For me it has always been a dream to open my own childcare facility. I think that it would be one of the most rewarding things for not only myself but also for the children, family and staff that will experience my center.
In opening my center I would want to make sure that it was very welcoming to everyone who walked through the door. I loved how in the media segment Adriana Castillo has a welcoming center for parents. (Laureate Education, 2011) I would like to have a welcome board outside all of my classrooms so that the parents would know the child's schedule, teachers and any other important information that is happening the the school and the community. I would also make a bigger board for when coming into the center for community and school information. I also think it is important to show students work in the center and have it on display for families.
I would also want each child to have their own cubby space. I would love for the students to keep pictures of their family in their cubby but also in frames in the room for their friends to see. I like how Adriana has so much culture in her center, including pictures of different ethnicity's and different toys for the children to play with, I would also include these things in my center. (Laureate Education, 2011)
I also think that it is important to include musical instruments and a dramatic play center in each room. This is where I could incorporate so many different antibiased educational activities. I think that it is important for children to be taught antibiased behaviors but also to be able to act out those behaviors and learn from using their imagination.
As stated in the text I think that it is important in my facility to celebrate holiday traditions and celebrations. (Derman-Sparks, 2010) I would love to invite families into the center to help share their cultural celebrations and traditions.(Derman-Sparks, 2010) I also think this is where it would be important for my staff to help students learn to try all activities and learn from each individual experience. (Derman-Sparks, 2010)There are so many things that children do not try to do, if they would just try they might actually really like it. I would also love for the children to try different cultural foods.
Resources:
Derman-Sparks, L & Olsen-Edwards, J. (2010). Anti-bias education for young children and ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children. Washington, D.C. (NAEYC)
Welcome to an anti-bias learning community (Laureate Education, 2011). Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu/webapps/blackboard/content/listContent.jsp?course_id=419753.coursemedia.
Lauren, I feel that you have hit on one of the most important points of anti-bias education and that is the inclusion of parents. The information that parents bring into the classroom can be very valuable to both your students and to you as a teacher. I also liked your idea of including many different pictures of the students and families around the
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