my first blog ever

     I did not realize, until after this week's topic of microaggression, that my friend and I take part in this action every time we are around each other. We make "silly" comments about where we live and our economic status, me being the "rich" girl from a wealthy neighborhood and she being the "poor" girl from the barrio. We have always viewed it as joking around, but now it has made me think, are we just joking or is there an underlying insult message???       I believe we have never meant to hurt the other's feelings. However, I can see now how an outsider who overhears us may take it differently. I can also understand how the repetitiveness of these jokes can cause harm to either one of us and/or both of us, with neither ever questioning the issue of what is the other trying to insinuate?       I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that I unknowingly participated in microaggression. I cannot believe that my joking around with a frien

     Derman-Sparks and Edwards (2010, p.55) states,"culture refers to how particular groups of people live." Culture can include aspects such as beliefs, values, traditions and language. However, culture can have a variety of meanings. When I asked a few friends (ranging in age, gender, ethnicity and race) their thoughts about what culture meant to them, the general answer was a group of people or community who share the same beliefs, values and traditions. One person expressed that culture is "unique characteristics of how a family or person lives their lives. Culture could also include how the group expresses themselves through art, dance or the way they dress." Another person asked what type of culture was I asking about- family culture or work culture? My response was "either/or or even both." My last friend described culture as "thoughts and beliefs, as well as traditions, that she shares with her family and others of the same ethnicity."

When I think about my family's culture, I think about our holiday traditions, the cultural food we all like to eat, and the closeness I experience from being part of my family. It is difficult to answer this question because there are not any specific items that come to mind; however, there are a couple of items that when I see, I think of my family.  I come from a musical family who love to sing and play instruments. When I was younger, my aunt and uncle turned their garage into a small recording studio. We used to enjoy going in there and using the equipment. We once recorded our own Christmas tape! Also for Christmas, we would go caroling around the neighborhood. Even today, at family get-togethers, either my dad or my aunt will bring a guitar and we would belt out in song. I guess one item I would bring is a guitar because it reminds me of my family's past and present. Another thing that comes to mind when I think about my family is the Indonesian food we enjoy

When I was thinking of a research topic for my simulation, I figured I would choose one that I was experiencing and/or had experienced at some point during my teaching career. This is why the topic of childhood illness piqued my interest. I have had the opportunity to work with children who had been diagnosed with a childhood illness such as Type 1 diabetes and leukemia. I have watched them interact among their peers when they are feeling "healthy." Plus I have observed them after they received a treatment and/or were feeling "low."  I think that my simulation is important to the early childhood field because it could help teachers and parents better support children diagnosed with a childhood illness and help them facilitate children's peer interactions and/or relationships. I know that I could have benefited from similar research findings to help me and my coworkers work more efficiently and effectively with the children in our care.  My simulation can