Read about this initiative focused on equity in early childhood and find other equity-related content. School work, especially in junior high and high school, becomes a child's job. Grades: 6-8, 9-12. Holiday parties take away from classroom instruction. Adding technology to the classroom increases the overall amount of exposure to electronic devices. Keep in mind that it is adapted and condensed for use in your classroom during a normal session. Louise Derman-Sparks, MA,has worked with children and adults in early childhood education for more than 50 years and is a faculty emerita of Pacific Oaks College. They can return to our website and order the items you selected. Some [employers] give major Christian and Jewish holidays off and are moving to include major Muslim holidays as well. While students look forward to those holidays as a break from their regular studies, there is a growing fear that American students are falling behind because of the lack of actual classroom time. $('.container-footer').first().hide(); Your session has expired. And, given the significance of a wedding, honoring marriage on top of an already special occasion will make it much more memorable. That extends to these areas of potential conflict:Days off. There are countless Christian Seders available online if you choose to go that route. Look at historical photos from the holiday and have students make up their own stories about what is taking place. Chapters 1 and 2 examine the personal and social meanings of holidays, as well as current approaches and new ideas for celebrating, noting the benefits of a holiday curriculum. Our country has always been home to people of many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. Longer breaks such as the winter holidays allow families an opportunity to reconnect. However, that desert meal, or even the meal that Jesus and his disciples shared, probably bears little resemblance to Seder celebrations of our time. var temp_style = document.createElement('style'); $("span.current-site").html("SHRM MENA "); Place this plate on the table. In a traditional Seder, there are two ritual hand-washings; here there is only one. From Lunar New Year celebrations to Holi celebrations, a vibrant range of festivities and holiday traditions happen all over the world. The best reason to move during the holidays - you will save money. You get to do what you like in the weather you like, and all at the low price of 'off season' (as they say in tourist industry jargon). Its not advisableand virtually impossibleto ask workers to keep their religious holiday observances completely separate from work. This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience. Now playing. The ritual on these pages is intended to help students understand what happens at a Seder and to participate in an important tradition in the lives of our Jewish brothers and sisters. When I answered, "Cooking with my flatmate and going for Turkish!" they longed to join us. When the economy is unstable, employers are faced with difficult decisions around staffing, pay and benefits. Some believe it encourages children and adults to embrace spiritual darkness, while others see it as a bit of harmless fun for the kids. Should You Celebrate Holidays in the Classroom? And dont be afraid to look for primary resources within your school. She does not realize it is Ramadan, when observant adult Muslims fast between dawn and dusk. The Music Okay, look. Pro: Appreciate the money, time, and effort spent in decorating the tree as much as you can prior to Christmas Day, because after that, they are just a sad reminder that the holiday is over. Holidays can be a fun and exciting way to open doors to talking about different cultures and languages. One can teach about the holidays from October all the way through May, beginning with the harvest and the holidays of Halloween and Diwali and ending with the rituals of Passover, Easter, and May Day. Connect with professionals in your community at conferences, networking events, advocacy efforts, leadership opportunities and more! Inform students about various beliefs, rather than conform students to any particular belief. These differ from each other. Just because kids have time off from school doesn't mean parents do. Jesus was a devout Jew, as were his first disciples. Focus on the awareness of religions rather than acceptance of any one religion. Others point to the fact that some classrooms get carried away with four weeks spent crafting every possible variation on a turkey theme, while the . CONS: Creating a good quality educational video can be time consuming. