Kimmie was the 2009 Puget Sound Teacher of the Year. Getting to know students individually, while learning about the history and culture of their identities, sets up the foundation to establish meaningful relationships with students. The day recognizes the importance of access to education among youth worldwide. A big pull for parents is that they know they'll have the opportunity to see multiple examples of student work throughout the building. Positive relationships also foster resilience, and reduce the impact that negative factorssuch as adverse childhood experiences (ACE)may have on childrens healthy development. Researcher Eranda Jayawickreme offers some ideas that can help you be more open and less defensive in conversations. View our full disclosure policyhere. And if you school already celebrates a Culture Night or some similar event, what can you learn from it? It's an opportunity to be unified by pride in our children and to celebrate all the richness and benefits we get from being such a diverse community.". Most importantly, festival celebrations will develop the students' communication skills and help them to interact with individuals from other communities. It can help students develop intercultural skills and global perspectives, as they learn more about different cultures and how to interact with people from different backgrounds. An entire culture simply cannot be capturedand is often trivializedby a single display board. They feel anxiety while performing on the stage. Three Tips to Be More Intellectually Humble, A 7-Day Stress Prescription (The Science of Happiness podcast). 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." It also involves considering implicit biases, and the privileges and disadvantages afforded to you based on your race or ethnicity. 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.". 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. It helps people to be open-minded and respect other cultures. Culture is central to student learning, writes education consultant Zaretta Hammond. Each morning during the weeks leading up to Culture Night, the entire school gets to hear about some of the many countries that will be featured at the event. Festivals are a great medium to make kids aware of one's culture during play school learning only. 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. The students take a fundamental role in 'Culture Day'. Many educators are at a loss for how to address grief in their students and themselves. One especially creative communication effort is a series of morning announcements by students. Depending on the school, the particular holidays or celebrations chosen may represent the cultures of the student population represented in the school. 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. Celebrating the school's annual day provides the school with an opportunity to showcase its achievements. See a passport template below. Once educators have learned about the varying racial and cultural assets of students, they can try to connect academic instruction with students prior knowledge and experiences. As a teacher it is important to communicate an interest in your students culture. Read diverse picture books to your class often. Cultural Learnings Several festivals are celebrated in several ways because of the diversification of area, culture, and practices in our country. The annual Day is a platform for every child in different activities like dancing, singing, painting, playing instruments, etc. Studies show that cultural appreciation and awareness contribute to building a positive self image. For parents, it can be a big relief knowing that their childs teacher wants to learn about their culture. Lorea Martnez, Ph.D., is the award-winning founder of HEART in Mind Consulting, a company dedicated to helping schools and organizations integrate social-emotional learning (SEL) in their practices, products, and learning communities. It is within its mandate for peace that it works . International Students' Day is now celebrated all over the world to commemorate and promote education. "At Disney, we speak 23 languages. Different games and activities are played in the classrooms on this day while maintaining the decorum of the school. So colourful and exciting are the events that they have been described as occasions where the old meets the new. It is important to help children understand and respect similarities and differences among people, and exploring these similarities and differences positively is a good place to start. In conclusion, culture day is an important event that can help promote cultural awareness and celebrate diversity among students. Pediatrician David Schonfeld offers some advice. Or are the people doing the planning only from the majority culture or only people in power? 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.". Greater Good Teaching your students about the importance of Celebrating Different Cultures and Diversity in the classroom will help your students tremendously. Singing songs. Learning multiple languages promotes an overall sense of cultural appreciation and understanding. March 26, 2023; tampa bay golf and country club tidbits Additionally, culture day can help students develop intercultural skills and global perspectives, as they engage in activities and conversations that promote dialogue and understanding between cultures. Culture Day is an important event in any school, as it allows students to explore their own culture and learn about other cultures in a positive, safe environment. Agreeing with this statement another pupil explained: "some students are very uneducated about different backgrounds, this can be challenging for those who are in the minority from a culture and therefore find it very lonely to be around others.". There are much better ways to celebrate diversity and promote equity in schools, such as: What are your ideas for Culture Day alternatives? It is important when incorporating celebrations into the child care program to consider the diverse perspectives of both children and adults. From the GGSC to your bookshelf: 30 science-backed tools for well-being. We try to imbibe in them that spirit of unity for them to work together and live together, and we believe if this is extended to the home and community, our country will be a better place to live.. Our guest learns to welcome her stress by understanding how it can actually help her, plus tips and tricks to not feel too much of it. Here are five strategies for developing cultural competence in the classroom, adapted from my book. 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? Keeping aside cultural programs and plays, the annual function should be focused more on sports activities if you are looking to develop healthy habits into your students. We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Ive staffed booths at PTA events for countries Ive visited (*cringes*). 