As I reflect on all that I have learned during this course I must say that my colleagues have played a very big part of that learning process. As I read your blogs each week it gave me insight to various areas of child development. It made me begin to look at and consider others points of view knowing that this is truly what forms effective communication. Reading about others collaborative experiences and events that may have occurred has better prepared me for future collaboration. As I read the discussion postings each week I felt that this helped to deepen my learning experience as often I would find things that were posted that I had missed during the reading or perhaps interpreted in a different way.
Over the past few weeks you have been kind enough to offer your suggestions and personal learning experiences. This has allowed me grow in my understanding of communication skills and working collaboratively towards a common goal. We have exchanged ideas with one another forming a network of early childhood educators that will touch many young lives in the future.
Moving forward in my early childhood career I wish all of you the best in your future goals. I look forward to continuing to follow your blogs and share in your learning process. As leaders within the early learning process is crucial that we stay connected so that we can continue to promote awareness of the importance of early childhood education. This is a field that has a long way to go but I am so pleased to see that there are so many dedicated people such as yourselves. Without us they do not have a voice and this is something that we can never forget.
Saturday, August 23, 2014
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Adjourning Phase Michelle Holmberg
Prior to this assignment I never really gave much thought about how I had adjourned groups that I had been members of. As I thought about the various groups that I had participated in over the years I thought of my college groups, my work groups, parent groups, and many others. One thing that I immediately noticed was that how each of them adjourned had been in a different manner based on the what I believe to be the relationship amongst the team members.
As I think back to being in college and all of the times that I met with my peers to complete group assignment or tasks I recall always encouraging one another that it was getting closer with each class and that we together would make it through. Our focus was a common goal and we helped each other to achieve it. Thinking of work groups this also varies depending on if I am meeting with my ESE team which is made of up many people of my grade level team which is just a few of us. My grade level meetings adjourn with jokes and well wishes and maybe some comments about personal events that may be coming. Our ESE meetings typically end with going over the list of who we will look at the following week and who is responsible for collecting each needed piece. This becomes a very stressful time as we are all quickly writing down what we are responsible for and hurrying onto our next responsibility.
I often find it difficult to leave my grade level team as we stay late after school and get so much done. We have an agenda and each team member takes a piece of the lesson planning and begins working. The time goes by very quickly and family obligations slowly claim each of us and we leave one by one. This transition can be difficult as you don't want to place too much of the work into your peers. Making sure that we each are pulling our weight is typically how these meetings end making sure that everybody is good to go for the following week.
After this weeks assignment I see myself taking time for a moment of self reflection before adjourning. If we can take the time to reflect on what we have accomplished we will be more focused on getting the work completed. This will also give us a chance to come together and talk about some common ground. I will suggest that we capture some best practices and discuss what we would like to keep and what we would like to change for next time. This will assist me in looking at the well being of the team not the other 4 steps which focuses more on achieving the goal.
Adjourning is an essential stage of team work as it gives the team an opportunity to come together once again and celebrate their accomplishments. It also gives a time for reflection of the process as well as giving each member an opportunity to speak about their team experience.
As I think back to being in college and all of the times that I met with my peers to complete group assignment or tasks I recall always encouraging one another that it was getting closer with each class and that we together would make it through. Our focus was a common goal and we helped each other to achieve it. Thinking of work groups this also varies depending on if I am meeting with my ESE team which is made of up many people of my grade level team which is just a few of us. My grade level meetings adjourn with jokes and well wishes and maybe some comments about personal events that may be coming. Our ESE meetings typically end with going over the list of who we will look at the following week and who is responsible for collecting each needed piece. This becomes a very stressful time as we are all quickly writing down what we are responsible for and hurrying onto our next responsibility.
I often find it difficult to leave my grade level team as we stay late after school and get so much done. We have an agenda and each team member takes a piece of the lesson planning and begins working. The time goes by very quickly and family obligations slowly claim each of us and we leave one by one. This transition can be difficult as you don't want to place too much of the work into your peers. Making sure that we each are pulling our weight is typically how these meetings end making sure that everybody is good to go for the following week.
After this weeks assignment I see myself taking time for a moment of self reflection before adjourning. If we can take the time to reflect on what we have accomplished we will be more focused on getting the work completed. This will also give us a chance to come together and talk about some common ground. I will suggest that we capture some best practices and discuss what we would like to keep and what we would like to change for next time. This will assist me in looking at the well being of the team not the other 4 steps which focuses more on achieving the goal.
