Week 4: Practicing Awareness of Microaggressions

This week I observed microaggression occur with a member of my family.  My sister-in-law graduated with her degree in nursing this week, and I am extremely proud of her.  She has worked so hard, staying up late studying with my brother, who is also working to be a nurse.  When she posted about her graduation on Facebook someone commented saying that this was a wonderful career choice for her because women are good at taking care of others.  In this particular situation, the person was saying that she was good at nursing because she was a woman.  Little do they know that my brother is also going to be a nurse.  Does that make him not a good nurse because he is a man?  Both my brother and sister-in-law had microaggressions towards them, without even knowing it.  This situation made me upset because I know how hard they both have worked to move forward in their careers.  It does not matter their gender, they both have a passion for their career field and want to help others.
Until this class, I never realized how often microaggressions can occur. Now that I know the exact definition I realize how often I have actually seen it. Prejudice and stereotypes happen in everyday life, but as educators, we need to see both prejudice and stereotypes and figure out how to approach it properly.  Show our students that it exists and that we know how to educate ourselves on the situations at hand.

Week 3: Perspectives on Diversity and Culture

For this assignment I chose to ask my husband, my dad, and my teacher friend, Jessica,  what their definition of culture and diversity were.

My husband:

"Culture is your upbringing and your lively hood.  It's not something that you grow into, it's something that you're born with."

"Diversity is multi-dimensional.  It can be multi- anything.  It depends on what perspective you are looking from.  There is diversity in culture.  There is diversity in teaching/instructing.  There is diversity in your beliefs, your well-being, and others as well.  No one person acts, thinks, or decides the same, we all have our own beliefs."

My dad

"Culture is the sum total of all the influences and inputs into your life from all those around you, especially your family, and then your learning inputs."

"I would say it's allowing unexpected and outside influences to come into your ecosystem."

My teacher friend, Jessica:
"To me, culture defines the values and traditions that are adapted from your family."
"Diversity is a mixture of culture."

I feel as though what I have learned in this class was talked about when I spoke to each party.  There were points about how culture and diversity are multi-dimensional, but there was a distinct difference between what culture and diversity can be described as.  However, I believe from what I have learned in this course, that diversity has roots within your culture.  Our beliefs may make us different, but they are part of our culture as well.

I liked the opportunity to hear from different parties to find out what their definition of culture and diversity is.  I spoke to my husband who is a male, my dad who is older, and my teacher friend, who is in the same profession as me.  I liked that each of their definitions had specifics connected to them, to make the definition their own. I believe that as this course continues my definitions of culture and diversity will grow and change. 

BONUS JOKE:

My dad also said that culture is what is in your yogurt (dad jokes)

Week 2: Dynamic Interactions

I must admit, coming up with three items to choose from was no easy task.  Here are the three items that I would choose to take with me.

1.  Family photo album:  This family photo album depicts the lives of grandparents, my parents, myself, and my husband.  This family photo album tells a story.  It allows me to glimpse at what was happening on a specific day, and each photo has a story that is attached to it. talk

2.  Family Bible:  Our family Bible documents births and deaths within our family.  It is also my guide for my religion. It brings me hope and helps me to keep my faith.

3.  My personal journal:  Since I was young I have documented my life in a personal journal.  This allows me to talk about my day-to-day life and how different things within my life have had positive and negative impacts on me.

If I was told upon arrival that I would only be able to keep one of these items my heart would shatter.  I could not imagine having to give any of these items up because although they do not make me who I am, they do tell the story of who I am, and who my family was/is.

I can see how this type of thing could very easily happen.  Many of my students are immigrants or are first-generation Americans.  I know some of their families came here with nothing, but do all that they can to keep their culture alive.  They tell their children stories, which they then, in turn, share with me in class.  I have family members who traveled here to America at one point with very little.  However, we have the stories and the memories that help us to keep our family culture alive.  As an educator it is important to try and learn as much as you can about the cultures of your students so that they feel as though they belong without having to change a single thing about themselves.

EDUC 6164 Week 1

I just wanted to take a moment to welcome everyone to my blog.  I am excited about this class and to have the chance to learn more about myself while also connecting with my students on a new level.  I hope everyone is having a wonderful week!