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. She is coauthor of several books, including Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change, Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, and Teaching/Learning Anti-Racism: A Developmental Approach. Flipped classrooms have pros and cons. Celebrate a national holiday as a class and discuss its meaning Have scholars share their personal experiences of holidays Classroom Considerations Instructors are encouraged to supplement or substitute resources to meet the needs of their students Pros Lesson provides a sample key of the celebration matrix to assist learners 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. In May, I teach the children English Morris dances, which date back to springtime planting celebrations of more than a thousand years ago. However, it does not prohibit students from worshipping on their own. 3:12 AM. Compromise: Opt for a faux tree. One example would be using it as a time to talk about different beliefs of life, death, and what happens after death. They can also help teach important lessons about kindness, gratefulness, and selflessness. The focus of Passover celebrations in Jewish homes is a ritual meal called a Seder. But meaningful multicultural education must go beyond saying that we're a "melting pot," having an ethnic food celebration a couple of times a year, and acknowledging a few well-known historical figures. $(document).ready(function () { Visit WETA's other education websites: Start with a Book| Reading Rockets|AdLit|LD OnLine, Web development by Boxcar Studio and Rapid Development Group, A bilingual site for educators and families of English language learners. Small notes may not be considered thoughtful. Text 1: A magazine article about the pros and cons of celebrating Valentine's Day in general. Students use inquiry-based learning to gather information about Columbus's impact on the Americas. Celebrations can also be whimsical and playfulfor example, "Bring Books Alive Day" (making and wearing costumes from books, eating foods from favorite books, acting out favorite stories); "Pajama Day" (wearing pjs and slippers to school, telling bedtime stories, sharing family bedtime rituals); or "Backwards Day" (wearing clothes backwards, Discover practical tips and innovative ideas for preschool teachers in our award-winning magazine. 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. Search an ECE degree directory, explore professional standards, and join our community of practice. Some of the reasons have to do with cultural sensitivity. Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. Some of the most prominent are African-American History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women's History Month. If your favorite part of celebrating the holidays is spending time with family and friends, your holiday wedding will feel extraordinarily sentimental. Student Journaling as a Tool for Teaching English Language Learners. Both the NAEYC Code of Ethics and the anti-bias education approach make respecting family diversity a cornerstone of quality early childhood programs. Everyone points out the advantages of homeschooling, but before you jump in, what are the drawbacks? Support our mission and reach the NAEYC audience through your advertisement, conference exhibit booth, or sponsorship. Part of honoring diversity in your classroom is teaching about holidays you dont celebrate. Many holidays include the motif of light, which you can use to begin to discuss what they have in common: Teachers sometimes focus on the winter holidays just to provide cover for discussing Christmas. Plus, not everyone celebrates Halloween. Parents seem to understand that teaching about the commonalities in holiday stories reinforces cultural understanding. Please log in as a SHRM member before saving bookmarks. 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. Enhance your career and improve your knowledge, skills, and practices with our in-person and online training. Ultimately, all of these strategies for cultural responsiveness support our goals for student achievement in two ways. Please complete the form below. Below, find out how Elf on the Shelf works and explore the possible pros and cons of bringing home a scout elf for your family this holiday season. There is, however, the potential for problems when you discuss religious themes in a public school, like a parent complaining that you are preaching. Donate to help NAEYC advance a strong and dynamic early childhood profession and connect educators to cutting-edge resources. Check multiple sources for the most comprehensive view of the history, traditions, and meaning behind the special day. While students may not need the amount of time off they currently receive, some breaks encourage rest and give students the boost they need to do their best when they are back in class. With a global economy in place and our technology moving at a rate faster than we'd ever imagined, every teacher needs more help meeting the needs of and being culturally responsive to his/her students, many of whom now have roots in places like Mexico, Puerto Rico, Vietnam, Somalia, Croatia, and Jordan. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. We also dance around the Maypole. They all depend on factors like age, social, marital and parental status, company position or carreer choices. Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically. Celebrating Winter Holidays in the Classroom . No matter what you choose to shed light on the subject (a lesson plan, ongoing unit study, field trip, cultural fair, special performance presentation, etc. Keene, New Hampshire, where I teach music today, is a relatively secular community. If she had, she might have planned with themfor example, asking if the the birthday childs family might check with Esthers family about bringing a non-leaven cookie or pastry for Esther. Step #2: Personalize My Email, Looking for more ways to foster an inclusive space at school? From Columbus Day to Independence Day to Thanksgiving, the U.S. pretty much specializes in taking dates that celebrate genocide and discrimination, and repackaging them as family-friendly holidays. Celebrating is a great way to be an inclusive and culturally responsible teacher, especially if you have ELLs in your classroom or live in a diverse community. Celebrations can also be whimsical and playfulfor example, Bring Books Alive Day (making and wearing costumes from books, eating foods from favorite books, acting out favorite stories); Pajama Day (wearing pjs and slippers to school, telling bedtime stories, sharing family bedtime rituals); or Backwards Day (wearing clothes backwards, doing things in reverse order of an ordinary day). She has students choose one to three resources, which include songs and videos in addition to stories and articles. 