It's Me

It’s Me:

I chose the activity called, It’s Me! I chose this activity because it really gives the children a chance to maybe notice things about themselves that they never noticed before.   By drawing their own face with the correct color crayon of their skin, they may notice that they have a mole, or a birthmark that they never knew of.  They get to see and compare and contrast the similarities and differences between their classmates. 

It is age appropriate because they are able to see their reflection, have a crayon and other materials to help them draw themselves.  They can look at the color of their skin and match it to the crayon, match their hair color, eye color, and go from there.  We would assist in making sure they see the positioning of their nose and mouth and eyes and they can replicate what they see in the mirror.  Something that is age appropriate doesn’t mean it has to be easy, it means it can be challenging for that age group.  Seeing and comparing the similarities and differences in a more obvious thing, but seeing and understanding where people come from and their culture is different, but challenging. 

The three multicultural concepts I chose that young children could understand are: Everyone is important, people are similar, and people are different.  I chose these because in my activity they are seeing the differences and similarities between their classmates.  Not only by the color of their skin, but their eye color, hair color, shape and size of their mouth and nose, and maybe even things like moles on their faces and such.  It shows a lot of diversity in this activity and shows you how many people can look alike and many people can look different.  But we are all special and important to the world.

As stated in the text, “ An anti-bias approach that helps children learn about human diversity, gain respect and appreciation for diversity, learn to recognize and resist stereotypes and unfair behavior, and learn to work with others to stand up for oneself or to challenge bias; anti-bias education is implemented through classroom materials and planned activities.” By doing such this, and with this activity we are showing respect for our piers and appreciation for diversity because we are seeing how people can be different.  We are also teaching them to resist stereotypes.  By showing how we are all alike, yet can look so different is a more physical way to show instead of tell.  Children can make their own assumptions on things, but with this activity we can show that similarities and differences are a wonderful thing.

In this activity called, It’s Me!  The children will be given skin colored crayons, construction paper, a miniature mirror so they can hold it in front of them to see what they look like, and then draw what they see themselves as from the mirror.   This activity not only helps them recognize what they look like, but what others look like as well, like the similarities and differences between their classmates.  They could also see something they didn’t know they had, such as a birthmark or a mole perhaps. 

Another activity, such an extension activity that the children could do is to draw another classmate.  It can really show them how to see a person not only from what they look like, but to appreciate who they are as a person.  They could include a little survey to ask their classmate to learn more about that person and connect it with what they truly look like and also what is inside. 

One of the books that I found that would go with this activity is called: Pancakes With Chocolate Syrup by Rebekah Barlow Rounce.  This book is perfect because it talks about the differences between these two sisters.  Their different eye color, skin color, and hair color.  But in the end they are so much alike and like the same things and love each other for being different, but have similarities as well.  The other book is called: All Kinds of People by Emma Damon.  This book is perfect as well because it talks about all the different kinds of people with colorful images of children of all different sizes, hair types, skin tones, temperaments and personalities.  It really shows the respect for all different kinds of people and is a way to understand the differences between everyone. 

All in all this activity can be such a wonderful learning experience in so many ways.  It not only helps the children see themselves in a different light, but they can compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the entire classroom.  Having the children then look around the classroom and look at the other drawings could be helpful.  They could compare the similarities with them and discuss them, then discuss the differences and how they are both still special and can respect their piers.   