Adjourning is an essential stage of team work as it gives the team an opportunity to come together once again and celebrate their accomplishments. It also gives a time for reflection of the process as well as giving each member an opportunity to speak about their team experience.
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Resolving Conflicts
This weeks assignment asked us to think of a time when we were in a conflict with a peer or other professional. The first instance that came to mind was that of a parent who is quite angry with me due to his son's educational placement. He was placed in my classroom on a (DD) Developmentally Delayed ESE label, which expires at the age of 6 in the state of Florida. From the time he entered my classroom I informed his mother through formal meetings that I did not see a lot of indicators of Autism and felt that he may not qualify for a label of Autism under the guidelines of the school district. As the year went on I continued to remind her of this while placing her child out into the mainstream for part of the day. I began to prepare both of them for the transition in which I expected and shared this with her.
When it came time to do the evaluations on the child in fact he did not qualify for an Autism label under district guidelines and standardized assessments, which were administered. His speech label was changed to a label of LI (Language Impaired) and the only choice for placement was basic ed. We once again met with the mother and explained all of this process to her. We explained that he would be placed in basic education as we did not see the behaviors that she claimed to see at home. She agreed and stated that she understood.
Then the child was placed in basic education and it became a whole different story. She began calling our district office saying that I had made these changes on my own and was wrong in doing so. I agreed to meet with the mother and she kept saying, "But I don't understand, this is all your fault." I continued to explain to the mother that we had discussed this information and that she should be pleased that her child was doing so well that he would be placed full-time in basic education. This however, was not what she wanted to hear. She began to tell us about how she doesn't discipline and he can call her whatever he wants, she just ignores his behavior. It was quite clear that this was a home problem and being as respectful as possible, I began to tell her so. This can be very difficult for educators of children with special needs because at times regardless of how uncomfortable it is to say, we need to say it, as the parents need to hear it. By simply ignoring that is is an issue it will only continue to become bigger and more difficult to find a replacement behavior for.
I used compassion and began to find her resources that could assist with parenting classes and counseling for both her and her children. This seemed to calm her as she began to see that there were community resources in which she could turn to. I offered to contact my school Social Worker to find additional resources and assistance for her situation. She then began to cry and it was clear that she was just frustrated with her child and could not understand how we could easily manage his behavior but, it was so difficult for her.
When working with this parent this school year, I can continue to use the 3 R's when communicating with her. I must remember to respect her parenting skills even though they may not be the best. My relationships with her must be reciprocal and I must take the time to truly listen to her needs and then find solutions to the issues that she is facing. As an educator, I must remember that being responsible is doing what is best for the child, even if it means that I will be forced to have unpleasant conversations with parents from time to time.
When it came time to do the evaluations on the child in fact he did not qualify for an Autism label under district guidelines and standardized assessments, which were administered. His speech label was changed to a label of LI (Language Impaired) and the only choice for placement was basic ed. We once again met with the mother and explained all of this process to her. We explained that he would be placed in basic education as we did not see the behaviors that she claimed to see at home. She agreed and stated that she understood.
Then the child was placed in basic education and it became a whole different story. She began calling our district office saying that I had made these changes on my own and was wrong in doing so. I agreed to meet with the mother and she kept saying, "But I don't understand, this is all your fault." I continued to explain to the mother that we had discussed this information and that she should be pleased that her child was doing so well that he would be placed full-time in basic education. This however, was not what she wanted to hear. She began to tell us about how she doesn't discipline and he can call her whatever he wants, she just ignores his behavior. It was quite clear that this was a home problem and being as respectful as possible, I began to tell her so. This can be very difficult for educators of children with special needs because at times regardless of how uncomfortable it is to say, we need to say it, as the parents need to hear it. By simply ignoring that is is an issue it will only continue to become bigger and more difficult to find a replacement behavior for.
I used compassion and began to find her resources that could assist with parenting classes and counseling for both her and her children. This seemed to calm her as she began to see that there were community resources in which she could turn to. I offered to contact my school Social Worker to find additional resources and assistance for her situation. She then began to cry and it was clear that she was just frustrated with her child and could not understand how we could easily manage his behavior but, it was so difficult for her.
When working with this parent this school year, I can continue to use the 3 R's when communicating with her. I must remember to respect her parenting skills even though they may not be the best. My relationships with her must be reciprocal and I must take the time to truly listen to her needs and then find solutions to the issues that she is facing. As an educator, I must remember that being responsible is doing what is best for the child, even if it means that I will be forced to have unpleasant conversations with parents from time to time.
