What I Have Learned

My hope for children and families from diverse backgrounds is that they feel respected and accepted when in my classroom. I want the children to feel comfortable sharing things about their culture and all students to be accepting of each other. I want all children, no matter the background, to encounter a positive learning experience.


One goal I have for the field of early education is for all educators to have training in the importance of embracing children of diverse backgrounds. With this training, educators would be given strategies for interacting with these families, ways to incorporate different cultures into curriculum, and resources for future use.


A BIG THANK YOU!


Dear colleagues,
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, ideas, insights, and experiences with me. I appreciate your comments and responses on my work and have learned a great deal from each of you. As our program comes to a close, I wish each of you the best of luck. Hopefully, I will have the privilege of learning more from you in the next course.


Thanks again,
Tabitha Krueger

We Don't Say Those Words

I have six boys of varying ages in my after school group. Back in December, I had a new member to join the group, an African American girl. After a few days of her being in the group, the youngest boy who is four years old asked why the brown girl had to come to our group. I was shocked that he would say that in front of the other kids, and tried to hush him so that no one would notice what he said. I quietly told him that we did not say things that might hurt the feelings of others. I did not want to make a big deal about it or keep it out the forefront of our conversation so that it would not make the new child feel badly. He was just simply upset that a girl had joined the group and referred to her race when describing her.

As an educator, I know I did not handle this situation correctly. I was caught off guard but should have used it as a teachable moment. I should have taken the time to explain to him that it was okay to be frustrated because the group would be changing; however we are not all the same. People can be different races, like different things, or different genders. I would then discuss with him the positive things that she can add to the group. I also believe it would have been a great idea to discuss with the group before having her join us. This way the children could have expressed any concerns about having a new member before she arrived. This would have given me a chance to talk with the group about difference ahead of time.