What can you do?Build trust with your students. Today, I would like to share with you 6 ways educators can celebrate diversity in their classroom. When you have your students’ trust, you will see a different side to them you didn’t know existed! However, just because that’s what we are taught doesn’t mean that everyone else is going to be just as accepting as the ones around us. One can measure the diversity of a school by what type of centers it runs, the help it offers to students … Which cultures and traditions, then, are celebrated and discussed, and which aren't? In this day and age, with tons of misinformation present in the media, there are biases that can be so subtly ingrained in every day life that they can be hard to personally pinpoint. Ultimately, we need to carefully consider the consequences of any actions taken in schools. I always took the reading as a way for me to reflect on what I could have done as a teacher in the same situation. We would like to make this section as diverse and multicultural as possible so if you cannot find what you are after please get in touch and we will try and help you out. Guest Article by Amna from Teach Two Reach: Classrooms today are more diverse than ever. These events can and should be a way to build awareness of others, sensitivity and responsiveness to other ways of thinking and doing things, and not a way to create divisiveness among students by creating a "my cultural celebrations are better than yours" environment. While the above mentioned activities are great starting points to setting a strong solid foundation or a culturally responsive and accepting classroom, we as educators must go a step further to make sure this acceptance is inherent and ingrained in their classroom from the very beginning and that the lessons learned during the year are something that students can carry forward with them. Upcoming Heritage & Cultural Events. January 13, 2021. This goes for Wind-Wolf as well, a kindergartener who was deemed as “slow to learn” because his native American background taught him to learn differently than the “average” white student. Similarly, holidays such as Mother's Day and Father's Day can bring painful reminders of parents who are no longer living, are absent or who have been abusive — not all students have a loving relationship with their parents. School & District Management Why School Board Diversity Matters Most school boards don’t look the students they serve, but new research suggests that must change. I usually include a section that reads: “We are excited to learn about each other’s families, cultures, holidays, and celebrations throughout the school year. NYCoRE organizes multicultural events and conferences to encourage inclusivity even after the school bell rings. Just like language, it is difficult to imagine a society without them. reply to this comment to ScottEnumn" aria-label=', reply to this comment to Nina Bone" aria-label=', Are Teachers Suppressing Cultural Pride? Multicultural education is a progressive approach for transforming education based on educational equality and social justice. Be sure to sign up for my email list and receive exclusive access to my members-only resource library. Amna Baig has been teaching for 9 years. We may not always hear about the bullying and discrimination that students from different races and religions deal with on a daily basis, but it is there. Pure Michigan means pure fun, and we have your one-stop shop for events throughout the state right here. I’ve written a parent letter for you to help prepare for this event. When it comes to minority cultures and celebrations, it is especially important to consider who has a voice at the table in terms of planning and delivering these celebrations. The same can be said of holidays and traditions that are commonly celebrated in the U.S. Are people who do not celebrate Christmas or Halloween, or another holiday or tradition, present and able to give their input, thoughts and opinions about the subject in a way that is recognized and heard? Cultural Day is probably one of the most engaging things I have done. However, others believe these celebrations potentially cause more harm than good, taking precious academic learning time from students or "tokenizing" other cultures, creating division and supremacist attitudes, and representing world cultures in simplistic or stereotypical ways. The Diversity Celebration features a wide array of local and international music, eclectic dancing, delectable food, and imaginative crafts. Australian Capital Territory. Make it a THING; a THING that is important to your classroom culture, a THING that is a building block of your class, and a THING that students are excited about. It’s hard to face this, but I don’t know if any of us are immune to it However, once we acknowledge that it happens, when it is happening, and why it is happening, we can take that first step to confront those thoughts, learn more, and begin to help ourselves step away from preconceived notions in order to help our students feel accepted. Cultural awareness and tradition play important roles in helping young children develop a positive sense of identity and build self-esteem. The Australian Capital Territory … Teachers can create global and cultural awareness in their classroom, as they use the multicultural, diversity calendar to plan time-appropriate activities related to seasonal global celebrations. However, we should consider which holidays and celebrations are a part of the school and why, the amount of time dedicated to these celebrations and how we might make them relevant to each of our students, increasing inclusivity and cultural responsiveness in schools and ultimately in our society. In a day and age where the political climate has started shifting into a mindset of not accepting those who are different than us; something I thought would be on its way out in the year 2016, we as teachers have more of a responsibility than ever. There is nothing wrong with wanting to highlight them in schools. Discrimination happens. How about international Pen pals? Appalachian students, faculty, staff, K-12 schools, and members of the local community are all invited to join us in this celebration of cultures through art and entertainment. In this link that I found it gives teachers tips on how to introduce diversity to the classroom:  https://educationtothecore.com/2016/04/ways-to-celebrate-diversity/ […], […] sity and shuts out discrimination and biases. Chances are your class includes students who observe more than one of those events. In 1993, the National Education Association (NEA) adopted Multicultural Diversity Day to “increase awareness of the tremendous need to celebrate our diversity collectively.” Since then, the third Monday in October has been designated to celebrate multicultural diversity in our schools. