Create~Share~Care

[deborahpiton]

Home, School & Community Partnership

As the semester comes to an end, I reflect on the importance of home, school and community partnerships. The assignments I felt really embodied these partnerships was the Family Community Treasure, Take Home Calendar, Center Creation, Day in the life of, and Breaking Down Barriers Assignments. As I curate this blog, I would like to to acknowledge Bronfenbrenner’s theory of looking at children's social systems that have the most impact on them. “When programs and initiatives focus on building respectful relationships among school staff, families, and community members, they are more effective in creating and sustaining connections that support student achievement(Allen 2007). This should always be the goal.

When I think about the beginning of the school year. I think about Family and community treasures. I ask myself what do these systems value? I examine my own family system and realize the great impact it had on everything I do, especially how I approach education. In this assignment I realized how much I valued my family church.

“Coming from a large family, although we may have different perspectives, many of our experiences remain the same. As I reflect on my own family system, I begin to realize that most of my beliefs and values stem from my parents. In fact, most of the beliefs and values I have been passed down from generation to generation.”

This assignment enlightened me on other families value and using that as a stepping stone to understanding other family values.

In realizing the importance of Family treasures I decided to stick to the same theme while making a center creation. Creating a music and movement center seemed fitting because music is all around us.  Giving families the opportunity to add items from home to the music center is a way that families can feel included in whats happening in the classroom and feel welcomed.

As I continue to hone in on Family Treasures and what a center creation could offer, I also asked myself “What resources do these system have and what are these system lacking?” When creating a Take home calendar I wanted to consider not putting an extra burden on families. I wanted to create meaningful activities, that don’t require too much time or money at all.

In researching my own family daily life as well as completing my breaking down barriers project, I realized my family have one thing in common and that is feeling as if they do not have enough time in a day. 

Lastly I asked myself “ How can I increase dialogue between these systems?” What I came up with is communication is key. When meeting families for the first time, its important to understand their values, and limitation. Families need to feel welcomed, so its very important to create spaces within the classroom that are inclusive for all. In doing so this will not only strengthen relationship between family, and schools but also communities. 

[deborahpiton]

Breaking Down Barriers Vlog

Sharing

I asked my cousin who is a parent as well as a teacher to view this vlog.  I also asked my husband, and now I am sharing it with all of you. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or from my community, we can all relate to feeling as if we don’t have enough resources. Its no surprise that others within my family system feel the same way. We either have little to no time, little to no money, or little to no energy. The purpose of this vlog is to address what I believe to be barriers between school, family, and community partnerships. I also include ways that we can strengthen those partnerships. It should not still be teachers vs. parents because, “More than half a century ago Willard Waller observed that parents and teachers are “natural enemies” (Keyes, 2002). Its time for a change. Its time for teachers to take on a Brofenbrenner approach and adopt a ecological perspective. In order for children to succeed to their maximum potential in school and in life, parents have to be considered. Collaborating with parents means, communicating with parents, allowing them to be apart of decision making, and checking in to see if they have all the resources they need. We should consider that “While the value of the home/school partnership is universally accepted, it is not always easy to promote” (Keyes, 2002). That being said, I leave you with these questions to think about while you watch this short video.

What are boundaries of these systems seen today?

What resources does these systems have?

How are these resources being used?

Sources

Keyes (2002) A Way of Thinking

List of Free Things To Do With Children In NYC!!!

1. Visit a local Library

2. Visit a local Park

3. FDNY Zone

4. Nintendo NY

5. Chelsea Market

6. The Bronx Zoo, (Free on Wed) Registration required

7. Ride the Staten Island Ferry

Last but not least enjoy this cool reading app I found. Up to 1 book a day. 

https://www.getepic.com/

[deborahpiton]

Youngest Child Syndrome

For this assignment I chose to write about the two assumptions that people have of me. The importance of this assignment is to recognize these assumptions, reflect, and address my own assumptions that I may have towards other people or children. The unpleasant feeling I get when people assume things about me, will help me stay away from assuming things about others. Not much has changed since completing this assignment, because I often treat people with respect and kindness regardless of their age. I also prefer to ask questions, rather than assuming. When working with children I believe its very important to invest time into getting to know a child before  assuming things about them based on one interaction. For example if an infant continues to cry all day that does not equate to them being spoiled. While crying may be off putting for caregivers, in order “to engage in critical thinking one must embrace what is critical to children even if uncomfortable for adult”(Bentley & Souto-Manning, 2016) Caregivers should take into consideration that crying in fact is a normal response to a need and a way children express their feelings. Ways that I could use this assignment in my ecosystem is by sending a “Getting to know survey”, to all families so that I can learn more about them and their children before the start of care. With family system being very complexed is is essential that I create a judgment free zone for all families.

The biggest two assumptions in my family system are that because I am the youngest of four children I am spoiled, and the least busy one. This often affects me in a negative way because there is this misconception from other family systems that “I have everything, and all the time in the world.” Very often it is assumed that I am the least busy and have fewer problems. For example, if my parents need help with anything, I am usually the first one they reach out to.

Contrary to some of the negative connotation that comes with being labeled as “spoiled,” I often time feed into it, especially when it benefits myself. I can usually get away with doing or saying things that my older siblings would not be able to get away with. Being the youngest I am most of the time given a pass and “not knowing any better.” Culturally I would say that my parents played a significant role in creating that narrative for me by always tell my siblings “Leave her alone, she's just a baby.” In my microsystem that labelled that was given to me affected how I viewed myself and those around me. What changed those assumptions was having my own children and no longer being looked at as the baby in the family.

