Managing Conflict in Relationships - EDUC 6165-6

·         Think about any disagreements, or conflicts, you have recently experienced or are currently experiencing at work with a supervisor or colleague, or someone in your personal life. Share at least two strategies you have learned about that might help you manage or resolve the conflict more productively, and why these strategies might be effective. For example, could you suggest a compromise? Could you look for a broader range of solutions to your disagreement? Could you use some of the principles of nonviolent communication or the 3 R's to better help you resolve this conflict?

When you're married, or honestly when you spend a large amount of time with anyone there are bound to be disagreements.  And if there are not, then there is a strong possibility that someone isn't telling the truth or is keeping their mouth closed about it.  This week within our home has been stressful.  We have two children, both in graduate school, both are teachers, and this week is our Spring performance for my school as well as I'm in charge of Week of The Young Child at my facility.  I've been stressed at work because of communication barriers between certain teachers within the building and lately it's been more and more often.  Who better to take out these stresses than . . . Yup you guessed it  my husband.  I'm irritable.  I'm cranky.  I've got so much to do.  And everything, every little thing he does bothered me.  Usually this isn't true.  You see, I have one of the most supportive husbands anyone could ask for!  He cleans the bathrooms every weekend, he washes the laundry and puts it away every weekend so that way I can concentrate on school work those days.  He's amazing!   Darell, my husband is a classic escapist.  He avoids conflict at all costs.  He looks the opposite way of confrontation where I steer it in the eyes to end it (or in this case attempt to start it). 

I realized I was being obnoxious, rude, and inappropriate.  When I did, I went to him and apologized and reminded him of how thankful I am for what he does for our family.  How his support means the world to me.  We spoke about how I needed to focus on my issue at hand which was how I had too much on my plate and what could we do together in order to resolve it. 

·         Also, if appropriate, ask your colleagues for their input and advice regarding, if not specific problems, how they have learned to be more effective communicators as it relates to conflict resolution skills.

(Adapted from O'Hair & Wiemann, 2012, p. 246)

Co-worker #1 - Better communication can only happen if all parties involved want to change things.  If only one person does then they will just become more frustrated because they will try and get nowhere since the other one isn't trying at all.

Co-worker #2 - I found sitting down with our Director helps to have a third party look at the problem as a person not involved in it.  Sometimes when I can't find a compromise just listening to myself sound stupid as I debate it with another will make me change my mind.

Co-worker #3 - Usually it's a waste of time because people are too set in their ways.  Learn to deal with it or figure out how to change it.  I just deal with it.

Research Around The World - EDUC 6163-6 Building Research Comp.

As you know from previous courses in the Masters in Early Childhood Studies program, innovative research in the field is happening not only in the United States but all over the world. This Blog Assignment affords you the opportunity to read and think about international early childhood research.

Website chosen is Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Developed and maintained by the University of Victoria, Canada, this virtual university is the international gateway for early childhood research worldwide found at:  http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php

Having visited 5 countries in Africa, I was intrigued to learn a bit more about this organization.

·         What are some of the current international research topics?

Chalamanda (2004) pinpointed 12 thematic areas using the Human Rights Approach to assist in developing a better framework for Early Childhood Development in regards to Orphans and Vulnerable children in association with their National Action Plan (in Malawi):

1. Integrated Early Childhood Development

2. Health

3. Basic Education

4. Child Protection

5. Nutrition and Food Security

6. Water and Environmental Sanitation

7. Gender and Child Care

8. Social Welfare

9. HIV/AIDS

10. Mass Media and Child Participation

11. Leisure and Entertainment

12. Youth and Child Development

Other topics noted within the sites "Country Team Updates" (2002), yes dated but best information I could find for a bigger scene are:

1.    Effects of environmental factors on child development

2.    In-service training of Primary Teachers for lower grades

3.    to spawning community initiated ECCD in neighboring villages, by chiefs who caught a vision

4.    Strengthening of Growth Monitoring through ECD centers but the set machinery  collapsed because the caregivers lost interest in the job due to the following reasons:

a.    Non payment of caregivers salary

b.    Non participation of parents

·         What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

Our nation experiences these same struggles.  While similar poverty levels exist so greatly within our country, many organizations focus their attention on assisting those within more poverty stricken countries.  The networking within the different countries and states from this organization seems well run back when it first began, yet current documents are not present.  There were a total of 16 documents from 2003 to current.  None the less, the topics that were being discussed as concerns are similar to our concerns here in the States.   

·         What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

As mentioned before, something noteworthy that I noticed when viewing this website was the agreement that our country struggles with the same areas that this continent does.  Being able to use international contacts and resources to assist in adjusting our curriculum and help make changes within our quality programs is a huge advantage that not many people are taking advantage of.  I travel the world during my summers helping other countries better their early childhood educational programs, helping parents understand and learn new strategies within their homes, and helping organizations run more smoothly to meet their goals.  I'm sure many people have experienced this realization, but when we each are able to step down from the pedestal that we may be on and understand that there is so much to be gained when helping then our lives are bettered as well.  They become better not because of the good works being done, but instead bettered by realizing in any situation there are life lessons to be learned.  

Chalamanda, Francis R.W. (2004).  Coordinating The Development and Implementation of the 2003 - 2013 National Action Plan (NAP) for Children in Malawi.  Retrieved 5 April 2014. Website: http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/documents/major_projects/Chalamanda%20-%20MP%20Final%20-%20UVic%20LP.pdf