What I have Learned

When I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds, I hope to keep an open mind. I have learned that children have many different influences in their lives which impact the person they are today. In order to best meet the needs of all children, I have to understand what may be beneath the surface of their appearance. Derman-Sparks and Edwards (2010) explain one’s culture to be shaped like an iceberg, meaning, there is much more to a person than what we can see. I think this is true when thinking about all aspects of a child and their family. My hope is to be aware of this to aid in the process of becoming an anti-bias educator.

One goal that I have in relation to early childhood which is related to the issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is to be more open to discussing our diverse culture and different bias that may arise in day to day life. I would like to continue to grow in my comfort of discussing these topics.

I would like to take this time to thank my colleagues for all their time spent sharing insightful stories about their personal and professional experiences. I have enjoyed learning from each of you through this platform and communicating weekly about different topics in relation to diversity. I look forward to our next course together!

References

Derman- Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti- bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).