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. It is important from a young age to embrace different cultures and educate staff and students about people's heritage as this is an important part of student's feeling heard and belonging to a school". Theyre generally not part of a larger effort to promote and celebrate diversity. Most of our families live in nearby apartments and don't always get enough opportunities to interact with one another at school. As a teacher on the Teach Firs." Teach First on Instagram: ""Passover is associated with the education of the next generation. Considering that almost 80% of teachers in public schools are white, while almost half of public elementary and secondary school students are people of color, it is essential that educators create a space where students can bring the pride they feel for their race and ethnicity, and develop an appreciation for diverse racial and ethnic identities. Which cultures and traditions, then, are celebrated and discussed, and which aren't? According to author and University of Georgia professor Dr. Anneliese Singh, developing a positive racial identity entails cultivating nonjudgmental curiosityquestioning old ideas and remaining open to new ones. The school's extraordinary celebration of cultural diversity didn't evolve overnight. From Lunar New Year celebrations to Holi celebrations, a vibrant range of festivities and holiday traditions happen all over the world. Schools and churches should also encourage cultural day celebration and teach the children the importance of culture from the cradle. Many BIPOC, LGTBQ+, or neurodiverse students, and those coming from low-income backgrounds, experience insults and denigrating messages in and outside of school on a regular basis. There can be gaps between how things are and how we want them to be in our relationships with partners, family, and even coworkers. Its important to assign tasks to individuals or small groups, so that everyone is involved in the planning process. Others include nonacademic activities such as food or movies. Ensuring that all students understand the different types of celebrations that happen is a positive reinforcement of cultural awareness in the classroom. APC under pressure to cede Reps Speakership seat to North West, FG disburses N45.3bn to states, FCT for NG-CARES programme, 40% of failed transactions unresolved as ePayments hit N49.4 trillion, It is possible to conquer ethnic, religious prejudices in Nigeria Osinbajo, CMS, Babington Macaulay shine at inter-collegiate sports fiesta, Africa Magic unveils eight-day events lined up for eighth AMVCA, Minister urges Nigerians to engage in natural things that will make them happy, How EdoBEST is striking a balance between academics, sports, culture, General Ali tasks youths on sports development, peacekeeping, School seeks collaboration with media at 45th anniversary. The fetistivals are major platforms through which kenyan communities celebrate their unique cultures. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Copyright 2021. Cultural practices shape students thinking processes, which serve as tools for learning in and outside of school. Therefore, students languages, cultures, and life experiences should be acknowledged as meaningful sources for learning and understanding. Unfortunately, Culture Day activities tend to focus on whats traditional. To celebrate the achievement of liberation from . Do Metamucil Gummies Work as Well as Powder. A lot of preparation precedes the function. I even orchestrated an entire Amazing Race where students experienced music, food, and holidays from around the world. Photo credit: Sodexo USA via flickr (CC BY 2.0), Image credit: Clare Roach (Click image to download a PDF template). OK, so Culture Day is out of the question, but fortunately, its not your only option. 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. Required fields are marked *. Learning about other cultures, languages, religions, and holidays aside from their own will help children learn that their classmates may be very different from them. Become a subscribing member today. Teachers and administrators know that they have to reach out in a multitude of ways. It's home to people from more than 180 countries, who follow 45 religions and speak 91 languages. Answer: The Annual Day Felicitation is highly essential as it increases the talent and all extracurricular activities for a child. Incorporation of them into the school curriculum helps students in several ways. ", "It really brings our learning community together," says assistant principal Ryan Towner. Culture Day is a day dedicated to celebrating the diversity of cultures around the world and fostering intercultural understanding. One of the most important strategies is to create meaningful learning experiences for students. On the other hand, if you have struggling students in your classroom, this could also have the effect of taking away key learning opportunities. 'Culture Day'. 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. 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.. Maps and flags of the different countries they trace their heritage to. Note: An important part of this is understanding and pronouncing students diverse names correctly. Holidays and cultural celebrations are an important part of every society and culture. Inviting parents into the classroom is also a great way to celebrate and share students cultures. For students, parents and members of staff of Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School Bariga, Lagos, celebrating Nigeria's rich cultural heritage is not only necessary, but of utmost priority.. 5. The Federal Government has approved the release of 45.3 billion as reimbursement to States and FCT for the implementation of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG CARES) Programme. For Songkran, Thailand's New Year Festival (April 13-15), learn about the importance of water in the Thai culture and its role in the celebration. Whatever their feelings toward teachers or the school, educators should remember that parents emotions are real and valid. QS: Some popular activities include cultural arts and crafts, music and dance performances, food tastings, and guest speakers. This means that when children experience positive relationships, they are not only creating the pathways for lifelong learning, adaptation, and integration of social, emotional, and cognitive skills, but also making qualitative changes to their genetic makeup. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). The staff sets up the tables and chairs in the cafeteria, and the families do the rest -- cooking, decorating, teaching. With so many unique cultures in the world, there's always a holiday to celebrate. Teachers can shape childrens growth and development in constructive ways through the power of relationships. Bristol Rovers predicted team vs Sheffield Wednesday: Quansah back but will Barton make changes? You can provide student surveys to gather information. Finally, its important to get students involved in the planning process. And, as youll see, these events often have the opposite of their intended effect. When students have to face hostile environments, they use most of their cognitive and emotional skills for dealing with these challenges rather than for learning. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says it is possible for Nigeria to conquer ethnic and religious prejudices as they are crucial issues in building a unified nation. Also encourage cultural Day celebration and teach the children the importance of to! Parents into the classroom is also a great way to celebrate and share students cultures celebrates. Play school learning only as youll see, these events often have the opposite of their effect! Are the events that they know they 'll have the opposite of their intended effect cooking, decorating,.!, etc qs: some popular activities include cultural arts and crafts, music and dance performances, food,! That everyone is involved in the classroom will help your students tremendously by the George Lucas Educational Foundation a! 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Sense of cultural diversity did n't evolve overnight reach out in a multitude of ways the population.

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