Reflecting on Communication in the Early Childhood Field

As I am nearing completion of the course, I am excited and sad at the same time. I am excited because I have completed another course that will get me closer to my goal of receiving my Masters Degrees, but I am sad because I may not be in same groups with some of my classmates. I have come to enjoy learning about you via Blog Posts and Discussions. I feel like we are family.

            My colleagues have supported me by responding to my Discussion Posts. They have positively commented and posed questions that have deepened and widened my learning. They have also encouraged me to be an effective communicator. I too have commented and posed questions via their Blogs and Discussion Posts and I hope that they all feel that I have supported them.

            My wish for my colleagues as they continue their professional path is that they continue to learn and grow in the field of Early Childhood Development, complete their Masters Degree, and work as a Change Agent for children everywhere. Many thanks to Dr. Darragh and my classmates for extending my knowledge base and cultivating me in being a better learner and a more effective communicator.

Peace, Love, Happiness, and Success to ALL.

Team Building and Collaboration, Part 1

My senior high school period one class was the hardest group to say goodbye to. The group was definitely a high-performing group. A high performing group is highly focused on heir goals and high achievement. It was hard to leave/adjourn because the class was well organized and well taught by the teacher (facilitator). We had classroom norms that we as students developed and adhered to. We trusted each other and worked well together; developing relationships that are still thriving now, twelve years later. 

The only closing ritual, which was very personal, was the very last day of school. We hugged each other and cried together. From the group that I am now in as I matriculate through my master's program, I hope to gain and continue friendships and pods of networks that will help me to continue to grow professionally. I will adjourn the group by perhaps exchanging telephone numbers to stay in touch. Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it wraps up the work and signifies that the goal has been accomplished.  

Nonviolent Communication and Conflict Management

I try to avoid conflict; so thinking about a recent disagreement or conflict that I have experienced was quite difficult. However, a conflict that I could think of was about four months ago. One of my sisters asked me (via text) to run an errand for her. Well, I powered my phone off versus turning the volume down, in an effort to get a good night's rest. Well, she became upset with me and we argued back and forth. Verbally, two strategies that I have learned that may help me manage or resolve conflict more productively is:

1. Keep the Communication Open.
2. Focus on the Problem and Not the Individual.

I could have  also use responsiveness and reciprocal from the 3R's to better help me resolve this conflict.

Who Am I as a Communicator?

The assessments that I took along with what my co-worker and family member took revealed the same results; which surprised me most. It surprised me because my result and the results of the two who assessed me showed that I am verbally aggressive. That is another surprise because I am not verbally aggressive. If you knew me, you would agree that I am not verbally aggressive. Insights that I gained this week is that I am not alarmed by every situation. I communicate based on issues. I do listen to others and I am very empathetic in regards to the situations of others. 

“3” Strategies to Communicate More Effectively

Communicating with people from different groups and cultures can often be difficult. It is not difficult for me I may be different in terms of ethnicity, but because communication styles can be different among cultures and can get misconstrued. Cultural differences can sometimes make relationships difficult. Some people speak differently or perhaps speak another language. Sometimes it is difficult to communicate because of moral and global issues. Here are three strategies that I could use to help me communicate more effectively with people or groups  from other cultures.

1. Learn about the other person’s culture.
2. Learn & recognize the physical cues of the person’s culture.
3. Do not battle aspects of the other person’s culture.

Communication Skills: Language, NONVERBAL, Listening.......

Communication does not always entail talking or hearing. There are so many ways to communicate. As I watched a recorded episode of a television show that I do not normally watch (Blood, Sweat, and Heels) with the sound off, I focused on trying to understand the characters using my knowledge of non-verbal communication signals. What I honed in on were the facial expressions of the characters, the gestures they displayed through body language, and the physical distance between the communicators. Based on the ways in which the characters were communicating with each other, I think the characters are friends. Some of them appeared to get along with each other better than others. The non-verbal signals gave me clues and meaning. The show is a realty show. From the way the characters nodded their heads, helped me to understand that the characters were in agreement with each other. From the way the characters shrugged their shoulders, helped to understand that the characters were not in agreement with each other.

            My second viewing of the same recorded episode was with the sound turned on. I assumed, from the first viewing, that all of the characters were friends; but at some times did not get along. I was accurate. The characters are five women who live in New York. They are successful women who look to the friendships of each other for support. If I had been watching a show that I know well, such as “The Young and the Restless”, my assumptions would probably have been the same, which were correct. Because of the way people interact with each other, the giving and receiving of wordless signals (nonverbal behaviors), communication is not interrupted.