This week's material and media covered the meaning of culture and the labels that are sometimes placed upon people when discussing culture and diversity. According to the definition that was given by Miss Gonzalez-Mena, culture consists of many different areas, including, (but not limited to): religion, tradition, and most importantly perception (Laureate Education, 2011). I think that this week for the assignment perception was the key aspect of the responses that were being presented--when asked about the definition of culture and diversity.

This week's assignment called for our class to contact three close friends or family in order to assess their definition of culture and diversity. The three individuals that I decided to contact were my mother, my youngest sister, and my husband. Though I consider all to be my family, we do have differing viewpoints on culture and diversity (more so in regards to religion and traditions). When asked about their views on culture, ironically, there was a common factor in each response: "family." For all three of the people who I asked a question concerning culture-- family traditions and upbringing were the common denominators. Each one of my loved ones responded that they believe that culture where the things that were learned when growing up that made you into who you were in today's time. A very interesting fact that was also mentioned within the media for this week, was that each one of the people who I asked also responded that they believed that culture was how each individual person saw it be, which in essence translates into perception. Not only did I think that this was extremely enlightening, but also found it interesting that my three loved ones also believed culture to include perception and an individualistic view of traditions and upbringing.

When asked about the question of diversity, the women who I asked, my mother and sister, seem to have the perception that diversity included different types of people from different backgrounds, cultures, religions, and regions of the world. However, when I ask my husband, he seems to believe that diversity included just a different way of thinking and seeing the world.  Technically nothing was omitted from the definitions that were stated within the materials for week 3, however, the common keyword within the answers that I was given was the word “different.”

I believe that this exercise allowed me to view how my loved ones were actually reviewing what we were learning in real time. It caused me to stop and think about the fact that some people relate the words culture and diversity to mean physical people, and some people relate the definition to mean a different perception or way of looking at a situation. I personally had never separated the two thoughts, but after speaking to my loved ones I believe that I've learned to appreciate that each person has their own definition of what they believe these two extremely powerful concepts to consist of in the society we live within today.

References:

Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Culture and diversity [Video file]. Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu

A major catastrophe has almost completely devastated the infrastructure of your country. The emergency government has decided that the surviving citizens will be best served if they are evacuated to other countries willing to take refugees. You and your immediate family are among the survivors of this catastrophic event. However, you have absolutely no input into the final destination or in any other evacuation details. You are told that your host country's culture is completely different from your own and that you might have to stay there permanently. You are further told that, in addition to one change of clothes, you can only take 3 small items with you. You decided to take three items that you hold dear and that represent your family culture.

 In this case scenario, the items that I would take to represent our family culture are:
Kinara, Small Sack of garden seeds, and the Book of the Dead would be the items I would take with me to the new country. When asked about what these items meant, or their significance--I would tell people that each one of these items is held near and dear to our family. The Kinara represents our families celebration and tradition of breaking free from Christmas, to celebrate Kwanzaa; a tradition that we started about 5 years ago. Through research and seeking out knowledge and truth, we found that the principles of Kwanzaa better embodied our heritage and cultural goal. The garden survival seeds are extremely important because since 2011 our family has immensely struggled to get back to the "land" and become more sustainable through farming and gardening. We also have taken necessary steps prep our selves for numerous scenarios that could take place, and the importance of planting the seed for survival. The Book of the Dead is the last item but is one that represents the original Nubian Spirituality and knowledge. Once seeking as a devout "Christian" for the truth, our deep research led us here and to other texts such as these. Books such as these keep us grounded in our belief that all roads will lead back to the source and foundation, you must only seek...
If I was told upon arrival that I could only keep one item, I must say that it would be the seeds. I say that because the other two items--though extremely important--are more embedded in our hearts and spirits to the point where needing them physically is not required. The seeds can serve many purposes, as far as, sustainability is concerned, but can also open a door for barter and trade within your new territory. This exercise helped me to see that those items that serve as a totem to knowledge and understanding are now written within me and cannot be shaken. Not needing an item to signify my culture is my takeaway, because, at this point, my family culture is written on my heart and mind. I know now, what my family stands for, and what path I must take...that is a feeling that cannot be shaken. 

MY SUPPORTS

MY SUPPORTS

My daily supports revolve around my ancestors, family, and being in tune with nature. These are the elements that get me through each day! When I work, play, meditate, and educate my children and others--I think about how all of these factors collaborate together to motivate what I do on a day-to-day occurrence. Trying to imagine what it would be like without these factors is extremely difficult because these motivational forces are what drives me to wake up in the morning and push through each day...It's the hope of something greater, an educational and sustainable push for life, that causes me to awaken and endure the trials and tribulations associated with an ever-changing world, that may or not be working towards the greater good of respect for the cultural basis of this entire world. These are the solid guiding lights in a world of flickering glimpses of light, and I owe them all much respect and dedication. 

