Authentic Anti-Bias

ClassroomsWelcoming all the children in your care with

respect.Kelly Kist

Kelly Lee Kist

MA Human Development, Pacific Oaks College

Founder, Seasons Preschool

Assumptions: we accept NAEYC- approved Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP)

The Three Core Considerations to inform practice are:

• 1) What is known about child development and learning—

• referring to knowledge of age-related characteristics that permits general predictions about what experiences are likely to best promote children’s learning and development.

• 2 )What is known about each child as an individual—

• referring to what practitioners learn about each child that has implications for how best to adapt and be responsive to that individual variation.

• 3) What is known about the social and cultural contexts in which children live—

• referring to the values, expectations, and behavioral and linguistic conventions that shape children’s lives at home and in their communities that practitioners must strive to understand in order to ensure that learning experiences in the program or school are meaningful, relevant, and respectful for each child and family.

Anti-BiasWe find these joys to be self-evident: That all children are created whole, endowed with

innate intelligence, with dignity and wonder, worthy of respect. The embodiment of life, liberty,

and happiness, children are original blessings, here to learn their own song. Every girl and

boy is entitled to love, to dream, and belong to a loving “village.” And to pursue a life of purpose.

Group agreements:

• We all know what we know

• We all deserve respect

• We will take risks together

• We will each be a keeper of our “safe space” by withholding judgment and being open to new learning.

• It is OK to take care of myself and let other’s take care of themselves.

Introspection

Close your eyes – get comfortable – relax!

BIAS

Prejudice

Authentic:Definition of AUTHENTIC

a : worthy of acceptance or belief as conforming to or based on fact <paints an authentic picture

of our society>

b : conforming to an original so as to reproduce essential features <an authentic reproduction of

a colonial farmhouse>

c : made or done the same way as an original <authentic Mexican fare>

: not false or imitation : real, actual <an authentic cockney accent>

Sharing!Find someone on either side of you and share 1 way

you feel you are an Authentic Teacher.EX: I never say: “ I am glad to see you today!” unless

I mean it!

Authenticity warm-up

It is just after clean-up time, everyone is waiting with books and puzzles at the table for pick-up time. You finally got everyone settled with something, all seated etc. You look at the clock, and notice that the first parents will arrive within the minute. Whew! Yay! You did it! You sit at the big table to chat with the children while you all wait and, just as your bottom hits the chair, Antionne throws his book across the table near Jason. Jason laughs – LOUDLY – and everyone looks up just in time to see Jason throw his puzzle across at Antionne. What happens next?

You think You KNOW (DAP)

(bias.assumptions.experiences.beliefs.)You act

Authenticity Practice:1) Something Happens2) NOTICE YOUR THOUGHTS

Are they biased?

Are they prejudiced?

Are they stereotypes?

Are they automatic?

Are they about THIS MOMENT?

Quick cheat:

Yikes! Juanita just knocked over the sand tray and then sat down and started crying.You think: Why are girls always crying?You think: I have to pic that up for her because she is not strong enough to do it.You think: Mexican families always coddle their little girls.You know: Boys and girls both have the same capacity for working and learning and feeling. Neither gender nor race is what motivates Early Childhood actions.

You say: Wow! The sand was knocked over – this is a mess. Jane, when you are done with your feelings we will work together to pick this up.

You are reading a story to the children and one of the characters has 2 moms. Zac yells out: That’s not right! You can’t have 2 moms!

You think:You think:You notice:You Know: We need to teach that ALL families are welcome and “normal”/OK in our group or classroom. (Anti-Bias means Bias FREE) (Developmentally Appropriate Practice, as defined by NAEYC, includes welcoming ALL families. )

Authentic Practice:

I think: I wonder if: I suspect: I believe: I assume: I notice: I was told: I was taught: I KNOW:

Introspection

Close your eyes – get comfortable – relax!

Snowball Fun!!!!

This will be shared!

We are all in this together!