Module Objectives

In this module, you will:

• Reflect upon your cultural background and how it impacts working with infants and families
• Analyze how culture impacts working with infants, , & families
• Evaluate a family’s cultural background

Assignment #1: Overview of Culture

This assignment has 3 parts:

Part 1: Go to FlipGrid (https://flipgrid.com/00988321 your user name is your first name as it appears in CUNY First) to answer these questions:

Reflect then answer the following questions:

1. How do you define your cultural identity?
2. How does your ethnicity, age, family, experience, education, socioeconomic status, gender, sexual orientation, religious practices, etc. impact your interactions with others?
3. Describe a time when you became aware of being different from others.  How did you feel? How did you deal with the situation?
4.  Why is it important to reflect on these questions if you are planning on becoming an infant teacher?

Part 2: Read Gonzalez-Mena (2008)

Gonzalez-Mena (2008) Chap 1

Part 3: Read Cultural Differences Scenarios. Pick 3 scenarios; for each scenario answer the following questions:

Cultural Differences Scenarios

1. Which scenario did you choose?  Why?
2. What is your reaction to the scenario? Why?
3. What impact does the difference in cultural practices have on the child? Why?
4. Is there another way to handle the situation?
5. How does this connect to the Gonzalez-Mena (2008) reading? Make specific connections, identifying the page number.

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Assignment #2: Individualism versus Collectivism

Watch the video

Review the handout

Individualists & Collectivists

Answer the questions below:

1. Were raised in a family/ culture that was individualist or collectivist? How do you know? Give specific examples to support your conclusion.
2. Is your Infant/ Family Case Study family collectivist or individualist family/ culture? How do you know? Give specific examples to support your conclusion.
3. How can infant classrooms support families and babies who are from collectivist cultures? How can infant teachers arrange the classroom, materials, and activities to focus on collectivism (“we”) as opposed to individualism (“me”)? List specific practices and ways staff can support babies and families.  List methods that have not yet been mentioned.

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