While I feel like I have overcome the assumptions of me being spoiled, I continue to deal with the assumption that I am the least busy. Often, my family do not even ask if I am busy, they just assume that I am always free. It is very much possible because I am the last one to start their career, that this assumption has been giving to me.

Overall, when working with families it is essential to be careful about what languages are being used with families. Stereotypical language should never be used such as calling children “spoiled.” Assuming that any member of a family is not busy is a recipe for disaster. To better serve families Caregivers should be aware of their own assumptions and not project that onto families. Supporting families is partnering with families, respecting their values/beliefs, allowing them to be a part of decision making for their child, using inclusive language and ultimately coming together for the best interest of the child.

Is Birth Order Really That Important?

[deborahpiton]

Legliz & Lwil Maskriti

The family treasure assignment allowed me to take a deeper look at some of the family treasure that I have in my family, as well as some treasures we value in my community. This specific assignment was important and relevant to this class because it made me reflect on the things that where important within a family and community. After participating in this assignment I realized that before I could even reflect on my community treasures, I had to think about which community I identified with the most first. Not much of my thinking has changed after this assignment because as a family orientated individual, I’ve always valued family and the important aspects of family. Ways I would modify this assignment is allowing student more time to share their family treasure with each other.

Family and Community Treasure

Family Treasure

“Other things may change us, but we start and end with the family” (Anthony Brandt). Coming from a large family, although we may have different perspectives, many of our experiences remain the same. As I reflect on my own family system, I begin to realize that most of my beliefs and values stem from my parents. In fact, most of the beliefs and values I have been passed down from generation to generation.  

When I think about my family treasures, the first thing that comes to mind is my family Church. Though many of my family members left Haiti to “live a better life”, they did not leave their faith behind. Faith is what helped build our family church in Brooklyn, NY, where majority of my family members have migrated to when coming to the U.S. Beyond the family church being a physical space, on a deeper level it is what holds us together. Church is not just a place where we come together to worship, pray and on occasions have events. It's also a space where we can help those in need, especially those who face housing insecurities.  

Choosing to write about my family church made sense, because to truly understand my family is to acknowledge that our views our deeply rooted from church. Church is a significant factor when viewing our family system as “a set of elements standing in interrelation” (Zera, 2002, pg. 18) because it's at the hierarchy of our family system. For example, while some may argue that child development experts and pediatricians' advice is superior in parental decision making, I would dispute that in my family church in fact supersedes those decisions (Darling, 2007, pg. 205).

I remember at the age of 13 going to the doctors with my mom and being advised that because I did not have a baby, I would continue to experience severe painful menstrual cramps. Had I listened to this Dr. I would have been going against church values of “no sex before marriage”, and probably would have to face great scrutiny from my mother. Honestly, I believe most of the values of the church continue to influence my decision making and help me continue to be a decent human being. Looking back at the age of 13, I didn’t realize how important the church was and how it provided temporary housing for me as well. Though short lived, I am grateful to have had a place to call home.

Community Treasure

While choosing a family treasure was easy for me to think about, I had to dig deeper to find what my community treasures were. As I began to look around my home and speak to my mom, I realized that I must first recognize what community I identify with. As a Haitian American, I feel that I belong to the Haitian community the most. In saying that, what I believe is one of our community treasures is Lwil Maskriti, also known as liquid gold. Lwil Maskriti has been said to “travel to Haiti in 1625 where it became the universal cure” (Naturally Curly, 2015). While it has some similarities to Jamaican Black Castor oil, it is very different in texture. It has a peanut smelling flavor and is dark in color. The oil is extracted from a plant and used for hair, skin, runny nose, scars, migraines, inflammation, you name it!

Lwil Maskriti is important to my community because of its natural healing remedies. It's almost as if it keeps us connected to our roots because when receiving the oil, its usually brought back by someone who visited Haiti. When I think about system theory and how it relates to Lwil Maskriti, I think about social norms and how Lwil Maskriti doesn’t fall in line with Eurocentric beliefs. For many in my community Lwil Maskriti cures it all.

As a child I remember feeling embarrassed and felt ridiculous being rubbed down with this “stuff”, in fear of smelling “different "to those around me. I would probably die from embarrassment if I wasn’t sick and still had to go to school smelling like this “stuff”.  

As an adult I now have an obligation to carry on traditions and use the same oil on my children when they are sick. For some, when they are sick, they often first seek medical expert advice, but for me,  my community has taught me to look for natural remedies first.

Conclusion

When I reflect on both my family and community treasures, I realize the impact they both have on my life and my children's lives. As a parent and a caregiver, I must value that we all come from different backgrounds, have different cultures, and have family treasures that we hold dear to our hearts. The way that I can use family and community treasures is by creating a safe space for families to visit the classroom to share those treasures. As a caregiver “It is not enough to teach them to embrace radical and cultural diversity. Children must also develop individual and group identity that will recognize and resist the false notions of superiority and entitlement (Bentley & Souto-Manning, 2016, pg. 198). Essentially being open minded and creating safe spaces so that children or families can share their own treasures will strengthen partnerships.