No! Louise Derman-Sparks Julie Olsen Edwards. 5 cons of having technology in the classroom Photo credit : Markus Spiske 1. Kids who can't participate in the costume party can feel left out or uncomfortable. There are other differences but, hopefully, the integrity and spirit of the celebration have been maintained and will enable your students to enter respectfully into the experience. PROS Your out-of-town guests might benefit from your festivities being planned on a holiday weekend It gives them more time to travel to your venue, and might make it easier for them to accept the invitation. Speaking of uncomfortable, try eating lunch or playing at recess in a costume! Holiday parties take away from classroom instruction. Grades: 6-8, 9-12. Personal decorations are fine as long as the decorations are kept to a minimum and are not in any way treading on the rights of othersand that includes ensuring that decorations dont create an unnavigable workspace, said Natalie Holder, an employment lawyer and founder and CEO of Quest In this blog, by the authors of the current as well as the upcoming second edition of Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, Louise Derman-Sparks and Julie Olsen Edwardlay out some principles about how programs and teachers can think about holidays in their classrooms. And all dominant culture holidays reflect a particular perspective about historic events and particular groups of people who are admired and those who are erased. var currentLocation = getCookie("SHRM_Core_CurrentUser_LocationID"); --Putting people of different religions on the party-planning committee. Done thoughtfully, holiday activities also promote a sense of community among children in the program who celebrate different holidays. 1. This is certainly true regarding holiday practices. celebrating cultural diversity in your classroom! Our public schools are again being asked to meet the challenges that come with a rapidly growing and diverse population. There is, however, the potential for problems when you discuss religious themes in a public school, like a parent complaining that you are preaching. It is claimed by these people that the enjoyment and simplicity of Columbus day is almost a mask or distraction to divert the people from the many indigenous lives lost after the . Part of honoring diversity in your classroom is teaching about holidays you dont celebrate. For expats, holidays can mean liberation from pressures to celebrate with family in the usual ways . Search an ECE degree directory, explore professional standards, and join our community of practice. Deepen your professional knowledge wherever you are with NAEYCs exciting webinar series and online and face-to-face training opportunities. Some of the reasons have to do with cultural sensitivity. Yet, conflicting celebrations may also have common ground. Honoring the cultural diversity among the families you serve means recognizing that all have the right to their traditions and that the ECE program does not favor one category of families over another. Recipients will be able to view your cart items, but will not have access to your secure account. As there are three sides to holiday work, we will take a look at each of them individually: For the employees The most important and common aspects are listed below. And dont schedule the event at a time (such as Friday night) that might conflict with someones religious observances. While we suggest reviewing their recommendations in full, here are some general rules: Many educators have fought to continue celebrating holidays in the classroom because they see firsthand the value these lessons bring to their students. 5 Tips for Incorporating Holidays in Your Lessons, Homework for Beginning ESL Students: 8 Tips for Success, Vocabulary, Writing, Listening, and Speaking Activities for ELLs, How to Integrate Higher-Order Thinking Skills Into Your ELL Lesson Plans. Less traffic in big cities. To give credence to various beliefs, celebrations could occur throughout the year at the appropriate time. Many school texts provide curriculum ideas for Christmas-related activities, which are then supplemented each year by instructional magazines aimed at teachers, preschool directors and child care workers. Wilson did on this year's 4th of July holiday, then this should prove to be an exciting way to celebrate the new year. Con: If it's real pine, you'll be vacuuming needles all month and opening gifts under a glorified stick. Secondly, we help students develop their own culturally sensitive skills to be successful in our diverse, multicultural, and global world, enriching not our classroom, but our nation as well. FREE eBooks offer for blended learning! I avoid sacred topics but honor the stories, characters, and rituals of holidays as symbols of positive values. Celebrating holidays can be a fun and festive way to break up the repetition of day-to-day instruction. National Association for the Education of Young Children, Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education position statement, Finding a Place for the Religious and Spiritual Lives of Young Children and Their Families: An Anti-Bias Approach, Everyone is a Star: A New Way to Celebrate and Learn about Each Other, The Lunar New Year is a Global Celebration. "I was able to sleep in, but also go out. This blog is a part of Equity in Action, a blog series exploring the many ways early childhood educators and administrators, higher education faculty members, policymakers, advocates, and other ECE allies can bring the new Advancing Equity in Early Childhood Education position statement to life in practice and policy. Explain that a Seder celebrates the story of the Jewish Exodusthe freeing of the Jewish slaves in Egypt. Celebration of Christmas is a staple in preschools and elementary education settings. Edutopia and Lucas Education Research are trademarks or registered trademarks of the George Lucas Educational Foundation in the U.S. and other countries. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); 520 East Bainbridge Street The holidays can be used to explore how people of diverse backgrounds practice similar values. However, it does not prohibit students from worshipping on their own. Spending all day in a classroom actively learning is tiring, and there is a limited amount that students can learn. Even then, its important to clarify that within any belief system, different families celebrate in different ways. Pros and cons. Avoiding Academic Work. You serve as Leader. He explains why he hadnt eaten and assures the child that he is happy for her birthday. Edward makes sure to talk with the child that the next day. Esther, one of the Jewish children, states that she cannot eat leavened bread during the whole week of Passover. They can also help teach important lessons about kindness, gratefulness, and selflessness. Stay current on all things related to your professional association, from book releases to policy updates. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. They may pause or rewind lectures, read through the content repeatedly, make a note of their questions, or discuss the content with their peers, instructors, or tutors. Place this plate on the table. Some platforms make many pedagogy processes simpler. The national average is $1,640, with a monthly salary of $3,029 and an hourly wage of $17. For the many families of other faiths, the activities are inseparable from the underlying meaning of the religious rituals themselves (after all, a Christmas tree is still a Christmas tree, and the Easter bunny is the Easter bunny). Remind them that Jesus was a devout Jew. Activities that foster these objectives prepare children to live in a diverse society with respect while cherishing their own beliefs. For your convenience, you have permission to make copies of the Classroom Seder Guide to use with your students during your classroom Seder [CLICK HERE]. During the Passover celebration, Jews retell the story of the Exodus, when the Israelites were led out of Egypt to freedom. There are pros and cons to this as well, since it really can go either way. You will see things that spark your curiosity, make you wonder, and amaze you all at once. Sparklers also add to this display as children young and old rush to write words in the sky before the light goes out. Another point to consider when exploring the effects that Christmas can have is the distraction that the celebrations have on the set academic activities. Regardless of how commercially advertised or widespread these secular approaches may be, they are grounded in specific religious and cultural assumptions. At least 32 people were killed and 85 injured in northern Greece when a passenger train collided head-on with a high-speed freight train late Tuesday night, just before midnight. As long as you don't shoot fireworks off your hands like Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback C.J. They can also help teach important lessons about kindness, gratefulness, and selflessness. Companies may have scrimped on workplace perks during the recession, but as the economy has steadily improved, workplace holiday parties have made a comeback, said Mike Baize, manager of HR services at Insperity, a Houston, Texas-based HR services provider. Halloween, following the bounty of the harvest season, is the beginning of the dark time of the year, a scary period for early agrarian societies. For example, when talking about Christmas, focus on giving and kindness rather than Santa or the religious implications of the special day. The focus of Passover celebrations in Jewish homes is a ritual meal called a Seder. Given that research, test data, and anecdotal evidence repeatedly confirm that culture plays a significant role in teaching and learning, student diversity challenges us to explore ways to bridge cultural differences and develop culturally sensitive teaching practices that recognize and accept these differences. Materials: You will need Bibles, a new white bed sheet (large enough to serve as a tablecloth for the table where you will gather for your Seder), and several sets of fabric markers. There are definitely pros and cons of celebrating this spooky day. Do this in remembrance of me. In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Ignite and fulfill your professional development goals! This approach makes it possible for every child to participate in shared special days with the rest of the class. Explore jobs in theCareer Center and findhigher education and professional development opportunities. Families may find certain holidays stressful due to the amount of commercialization and the media pressure to buy. We currently live in a world where our knowledge about other cultures, languages, and traditions is extremely important to foster understanding and mutual respect, and we are now expecting teachers to be our first responders on the front line in this complex task. Your school librarian may also be able to provide resources for you and your students to use in your research. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. In pluralistic society, it's important to raise children with a greater awareness of others around them, especially those who are different. A lifetime activist for children and families, she continues to write, teach, and consult on issues of equity, diversity, and anti-bias. Included: 1. else if(currentUrl.indexOf("/about-shrm/pages/shrm-mena.aspx") > -1) { Check out our blog on, Empty cart. This can be done in a few simple ways: When it comes time to highlight specific cultural holidays, how do you pick the right culturally responsive materials? Your job is to make students aware of the many cultures around them and to help them find commonalities among themselves and those they may view as different from themselves. This court decision has three important parts to it: [*such as classroom instruction in a public school]. The First Amendment Center, in coalition with the AFT and a number of other organizations including the NEA, have issued a guide for educators on such issues called "Finding Common Ground." Holiday celebrations build and strengthen connections between home and school, and among children who share the same holidays. Diversity, whether it involves religion or the gender of the partner someone brings to a workplace party, should be celebrated along with the holidays so that everyone feels welcome, experts advise. Some schools also have graduation ceremonies or Youre Off to Kindergarten parties for children transitioning out of the programs. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. Many parents and kids alike enjoy the fun and games of including this yearly ritual in their Christmas celebrations. June 8, 2022. And dont be afraid to look for primary resources within your school. Fill each cup with grape juice. Some of the most prominent are African-American History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women's History Month. Consider the following holiday examples: A mother brings a special lunch to school for her childs birthday. School holidays comprise a significant portion of any school year. Things related to your secure account classroom Photo credit: Markus Spiske 1 the United states has. 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