Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

Your response to those who believe that early childhood centers should avoid the inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families.

When it comes to the topic of inclusion of books depicting gay or lesbian individuals such as same-sex partnered families, I am torn about the subject. The parent side of me would like to talk to my own child about gay or lesbian individuals. I do not believe that it is up to the school to teach my child about this topic. I believe that learn starts at home and we should not depend on teachers to teach our child everything. Gay or lesbian individuals can be a touchy topic that most people are not ready to introduce to their child yet. Being a professional I know that there are children whom have same sex parents and other children observe that and ask questions. By having books to help the teaches assist with the subject can be very influential.

How you would respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child.

If a parent/family member informed me they did not want anyone who is perceived (or self-reported) homosexual or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child, I would explain to them that that teachers personal life has nothing to do with them as a professional. I give them facts about how good of a teacher the individual is and how our program has a nondiscrimination policy. I would give the parent the option to change their child’s room but that would be all that I can offer.

Best Wishes

This last 8 weeks I have gain so much new insight about communication and while learning about communication I have learned about myself. I appreciate all of the support from my colleagues. They have shared their experience through blog post and discussion boards. I have enjoyed reading about the way we all perceive things differently as well as the same. I have enjoyed learning new things and ways to approach situation from all my colleague. Most of us have been in the same group throughout the program and it has been a joy growing with you all. I wish the best for all of my colleagues new and old on your future endeavors. And as I stated in a previous post, I hope we get to meet each other during graduation time.  

 

Five Stages of Team Development

One of the hardest groups that I had to leave would be my last job. We were a small team and worked so hard to start up a new program with trial and error.  I believe that is what made us so close. We were like family, working longer hours trying to get the program off the ground without help from our director. When  it was time for me to leave, my team was very sadden by the news, but they wanted nothing but the best for me. My last day there they threw me a going away party. I really miss my team but  not the environment that we worked in.

When adjourning from this program I imagine that we will all get a chance to meet at the graduation. I have had several classes with most of the ladies in this course. I have gained so much insight from them and also learned about them without actually meeting them. We have encouraged  and supported each other throughout the program and I will miss being able to read blogs and discussions for the ladies I have been with for the last year. Adjourning is an essential part of team work because it shows growth.

Resolving Conflict

I am not the type of person to get into disagreements or conflicts. I usually mind my business and stay to myself. At my job we are only in the office on Friday’s during the school year. Monday through Thursday we are at our designated high schools. But during the summer we are in the office together Monday through Thursday. There are nine women that shares an small office, so at times things are not always good. I have seen the women get into conflicts over things that could have been avoided if communication was more effective. One strategy that I have learned about that would be helpful in any conflict is listening. When you stop and just listen and hear the other person out, you learn that you could have misinterpreted something. One thing that learned from the NVC is listening to your feelings. I myself do not agree with acting with feelings because sometimes feelings could be impulsive, which is not a good thing and could lead to something worst. But I believe that things should be talked out amongst one another before going straight to the supervisor which is what most of the women in my office do. If you sit and talk face to face and let the person know what is going on, things can be settle.  

Communication Survey

This week after taking the survey on communication I realized that I care about others feelings and I can communicate in a group setting but just do not like to do it. I asked my brother and my mother to take the survey as well to see how they perceived me as a communicator. Maybe I should have done a friend instead of two very close family members. We all score differently in the number section but on the scale it came out to the same results. It was surprising because I thought that my mother’s answers would have been completely different from mine. In personal aggressiveness I scored  66, which means that I take people’s views into consideration and show respect. I scored a 55 in communication anxiety, which is moderate as well. I means that sometimes I am uncomfortable in certain situations and sometimes I am not. I believe that this survey was very accurate to my communication skills. And I enjoyed that I got to see what others think of my communication skills.

Communicating with People

When it comes to communication I do find that the way I communicate is different from person to person. The way that I communicate with my mother is different from the way that I communicate with friends. I also communicate differently with different groups of friends. When speaking with my mother or an elder I make sure to give them undivided attention. But when I talk to my I have my phone out,  sometimes not paying attention. I use different lingo when talking to my friends verses talking to my mother. My friends and I sometime over talk each other and when we are talking. I tend to blend in to the environment that I am in when it comes to communication.