Saturday, July 26, 2014
Communication Similarities and Differences
As I read many of the post for this week it was interesting to hear about our various communications styles and how they effect our ability to communicate with others who are different than us. As I spoke with others about my communication style it was interesting to hear others describe their perceptions and interpretations of my communication ability. One thing that I think was surprising was how someone described how I first evaluate someone before beginning to speak to them. They said they have seen me change how I speak to someone if I feel that they have a disability or need extra time for processing information. I believe that I do this as an effort not to offend others who may be having difficulty communicating. I work with students with communication and processing disabilities so I have learned to take the time to listen to someone and not rush what they are saying. Being aware that others notice this in my is something that will help me to continue to grow professionally.
Another thing about my communication styles was how others notice how frequently I use my hands to express emotion. This is something that I have done all of my life but have never really paid attention to. However, I do see how this could be offensive to some cultures and I need to be more aware of my body language when communicating with others from different cultures. By being aware of my hand movement and body language this will enhance my professional communication abilities.
One very important piece of information that I learned from one of my colleagues here in this course was the importance of being aware of your prejudices prior to speaking to someone. By monitoring ourselves we can ensure that prejudices and schemas do not interfere with our ability to effectively communicate with others. I was really impressed by this and feel that this is something that can benefit me professionally as I continue to expand my communication skills.
Another thing about my communication styles was how others notice how frequently I use my hands to express emotion. This is something that I have done all of my life but have never really paid attention to. However, I do see how this could be offensive to some cultures and I need to be more aware of my body language when communicating with others from different cultures. By being aware of my hand movement and body language this will enhance my professional communication abilities.
One very important piece of information that I learned from one of my colleagues here in this course was the importance of being aware of your prejudices prior to speaking to someone. By monitoring ourselves we can ensure that prejudices and schemas do not interfere with our ability to effectively communicate with others. I was really impressed by this and feel that this is something that can benefit me professionally as I continue to expand my communication skills.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Communicating Among Different Cultures
Often, I do find myself communicating differently when speaking with others from various cultures. The first one that comes to mind is how I communicate and interact with my family. I am one of six children who grew up in a small farm town in Florida. My mother has a 9th grade education and many of my aunts and uncles are local fisherman without formal educations. I find that when I am around them I begin to use words such as "ain't", my grammar begins to slip and I start to sound just like I fit in. This is what I was often around as a child so it is within my comfort level to speak in such an informal fashion. It often amazes me as to how quickly I can sink back into this level of communication without even thinking about it.
When speaking with my professional colleagues I always make sure that I make eye contact, am honest and well spoken. I choose my words very carefully and make sure that I communicate clearly and effectively for all of those involved. I also make an effort to truly listen to others when they speak and wait my turn to speak. This is a deeper form of listening than when I am communicating with my family members. Often, I will find myself talking with my hands.
As a teacher I speak completely different when talking with young children. I use kid friendly language and speak to them in a manner in which they can understand. I also give wait time for those who may have processing difficulties allowing them additional time to process information before replying. My nonverbal communication is also different as I will typically place my hands behind my back and lean forward when speaking to a child. This gives me an appearance of being nonthreatening to the child. However, when speaking with adults I typically use my hands to emphasize what I am talking about.
Also, when speaking to members of other cultures I find myself being careful as to not be disrespectful or do something that is offensive to them. As I converse with them I watch their facial expressions and body language and allow these to guide the conversation. If a person seems to be upset or taken back I quickly change what I am talking about and do my best to reassure them.
I don't truly think that this happens with any type of conscious decision it just seems to occur depending on who we are communicating with and what their level of expectation is. Being aware of our ability to communicate will better assist us as educators to make adjustments in communication as needed while respecting all cultures and individuals. Becoming more effective communicators will assist us in growing professionally in the years to come!
When speaking with my professional colleagues I always make sure that I make eye contact, am honest and well spoken. I choose my words very carefully and make sure that I communicate clearly and effectively for all of those involved. I also make an effort to truly listen to others when they speak and wait my turn to speak. This is a deeper form of listening than when I am communicating with my family members. Often, I will find myself talking with my hands.
As a teacher I speak completely different when talking with young children. I use kid friendly language and speak to them in a manner in which they can understand. I also give wait time for those who may have processing difficulties allowing them additional time to process information before replying. My nonverbal communication is also different as I will typically place my hands behind my back and lean forward when speaking to a child. This gives me an appearance of being nonthreatening to the child. However, when speaking with adults I typically use my hands to emphasize what I am talking about.
Also, when speaking to members of other cultures I find myself being careful as to not be disrespectful or do something that is offensive to them. As I converse with them I watch their facial expressions and body language and allow these to guide the conversation. If a person seems to be upset or taken back I quickly change what I am talking about and do my best to reassure them.
