"Start Seeing Diversity Video" Blog: Gender,
     Gender Identity, and Sexual Orientation

     Some of the ways you noticed that homophobia and heterosexism permeate the world of young children including books, movies, toys, stores, culture of early childhood centers and schools.
    Some parents have become more particular and homophobia in the world with the type of toys their children can play with, and also with the color and type of clothes their children should wear. In stores like ToyR'US and Wal-Mart's or any stores that sell toys they are arranged separately. For example girls toys such as dolls, play food, stuffed animals, baby carriages, and even by colors of pink, yellow, purple are all on one side, whereas it's the same arrangement for toys that boys play with. There are many types of trucks, boats, etc. My opinion is that this shows a lot of biases, children should be allowed to choose what ever type of toys they prefer to play with. In viewing the video blog on gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation, it portrayed just how important the set up of toys in a early childhood center should be arranged. I worked in a four year old preschool environment, the arrangement of the toys was a variety for each gender. If the girls in the class wanted to play in block center with the trucks they could, and if the boys preferred to play in housekeeping they could. They could also dress up as they liked, it was okay they did not receive any type of stereotype criticism from either teacher or their peers.

     The culture of early childhood centers is to provide children with choices that provide both boys and girls opportunities to feel free to engage in play with one another without there being any one feelings being hurt. It is also important for children to feel free to play with one another during outside time on the play ground. Girls should be allowed to interact with boys, and boys should be allowed to interact and engage in play with girls.

     How would you respond to a parent/family member who informed you they did not want anyone who is perceived ( self-reported) homosexual  or transgender to be caring for, educating, and/or interacting with their child.
     This situation would be a challenge for me. You would have to be careful of how the words you chose to say not be offensive or cause for a long drawn out conflict. I would start by asking them to really explain their reasoning. After listening, I would suggest that they visit the class and spend some time observing. After this, if there is no solution or no compromising, I would try to find a more suitable class environment. I believe that there is always a solution to every problem. In the EDUC: 6165 class I gained insight as far as conflict is concerned it is going to happen, but unresolved conflict will cause the problem to get worse and damage a relationship.

Reference
 "Start seeing diversity video blog: Gender, Gender Identity, and Sexual orientation. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu/webapps/blackboard
     /content/listContent.jsp?course_id_406758

MANY THANKS !

Well we are also at the end of our journeys. It has been fun, exciting, and a pleasure to have you, my professional colleagues a part of my life. I have truely enjoyed working with so many of you in my classes this far. The professors at Waldenu are so great, I cannot tell them how thankful I am for all of their help. Being a older adult can be very difficult and hard some time when trying to learn and absord new knowledge, but with all of your help I have done great this far. This communicating and collaborating class has really challenged and made me more aware of myself and others, and their many differences. Goo luck to you all as we prepare to move on to a higher and greater level of achievement in our profesional careers.

You can do anything you wish to do, have anything you wish
    to have, be anything you wish to be.
                                       Robert Collier

GOOD LUCK and BE WELL TO ALL OF YOU!

     The Adjourning Phase: The Fifth stage of Team Development

     There are five stages of team development: Forming, Storming,Norming, Performing, Adjourning. This theory was developed by Wayne Tuckman as common beliefs today as he believed that these stages are inevitable in order for a team to grow to the point to effectively function together ( Abudi,2010).

     The "Adjourning" stage is when the project or work within the group comes to an end and the team members move to different avenues, directions, on to greater or better adventures in their professional careers. This is the time to wrap up and celebrate. Over the course of my professional and my educational career I have been a part of many groups. However as time went on i became very attached and develop great respect for all of those I had the opportunity to work with. For me at the end of each class when it is time to say our good byes is always a sad and bitter sweet time for me. Some I still have the opportunity to work with, and others have move in a different direction.  So, far being a part of the Walden University family I have been presented with working with some awesome individuals as well as some awesome instructors. The sharing of ideas, insights, and thoughts during our discussions has help me so much in my professional and personal life. I am so happy and delighted to be a part of this wonderful group of people.

     As part of team building I personally feel that we have. We all share the vision of finishing graduate school, we are very committed and we all listen through communicating and responding to each others needs during our discussions and blogs. The hardest part for me will be when the final good bye is said. when we come to the end of the journey of completing our Master's degree program.

     Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork due to the end results of working through all five stages of development. There are so many benefits provided by working as a team and getting through them. For me this is completing the Master's program and moving on to greater future success.

                                                          References
     Abudi, G. (2010). The five stages of team development. A case study. Retrieved from:
         http://www.projectsmartco.uk/the five-stages-of-team-development-as-case-study.html
     Learning Center ( 2011). How to build a team using vision, commitment, and trust. Retrieved from
         http://www.learningcenter.net/library/building.shtml

                                                       Conflict
     Whenever you are confronted with an opponent. Conquer him with love........ Mahatma Gandhi

     Conflict is more than an argument or a struggle; it is negative interaction between two or more people who are interdependent and rooted in actual or perceived disagreement ( O'Hair & Wiemann,2012). Conflict happens daily, but the most important aspect is to try to find a compromise or a resolution. Many people often suppress their anger or just go along to get along. This brings me to discuss a disagreement or conflict I experienced abot 4 years along when I worked as a teacher assistant in a preschool environment. The lead teacher I worked with retired, and they had to hire another teacher for that classroom. A former teacher who had move to kindergarten had stated that if a position came open again she wanted to move back to pre-kindergarden. The assistant who worked with her wanted to move back in the classroom with her. From that pont things became very acomplicated and out of hand. The assistant became very angry and mean. I had a dicussion with the lead teacher and explain to her if she wanted her former assistant back, I would move with someone else. She said she didnot want her back. This person became very verbal and mean to everyone.
     The ways I handled this situation was to practice the skills of getting in touch with my feelings first, which was not to become angry or resentful. I had to horn in on my listening skills, in listening to what was being said to me, especially from the lead teacher. I understood the assistant feelings, however the decision was not mind to make. I had to practice assertive communication. I communicated with the lead teacher about my feelings, by explaining to her that if that is what she wanted I would step aside, in order not to be unprofessional and make things worst. The end result was to seek a solution, a solution we all could live by. The assistant walked around for a while longer after the decision, still mean and angry. She came around at some point.
     In my opinion, if there had been a lot of verbal and violent communication the end result would have called for a third party. However after the decision was made by the lead teacher, I think the other person realized that  the battle was not hers, but other people involved also. I also feel that some of the principle of nonviolent communication would have been used if the situation had gotten out of hand or had gone on for a longer period of time than was necessary. Nonviolent communication helps in peacefully and effectively resolving conflicts.  I was glad and also happy with the end results of my conflict. Today myself and this person are working in peace in another environment, and we are the best of friends.

     The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.......Mahatma Gandhi.

                                                                                   References
Mahatma Gandhi top ten quotes. Retrieved from http://www.allgreatquotes.com/top_ten_
     mahatma_gandhi_quotes.shtml
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann,M., ( 2012). Real Communication. An Introduction. Bedford, St. Martin's.                

Who am I as a Communicator?

 How well do I know myself when communicating in any given situation.? This week I  got the opportunity to take 3 assessments which allowed me to get to know myself better when communicating based on statements on each of these assessments. I also learn how two people that I know well felt about my communication style . One was a close friend, and the other a professional colleague. Based on the results from my self evaluation compared to the evaluation of my friend and colleague they know me very well. When communicating in certain situations I tend to not be very verbal due to nervousness, and a large crowd or group of people. My two evaluators felt the same way about my communication style on the Communication anxiety inventory and also on the  verbal aggressiveness scale assessment. They did not quite understand how to do the listening styles profile, however based on my results I am people oriented, action oriented, content oriented, and time oriented. I will say this test was right on point about my listening styles. 

The one thing that surprised me the most about myself was that I am more successful in classroom situations, than face paced environments. I cannot function when I am with people who are in a rush to get every thing done in one day.  The insights I gained this week in doing these assessments was learning things that I did not realize about myself when communicating in different situations. I also learned that people whom you interact with on a daily basis really do know you, just because they never comment on things they see and hear , they are still listening. 

I am enjoying this communication class. I am learning a lot about perceptions, communication styles, and most importantly how schemas play a part in becoming a competent communicator. 

References
Rubin, R. B., Palmgreen, P., Sypher, H. E. ( Eds.). (2009). Communication  research measures: A sourcebook. New York: Routledge.

Rubin, R. B., Rubin, A.M., Graham, E. E., Perse, E. M., & Seibold, D. R. ( Eds.) (2009). Communication research measures 11: A sourcebook. New York: Routledge.   