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. No doubt students will need to learn how to interact in a diverse environment. Give students the platform to share what makes them different. Is there a particular threshold for a number of students or community members when choosing which traditions or holidays to celebrate? Sometimes students can be too shy to speak up about what makes them different. With classes such as 'Leap' classes for fourth to fifth graders, to Advanced Placement classes available for high school students. Students who may be feeling discriminated against or feel left out need to know their teacher is there for them and will stand up for them. Every student wants to have fun in school, and cultural events, holidays and celebrations are one way we can celebrate the diversity in our schools and in our world. Michigan Modern: An Architectural Legacy. (Ends 1/12) Shop Now, Guest Article by Amna from Teach Two Reach. Perhaps one of the first considerations should be which holidays and traditions are celebrated in school — and why. If some students are excluded from these celebrations, are those goals being accomplished? However, not all students that come from various diverse backgrounds feel included or accepted. Learn how your comment data is processed. Depending on how the cultural tradition or holiday is being celebrated, students may be having fun and practicing academic skills, through writing, reading or discussing the topic, for example. To give credence to various beliefs, celebrations could occur throughout the year at the appropriate time. The Census Bureau projects that by the year 2100, the U.S. minority population will become the majority with non-Hispanic whites making up only 40% of the U.S. population. Are there stereotypes that affect […], […] https://educationtothecore.com/2016/04/ways-to-celebrate-diversity/ […], […] educationtothecore.com/2016/04/ways-to-celebrate-diversity/ … See MoreSee Less […], […] https://cdn.educationtothecore.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Slide7.jpg […], […] or her students. Multicultural education entered the spotlight in the early 1970s, following the civil rights movement's initiative for change in the education system. Academic Language Learning Institute, Inc. Teachers and schools regularly engage in activities during and after school to celebrate the various cultures that are represented in the school, as well as national holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. But once they know you are there for them, it will help them tremendously. For some families, the winter holiday times can bring anxiety, sadness and fear, as family dysfunction or loved ones who have passed are remembered. The Importance of Multicultural Education This academic paper by Geneva Gay makes the case for the critical role multicultural awareness and education plays in academic success and inclusivity. Correcting students in constructive ways, communicating positive expectations or celebrating students’ diversity are all great strategies that can be implemented in the classroom to enhance relationships. I know of many Muslim students in schools who are being targeted by other students in discriminatory remarks and actions. We are so shocked when kids say racist/prejudice things yet we don’t even take the time out of our days to educate them on different cultures than their own. Students with diverse backgrounds will feel so included if they see a character that is kind of like them! Subjects like religious education and history, where the teacher has the … Invite parents as well, so that everyone can participate and learn from one another. If I were to be in that same teacher’s situation I would have taken the time to introduce Wind-Wolf to the class and even give him a chance to teach the rest of the class aspects of his culture. This could be a perfect opportunity to add some learning with comparing and contrasting Venn diagrams. Read on for ideas and inspiration for hosting your own! I’m Muslim and no one is blind to how Islam and Muslims are being portrayed in the media. The end result should be that students develop a mutual respect towards others with differences and teachers make sure they are teaching with cultural sensitivity. Take time out to talk to your students individually to learn about them. Certain cultures and religious traditions, for example, do not celebrate holidays such as Halloween and Christmas, and some students may need to excuse themselves from the classroom during holiday parties and activities. Holidays and cultural celebrations are an important part of every society and culture. The text is editable! The CCSS state: "Students appreciate that the 21st-century classroom and workplace are settings in which people from often widely divergent cultures and who represent diverse experiences and perspectives must learn and work together. However, not all students that come from various diverse backgrounds feel included or accepted. Note: below you’ll find a small sampling of this year’s diversity events. About the Diversity Celebration. You can learn more about me here. Students had  to bring in a food dish representative of their heritage and also try to dress in clothing that represented their culture. Here’s how. Depending on the school, the particular holidays or celebrations chosen may represent the cultures of the student population represented in the school. At times, these celebrations and parties are conducted just before holiday breaks, as students are excited and potentially more focused on vacation than doing academic work. Do your students celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or Three Kings Day? Or can the same goals be accomplished in other ways? Through reading great classic and contemporary works of literature representative of a variety of periods, cultures, and worldviews, students can vicariously inhabit worlds and have experiences much different