Film Critique: Aladdin

Racism in Disney’s Aladdin

Name of Film: Aladdin

Release Date: November 11, 1992

 While watching Aladdin as a child or any other Disney movie, you do not see or notice any racism towards anybody.  You see a cute, funny, and sometimes sad or happy movie.  While watching it again, and knowing what I know now from this class.  I had many different changes in how I saw Aladdin.  I saw how Jafar being an Arab, as well as Aladdin and Jazmine being Arabs, they had completely different facial features and sound of voice as well.   Below are pictures of Jafar, Aladdin, and Jazmine.  Jafar was a bad guy and had the pointy, hooked nose, thin lips, dark evil eyes, and a very thick accent.  Jafar’s eyes are big and feminine, like making fun of Arabs.  I noticed how it looks like he is wearing eye make up like a girl.  Trying to compare and say that Arabs are girlie I guess.  Also, how he is so tall and skinny like a woman.  Jafar always is dark too, he wears dark clothing and that dark eye shadow on his eyes, trying to make him look more evil.   Unlike Aladdin and Jasmine, they had more of a white person’s features with a tan.    Also, when showing Aladdin as a “street peasant/rat”, he had no shoes on.  Which is telling you that all poor Arab’s can’t afford shoes.   Below is also a picture of Aladdin with no shoes on. 

When I searched online I came across much of what I discussed.  It also brought up the opening song played during the beginning credits.  The song is called “Arabian Nights”.  It is said to be one of the most contentious messages found in the film and begins the movies “depiction of Arab culture with a decidedly racist tone” (Giroux).  An Arab merchant sings the song and the lyrics are: “Oh I come from a land/From a faraway place/Where the caravan camels roam. / Where they cut of your ears/If they don’t like your face. / It’s barbaric, but hey, it’s home” The message that is given right from the beginning of the movie is that the Middle East is a desolate wasteland where the justice system can cut of your ears just because they don’t like your face.  

I truly felt shocked when I was reading online about all the racism they found and how it is racist.  However, I completely agreed with them and understood how is was showing racism.  It was pretty subtle with Jafar though, because it was only because of his accent and look of his face.  For someone like me who is not entirely sure what Arabs should look like and sound like, I didn’t catch onto it.  I had to see the reasoning behind it and what others were saying about it and then I agreed how it was racist.  My boyfriend actually braought up to me, how Jafar acts like Saddam Hussein.  I was completely shocked, but totally agreed with him.  Just by the fact that he was plotting to attack and take control of the town.  Much like Hussein did.  Jafar even kept people as slaves and imprisoned them, just like Huseein. 

With Aladdin I noticed things more easily because of the words he was using about himself and what people were calling him, like “street rat” and also how he was never wearing shoes.  It was clearer to me in that manner than Jafar.  Also, when reading about how he and Jazmine look like white people with a tan.  And not Arabs, I had to look back at the pictures of them to understand.  Again, because I don’t really know Arabs look like I couldn’t see how it was portraying them as white people.  But I do understand now what they meant.  Also, I noticed how the lighter their skin was in the movie, the more money they had.  Like the Sultan, Jazmines dad, he was rich and had even lighter skin than Jazmine and Aladdin did.  Showing more of the good, “white characters” to have more money than the bad, “Arab characters”. 

I found this to be so helpful and eye opening.  I will think about what I am reading to them and having my children watch.  Some of these things were so subtle that even as an adult I didn’t see it.  So imagine as a child, and how they retain so much information, how negative that can be for children for when they get older.  

The Skin I'm In: A First Look At Racism

Title:  The Skin I’m In: A First Look at Racism

Author:  Pat Thomas

Illustrator: Lesley Harker

Published

Summary: The book starts out by having children imagine a world where they were judged by their eye color and how unfair that would be. It really reminded me of the third grade teacher’s exercise.  So I was really interested in it from that point on.  It then goes into discussing race and asks the students to think about what race they are and how everyone is different.  And how some people will be mean to others because they have a different skin color than them.  They define the term racist/racism and talk about how bad it can be.  The book then goes on to tell you what to do if you see racist behavior and how to react if you are the one being made fun of. It asks students to think about if they have ever been the victim of racist behavior. And how it made them feel, and why would they ever want another person to feel that way they did, because it was pretty horrible.

