Nidieska's+Page

Week 3 - Parent's Interview - Conducted at parent's home Interviewer’s Name: __Nidieska Tobar__ Date __09/19/2011__ Location of Interview: __Parent’s household__ JM Gender__:__ F_ Parent Interview I am the mother of the child I have two children: a boy and a girl. Ages: 11 and 6 Both English and Spanish are spoken at the household. The primary language spoken at the home is: English My expectations are that both of my children perform well in school, and they graduate from high school, and attend college. I have a very close relationship with my children. I try to spend as much time with them after school and on weekends. We do a lot of fun activities together. Mornings: we wake up at 6:00am, get dressed, and have breakfast together as a family before leaving to go to school and work. Afternoon: After the kids come home from school in the afternoon I prepare a snack, and they sit at the kitchen table while I cook diner to talk about our days. The kids and I work together in their homework assignments. Evening: We eat dinner as a family, and then on some evenings we have game night where we play family games. At other evenings we will watch a family movie together. Sometimes, the kids will go to their room to read, play on the computer or watch their own favorite TV show. My current occupation is: Customer Service Representative. I have a good relationship with my children’s teachers. However, since both my husband and I work long hours, and the kids are picked up by bus every day to go to school, I don’t see their teachers very often. I have the teachers’ phone number and email contact in case that I need to communicate with them. They also have my personal contact information in case that they need to reach out to me. I attend all open houses and parents’ meetings at the school. Both of my children were selected to attend a talented and gifted school as they both scored high grades on the state’s test. I am very proud of their achievements, and I like the school that they attend as I feel that they are receiving a very high quality level of education. The neighborhood that I live in is formed by working class families, and also of low income families. There are some areas with crime and drug incidents, and it is difficult for my children to be able to go outside the home to play without adult supervision. The highest priority for my family is to support our kids in completing their education, providing them with essentials such as clothing, food and shelter, and also to make sure that they grow in a healthy and safe environment. Both my husband and I are very involved in our kids after school activities. My son plays baseball and karate, and my daughter attends folkloric dance lessons. We attend all of our son’s baseball games and karate tournaments, and my daughter’s lessons and her dance shows. Both of my children are engaged in Spelling Bee competitions, and the Boys and Girls Scouts. My disciplinary strategy is to take away their privileges such as watching TV, playing electronic games, and computers if they do not do their homework, or misbehave. In addition, I spend time talking to my children when they do not behave accordingly, and explain the reasons as to why they were disciplined, and the proper behavior, and expectations. Rules: Dinner is served at 7pm, and everyone must be at the table with their hands clean. Children must be in bed by 9pm. Daily chores must be completed before bedtime. They must ask permission to go outside or open the front door. They must keep their rooms clean and organized. Consequences of breaking rules: Privileges are suspended No weekly allowances Not allowed to go to other friends’ house to play Grounded on weekends My children have been taught to behave respectfully in public. If one of my children becomes loud or disrespectful I just remind them of our family’s rules, and the consequences for misbehaving. Our family time consists of playing family board games, watching movies together at home. We also go on family vacations once a year. On some weekends we go to the movies, theme parks and to eat out. My hopes and dreams are to see my children grow up as strong and well educated adults. I also hope that they become successful on the careers that they choose, and that they have families of their own. We work very hard as parents to provide our children with their needs, and have saved money for their college education. Anecdotal Observation of Parenting Style: My observation of this parent’s style is mostly: authoritative, because although the parent has a lot of rules in the household, she is also very supportive of her children. She would discipline her children when they break a rule or misbehave, but she takes time to explain the reasons why. She also celebrates the children’s achievements, and if they are not performing in school as expected, instead of just reprimanding them, she would also encourage them to do better, and provides guidance and support.
 * 1) Are you a parent or guardian of a child? Please explain.
 * 1) How many children do you have? What are their ages?
 * 1) What languages are spoken in your household? Is there a primary language that is used? Please explain.
 * 1) What are some expectations you have for your child?
 * 1) What kind of relationship do you have with your child?
 * 1) What are your household daily routines? Consider your morning, afternoon, and evening rituals.
 * 1) What is your current occupation or profession?
 * 1) What kind of relationship do you currently have with your child’s teacher? How often do you communicate with your child’s teacher?
 * 1) What is your personal view of the school that your child attends? Did you choose this school?
 * 1) Please describe the neighborhood where you live.
 * 1) What is a high priority for your family?
 * 1) Are you currently involved in any physical activities with your child? Does your child exercise or play sports?
 * 1) Is your child engaged in extracurricular activities? If yes, which ones?
 * 1) What kind of disciplinary strategies do you use at home?
 * 1) Give examples of some rules that you have in your home. What are some consequences?
 * 1) How would you describe your child’s behavior in public?
 * 1) What does family time consist of? What do you do as a family during your free time?
 * 1) What hopes or dreams do you have for your child’s future?
 * 1) How are you preparing for your child’s future?

