Assignment: Blog Assignment: Creating Affirming Environments

EDUC6358: Strategies for Working with Diverse Children “Welcome to an Anti-Bias Learning Community”

Program Transcript

[MUSIC]

NARRATOR: Join Adriana Castillo on a tour of her family child care home. A warm and caring setting that exemplifies effective practice, and an intentional approach, to anti-bias learning and community building.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Hi Adriana, we are so grateful that you have us in your home today. And I would like to ask you to start us off by telling us the name of your place. And how many children will come, and what do we do today.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: OK, my name is Adriana. And the name of my program is Casa de Aprendizaje.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Which means? A place of learning?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: A place of learning. Yeah. And I have 12 children.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: 12 children. And they range in age from? The ages?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: The youngest is one year old, one year old, and the oldest is a four-year- old.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So we'll see a whole range of children today. That's going to be wonderful.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: You'll see infants and toddlers.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: That's great. We are out here, we start out here, because this is where you greet the children in the morning, right? Tell us a little bit about that.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yeah, because most of the times the hard part for the children is the separation for the families. Especially for mommies. So I will start with them in here, some of them. To play a little, to listen to them when they will start crying. So it's really for the families too, some of the mother's are having a hard time to say goodbye to their children also.

So I just have to, to prepare them here while their mother is signing them in. And the binder that I have here, checking with us. How is the children's morning? How they sleep last night? So we share information a little bit. So I start with the child to get them ready to go inside, is he starting having a hard time? So I invite them to the nap room.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And we'll go there in a second, but before we go there, show us a little bit what's out here already. Because there's already a lot of interesting things here. Tell us a little bit about what we see.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Well for in the mornings, some of the families want to know the schedule. So we have a schedule here, how we started. So I have a little, some pictures for the families, like a small-- living in a small community.

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JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So Adriana, I see that you have a sign here that says "Our small community." It seems to me that families are so important to your program, tell us a little bit about the inclusion of families.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Well, the inclusion of family is to feel. Give them an opportunity to feel welcome, with the child and families together. So they are part of my program. This is the main part of my program.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So you try to make them particularly welcome. So now you said that when children have a hard time, you take them to the nap room. Let's go there and show us around.

So Adriana, we're here in the nap room now and tell us a little bit what happens here.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: So this room, it's a nap room. So you'll say it's the place where I invite the child when he's having a hard time. I set up this room to feel comfortable, to continue to express their emotion. Most of the time children cry a lot, and I start listening to them for the time that they can express their feeling. I do not stop the crying, I just stay with the child while he expressing or she expressing their feelings. So I provide these pillows, because sometimes when they start to just be calm. So I invite to them, OK listen are you start throwing the pillow to them and like playing, inviting to play and to feel more comfortable.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: What else is in the room that you would point out to us?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: So some of them are tired in the morning. So I invite them, provide this crib for the child. And so you know I have some pictures to remind them that this room is for nap or rest time.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: What else, is there anything else in the room that you want to point out?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: I provide this, also the rocking chair. And I have some of the books that usually they talk about their favorite book is Buenas Noches Luna. They, some of them, prefer this kind of books to read together.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So everything we see here is meant to help the children become calm, and make the transition from the parents to your place. And if I heard you right, you said before, you don't stop their crying you help them to make their own transition. Tell us why it is so important to do that, and not to stop them.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yeah, what I do is because I recognize that children are emotional. How it's hard for them to separate and so I really focus on this. The main part for the children. Also I provide this sound, because they really like it.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: What is this? Tell us about it.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: [SPEAKING SPANISH]. So it's like music to them. This sound is very popular for some children. So we use that [SPEAKING SPANISH]. When they finish expressing their feelings. This is the second step. And they start to jump into this. And this area is perfect so it's not to put limits. Not jumping on the sofa, not jumping on the bed, some of the families don't let the children. So I provide this place and for most of them this is their favorite. You're going to see later, how they can come and connect in this area.

