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EDC1200 – Self,
Education &
Society
Teaching Episodes
Donna Huntress
Student Number: 005004063
Rationale
I feel that each individual in this community could
benefit from actually standing back and thinking
about how difference and belonging function within
this community. It is not until these elements of the
axis of identity are bought to your attention that you
take on a new or adjusted perspective. If each staff
member took on a stronger sense of belonging; the
Centre could then move forward towards common
goals. I also believe that it is imperative for the staff
to feel as though they belong in order to recognize
difference in the children and their families and then
lead these members of the community into a
greater sense of belonging.
Rationale
There are a few staff members who do not
embrace difference, all Staff are
encouraged to be mindful of opinions and
approach situations with respect for
diversity. (Tezcan, 2003). People reflect
belonging when they feel others are
genuinely interested in them and open to
sharing information with them.
Rationale
In early childhood, and throughout life,
relationships are very important to feeling a
sense of belonging. Families, children and staff
want to feel connected to the setting in which
these relationships occur. This is made possible
when all learning community participants feel
respected, acknowledged, safe and
welcomed and when the learning environment
reflects the values, hopes and dreams of the
community it serves.
Rationale
I also believe that this community could
benefit from promoting the inclusion of
more males, either by employing more
male staff members or by male family
members actively participating in the
community.
Rationale
In my learning episode I aim to create an
awareness of difference and belonging in
our community to all staff members. I will
explore the identity of the community with
the staff in order to get their thinking moving
in a more positive and open minded way. I
will also ask them to consider what their
own identity is so they can start to
understand who it is they are not and how
they belong to this community.
Learning Episode
 This
teaching episode will take place at
the monthly staff meeting, with no
interruptions.
 I will discuss each slide as we go.
Our Community
 Long
day care Centre.
 Children 6 weeks – 5 Years.
 Families.
 Staff.
Community refers to a physical setting which people feel that they belong to
through a range of experiences and collective interactions with others.
(Hickey, 2013c).
Our Children and Families
 White,
Black.
 Male, Female.
 Lower class, Middle class, Upper class.
 English speaking, non-English speaking.
Our Staff
 White,
Black.
 Male, Female.
 Lower class, Middle class, Upper class.
 English speaking, non-English speaking.
What is Identity?
Identity is known to be the elements which reflect, name or
make up who we are at a certain point in time. (Austin, 2013).
What is Difference?
“Difference is often portrayed and thought of negatively; that is, as
something to be fixed.” (Hickey, 2013c). It is our role to engage
with children and encourage positive relationships.
What is Belonging?
Belonging allows an individual to feel welcome and supports the
truth of one’s value. Community membership provides a feeling of
belonging to individuals. Belonging is a natural human need,
communities provide the grounds for which belonging is felt and
experienced. (Hickey, 2013c).
Activity
The first activity will be a handout titled:
Draw or describe a child who attends
Sunkids.
This is to get the staff to think about the
people who make up their community. The
results of this handout can be seen in the
following slide. I am assuming that no staff
members will draw or describe a child from
a particular race and would most probably
not touch on the notion of race at all.
1st Handout
Outcome
No staff member has
explored the axis of Race –
This can be seen as positive
or negative difference. It
indicates that either race is
not seen; therefore all
children are equal or it
indicates that ‘difference’ is
not accepted.
Activity
The second activity will be a handout titled:
Draw or describe the ideal educator.
This is to get the staff to think about the
people who make up our staff in this
community. The results of this handout can
be seen in the following slide. I am assuming
that no staff members will draw or describe
a female educator and would most
probably not touch on the notion of a male
educator.
2nd Handout
Outcome
No staff member has
explored the axis of Gender
– this indicates that most
staff members believe that
this is a female dominated
community. Positive
difference is that the
community does have a
male director and one
male educator.
Outcome of the Activities
At the end of this session, when the
handouts have been collected, I will discuss
the outcome of the activity and ask the
community if they truly believe that
educators are not male and if they feel that
none of the children come from different
races. This is designed to create an
awareness within the community about the
possibilities of difference and how these
people belong to our community.
Positive Gender Difference
A male director and a male group leader
Positive Race Difference
Staff members from diverse cultural
backgrounds.
Brainstorming Activity
The next Activity will be to brainstorm as a
group; ways in which we can encourage:
a) Greater male involvement in the
community
and
b) Acceptance of different races in the
community
Brainstorming: How can we encourage
greater male involvement in the
community
 Consider
male recruits for staff positions
 Encourage male family members to
become involved in the community:
Cooking BBQ, Santa, gardening, Painting
with children.
Brain storming: How can we accept
different Races in the community
 Provide
interpreters as required
 Accept diversity by Leading by example
 Equal treatment
 Accept that difference is not something
to be fixed.
 Support non-English speaking families
Activity Discussion
I feel that these learning episodes would
allow all staff to reflect upon their
pictures/descriptions and then open their
minds to the positive and negative
difference which resides in the gender and
race axis within this community. I would ask
all staff members to please consider these
concepts and I would hope that the
community will have shifted towards a more
positive way of accepting diversity.
Difference and Belonging
I will discuss the importance of accepting
diversity and being able to achieve a sense
of belonging for this community to work as
a whole.
Conclusion to Learning
Episode
Thank you to all staff members who
attended my session on Difference and
belonging. My goal would be to see staff
members actively accepting and
supporting difference in our community and
also fostering belonging so that each
person can feel a sense of validation within
our community.