Reflecting on Learning

It is hard to believe that the eight weeks of this course is winding down and coming to an end already. It feels like we have just started yet it is drawing to a close. Overall in this program, it has been a very busy but quick journey! Time is flying by so fast. 

In our final blog post for this course, we were asked to share our most passionate hopes for the future as an early childhood professional and for the children and families we will work with. When I think of the future of the field of ECE overall, I feel inspired. The practices of anti-bias education are becoming more wide spread and recognized in the field, which leads to positive social change for the children, families, educators, and society overall. Additionally, I passionately believe in the goals of anti-bias education being utilized properly with children and families. As Derman-Sparks & Edwards (2010) explain in regards to the four goals: "Together, they provide a safe, supportive learning community for all children. Effective anti-bias education happens when all four goals are a part of your program" (p. 3). When I think of my future in ECE as an educator, I passionately believe and hope to make a positive change in the lives of the children and families I work with, as well as society at large. I hope to utilize anti-bias practices effectively to instill an understanding and appreciation for differences in which the concepts of acceptance, tolerance, and respect are prominent. Most importantly, I hope to never stop learning, fulfilling my goal of maintaining lifelong learning to improve my practices and approaches to working with children and families in order to have the most appropriate, effective, and positive impact possible. As Julie Olsen Edwards shared, and I completely agree, "No matter how much you know, there's always more to learn" (Laureate Education, Inc., 2011).

In addition to our passions for the ECE field and the future, I would like to take the time to reach out and thank each and every one of my colleagues. Each of you have helped motivate and inspire me to become a more consistent and passionate anti-bias educator on this journey. I have shared many classes and experiences with each of you throughout this program and I am coming to consider many of you friends, more than just fellow colleagues. I feel as though each of you is so passionate and has so much to offer in regards to the field of ECE and I am extremely thankful for you. It is hard to believe we have been through so many challenges and eye opening awakenings and experiences throughout each of these courses together and the journey is coming to a close. However, we all know our anti-bias journeys will continue long after the Walden journey ends. I hope we can remain in touch as we continue through our journeys in anti-bias education in the future, remaining within a support circle that we have learned is so crucial to surviving the journey of anti-bias education. All my best to each of you moving forward into our final course! XO

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).

Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2011). Your commitment to anti-bias work. [DVD]. Strategies for working with diverse children. Baltimore, MD: Laureate Education, Inc.