The Center of the Master's of Science in Early Childhood Studies Program-Sherida Richards-Malcolm

Working with Children and Families From Diverse Backgrounds To work effectively with families from diverse backgrounds, educators need to be thoughtful and understand the culture of the families they work with and design outreach and communication strategies that respond to that group's specific social, cultural, and linguistic needs and values. My hope for all children and their families is, irrespective of their race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, gender, ethnic, social and cultural backgrounds, they are in safe and welcoming environments, where all children and their families will feel comfortable and where services are provided in culturally safe and inclusive ways. Thus, eliminating the risk of discrimination, exclusion, bullying and abuse. In addition, it is my hope that all microaggressions will end.                        One Goal Related to Diversity, Equity and Social Justice: To promote diversity,...

 Scenario: You are working in an early childhood setting of your choice—a hospital, a child care center, a social service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. Naturally, you want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that to support families who have immigrated, you need to know more than surface facts about their country of origin. An Overview of Andorra I am currently working in a child care center, where I am expecting a child and her family from Andorra. The country of Andorra is located on the continent of Europe. Andorra is officially known by two other titles -- the Principality of Andorra and the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra. However, the two longer names for this European country do not roll off the tongue with as much ease, so the nation is simply called Andorra in cas...

The Movie: The Hate U Give   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHQiVCWT1F0&list=PLfNUdE-laVTG2ry9vSbBN6ZjqWUONSt5w https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yxlwDfdCnc This film is labeled a teen movie. However, it offers one of the most authentic portrayals of police brutality in pop culture. Besides, it is based on an award-winning book drama about a black teen named Starr Carter (Amandla Stenberg) who witnesses the fatal police shooting of a close friend who deals frankly and powerfully with race and racism. The movie shows her grappling with the difficulties of being a black teenager in a predominantly white area and the feeling of belonging to one world while living in another. How she stands up for justice is very inspiring. Furthermore, one character in the movie comments that "white folks want diversity but not too much diversity," which touches on a subtle bias against living in highly diverse communities or communities that are resistant to organizations’ efforts to promot...

What are Microaggressions? As stated in Linbong (2020), "Microaggressions are defined as everyday, subtle, intentional — and oftentimes unintentional — interactions or behaviors that communicate some sort of bias toward historically marginalized groups." Further stated in Washington et al. (2020), "Microaggressions are defined as verbal, behavioral, and environmental indignities that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative racial slights and insults to the target person or group." According to Dr Wong Sue, Laureate Education (2011), "Microaggressions can be intentional, conscious, it is the unintentional, unconscious forms that are outside the level of awareness that creates the greatest difficulty for people of color, for women and other marginalized groups in this society." My Experience of Being a Target of Microaggression It was August 2020, and I had just purchased a brand new 2020 Hyundai Creta. So, the next day I drove my car into the town cent...

  Scenario: Call, write to, or talk to at least three friends, family members, acquaintances, and/or colleagues. Include at least one person who you believe is in some ways culturally different from you (a different gender, race, class, religion, abilities, age, etc.). Ask each person to share: Their definition of culture Their definition of diversity I texted my Aunt Geraldine, who has lived in England since she was 13 years old. However, she has retired is currently vacationing in Jamaica. Here are her definitions: Culture: The shared and accepted morale and accepted way of behaviour for a group of people or section of people. Diversity: The ability to recognise that we are all different and therefore special and must be allowed to achieve all each person is capable of being, The Punjabi's family is from India and are parents at my school, with whom I interact regularly. They were called to ascertain their views on the topics. Here are their responses: Culture in my society is th...

The Scenario   A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country’s culture is completely different from your own, and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decide to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.                                                                 ...

The importance of simulation to the field  of early childhood Simulation in early childhood is significant because it allows me to decipher real-world or real-life situations more carefully and efficiently. Besides, it provides an opportunity for data gathered to be analysed in a manner that is easily substantiated, transferred and comprehended. Also, simulation in the early childhood field provides significant and relevant solutions and clarity into both simple and complex situations or experiments.  Furthermore, it can be safely said that the field of early childhood intertwines with social science. According to the Position Statement on the National Council for the Social Studies (2019), "As young children engage in their play and daily activities, they show a natural interest in the world around them." As a mindful educator/researcher, I am cognizant that the premise of early childhood is laid on relationships and interconnectedness that children forge in their home schoo...