Race vs Ethnicity

The discussion about race and ethnicity really caught my attention on Tuesday.  I have never really thought about the difference between the two before Tuesday.  I have always known there is a difference, but if someone would have asked me I don't think I could have told them the true difference between race and ethnicity.  I am in early childhood education and in my classes we talk a lot about the students' families and how as professionals we need to get involved with the familes and understand their way of life.  I think it is very important to remember that just because maybe two studnets are the same race that does not mean they share any of the same customs or values.  The lecture on Tuesday really reminded me that race is simply based on physical characteristics, it has nothing to do with someone's values or customs which is ethnicity.  When working with children and their families I need to focus on their ethnicity if I want to truly get to know their way of life and how their family works.