I don't truly think that this happens with any type of conscious decision it just seems to occur depending on who we are communicating with and what their level of expectation is. Being aware of our ability to communicate will better assist us as educators to make adjustments in communication as needed while respecting all cultures and individuals. Becoming more effective communicators will assist us in growing professionally in the years to come!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Communication Skills and Styles
The show that I chose to watch was that of The Big Bang Theory. This is not a show that I typically watch so the body language throughout the episode was quite interesting. The show is based on 6 college kids that are friends and live in the same apartment complex. They spend a lot of time together and each have various relationships with the other. During this episode there were multiple opportunities to observe the use of body language. One of that characters knocks on the door of one of the female characters in the show. When he does she opens the door and appears to be angry and not willing to help him to solve his problem. When I watched this episode once again I realized that this was just the relationship that they had and in fact they were not angry with one another. She agree to help him with his problem however their friendship did not appear to be friendly.
As I continued to watch the show I began to notice that one of the characters always seems to be distant and unattached when communicating with other cast members. He makes very little eye contact and does not appear to like any type of physical contact. He would pull away anytime that he was touched.
Since I never had watched this show before I think that I greatly misinterpreted the body language used throughout this show. The first time through I assumed that these characters did not truly like one another however it turns our that they are the best of friends and this simply is the way that they interact.
As I continued to watch the show I began to notice that one of the characters always seems to be distant and unattached when communicating with other cast members. He makes very little eye contact and does not appear to like any type of physical contact. He would pull away anytime that he was touched.
Since I never had watched this show before I think that I greatly misinterpreted the body language used throughout this show. The first time through I assumed that these characters did not truly like one another however it turns our that they are the best of friends and this simply is the way that they interact.
Thursday, July 3, 2014
Professional Communication
Working as a teacher I have had the opportunity to work with several people who have and excellent communication skills. One person in particular that sticks out to me is my colleague who is a Speech Pathologist at our elementary school. This individual is very well spoken and can resolve many issues that may arise simply through effective communication. She works with the special needs students at our school and has very high expectations for communication amongst all the individuals that are around her.
At meetings she is always a leader and takes the time to listen to to others. This person speaks with a very well developed vocabulary even when speaking with parents that may be challenged themselves. Although, she may begin the conversation with words that the families don't understand she always takes the time to clearly explain what she is trying to say. If the parent still has difficulty she will resort to making examples out of paper or pulling something up on her computer to show the listener so that they fully understand the intended message.
Her grammar is always as it should be and she sounds very intelligent when she speaks. Working with this individual I have learned effective ways of communication. She is a great model for both students and staff members and is always willing to help those who may be having difficulty. As I continue to grow professionally this is someone that I would like to continue to learn from to increase my ability to effectively speak with families, students and other educational professionals.
At meetings she is always a leader and takes the time to listen to to others. This person speaks with a very well developed vocabulary even when speaking with parents that may be challenged themselves. Although, she may begin the conversation with words that the families don't understand she always takes the time to clearly explain what she is trying to say. If the parent still has difficulty she will resort to making examples out of paper or pulling something up on her computer to show the listener so that they fully understand the intended message.
Her grammar is always as it should be and she sounds very intelligent when she speaks. Working with this individual I have learned effective ways of communication. She is a great model for both students and staff members and is always willing to help those who may be having difficulty. As I continue to grow professionally this is someone that I would like to continue to learn from to increase my ability to effectively speak with families, students and other educational professionals.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Course Reflection
As I reflect on this course I think one professional goal that I would like to set would be that of embracing each family as they come into my classroom. This would include taking the time to truly understand the family dynamics and what is important to the family culture. By better understanding what is important to the family and the child I will be able to better meet the needs of the whole child.
During this course I have learned a tremendous amount of information from my colleagues. Not being a minority myself I have never really taken the time to think about how this affects day to day life for so many people. Thank you for taking the time to share your personnel experiences of discrimination to allow the rest of us to grow as professionals. I truly have enjoyed many of the discussions that we have had and am very impressed at the diversities that so many of you have over come. Only through education can we change the future for our children.
During this course I have learned a tremendous amount of information from my colleagues. Not being a minority myself I have never really taken the time to think about how this affects day to day life for so many people. Thank you for taking the time to share your personnel experiences of discrimination to allow the rest of us to grow as professionals. I truly have enjoyed many of the discussions that we have had and am very impressed at the diversities that so many of you have over come. Only through education can we change the future for our children.
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