Core #3 HD400 Documentation

I feel I did fulfill my goals in taking HD 400 Working with children in a diverse world course. I
wanted to learn more about other cultures and be able to identify differences and similarities. I wanted
to gain understanding of other cultures. Personally, I wanted to be open and welcoming of others
beliefs and cultural systems. As a professional, I wanted to be able to offer children the right tools to be
successful and empowered no matter what culture they are from. It was helpful to read Preschool in
Three Cultures by Tobin, J., & Wu, D. for this purpose. It was extremely supportive to see the
literature film as it gave a full view to the literature. I gained sensitivity to other cultures by reading and
seeing other cultures interact with each other and their approach to their beliefs.
This class has added to my knowledge about working with children in a diverse world. The
observations done for this course helped me refine my observing skills and become a sensitive
observer. Working on a Multicultural Curriculum gave me the opportunity to organize what I had
learned in class through lecture, readings and peer sharing. I do know now how complex each culture is
and are better able to identify their cultural needs. I also gained greater understanding through research.
This project was a good tool to have in order to have more cultural awareness in the classroom. I used
course literature as well as outside literature for my research. A book that supported my multicultural
curriculum was Anti-Bias Tools for Empowering Young Children by Derman-Sparks, L. & the
A.B.C. Task Force. This book gave great in-class examples, stories of children from various culture,
suggestions on different approaches and visuals. I had read it before while attending Community
College about seven years ago but was nice to refresh my memory. Another good piece of literature I
used for research on this project was a book by Bucher, R. called Diversity consciousness: Opening
our minds to people, cultures, and opportunities. Bucher helped me see how language, values, rules,
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beliefs, and even material things we create are all part of ones culture (Bucher, 2000, p.2), a good
thing to understand when working with children of diverse cultures.
I acquired new observation techniques and for journaling as well through this course. I am
better able to watch for issues of culture, power, identity and communication with each observation in a
classroom or setting. My journal reflections on course literature demonstrated my ability to describe
ways that children and families are affected by cultural beliefs and institutional bias which is a helpful
tool to have when furthering my future career in Human Development. My multi-cultural project
helped me address issues of identity, bias, social justice and parent communication within a
developmental context. I believe I grew through all of the course assignments and projects.
Through sharing my life experience, personal insights and events in my life thus far, I was able
to make valuable contributions to the class. I was able to describe and explain many of my family
traditions and beliefs which added to everyones learning and understanding. I was open to questions of
curiosity and respectfully answered as best I could. I especially enjoyed paired and small group
discussion as I was able to raise questions and get answers by fellow peers of other cultures. They made
it easy for me to ask direct questions about their upbringing, culture, habits, beliefs and traditions
which I had not much knowledge of. I felt comfortable asking peers personally and in person. Even
though a few peers in class came from the same culture as I, I can say that I also learned from them as
they had a different upbringing than I.
I have added to my self-awareness in this class through my Persona Doll project. Understanding
where I come from gives me a better understanding and empathy for others that not necessarily can
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relate to me but need my understanding. I was able to dig deep into my culture and self through this
project. I have a better understanding of myself and why I am the way I am. I was even able to learn
certain things about myself which I had not known or had the opportunity to stop and think about. I
valued this project as it helped shine some light on me about ME. One clear example is that I didnt
know or was aware that Spanish was not my first language. I have lived my life thinking that English
was my second language when in fact it is my third! I am happy to know that my first language was an
indigenous dialect and that the words I sometimes think of or are roaming around in my head are
dialect. The Persona Doll project gave me a chance to reflect upon my cultures and deeply see the
impact they have had on me as a child, adolescent, and adult. This will definitely help me as a
professional working with different cultures.

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