If I were to imagine a challenge that I don't currently have, such as actually becoming a sustainable family farm and space would be the greatest challenge. I think that this would be the challenge because the surrounding world is built on a mainstream and system, with rules and enforcement that are not always friendly to the indigenous cultures of the world. To pull from this mainframe and educationally, spiritually and physically become sustainable and set yourself free would be a challenge beyond comparison. Overcoming the temptation to re-incorporate yourself into the system to make it from day-to-day, is the ultimate test, and I would need each of my support systems to make it successfully through that test!

MY CONNECTIONS TO PLAY

"Through play, the culture is expressed or celebrated...The study of child-rearing is an examination of what 'goes in'. The study of play behavior is the study of what 'comes out'..."

                                                                                      --Dr. Janice E. Hale

"In play, the child may freely explore reality, to accept it or reject it, to escape or distort it to suit his own interest, needs, wishes and desires."

                                                                                          --Dr. Amos Wilson

 

Playtime for children is extremely essential to their growth and adaptation in a child's developmentation. The two pictures that I have here represent play items that children have seemed to forget in this day and age. The play items I have chosen stimulated the physical and intellectual state of mind for me as a child. My favorite childhood memories were spent outside in play, either on a playground with other children or within my community among my neighbors. This allowed us to come up with our own scenarios and games in order to interact with our environment. Many of the time my mom was the main one who promoted this type of play, rather than spends time in front of the television. When I did come into contact with electronic toys, it was more so like the ones featured to the right. I had this specific toy, that I loved dearly because (aside from my mom), it helped me to learn how to spell and write, at an early age. These were the play items that helped build interaction with other kids (that led to lasting friendships at that time) and helped me to intellectually become curious about words, and language, and practice myself.

In today's society, children are exposed to more of a technological digital playground, where they can view and engage in almost anything they want, whether it is positive or negative. Many children have not only turned to a more unhealthy, obese lifestyle because of inactivity, but they have also turned to a separation of getting fresh air and creativity, in exchange for vastly controlled media. Though there are technology and digital resources that help children engage in healthy play, the days of old where children went outside and played without that digital aid, is few and far between. I can only hope that natural play will return and that children's desires and wishes will embody that natural environment of play. 

     

Relationship Reflection

Education and positive relationships go hand-in-hand in order to promote a child's healthy learning environment. Family, Culture, and Spirituality are extremely important in my life and are aspects that I promote on a daily basis to my children in their learning growth process. Here I have pictures of what I deem to be important to my children's learning and relationship network. Because historically many indigenous groups had families that were torn apart, I have made it a point to try and show my children that as a family and as an individual, you should always exhibit loyalty to those you associate your self...especially in a positive circle. I currently try to promote my children keeping positive memories and associations with those I have positive relationships with such as my mother, brother and 2 sisters (their aunties whom they love dearly). And I also encourage them to write letters to and call their granddad (my dad) and their Great Aunt (my aunt) to whom they always enjoy speaking. My daughters also hold a great relationship with a cat they have named "Meme" who was here when we moved into the house. Because in Egyptology the Feline holds a high regard, we treat the cat with the upmost respect, and the girls enjoy caring for their adopted pet. 

Because my husband and I have encouraged strong relationships with those family members that we speak to often, my daughters have made it a point to involve those family members in their educational growth. After years of involving the total family, my daughters have naturally picked up the reigns of wanting to interact with their family and include them in their educational development! I believe that if I continue to nuture and expose our children to those positive images and images of struggle and hard work that our family must go through to succeed, that our children's educational development will truly take flight and allow them to flourish in any setting!!

My Thoughts On Child Development

This Week I chose this awesome video to represent my thoughts on childhood development. I chose this video because it has everything that is needed for understanding child development rolled into one neat package/ I also think that this video has a pleasant global and cultural tone, that concisely informs what is truly needed within the child, during the first 6 years of life!
Please Enjoy and a Big Shout out to all my classmates and  Haleema Hicks & Hanadi Alhaj (the two I most followed) on truly giving an excellent cultural outlook on Child Development!

The definition of “holistic” states that it addresses the “whole” part of something, and in the medical world it is organically treating the whole body; to me, this is extremely personal, especially when dealing with children. Measuring “the whole” ability of the child is something that I believe cannot be done in a simple test or evaluation.  Though educators, psychologists, and other test designs have spent numerous years trying to come up with tests, tricky mazes and other gimmicks in order to measure and label the minds of children, many do not know that tests such as the IQ test, do not even test a child’s academic ability or deemed “Intelligence.” I think that the best thing that can be tested within a child, is their ability to persevere. I think that this is a more accurate aspect to measure, because if a child has a decreased willpower or motivation to push forward in certain aspects of education, knowledge or life goals; than a teacher or guide has the opportunity to nurture and motivate that perseverance so that the child has a more positive outlook on life and that desire to succeed.




   In Jamaica, there is a high importance placed upon education, especially early childhood education. Upon entering into Primary Education children are exposed to a Caribbean curriculum and standards from the NAP (National Assessment Program). Jamaica is also proud to have achieved Universal Primary Education. This provides children with free education for 6 years, and many children who enter in at age six are already reading in many cases. This emphasizes that the value of education and discipline that is placed upon children in Jamaica. This goes to show that education is of great importance, and the educational development of the children is even more valued.