Professional Hopes and Goals

The hope I have in working with children and families from diverse backgrounds is that I can build responsive and reciprocal relationships with the families where information and decisions are shared working together for the best interest of the children.  I hope to promote a positive sense of self in the children where they feel confident in their own abilities—this can best be accomplished by meeting their needs socially, emotionally, and academically in a caring and sensitive manner that supports their individual as well as group diversity.  I hope my interactions with all children and families are grounded in respect with trust as the cornerstone.  I hope to not only value and respect diversity of groups, but also beliefs and values different from my own.                                                         

The goal I have set as an early childhood professional related to diversity, equity, and social justice is to instill in the children I serve that diversity is an invaluable asset that contributes to society.  Although our society is made up of people with different colored skin, speaking different languages, and being of different beliefs we are all part of the larger whole—we are all human beings deserving of consideration and respect.  “One of the finest hopes we can have for our children is to give them a just world—a world that recognizes all people for the unique, fully human beings they are…” (Derman-Sparks & Edwards, 2010, p. 30).                                                                                                    

I would like to thank all my Fellow Colleagues for sharing your insights, thoughts, beliefs, and memories throughout this course of study on diversity and equity.  It has been both enlightening and reassuring to realize such dedicated professionals are working with young children hoping to bring a greater awareness and appreciation of diversity into the classroom.  I would also like to thank our instructor Dr. Snider for enlivening this course with her insightful questions that required both reflection and knowledge.  Dr. Snider encouraged a forum that was not only open but stimulated an awareness of our own beliefs and values.                                   

References

Derman-Sparks, L., & Edwards, J. O. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. Washington, DC: National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC).