J., 2018, p. 4). “We do it by our presence and by our absence, by our silences as well as our words, by ourContinue reading “What Is Communication?”

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression, Part II

At the beginning of this journey, I was able to establish and become part of a “collaborative learning community” (Laureate, 2011). As I have progressed, my colleagues and I have been “studying together and supporting each other’s goals with regard to taking on and mastering challenges” (Laureate, 2011). As I take time and reflect overContinue reading “The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression, Part II”

When I Think of Research…

Here we go! This is my last week on studying research and finalizing my simulation project as well as reflecting on how my proposal will make a contribution to the field of early childhood education. The skills and knowledge I’ve learned throughout this course gave me the “power and knowledge to be a critical consumerContinue reading “When I Think of Research…”

Welcoming Families From Around the World

Did you know that there are 194 countries in the world today (Kershner, 2020)? Out of those countries, the United States population makes up about 150 of those countries (Laureate, 2011). It’s no doubt “that as an early childhood professional you will encounter children from diverse backgrounds whose families may have come from many differentContinue reading “Welcoming Families From Around the World”

The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression

Over the last few weeks, I’ve learned, observed, and shared examples of microaggressions. I’ve also learned about personal biases as well as institutional prejudices, oppression, and that anyone can encounter these incidents of inequality. I can remember an incident where witnessed one of my family members become a target of bias, prejudice, and oppression. ItContinue reading “The Personal Side of Bias, Prejudice, and Oppression”

Research Around the World: A Voice for Young People

As you know, innovative research in the field of Early Childhood Education is not only happening nationwide, but also internationally. One of the influential web sites that gave me an opportunity to read and think about early childhood, from another perspective, was Early Childhood Australia. They are very similiar to that of NAEYC. Some currentContinue reading “Research Around the World: A Voice for Young People”

Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

Microaggresions? What in the world does that mean? Microaggressions are “brief everyday indignities that are verbal, behaviors, or environmental.” They can be “intentionally or unintentionally communicated to women, people of color, to gay/lesbians that have an insulting message behind them that often times causes sever psychological distress and harm” (Laureate, 2011). Among these microagressions layContinue reading “Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions”

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