week 4

I think this assignment is very similar to our application...

It surprised me that the rating for my verbal aggressiveness was significant. I do not feel that these results were completely accurate and I am curious as to how they calculate the answers. Answering everything as "always", it yielded the lowest aggression, and everything as "never" yielded highest aggression. When reading the questions, I'm not sure I understand why this is the result it gave. If these results are indeed true, I need to be very careful in how I communicate in my professional life because we have to tread lightly sometimes when talking to families. In my personal life, I do not want to create unease unintentionally. 

The second score which I will share is my listening style. It says I am people-oriented, and although one of my peers agreed, the other believed I was more time-oriented. It is easy to see how I could fall into any category depending on the situation I am in and the people who are involved.

week 3

I do find myself communicating with different cultures regularly because of the diversity of the community in which I work. It is important to understand their views, expectations, and sometimes limitations when communicating. If I am working with a family who does not speak English fluently, I'm more apt to using smaller vocabulary and am prepared to explain in other terms what words or phrases mean in order to foster more communication when they appear confused. I can offer resources to help them in a variety of ways which can vary in language and generally are neutral towards gender, religion and race. I can offer supports in areas which they need, regardless of their differences from mine.

week 2

For this assignment, again consider what you have been learning about communication skills and styles. Then record an episode of a television show you do not normally watch. Watch the show with the sound turned off.

• What do you think the characters' relationships are based on the ways in which they are communicating?
• What are they feeling and expressing based on the nonverbal behavior you are observing?

I watched an episode of Dance Moms; I am not very familiar with it and this is helpful in order to prevent bias from previous knowledge of relationships. the episode starts with all the moms in one room ready to listen to the dance teacher reveal comments and pictures of the previous dancers. The dance teacher abbey is very animated, using her hands to speak. she shakes her head no a lot, waving her hands in the air in a questioning manner and looks like shes telling them something negatively, her gestures are very abrupt and fast. some moms  nod their heads in understanding. one, kelly, looked off at their child and blinking slowly, probably not agreeing with abbey.one of the moms makes a disgusted look when a child's picture is revealed, laughs and looks surprised. she raises a finger and asks a question, and abbey directs a question to a child. after the child finishes mothers shake their head and the same one seems to yell back. shes taking deep breaths and shaking her head a lot when she talks.abbey appears to talk about the children's upcoming performances and looks positive, nodding her head yes a lot and gesturing with fluid motions.the mother from earlier is resting her head on her hand. she then points alot while she talks and is abrupt with get gestures.

Now, watch the show with the sound turned on.

• What assumptions did you make about the characters and plot based on the ways in which you interpreted the communication you observed?
• Would your assumptions have been more correct if you had been watching a show you know well?

I was right that abbey was upset with the girls. The mother, kelly, was also upset, stating that when abby is angry she takes it out on the kids rather than the parents. She was surprised and upset that sophie was at the top of the picture reveal pyramid and not the other girl. she does indeed ask a question whens she points her finger, asking if the child not pictured (mattie) was not going on the trip to the next dance competition. the child brooke explains that she was not at the rehersal or dance studio the previous three days, and abbey says she should not compete because she didnt participate as the team. kelly counters that she was part of the rehersals all week to learn the routine, and should have a break for the weekend.abbey explains that the serious dance, that brooke is NOT going. she does not let brooke participate in the rehersal and asks her to play music, and kelly is mad and that came across in her gestures and her tone. the upcoming performance is positively talked about by abbey.

week 1

For your blog this week, think of someone (e.g., family member, celebrity, politician, friend, or professor) who demonstrates competent communication within a particular context. What behaviors does this person exhibit that make him or her effective? Would you want to model some of your own communication behaviors after this person? Why or why not?

My father is a competent communicator. He is attentive, listening to me/others and observing physical characteristics which I exhibit while hes talking. He speaks clearly,and explains further when sensing confusion, discomfort, or a different type of emotion. He doesn't talk to fast and also uses gestures and expressions. I have defiantly grown up mimicking many of the skills and traits he exhibits, and I believe it has played a part in my effective communication as an educator today.