Intercultural Communication

Inter-cultural communication is part of our daily life. There are a number of factors that impact our ability to be competent inter-cultural communicators. 1. Culture 2. Perceptions 3. Roles and Identities 4. Communication style 5. Personality. All of these factors may influence us directly or indirectly through our interactions with others ( Vuckovic, 2008).

When communicating with others we may have to ajust our behaviors according in order to get a better understanding of what others are trying to tell us. Therefore working with others, especially in the classroom with our young children and their families what we say, and how we say things are very important. We should not have assumptions as to how we think people from other cultures should act. Verbal and non verbal skills or cues are also important in communicating with others. Listenting attentively to what others may be saying and taking in as much information as possible will keep us connected to what is being relayed and enabling us to recieve the message that is indended for me to hear.

In our readings for this week we learned so much information about the Platinium or the Golden Rule. "Do unto others and you would have them to do unto you". To put this in plain English, treat others the way you wish to be treated. This is the first strategy I would apply to any communication style when interacting with others, whether it is children, their families, people in the community, or my professional colleagues. Being aware of cultural differences and adjusting my behavior  according to their needs is the key ( Beebe, Beebe, 2011). Another strategy would be to practice active listening. Listenting to what others are saying , asking them to repeat what I think they said is part of me understanding what is being communicated to me ( O'Hair & Wiemann,2009). Having respect for the language others is important, some peole use different wordings or sounds to describe different things, we should not assume anything about what they are trying to communicate to us, until clarification is given.

References
Beebe, S. A., Beebe, S. J. & Redmond, M. V. (2011). Interpersonal communication: Relating to others. (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

O'Hair, & Wiemann, Real communication: An introduction. Bedford, St. Martin's.

Vuckovi, A. (2008). Inter-cultural communication: A foundation of communicative action. Multicultural
     Education and Technology Journal, 2(1), 47-59.

   Effective Communication

The television show I chose was Here comes Honey Boo Boo. I have seen commericals from this show but never viewed  a whole entire episode, so I got the opportunity on Wednesday to see the episode of the wedding.

Communication is the process of sharing thoughts and feelings between people through speaking,body language, or writing ( O"Hair & Wiemann,2012). In order to become effective in communicating the concept is to ensure that the content transmitted is recieved and understood in the way the message was intended. In the show the relationship based on the way the people are communicating is a family unit. The family consist of June (mother), Sugar bear (father), and 4 siblings, Honey boo-boo ( Alana), Lauryn ( pumpkin), Jessica, (Chubbs), and Anna ( Chickadee).

 Findings from viewed with the Sound turn-off:

 The feelings and expressions based on nonverbal behavior observed in my opinion is joy, happyness, feaf nervousnes, and anxiety, these are shared by June. Her facial expressions consist of the batting of the eyes, and her tone of speech is not consistent, kind of ramblimg. The children add on to the problem by constanly beating on the bath room door. From watching sugar bear he seems to be in control based on his facial expressions.

Findings of the show with the sound turn on:

At this point the weddings has begun. The wedding party marches out, leaving June and the person who walks her out alone. She seems to be more in control. She looks out of the window, and says "Old my GOD!" Sugar bear level of emotions at this point is a all time high. The movement of the lips indicates nervousness, and when he sees June, the eyes change to some what of a brighter state. He gets real emotional during the vows, and starts to cry outright.

I had no assumptions concering the show before I viewd it with the volume on or off.  Based on what what I read about the characters, and the way they communicate with one another, I knew I would really enjoyed what I would see, or hear. However in this particular episode, the speech pattern, and the body language was kind of polished up. My assumptions might have been more correct depending on the context of a particular showI knew well. Communication involves, the extent to which the message is symbolic, the extent to which the code is shared,whether the message is culturally bound, and the percieved intentionality of the sender, and whether the decoding, or encoding message is transactional ( 2012).
In my opinion all of the skills have to be practiced and learned , therefore, no assumptions should be made as to waht we may think the intended message should have been from the sender.

This show was very, very, funny, exciting, and a wonderful show to watch for entertainment.

Reference
O'Hair, D., & Wiemann, M. ( 2012). Real Communication. An Intoroduction ( 2nd, ed.). New York. Bedford/St.Martin's.