Edutopia is a free source of information, inspiration, and practical strategies for learning and teaching in preK-12 education. Did you know that celebrating culture, seasons,diversity and holidays in your classroom will improve student engagement and participation? Digital Resources for The Paperless Google Classroom. Exploring the World of Knowledge and Understanding. Culture is central to student learning, writes education consultant Zaretta Hammond. The school's extraordinary celebration of cultural diversity didn't evolve overnight. When students are able to bring what they already know into their classrooms, deeper connections can be made with new academic content. It is just as important for students to understand that they all have a culture and to allow all students to share their cultures, as well as to explore the issues that majority students face, particularly related to power and privilege. When we have one day a year where we learn about world cultures, we reinforce the idea of them as exotic and strange. Teaching your students about the importance of Celebrating Different Cultures and Diversity in the classroom will help your students tremendously. Worse, they can showcase paternalistic attitudes about knowing as much about a country as someone born there because one has lived in or visited it. Some cultural and holiday activities may include academic activities such as artistic activities, reading books or articles about the topic or writing prompts. Arrange Sports Activities. It helps build tolerance, curiosity and respect for others. March 26, 2023; tampa bay golf and country club tidbits As an educator, one of the most important lessons you will ever teach is about diversity. The next step is to create a list of tasks that need to be completed in order to make the culture day celebration successful. Your email address will not be published. According to the latest research in developmental science, relationships between and among children and adults are a primary process through which biological and contextual factors influence and mutually reinforce each other.. Cultural activities have a variety of advantages. It makes white culture the norm A representative for the school said: "Students felt that we needed to celebrate the student diversity that we have at JCA and educate one another about different cultures that exist at our school.". Wednesday, November 15, 2017. How is that affecting the student population that the school serves. Ive staffed booths at PTA events for countries Ive visited (*cringes*). It plays a major role in the personality development of children. QS: Inviting parents into the classroom is also a great way to celebrate and share students' cultures. Family, friends, and others are asking about what happened to the body of Joel Agbor Omirenya that was kept in the morgue of Sacred Heart, a Catholic Hospital in Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State. Specific holidays and traditions such as Dia de los Muertos or Kwanza are sometimes celebrated or discussed in schools as well. 1. For the new school year, relationships first, academic content later, To fight crime, engage kids in quality after-school programs, How often and why college students are dropping out, A sound plan gives strength to New Years resolutions. 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. For example, instead of focusing only on Christmas, make sure to cover and give . Winners are announced and ribbons distributed as part of the evening's events. Pediatrician David Schonfeld offers some advice. Do Metamucil Gummies Work as Well as Powder. Communicate regularly with a class in a different country via Skype. Effective teachers cultivate positive relationships with students every day, no matter if the classroom is physical or virtual. Photo credit: Sodexo USA via flickr (CC BY 2.0), Image credit: Clare Roach (Click image to download a PDF template). Mexican folkloric dance! Celebrations of other cultures are also sometimes a part of school celebrations and traditions. If some students are excluded from these celebrations, are those goals being accomplished? Just like language, it is difficult to imagine a society without them. Reading books allows the voice of the culture to be heard and also you are able to show pictures and images from the different cultures. Given this emphasis on learning about and appreciating other cultures and perspectives, educators should carefully weigh the amount of time they are using for cultural celebrations and holiday traditions into their instruction. Celebrations represent. 18 Apr. One of the most important strategies is to create meaningful learning experiences for students. Celebrations include sweet pleasures like food, music, games and fun, helping us hardcode an association with pleasure and joy and whatever we are celebrating. Some students have come up with the idea of having an evening event with musicians, poets etc and a feast of cultural foods and inviting families along.". Bristol as a city is impressively ethnically diverse. While these celebrations and traditions are a part of the fabric of American society, they have the potential to exclude students for a variety of reasons. This can be done by encouraging students to dress in traditional clothing, bring in artifacts from their own cultures, or share stories about their heritage. And so, they decided to introduce a day annually that's dedicated to doing things a little differently. This process is especially important for white educators, since research suggests people of color will commonly begin developing their racial identity before white people. Culture day can have a significant impact on student learning, as it provides students with an opportunity to explore their own culture and learn about other cultures in a positive, safe environment. Typically, major national holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day are discussed and celebrated, with affiliated presentations, parties, and at times art or writing projects affiliated with them. Theme: Newsup by Themeansar. : Short Stories to Spark Diversity Dialogue, Writing and Reading Mysteries for Comprehension, January and New Years Ideas for Students. Such skits inspire students and they can understand the meaning behind it with ease. . They evaluate other points of view critically and constructively. Take your inspiration from Walt Disney Elementary and plan a Culture Night at your school. 