Professional Hopes and Goals

The early childhood education classrooms are become increasingly more diverse. For instance,the 2000 census shows that in just 10 years the number of children in immigrant families increased by 63 percent—and not just in arge cities but in many areas of the country (Beavers & D’Amico 2005 as cited in Daniel & Friedman, 2005). The implication of this for early childhood educators is that they need to be adequately trained and prepared in order to be able to meet learning needs of diverse students' population as found in their classrooms. Consequently, one hope that I nurse when I think about working with children and families who come from diverse backgrounds is that professionals in the field of early childhood education are adequately trained and prepared to work with children and families from cultural, social, linguistic, and religious backgrounds different from their own. Children learn best when they are in an environment that is safe, secured, free, and caring. One goal that I would like to set for the early childhood field in relation to the issues of diversity, equity, and social justice is that our classrooms and all child care centers are such that every child is welcomed, valued, appreciated, and feel belonged irrespective of background, and that educators and other professionals in the field of early childhood are able to demonstrate that they appreciate the diversity of the learners found in their classrooms and/or in their centers. Isaac Newton said “If I am able to see further, it was only because I stood on the shoulders of giants.” I want to thank giants who allowed me to stand on their shoulders in this course hence my ability to gain so much and learn so much. Firstly I appreciate our facilitator in the course, Dr. Anthony Morgan for being such a wonderful educator. Your comments and promptings provided the much needed guide and inspiration to learn in this course . I also want to thank my colleagues in this course, it was a highly beneficial learning experience with you, thanks for sharing your wealth of experience in this course. I do hope we will meet again in future courses at Walden and I wish you all success in your career. References: Daniel, J., Friedman,S.(2005).Embracing diversity. Retrieved from www.naeyc.org/about/positions/pdf/ELL_Supplement.pdf.