Hi Nidieska, The parent that you interviewed was very structured in her household. He had ground rules for her children to respect. I have the up-most respect for any parent that is well involve in their academics. Both of her children are involve in physical activities and they enjoys having family time together. I also enjoys activity time with my family. I use that time to socialize with my teenager daughter to find out what she does in school. ~Shondell~

Nidieska, I truly agree that this parent is authoritative. I commend her that she works long hours,yet, she can sit with her children 11 & 16, at the kitchen table, and give them snack after school. In addition, I would never be able to get my two 14 year olds and my two 17 year olds to sit at the dinner table and talk about their day since sports have my kids coming in at different times every day. I have like a buffet. I leave dinner on the stove. I do love that she has them doing daily chores and asking permission to leave the house. I too think that all her rules, love, and support show that she is an authoritative parent. Carol Bono Hi Nidiescka

She is authoritative but, in the same time she show’s care and love for her children. You can see the way she enrolls in activities with her children. I like how she approaches at dinner. I like everyone from my family to join in, pray, and have a great fest. I don’t reminiscent to my son to watch TV during dinner. She is concerned about her children’s future, and some times, you have to show authority to kids and surroundings. Sonnia E

**Week 4 - Teacher Interview Questions ** **1- Describe the community where you teach. ** I teach in an urban district. Families in the area are mainly in the low income bracket. **2- How do you increase cultural awareness at your school? ** The school is very culturally diverse. I try to explain to children that we all have to embrace different cultural backgrounds. I do activities with them (writing) about where they are from and what customs they have. I call parents frequently to keep them informed about good or bad updates about their children's performance. At the start of the school year, I provided parents with my direct email address so that they can stay in touch with me when they need to reach me. Also for those parents who provided me with their email address I send them updates about homework assignments and projects due so that they can be aware of what their children are required to work on at home. I also have an open door policy, and when a parent wants to meet with me I make an effort to accomodate a time to meet with them. We have new reading and math materials that I have not been properly trained on. I was thrown into a 2nd grade class with no prior experience on teaching this grade. I have several children who are exhibiting behavior problems, which are becoming an issue. I called the parents of the children involved to keep them informed. I have also reached out to the school's counselor for assistance. Attendance Homework Improving test scores Improving comprehension Walking out with some sanity at the end of the day.
 * Nidieska, **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">Like most of the interview's I've been reading, I would definitely agree that she has an authoritative style. Regardless of her work schedule you can see that she does so much to stay active in her children's academic lives. My interviewee, like yours, have two working parents who work long hours, which is the reality in these economic times. Even though she works long hours she has created a routine that works best for her family that holds high expectations for her children while also nurturing them as well. I really liked reading how she and her family all have breakfast together in the morning. Through my interview and my own life style, I feel like that is a very hard thing to do with so many different schedules. The rules were also very refreshing; they provide structure while also creating a deeper family connection. For example, by enforcing that the children are to all be at the dinner table with their hands clean by 7pm they are relaying the message that it is an important time, time to be together. **
 * <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive;">-Amy Lupardi **
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">3- How do you collaborate with the parents? Give examples. **
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">4- What are some challenges that you face? Behavior? **
 * <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive;">5- List you top five classroom priorities. **

