My communication style

My communication evaluation was not really a bit surprising to me.  I already knew that I was a people person.  I will admit that some time I take out too much time trying to help and solve other people problems.  I asked my daughter and one of my co-workers to evaluate me, their scores was a lot like mine.  The evaluation results was in the mid range, which means there are some communication concerns.  I must admit again that I do have some concerns.  The biggest concerns I have is speaking without thinking about what and how I'm saying something that may attack the person(s) that I'm talking to.

In my profession, it is very important that I make positive statements.  I should be thoughtful, and overlook others bad communication behavior.  I am guilty of allowing others bad communication behavior influence the way I communicate.  This is a weakness that I am willing and ready to work on, so that I can become a great communicator.

Cultural Diversity

The one person comes to mind when I think about cultural diversity in the workplace, would be Ms. Obloque.  Ms. Obloque is a Pakistan, who speaks different than the majority people I work with.  Most time it is very hard to understand what she is saying .  When I communicate with Ms. Obloque, I usually try to look directly into her eyes and mouth while she is speaking, to help get a better understanding of what she is saying.  Although, Ms. Obloque struggle to speak English, she works very hard with the children, and practice her English skills daily.  I would like to learn how to listen to her closely, so that I would not show any signs of misunderstanding to Ms. Obloque.     

Communication Behavior

The one person who I feel have great communication skills is Oprah Winfrey.  I learned from watch her TV show for many years that she get a connection with people who she communicate with.  She shared with listeners on her TV show that people should recognize acceptance and signification in their self first, and then we can recognize it in other.  Once its recognize one can set aside all judgemental thoughts and actually hear what the person is saying.   

Over the years, I noticed that Oprah communicate with people like people dancing.  She take one step forward, and then allow the person to take a step forward.  She makes perfect eye contact with her listeners, she speak very loud and clear, and she allow the listener to be heard as well.

Communication

I choose to watch Little House on the Prairie, the episode was Country Girl.  The reason I choose this program is because I dislike it a lot, I know you all may think I'm nuts, but I grew up with my mother, and grandmother watching it daily.

No Sound

When the TV show started, I assumed Laura was sick, because Mary pulled the bed covers off Laura's head; however, Laura immediately pulled it back over head.  Following the TV showed the mother cooking, so I assumed it must be Sunday, because the mother appeared to have a lot of food cooking at one time.  Laura and Mary finally came down stairs dressed in what appeared to be their church dresses, at least that what I though.  The girls talked to their mother about something, but Laura seemed to be upset.  The mother and father smiled at the girls and then the girls left the house walking.  They arrived to a building that looks like a church.  I seen other children standing in the yard of the church, Laura appeared to me afraid for some reason, because she kept standing behind Mary.

With Sound

The first assumption I made about Laura being sick was wrong.  She was not sick she did not want to go to school.  Also, I assumed they were going to church; however, the sisters were getting ready for school.
I feel that my assumptions would still been a little off, even if I was familiar with the TV show. 
I learned by watching the TV show without sounds, that hearing and listening play a huge role in the way one understand, perceive sound, and interpret what they heard.

When I Think of Research

From this course, I have gained knowledge  oh how important research is in early childhood education.  Research helps educators build their knowledge of Early Childhood's teaching and learning.  My ideas about research since taking this course has lead me to understand that the research process takes a lot of time, patient, and commitment.  I've learned from this course that their are several designs to choose from. as well as, how to collect data, and how important accuracy is in research.

This course was one of the most difficult course I have taken in a very long time.  Some of the things that made this course challenge for me, is developing a research question that was not too board or too narrow, and stating the hypothesis.  I am still not very certain on either one of the two.  Although, I did learn some things about research, such as, the different types of designs, variables, and how to collect data for a research.

As we all finish up this week's assignment, I would like to take the time to wish each and everyone Good Luck in your future educational journey, as well as, your every day life.

Research Around the World

I chose Early Childhood Australia.  Some of the current international research topic I learned about on this website is:

• Resources to support services, families and children deal with bushfires
• Challenging issues which arise in the care and education of young children
• Learning and teaching through play
• The Early Years Learning Framework: Building Confident learners

Also, I learned that Early Childhood Australia website supports Best Practice with links to help build emotional foundations for learning, feeling and behaviours.  Learning about babies and toddlers and a lot more.  The new information that got my attention on the Early Childhood Australia website is, how to become a member of their organization.  Being a member, you will have to join a non-profit, non-government organisation that has continually advocate for the best interests of children from birth to eight years old.  Also, as a member of Early Childhood Australia, you can also lend your support to this vital, yet often underrated, work.


References

Early Childhood Australia. a Voice for Young Children. Retrieved from http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.

If I had the means and knowledge to conduct research studies about any topic in the Early Childhood field, It would choose to look into childhood obesity.  Childhood obesity can have a harmful effect on the body and mind in a variety of ways.  Obese children are more like;y to have:

• High blood pressure and high cholesterol, which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. 
• Increased risk of impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
• Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea, and asthma.
• Joint problems and musculoskeletal discomfort.
• Obese children and adolescents have a greater risk of social and psychological problems, such as dissemination and poor self-esteem, which can continue into adulthood.

Today, many children are quickly diagnosed with childhood obesity,  As an educator, I would like to be able to research information about this topic more and see what answers research could provide.  I would like to find out the negative impacts childhood obesity have on the well-being of children and the negative impact childhood obesity have on the learning abilities of the children.

I think that research such as this would benefit children, families and educators.  I feel it could help educators, because it could help us to learn new ways to enhance and support young children's healthy development and learning abilities.  Other positive benefits could include ways that educators can help young children to become more physical active, by being effective supportive to the disease and using appropriate resources that would help them to live a long healthy life, and succeed academically by having a healthy brain.

References

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/resources/recommendations.html