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JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So now the child has calmed down, or maybe another child has gone to sleep. And then what happens next?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Next when the children are-- 8:00. We invite the children in this area to meet together, like a circle time. [UNINTELLIGIBLE] and singing together.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And why do you do that?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: I do this because it's so important to say hello everybody, hi everybody. How was yesterday, or what did they do. Sharing, conversation with each other, to connect in the morning. So the way that teachers and children, also for families because sometimes they participate.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Oh, do families participate?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yeah.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So you invite them to stay?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yes so they are free to participate. Some of them not a running morning to go to work, because some of them just leave the child and go too fast. And others have more time, and stay when asked to.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So, there's another way that you connect with the families, and make them partners. Could one say that you make the families partners in the work with the children that you do? That they are the partners with you?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yeah, this is what I feel like I'm more building. Like little by little, specifically when they are new. They feel shy. It is OK, they can say that I really invite them to open, to feel welcome, to participate with us in the activities. Maybe they want to read a book with the child.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So all the families of the children that come here know each other.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yes.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And they know each other because they come here, and they participate, and build community. So let's go to the next room.

So Adriana, where are we now?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Now we are in the living room. This is a free play area for infants, especially for infants and toddlers. So in this area, when we finish the circle time we divide the group. So it's infants and toddlers stay here, and the preschoolers go in the back.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And you mentioned to me before that there is a special area here, and I would like you to talk to us a little bit about that area.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: It's, I do this because this is an important part for each family. To invite each family to show a little bit part of them. For the quarter. For example, we have here this family bring this because they want to share something about it, about them.

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JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Ok, and what do we see here, what have they brought. Oh, it's a kilt! It's like a kilt.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yes, and so the other thing they share is like cowboys. So they bring some, a little bit about them.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And then, when does this change again? Who will be next?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Every month. So I remind each family they're welcome to share.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: What else is there in the room that you want to share with us?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Well, usually I provide some pictures of some of the children that I have in my program. And they love to see, show them to play together.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So those are the children that are in your center? Can you tell us the names of these children?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: The name of the child? His name is Malik.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And what I notice is that Malik has a ethnic doll in his hand. Tell us a little bit about the dolls that we see, they're all different colors.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Naturally, he come and see because I have different kind of dolls. He came and gave this doll because-- it becomes more emotional to see. And I can see how he connect with this material. So it is important to provide this material to connect the different kind of cultures. So every month, we provide them a curriculum. So we make a curriculum, and we always focus on the children's interests. So we observing that most children are having a hard emotion. So how we can work about, how to present a team for really thinking about emotions.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So this month you focus particularly on the emotions of the children. And is there anything in this room that will help you with that part of the curriculum. So you talk about these expressions?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: So, we also are providing a book. The name of the book is [SPEAKING SPANISH]. So I also put this mural.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Yeah, what is that, why?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Because I want them to recognize themselves. And I sing a song in Spanish. [SPEAKING SPANISH], who's come to the school today? And I mention the name Malik, Malik, or who is come here today? And I mention the name, each of the name of the children.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: They start to look at each other.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: So this here it have a little. I choose the different colors, you see that they can connect this.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Oh, it's like the skin color.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: You know so it's like a smell, like an aroma.

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JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: It's like an herb. So they recognize the scent, they see the different skin colors, and then you talk about the skin colors with them?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: They can compare.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: They compare the skin colors? OK. So it becomes natural for them to think about skin in many shades.

So Adriana, tell us a little bit about this couch.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: I set up this area because some of the children are having time again to separate. Especially the preschoolers too. So some of them invite to read a book, to sit down and read a book for awhile.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: To make it a little easier.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: OK, let's read me a book.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And now we're going into the next area. And tell us what happens here now.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Well here I prepare them to wash hands, for breakfast time in the morning.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And we were talking earlier about this area in the back there. Tell us a little bit about that. What's going on there?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: So, again this is connected with the curriculum, with the theme.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So this time it's about you said. Tell us a little bit about it.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: So this is like a more sensory activity. So I provide these dolls with different kind of cultures too. So the children come and talk about it, and they try to make their ideas I can tell.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: They make up their own stories here? Is that how they talk about their emotions? See what they feel?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Uh huh. Pretend there's a conflict, they having a hard time. Sometimes they say oh, Mommy's coming back. So they try to share. Combine, they're saying their story's happening.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So Adriana, you mentioned this table, this board here before. What is the significance of it?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: This is material that I present. For me, it's very important to share information with the families. Especially in the morning when they're having a more running time. And I invite them to communicate, ask, what thing can we do for the child. So they write about what we can do during the day.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So anything that has happened in the family, something that they want you to pay attention to? Is that what it is? So this is another way how you and the family become partners.