than their own.". Classroom Reveal: Black and White with Pops of Color! Erick Herrmann is an educational consultant specialized in teaching English learners, and he runs Academic Language Learning Institute, Inc.. Erick has worked with thousands of teachers across the nation to help them improve their instructional practice and increase academic achievement for all students. Please don’t think that parents will be offended if you ask them questions about their background or religion. Breaking down barriers to make career and technical pathways accessible for everyone, How employers are helping employees reduce student loan debt, Report: Only 6% of US companies offer comprehensive child care benefits, For the new school year, relationships first, academic content later, Millions of high school students set for success: Celebrating Career and Technical Education Month, To fight crime, engage kids in quality after-school programs, How often and why college students are dropping out. Mainstream books are great and should stay in the classroom library. Your email address will not be published. Go a step further and visit with their families and go to their house. Today, people come from a wide array of cultures including people from Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa; whereas, earlier generations of … Sharing Additionally, we must be keenly aware that celebrating other cultures, when we are not members of that culture, can potentially be construed as tokenism or cultural appropriation. September 22, 2020. Cultural and holiday celebrations have been a part of the fabric in U.S. schools for decades. Are there stereotypes that affect your thinking of a particular group or student? Two websites that I came across that help make international Pen pal connections are International Pen Friends and ePals. October 19, 2020 (every third Monday in October) is Multicultural Diversity Day, a national day created by Cleorah Scruggs, a fourth-grade teacher in Flint, Michigan, the day was adopted as a national event by the NEA’s 1993 Representative Assembly to “increase awareness of the tremendous need to celebrate our diversity collectively.” I also know that educators might not always be aware of what Islam really teaches. It is not an exhaustive list of celebrations and festivals and there are gaps which we will be looking to fill over time. In 2014, U.S. public schools hit a minority majority milestone with Latino, African-American, and Asian students having surpassed the number of white students. Learning about difference. Different backgrounds, cultures, and religions are interwoven into the average American class. The New York Times’ project on immigration highlights the fact that, since the 1990s, Hispanic and Asian student enrollment in American schools has risen by more than five million, greatly impacting educational and social development at all levels of learning. Most parents will welcome the fact that you took the time out to WANT to learn more about their child. Having them share a popular dish and even dressing up would be so entertaining and a great way to learn about other customs and traditions. Every educator wants classroom and school celebrations to be just that, Business Management, Services & Risk Management. Are they meant to bring awareness of the history of the holiday, to bring fun and excitement to the classroom, or to bring unity and assimilation to U.S. culture? They also did a project- either a brochure or poster explaining one aspect of their culture – from clothing to music to sports, etc. Others include nonacademic activities such as food or movies. This type of activity celebrates inclusion and diversity in the classroom. You can grab it below. Do a craft activity that would encourage a child to focus on the different physical features of people … My name is Emily, and I am the creator of Education to the Core. Copyright © 2021 Education to the Core  •  All rights reserved  •  Site Design by Emily White Designs. In terms of celebrations and holiday traditions, what purpose are they serving? You can do this on an individual or case by case basis spread out through out the year, as well as an activity where you can have yourself a grand ‘ol feast in a cultural celebration. Approach them and ask them to work together with their child to prepare some sort of presentation or activity that teaches others about their background. Saugatuck. A multicultural calendar with monthly themes and events is an essential tool for diversity in the workplace training. In every culture around the world, humans engage in cultural and holiday traditions and celebrations. Educational Resources . Find world-class events to small-town festivals – and everything in between. She was a second grade teacher for 8 years and she took off this year to be home with her two little ones. Different backgrounds, cultures, and religions are interwoven into the average American class. Classrooms today are more diverse than ever. The National Multicultural Festival. Are the people planning a culture night, for example, representatives from the cultures being celebrated? Whether this is the food, stories or dances. […], Your email address will not be published. We should question, then, the purpose of these celebrations in schools. At other times a "culture night" may be celebrated, with teachers, parents or students sharing cultural artifacts or traditions in a variety of ways. But we never want any students to pick up on any type of unintentional behavior that makes them feel like their teacher doesn’t understand them or allows other students to show discrimination. Teachers have to take a good hard look at their own thought processes and see how they can consciously make sure that their classroom is one that celebrates diversity and shuts out discrimination and biases. Every educator wants classroom and school celebrations to be just that — celebratory. But the whole time that I was reading this letter from a pleading, concerned father I was wondering that if Wind-Wolf’s teacher even gave him the time of the day in the first place, or did they automatically put a label on him because the length of his hair or the uniqueness of his name. Appropriate time be feeling this way, get parents to help prepare this! The local news, but for the most engaging things i have done world-class to! 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