Article Reflection“Are There Other Kids Like Me?”. Children With A Parent in Prison.October 5, 2011 After reading this article I realized how important it is for us educators to understand the concept of diversity in the classroom. Diversity does not just refer to cultural, religious, and ethnic differences, among others. Diversity also includes the different home life situations that these kids are growing up in. These situations can be as though as been homeless, from having to be raised by other members of the family, one parent alone or by foster parents. All of these situations are certainly extremely difficult for these kids to find themselves in, and can cause a lot of anxiety, insecurity, pain and a very difficult time to be able to cope, and adapt. In addition, coming to terms with the extremely difficult situation of having one or both parents incarcerated adds even a more painful, and stressful situation for these children to have to learn to deal with, and comprehend.

Among some of the issues that are faced by the kids who have parents incarcerated and their caregivers are: society’s disapproval, rejection by others who do not understand the situations that these kids and caregivers are experiencing, which can cause feelings of loneliness, sadness and frustration. So, our role as educators aside from making sure that we provide the best educational tools for our students to be able to succeed in their educational life, and to be able to face adulthood, should also be to ensure that we learn how to help these kids to face, and overcome these issues that they are confronted with by providing our support, caring and concern, and arming ourselves with knowledge and skills necessary to assist these students with their needs. We should also be prepared to become an integral part in maintaining a strong link of support between these kids, and their caregivers, and the school by promoting an inclusive environment, and incorporating all of the students and their ways of life as part of the classroom dynamics. As part of the community that these children and their caregivers reside in, the school should also become an integral part in supporting community education by advocating awareness. Teachers can incorporate classroom activities such as: reading stories to the class about other kids, and families facing the same situation. The school can also participate in community workshops among other important community agencies to educate and promote awareness of the issues to other members of the community about the issues that these families are facing. Teachers, counselors, and other school’s officials can also become a network support system for these children to help them cope with the realities of having a parent in prison.

Finally, while I agree that children should be allowed to visit their parent in prison, as I feel that by doing so children can continue to build on their relationship with their parent, and can overcome their worries about their parent’s life situation, and their feelings of not having a parent figure in their life, I also feel that to be able to continue to allow these children to visit their parent in prison that there are certain guidelines that should be taken into consideration. Some of these guidelines should include: considering the type of criminal offense committed by the parent to determine when it is appropriate for the children to be allowed visitations, and to provide the necessary tools to address the needs of the children, the incarcerated parent, and caregivers. These tools should being with a more positive and family oriented setting while the children visit their parents in prison, better means of transportation to allow these kids better access to visits, and for the Department of Correction to include an informational and educational communication resource prior to the first visitations for both the incarcerated parent, the kids, and caregivers on what to expect during visitations.

Nidieska, In the future I will remember to involve our school counselor when selecting books for our school library. I like when your stated that ,"school should become an integral part in supporting community education by advocating awareness". It is soo true that what most children know is what they are told or what they hear from their peers. Carol Bono

<span style="color: #0b5ad8; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Hey Nidieska,

<span style="color: #0b5ad8; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Thinking about the issue of possible students facing the pain of having a parent in prison, and the things that we could do to support them, one big question that comes to mind is: What about all those kids that were born in this country or came young and are facing the issue of one of both of their parents’ deportation? This is another form of incarceration isn’t it? Very similar negatives consequences on the students’ life and possible issues in their school achievement, but definitely one more interesting topic to discuss in class. <span style="color: #0b5ad8; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">Maria Esperanza Gil <span style="color: #0b5ad8; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 110%;">hola

Hi Nidieska, I agree that there is a negative view that society holds when a child has a parent or family member in prison. Automatically upon hearing this, many people react negatively or make assumptions about the family. Unfortunately, we are sometimes quick to pass judgement without thinking about the entire situation. --Prof. Kunz