This book really does include significant specific cultural information rather than following stereotypes.  It doesn’t compare the differences in any negative way.  It just shows how people can be different, but to look inside of them and yourselves, we are all similar.  I feel that whoever is reading this book has the power.  It gives many examples of difference races and I love this quote from the story.  It says, "Some believe that people from their race are worth more and should be treated better than people from other races. A person who thinks and acts this way is called a racist. Racists want to stop people of other races from living, working and learning together. Anybody of any skin color can be a racist."  It is so true.  Anybody who is anybody could be racist.  No matter your skin tone and no matter your background.  It’s the same thing as who has the wisdom.  The author has the wisdom and is sharing about it.  And is doing it in a way that people can understand and not be offended.  Language is used to create an image of people of particular groups by explaining that people can have different eye color, a white person can have brown, blue or green, but does that mean that they should have hatred towards them.  No!  So why does the color of their skin matter?  Pat has written this story.  And Lesley has illustrated it. They are outside the groups they are talking about because they are not all of the races.  I feel that in a way everybody claims to know about race and culture.  However, he seems to have done lots of research and so he knows how it is like to be a person of a different race.  Everyone’s voice is being heard and nobody is left out. It really includes all races and ethnicities and really clearly explains the differences as well as the similarities!  He does it in a very mature manner and I respectful about it as well.  However, it clearly is stated what each race should look like I would say.  It’s more so a stereotype than anything.  But that wasn’t my first thought until now.  Where he shows the dark skinned family with curly black hair, the Jewish family with yarmulkes and menorahs and things like that.  Not every black person has black curly, and some would say “nappy” hair, but I feel that’s what he was showing us.  I would absolutely recommend this book though.  It truly is an eye opening and a learning book.  It was used in a lot of classrooms and teacher’s feel it does a great job showing people all around the world in a respectful manner.

"Who I Am"

Hi there! My name is Jessica Miller.  I am from Roseville, CA but was born in Sacramento.  I currently live in Chino Hills right now.  I transferred from my preschool job to their sister preschool.  I was in a long distance relationship for about 6 months and finally decided to make the move to be with him.  So we are living down here now and both working and going to school.  I am loving SoCal, it is very beautiful.  I currently work in Upland, CA.  That is about a half an hour away from Chino Hills, so luckily its not a terrible drive to make every morning!  

My family is the MOST important thing to me!!  My family, friends and my boyfriend are my entire life.  They make me want to work hard, and go to school and become something they know I would be amazing at and enjoy every day of my life.  

I feel that teachers need to nurture and provide a safe and caring environment for the children in their care.  They need to act as if they are one of their own children.  That loving and caring environment is so very important for young children.  

I would say that I am very trustworthy, responsible, and caring.  Working with children is perfect for me.  :) I define myself as an every day person.  I love sports and music and movies.  I grew up around children and really grew to care and love them for who they are and wanted to help in their growth.  My father is a police officer, so I really saw a strong, responsible, yet loving man each and every day of my life.  I wanted to be more and more like him.  And I have a sweet and completely generous mother.  She is the most unselfish person I have every known.   If I was just a bit of her and my dad I knew I could make it in life in whatever I wanted to do.  I sadly do not have children of my own yet, but someday! :) I have one brother who has two beautiful girls.  One is almost six and the other id almost three.  They are so precious and sweet and fun!  I miss them so much!  Living down here makes it hard to stay close and see them all the time and watch them grow so it is incredibly hard for me! :(

I do currently work with children.  I have almost seven years of experience working in a preschool/daycare setting.  And I was a nanny for a few years during, as well as a gymnastics coach and volleyball coach.  Needless to say anything with kids and being able to teach and care for them is what I have always done!

I LOVE SPORTS!  I play currently play soccer, play and coach volleyball, and play basketball.  I love going to movies, country music is amazing and so uplifting and also Christian music.  I start and end my day listening to Air1!  

This class seems like it will be veeeeery helpful in every day occurrences.  There are so many different people and religions and ethnicities in this world and you really do have to be aware of all of them and be accepting to be able to be a teacher, or Director or anything where you have to work with others!  In every job even, there may be a time you come across someone who is different than you and you need to understand and know how to treat them and act.  

I really hope you enjoyed getting to know a lot about me and I am excited to learn more about you all!  Good luck! 

Love,Jessi