Your Personal Research Journey

The topic for my simulation will focus on working with diverse cultures on language development.  I currently work on a Native American reservation and during the past few years I have completed the data for the the children on the reservation with special needs diagnosis.  I have observed that communication and language acquisition/development is culturally different on the reservation.  Some children in my program had not developed language not due to a biologic reason but due to their environment.  Culturally families communicate differently to young children.  In one case the children were not taught words but were when they scream, screeched and yelled their needs were met.  We had to teach the mother developmentally appropriate methods of communication with her children.  The children also developed using their words versus screaming once they began Head Start and socialization with other children. I have chosen this topic because it will aid the early intervention process when working with non-verbal children that are not non-verbal due to biologic reasons.  

I did conduct some research on Walden's Library and was unsuccessful with finding any articles that are directly related to Native American populations and language development.  I found articles with English as a second language, sign language, and deaf children.  Although I am not sure if permitted but I may need to find a resource outside of Walden or change my topic to relate to information available on the school's website.  

I found completing the research chart a difficult task.  I struggle with paraphrasing and it seems like completing a chart is more time consuming and daunting for me than writing a paper.  I have truly built a strong relationship with my thesaurus.  I do try to challenge myself versus using direct quotes.  I am getting better each class I do take.  I have been writing out a list of words that I am not familiar with while reading articles and when I come across a new word in the thesaurus.  This is building my vocabulary.  I welcome any information that you can personally share with me to further develop my skill set in paraphrasing and writing.