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. Your school librarian may also be able to provide resources for you and your students to use in your research. Preparations * Cover a large table with a cloth. These are topics that require clarifying conversations. Major support provided by our founding partner, the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. By this they mean that different actions, readings, and prayers have changed through the centuries. And most of us are probably guilty of paying a little less attention to our December friends' big days than we do to birthdays that fall in other months of the year. I went to the city with my family and cousins! 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 Non-Thinking Use Holiday Biased Curriculum An Anti-Biased Approach First, we build a democratic foundation for equal access to education. Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Check out some of these ideas for inspiration: Activities like these will help you balance fun and games with educational content to make your lessons both impactful and memorable. Years ago, following a holiday concert I had just conducted at a small Vermont elementary school, a parent approached me with a complaint. You can avoid controversial topics and still honor a diversity of holiday stories, characters, and rituals as symbols of positive values. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? Stay current on all things related to your professional association, from book releases to policy updates. It gets quiet around five days before Tet . In addition, some Muslims and members of other religions not only refrain from alcohol but can be offended by its very presence, and so may not want to attend a party where alcohol is served, Holder noted. Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. Many in the education community believe that this is due to an outdated school schedule still based on a harvest schedule that gives students summers off and extensive holidays throughout the year. This is certainly true regarding holiday practices. 2. Please add products before saving :). We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. Now turn the clock forward a hundred years. Yet, most early childhood education programs now serve a wide range of families, many of which have configurations that differ from the one mother and one father family structure. All of these recommendations are in line with the standard that officially guides states and schools on this issue the "Lemon Test," named after the 1971 court case of Lemon v. Kurtzman. Develop grassroots efforts advancing early childhood in your community with these tools and resources. Be sure the table is large enough for all class members to sit around. That includes: Dont champion or push celebration of one holiday over another. The Supreme Court decided that schools could not receive public funding if they engaged in religious instruction. Christmas = Snow And snow means being cold, which is only cool when you're snuggling under soft blankets with a hot drink. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. As we know, many children base their impressions of the holidays on what the commercial culture teaches them. Your shopping cart will be sent with product images, information, and subtotal. If students of a certain religion will be missing school days, it would be helpful to post these on a classroom calendar and let everyone in the class know ahead of time. Taking the time to thoughtfully discuss how to make respectful learning about holidays a part of your curriculum is worth the results when all children and families feel that they are cared about and belong in your program. "I was able to sleep in, but also go out. Brief Description. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Ignite and fulfill your professional development goals! This court decision has three important parts to it: [*such as classroom instruction in a public school]. Anti-Bias Education: The December Holidays from the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Some costumes cost a lot of money. 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. Pros and Cons PROS Students have more control over their learning. You may be surprised at the number of teachers or administrators who can give you a firsthand account of the holiday in question. When we acknowledge that our classrooms are natural extensions of our own culture, we can begin to make room for the cultures of others. Every year I ask myself, what do these children understand about their relationship to their holidays? A student teacher, enjoying her cupcake, gives Esther a piece because she feels sorry about depriving Esther. While class pets can be a great teaching tool, they can also be a huge distraction. Here are some key ideas. Engage with our policy agendas, advocacy resources, and current initiatives. 