Recipe for Happiness (EDUC 6358)

I decided to look at Angola.  I saw this interesting article over 'A recipe for happiness' and was taken away by it.  Child mortality rates are high n Angola, and this pamphlet are simple things that mothers can do around the house to prevent their child's death.  Simple things like hand washing is a component of the pamphlet. 

This article made me think about the things that are taken for granted here in the U.S. For example, teen pregnancy is such a problem that abortions are becoming a par of the "norm", while women in Angola are losing their children to death of malaria, respiratory infections, and even diarrhea. It really does sadden my heart.  This one struggle that is going on in this country, that really stood out to me.

This can affect the siblings of those who lost their life.  These children are experiencing unhealthy environment, and may have to deal with illnesses that go untreated.  Not only life-threatening, but can cause a child to slip into an emotional state of unhappiness and even depression.

"I Don't See" (EDUC 6357)

“I Don’t See”

I don’t see color.

I don’t see you, I don’t see me.

I see us. I see people who are special and unique.

People that are brown, peach, dark, and even red.

I see us being able to walk together and play together hand-in-hand.

I don’t see color.

I don’t see you, I don’t see me.

I see kids playing of different races.

Colleagues that are men and women talking from various ages.

I see us. I see people who are special and unique.

I don’t see color.

I don’t see you, I don’t see me.

I see those who are able and those who are not.

I see those who are at the bottom and those who are on top.

Most importantly I see respect among those that can and cannot.

I don’t see color.

I don’t see you, I don’t see me.

I see us. I see people who are special and unique.

 

 

We Don't Say Those Words!

I cannot recall anything that my students have said.  However, one day I was in the grocery store and my son (who is two) kept saying "momma ball, momma ball.  I see basketball."  I did not see a basketball, and I ignored him. He kept saying it, and I finally realize that he was talking about a man that was heavy set with an OKC Thunder basketball shirt on.  I quickly stated, "yes D, he has on a basketball shirt."  If a stranger would have heard him, they could have easily mistaken his comments for negative and assuming he was calling the man's stomach a ball.
It is important to rectify any situations of misconception in children quickly, without making them feel like they are in trouble.  "Children say the darnest things" is a saying we are all familiar with, but as educators, it is our responsibility to teach our children how to appropriately talk to and about others.

How "isms" Effect the Families I Work With (EDUC 6358)

I have faced racism several times in my life.  I remember when I was hired as the lead teacher at a daycare, some of the families chose not to interact with me at all because of my skin color. Having faced this “ism” several times, has made me become somewhat hesitant in interacting with some of my families.  At first, I thought some were judging me because I am the only black teacher at my school, and they were thinking why do we have her.  However, during parent-teacher conferences a white mom told me that she was happy I was her child’s teacher, and when she read my biography and saw my picture she wanted me to be her child’s teacher.  I was literally in tears during this conference.

I do not treat my families or my students any different despite the “isms” that I face.  I try to teach them that although we may not all look the same, we still have to learn how to work together.  We always say that we are a family of mini-monsters, and when we have a serious problem in the classroom we have a family meeting on the carpet and discuss it. 

The direct consequence my students in their families may experience is by me teaching about it in my classroom.  Some parents are opposed to their child learning about different “isms”, but I would like for my students to be made aware of several different “isms” so that when they face one they will be able to handle the situation in an appropriate manner.