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So, Adriana where are we now? Like a hallway.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yes. And the children know OK, windows are covered up. So I set up this area, again connected with the curriculum.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Which is emotions this month?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Emotion, yes. So I provide these pencils in with the pages to let children know they can draw. So there's one more, and this one too, the faces.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So all of these have to do with emotional expressions and faces. And they're all different cultures and different backgrounds, and so they get a variety of impressions.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: And so we provide this every day. Because most of the children want to sign it in the binder for the parents, so we provide this.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So the children have their own binder?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yeah, their own binder so these.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So the parents write notes to the children?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yeah, for the children. A little like a letter. Because they come for parent meetings and they see how the child is progressing.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So the children sign in there? And behind you, you told me is the drama area or the dramatic area.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Yeah, this area is about sharing conversations. The everyday for them. So and a lot of conflict resolution, because they are working on how they can sharing. We are always with the children to work together.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Can you give us an example of conflict resolution. Can you think of something that happened, that you can tell us?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: For example some of the children come and they want to hold the doll. And the other child come and, I want the doll too. So we hold the doll, and say looks like you guys want the same doll. What do you want to do? Do you have an idea? Do you know how we can resolve this conflict together? So this is how we can encourage the children to resolve their conflicts.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So the play, and as we all know, children when they play they recreate life and they learn about life. And learn about working together.

Well Adriana, we had a really nice tour and thank you for that We have a few more minutes and so I'd like to ask you a few questions about your center and mostly about your philosophy behind the center. How long have you had the center now?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: How long, this center is almost four years.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Four years. And I bet you've had a lot of experiences right? Can you tell us a little bit about some of the best experiences you've had? Some of the biggest joys you've

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had in those four years. Here in this center with the children, working with the children and their families.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Principal, my best point to work in this field is to have the opportunity to be with my own children. This is the best.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And when you think of the children that have been here in this past four years, can you think of a couple of examples of real joyful moments that you had when you when you worked with those children?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: The children. The main purpose is to support the children's lives. The same with the families. For me it's like, I was thinking of my own situation as a mom. With my children, I was looking to support me, someone to support me, to connect with me as a mother. So for me this is the main part to support the families that I have now too. Because I can feel the same situation, when I started. When children was young. So now I can see how they are looking for some daycare providers who can support them.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: When you think of the children that are here, what do you hope they will take with them when they spend time here with you? when you play with the children, when you work with the children, when you teach them, what are your hopes for them?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Well my best hope is that they can grow up with love, with respect. And we have already put them with a high self-esteem. Because you come into their place, so I can see how they need us as adults. They invite us to read together, to connect together. And through the games they, and through the play, they tell us look what I meant. This is what I need.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: So what I hear you say is that you do a lot of listening. You do a lot of observing.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: My philosophy, this is part of the best part.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: You don't put things on the children, you listen to them, you watch them, you learn from them. Could I say it that way? So Adriana, in your center you speak both English and Spanish. And you've told me before that this is important for a variety of reasons. Can you talk a little bit about why you do that, and how that helps everybody?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Well, I have children that speak English in home, just English in home. And the others will speak Spanish in their homes. And so I support two languages in here. And also I have all the other family who is Pakistan?

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Pakistani?

ADRIANA CASTILLO: So and he speaks what's amazing when I heard him to speak her language to her daughter to say goodbye. So you just say, oh you're going to learn two languages. Spanish and English. Your families language too, this is great! And she was smiling, the daughter was, the girl was smiling to me.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Maybe the last thing that I would like to ask you is, if you think of the students, of our students, who will listen to you and watch what you've showed us and so on. And they are now almost finished with their studies, and they'll become early childhood professionals. Can you give them a piece of advice, something that they can take with them? Something that you think is really great about working with children.

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ADRIANA CASTILLO: I recommend this to anyone who really wants to work with children. Keep going, and never do this by themselves. Because always we have good people around us, and the resources that we can receive. Because I didn't have to do this just by myself. I really found great people to instill for me.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Your teachers.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Teachers from Cabrillo College. So they have great teachers and coaches. They support me, in keep going. So I'm not finished with this, I still and I believe that education is very important to still participate in the workshops. About children and families.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: And continue to learn.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: Continue, we never finish to learn in this area. And never do this alone. Because this is the best part that we can receive to. Keep going.

JUDITH K. LEPUSCHITZ: Because we all are a community. We thank you for showing us around, and we'll take a look around now, and the children are arriving. And so we'll see some of the children. Thank you so much, thank you.

ADRIANA CASTILLO: [SPEAKING SPANISH].

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