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. Check out 10 negative and positive things Halloween can teach your kids. Spending all day in a classroom actively learning is tiring, and there is a limited amount that students can learn. May offend families with different beliefs. An educational opportunity. Some of the most prominent are African-American History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women's History Month. Another point to consider when exploring the effects that Christmas can have is the distraction that the celebrations have on the set academic activities. In honor of St. Paddy's Day, Jimmy weighs the good and bad of joining the festivities.Subscribe NOW to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: http://bit.ly/. 5 cons of having technology in the classroom Photo credit : Markus Spiske 1. Find a sponsorship opportunity thats right for you and help support early childhood educators, parents, and other professionals. * Also on the table place the following: two unlit candles; a plate on which you have placed a piece of matzoh for each student (you may need more than one plate depending on the size of the group); one or more glasses half-filled with salted water; place setting of one plate and one cup for each participant. But you can create lesson plans in all subjects around the holidays that will make your lessons far more memorable for students. This is an important element in children learning about, rather than celebrating, a holiday grounded in a specific faith or celebrating a historic event. The heat. When the students have finished decorating their portion of the tablecloth with the part of the story they are illustrating, have them explain their drawing to the class and tell how it relates to the Exodus story. When elementary-age children have holidays and parents do not, parents can be left scrambling for day care options. Do your research, keep an open mind, and speak with your students. Holidays give families an opportunity to spend time together and celebrate. The winter holidays are a great opportunity for employees to bond over social events and sugar cookies, but they can also be a source of conflict for HR managers, who must make sure the season doesnt lead to hurt feelings, discomfort or worsea charge of religious discrimination. Even some Christian families see these as pagan appropriations that trivialize one of their two most important holy days of the year. The purpose is to recall the Exodus story with our students and honor its part in our story of faith. Children's social behavior and emotions are still . In October, I draw a large circular calendar and mark October 31. Here are some ideas to help you highlight multicultural and religious holidays appropriately, and select the right activities and materials: When it comes to religious holidays or traditions, what is their appropriate place in the curriculum? Luckily, the teacher notices the conflicted expression on Esthers face and intervenes: Esther, do you know that cake is made with leavened flour and that you cant eat it during Passover? Esther nods her head. This article shows teachers how to bring rich cultural content into their teaching in a way that expands students' knowledge, interest, and respect for the group being featured. We can't escape the eve of All Saints' Day but we can prevent our kids from getting into trouble. As we work to instill a strong sense of community and tolerance in our children, teaching the shared values of the holidays fits right in with our social and academic curricula. $("span.current-site").html("SHRM China "); The head teacher explains Edwards right to practice fasting. Regardless of how commercially advertised or widespread these secular approaches may be, they are grounded in specific religious and cultural assumptions. Common sense is the rule when it comes to decorations put up by management and holiday items brought in by workers. The Christmas holidays allows many UK schools to have a 2 week break, but many students seem be in holiday mode way before the last day of term. Video Program Guide. School holidays comprise a significant portion of any school year. Fourth-grade teacher Sarah Pemberton periodically uses 10 to 15 minutes set aside for in-class reading to teach her students about cultural, federal, and religious holidays and celebrations. days; or occasions for Recognizing Family and Neighborhood Heroes.. 520 East Bainbridge Street Ensuring that all students understand the different types of celebrations that happen is a positive reinforcement of cultural awareness in the classroom. It's important to know what your purpose is in bringing up religion most often, teachers intend to foster tolerance for other beliefs and faiths, and one of the best ways for teachers to do this is to plan ahead and to consult with informed sources, colleagues, parents, and the community. Just because public schools in Texas have celebrated Halloween for generations is no reason to mindlessly continue it. Place a small pillow on each chair. Artwork by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator David Diaz and Pura Belpr Award-winning illustrator Rafael Lpez is used with permission. Copyright 2023 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Education, Explore state