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. See full disclosure here. When safe and supportive environments are created, and students unique traits and life experiences are acknowledged, celebrated, and used to enrich the learning environment, students are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and be able to engage with the classroom content in meaningful ways. One of the greatest reasons for all of us to organize a multicultural celebration at our schools is the opportunity it offers students, teachers, and families to encounter one another in celebration of what we all bring to the table. It is important for students to be culturally aware. Revenge travel: Making up for lost time, but at what cost? I would love to hear some of your favorite books that you have on display now. They dont do a good job of presenting people and cultures as modern. Parents also experience emotions about their childrens school and teachers. However, schools can reduce this stage fear of students by encouraging them to participate in cultural activities. Culture Day activities often cross the line from appreciation into appropriation. Students are invited to wear traditional clothes and share foods from all over the world, FIND OUT WHAT'S ON NEAR YOU WITH OUR NEWSLETTER. Its time to rethink how you do diversity. 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. What Is Emotional Labor, and Why Does It Matter? Teachers can spark students motivation for learning by contextualizing the content and making it relevant to students lives. In conclusion, culture day is an important event that can help promote cultural awareness and celebrate diversity among students. Is there a particular threshold for a number of students or community members when choosing which traditions or holidays to celebrate? Inviting parents into the classroom is also a great way to celebrate and share students cultures. Here a few easy ways to help bring all these things to your classroom! Potential themes could include celebrating diversity, exploring cultural similarities and differences, or highlighting a specific culture or region. Korean hanbok fashion show! International Students' Day is now celebrated all over the world to commemorate and promote education. In my new book, Teaching with the HEART in Mind: A Complete Educators Guide to Social Emotional Learning, I discuss why educators need to build their cultural competence in order to nurture positive relationshipsand how they can ensure that students feel respected, seen, and affirmed. In years past, they've invited Irish dancers, Jamaican drummers, and other performers to entertain the crowd. This is in keeping with the philosophy of EdoBEST in schools which promotes not just academic laurels. Researcher Eranda Jayawickreme offers some ideas that can help you be more open and less defensive in conversations. Stage fear is a common problem faced by many students and even adults. But faculty buy-in is equally, if not more, important. The faculty here found that appointing a teacher or staff member to help coordinate the event has improved communication and increased school-wide support. Tips for Teaching About Diversity Self-awareness in children begins to develop when they first start to distinguish between what is "me" and what is "not me." Students also shared that Culture Day not only allows their experiences to be. In order for classrooms to be inclusive and equitable, educators need to understand the larger sociopolitical context that shapes individual experiences. Holidays and cultural celebrations are an important part of every society and culture. Teachers' Day is thus an important day in the life of the teachers as well as the students. 1. 29 March 2017 | Through culture day activities, students can gain an appreciation for different cultures and become more aware of global issues. Schools across the city are home to students with a range of different heritages and it is therefore their job to ensure that all of their attendees feel represented. Feb 21. In Education. I say all this acknowledging that Ive participated in plenty of culture fairs at school. Students also shared that Culture Day not only allows their experiences to be shared during the event but impacts their educational experience all year round. not all students have a loving relationship with their parents. The students take a fundamental role in 'Culture Day'. Here are five strategies for developing cultural competence in the classroom, adapted from my book. Allow students to share: Student love to be the experts and allowing them to share and feel excited to share will bring a positive climate to your classroom. Consultant Zaretta Hammond students motivation for learning by contextualizing the content and Making it relevant to students.. 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