Or the school that I currently work for we do a lot of charity based projects.  A few months ago we all got together at a local pantry to short and package different meats that would be going to families who needed them.  It was an extremely gratifying experience to know that I had a hand in helping so many people.  After the event we all met for diner and discussed other ways our schools could work together to help others.  It is comforting to know that we are all in this together and willing to work together.  This project we were involved in ended very nicely.  The best part was a few weeks later, we received cards that the children and families who received food from the food pantry made and sent to us.  We proudly have them hanging in frames around the schools to remind us of the importance of teamwork and helping others.

                I have known some of you ladies from the Bachelor program and from other classes in the Master’s program.  We all have such busy lives but come together a few times a week to share insights and experiences.  I personally did not attend the commencement ceremony for my Bachelor’s degree but told myself that I actually want to walk up in a cap and gown and receive my Master’s degree.  It is a HUGE accomplishment for me and it is something I have always dreamed of, especially when others doubt me and tell me that it’s just a dream.  It is only more motivation for me to show them I can do it and prove everyone wrong!     

               I am currently the teacher in the “Waddler” (babies ages about 10 months-15 months).  I have co-teacher that does not have much experience in this field but she does very well, sometimes too well.  I will have an idea for a bulletin board to put up but before I can do that, she is already cutting out stencils and words to put up for that bulletin board.  She always says, “I just wanted to make things easier for you because you’re so busy”.  I know she just wants to help, but it is MY classroom and I work hard to find different ideas and projects to do.  I don’t want to hurt her feelings by saying I want to do something else but she does need to understand that this is what I have gone to school for and have many years of experience in.

                My boyfriend and I currently live in St. Charles, IL.  We live in a rather small apartment with my son who is 7.  Our lease is up in a month and we want to move to a bigger place.  I tell him that I want to stay in the same city so that it is close to my work and my son doesn’t have to change schools.  He travels all over for work so he doesn’t’ care where we live, but a different area will be a little cheaper for us.  Since he makes the majority of the money in our family, my basic response is to do whatever he wants to do.  Maybe if I communicated more openly with him he will realize how important certain things are to me?  I have been a single mother for 7 years, maybe I should just be thankful that my son and I have someone to take care of us and keep my opinions to myself?

For this week's blog I will be discussing the results of my communication assessments.  I assessed myself and also had tow other people in my life take the same assessment about me.

I cannot say that I was too surprised in the results.  I was seen as a good listener who takes into consideration that thoughts and feelings of others.  I am able to communicate very well one on one but often doubt myself making me overly nervous and anxious when speaking in from of a group of people.  My boyfriend, Matt, who knows me very well had almost the exact same thoughts about me as I had about myself.  He knows that I can communicate very well one on one but sometimes have a difficult time communicating to a group of people, often situational.  The other person that took the assessment was a co-worker of mine.  She sees how I communicate with parents and other staff.  I am always outgoing and very easy to talk to.  She assumed that since I was that way at work that I was typically the same way in many other situations.  She was very surprised when I told her I get very nervous and anxious to speak to a group of people.  She has not seen how I act in those situations and thought I was as open when speaking to a group of people as I am with the parents and staff at work.  

For this week’s blog I was asked to think about how I communicate with different groups and cultures and summarize three strategies to improve my communication skills.  I find myself communicating more effectively.  The reminder of the Platinum Rule made me realize its importance and to use it in my professional and personal life.   

 

1.       I will listen more attentively.  I think I am an overall good listener but that is one of those things that could always be improved.  Sometimes I get ahead of myself and want to respond without listening intently to the other’s complete thought. 

2.       The Platinum Rule is something that I have always been taught growing up.  I try immensely to apply this rule in my daily life, especially in my profession working with children.  I will continue to solidify my efforts with the Platinum rule.  Stopping and thinking about how I would like to be treated in a certain situation will allow me to treat the other how I would like to be treated.

3.       I will try to either ignore or change any stereotypes and prejudices I have.  Having these negative thoughts and attitudes makes communicating with others difficult and uncomfortable.

 

I chose to watch the show How I Met Your Mother.  I have never seen this show before and don't know anything about the characters.  It starts off by a guy holding a ring out while on one knee in front of his friend.  It looks like he was practicing to propose to his girlfriend.  He gets off of his knee and both men look very excited.  The friend (who did not have the ring) walks into the kitchen to his friend and he looks very concerned.  His eyes get big and he puts his head down.  He then calls another friend and is talking a lot with his hands.  It looks like he was yelling.  The friend on the other line is laughing and nodding his head.  Then the two friends meet at a restaurant.  The guy is very jittery and looked disheveled like he is really stressed about something.  His friend is pointing at him like he is lecturing him.  I am trying to figure out why the guy is so anxious and if the other friend is trying to get him to laugh and feel better.  There was a lot of hand gestures and facial expressions showing that he was upset. 

           The person I am choosing to recognize this week is my director at the school I currently work at she.  She is always polite and over all nice.  She speaks to her staff as if they are equals.  She never acts like she is better than us because she is the “boss”.  She listens to what we have to say and answers in an honest yet caring way.  There were times where she has had to correct us for various things but she kindly states why we need to change something.  How she speaks to parents is also something that I learn from.  If she does not know the answer to something she says, “I will figure it out and get back to you as soon as possible”.  Her demeanor is welcoming and friendly.  I definitely would like to model her friendliness and open communication skills.

        One hope I have is that I will get completely over any biases that I have about backgrounds that are different than mine.  I am extremely open-minded and welcoming but I would be lying if I said I ALWAYS accepted everything about everyone I encounter.  I hope I can teach my colleagues to also have an open mind and embrace any culture/background that they work with.  The individuality of others is absolutely amazing and every day I learn something about one of my children or families that I work with.  I learn so much just by speaking with parents and getting to know them and their children.  Others offer different insights and experiences that make me a better and well-rounded teacher. 

          I want to thank my colleagues for respnding to my posts and offering their advice and sharing their experiences.  We all have beautiful hearts for doing what we do every day.  Sometimes it goes unnoticed by others, but for me seeing the happiness of my children and their families is all I need to get me through the day  J