by state cost analysis of US colleges in an interactive article, Family portrait of young family on picnic image by YURY MARYUNIN from, Newsweek: Obama Calls for a Longer School Year. The Drawbacks of Class Pets. Everything you need is included: the nonfiction articles, a graphic organizer, stationery, and a rubric to grade the essays. The answer is yes. So as Thanksgiving 2021 the 400th anniversary of the supposed first Thanksgiving approaches, you may be wondering exactly why Thanksgiving is bad. Here are some resources to help you teach your children about different holidays: PBS Parents: Search for "holiday diversity" or "cultural diversity" for a great list of resources. Celebrations can be respectfulfor example, Honoring Our Families get-togethers; Thanking the People Who Make Our School Work (cook, janitor, bus driver, etc.) Teaching Elementary-Age ELLs the Hidden Curriculum, Christmas Stories: American Indian Heritage, Winter Stories: Asian Pacific American Heritage, My Celebrations: Books For Young Children, Migrant Students: What We Need to Know to Help Them Succeed, How to Create a Welcoming Classroom Environment for ELLs, Tips for Choosing Culturally Appropriate Native Books and Resources, Social and Emotional Support for Refugee Families: A School Psychology Perspective, 10 Strategies for Building Relationships with ELLs, Language Objectives: The Key to Effective Content Area Instruction for English Learners, Supporting ELLs in the Mainstream Classroom: 12 Strategies for Language Instruction, Using Cognates to Develop Comprehension in English, Culturally Responsive Instruction for Holiday and Religious Celebrations. Sparklers also add to this display as children young and old rush to write words in the sky before the light goes out. Our nation is rich in many cultural and religious traditions, and celebrations focusing on specific groups have grown and become more popular in the last twenty years. As Catholics, we praise God that Jesus passed over from death to new life and pray that we, too, may one day share that new life. In fact, the first evidence of the formal outline for a Seder can be traced to 70 ad, about 40 years after Jesus death and Resurrection. There are definitely pros and cons of celebrating this spooky day. Acknowledging or celebrating holidays in early childhood programs can bring pleasure to many families, staff, and children and can be useful in building connections between school and families. The government or public action in question* should only engage in secular or civil matters, leaving religion up to the individual. History of Elf on the Shelf The scout elf tradition . There's no doubt about it; at some point in your experience, you're going to miss something about where you come from, whether it be the people you love, your pet, the food, or just being able to speak your own language more often. Here is an incident where a student teacher allows her personal feelings to undercut a basic practice of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Expect sweaty upper lips, hot and bothered groomsmen and guests fanning themselves in wedding photos. After all, schools used to have Coke machines on campus and allow students to. Sometimes they are closed just for the day of Tet, but many small businesses close their doors days before and after Tet. Julie Olsen Edwards,coauthor of Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves, was on the faculty of Cabrillo Colleges early childhood education department for 45 years. Yet, conflicting celebrations may also have common ground. At my school, this lines up with our four pillars: knowledge, community, effort, and kindness. Okay, not everything, but most businesses, including museums and other tourist attractions, are closed. Support our efforts to secure a bright future for young children, educators, and families. So why cant you sing about Jesus? Public school teachers know that the answer is tied up in the U.S. Constitution, but the question did prompt me to ask myself a question that I still ponder today. Most importantly, teaching children about the holidays guides them into lifelong learning and into thoughtfully and reflectively celebrating their own holidays within our diverse society. celebrating cultural diversity in your classroom! As part of the meal, a lamb bone is used to represent the lamb God commanded the Israelites to slaughter and to mark their doorways with its blood. Statistically speaking, it falls below the national average for religiosity, with just over 20 percent of the population officially affiliating with a specific church, temple, or mosque. Sponsor study about religion, not the practice of religion. 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. However, the Elf on the Shelf tradition may not be right for every family. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. ), the goal is to expand your students' knowledge, interest, and respect for the group being featured. She also tells Edward that the child was puzzled by his not eating the special lunch. Some of the guidelines urge educators to: The complete guide and a more comprehensive list of recommendations is available at the First Amendment Center website. 1. Louise Derman-Sparks Julie Olsen Edwards. 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. During the Passover celebration, Jews retell the story of the Exodus, when the Israelites were led out of Egypt to freedom.