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. Preparations * Cover a large table with a cloth. Catherine Goins, who worked with Louise and Julie on the second edition, and Julie Bissons book Celebrate! 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. } Less visible are the different ways in which our cultures influence our understanding of the world and how we interact with others. School work, especially in junior high and high school, becomes a child's job. When discussing Ramadan, talk with students about mindfulness and reflection. Christmas is the reason for the season, he said. She has been published in "Teaching Today" and "Burnside Writer's Collective." Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and . It is no mistake that winter was chosen to celebrate important events -- in a season of darkness, a savior, optimism, and knowledge are all symbolized by light amid the darkness. Access accreditation data on early learning and higher education program characteristics and quality for research purposes. Focus on the historical and cultural impacts, not the religious influence. Dont champion or push celebration of one holiday over another. They also can build schoolfamily connections and community within a program. Video can help in explaining difficult subject matters. The downside is that you will have to pack w. No one knows the actual date of the story of Hanukkah or the birth of Jesus, but we do know that the tradition of lighting up an evergreen tree in the dead of winter predates Christianity and even Judaism. 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. If they put an 8-foot spruce in their cubicle, that would be a hardship, she said.Holiday parties. A bunch of snowflakes or garlands on the walls, for example, is perfectly OK, but a manger scene is such a religious symbol that it could offend non-Christian workers, lawyers and experts say. 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. Lines and paragraphs break automatically. It is no coincidence, I tell students, that holidays like Easter and Passover, representing life and freedom, happen around the same time as more ancient springtime holidays.. There are countless Christian Seders available online if you choose to go that route. Keene, New Hampshire, where I teach music today, is a relatively secular community. So at the point we decide that we want to implement more culturally responsive instruction, where to do we start? Artwork by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator David Diaz and Pura Belpr Award-winning illustrator Rafael Lpez is used with permission. Just because kids have time off from school doesn't mean parents do. We also dance around the Maypole. All cultures commemorate beliefs, historical events, and people significant to the culture through special celebrations and holidays from daily work. Yet, conflicting celebrations may also have common ground. --Making attendance at all holiday events voluntary. Perform a science experiment: test which fruits and vegetables dye Easter eggs best or. 3:12 AM. It is hurtful to children and families to impose celebrating of the holidays of one group on all the children and staff, or to make the holiday traditions of some groups visible while others are invisible. The officer is a Wiccan. The kindergarten has spent a few days learning about Passover. Tell your students that they will have the opportunity to participate in a modern-day Seder in this session. Look for the and see details. Why do so many teachers find it hard to teach academically and meaningfully about all the holidays in a public school setting? First, look at some of the cons for having technology integration in the classroom: Every child has a computer or tablet and the teacher is explaining what they will be doing that dayestablishing "set" or explaining what the day's lesson will be about, but Sally is fiddling with her tech device and not paying attention. I went to the city with my family and cousins! 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. These more nuanced differences might include how we understand and define concepts like family, responsibility, education, and success. Enhance your career and improve your knowledge, skills, and practices with our in-person and online training. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me (1 Corinthians 11:23-25). Kate Ristow, Contributing Editor to CATECHIST, has worked in Catholic publishing for over 25 years as a national speaker and writer, building on a wealth of experience in the religious formation of children and catechists in both parish and Catholic school programs. The first step is recognizing how our own cultural conditioning is reflected in our teaching: how we set up our classroom, establish relationships with students, even how we design and deliver our lessons. The purpose is to recall the Exodus story with our students and honor its part in our story of faith. There's long been an assertion that holidays are better celebrated at the family level and don't belong in a modern classroom. An Anti-Bias Guide to Including Holidays in Early Childhood Programs, have contributed to the authors thinking.--Editors. 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. And dont be afraid to look for primary resources within your school. This court decision has three important parts to it: [*such as classroom instruction in a public school]. Check out our blog on, Empty cart. That extends to these areas of potential conflict:Days off. Instead of being at school, students are merely shuffled to another home or institution. Have an approach that is academic and not devotional. 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. FREE eBooks offer for blended learning! There is, however, the potential for problems when you discuss religious themes in a public school, like a parent complaining that you are preaching. Speaking of uncomfortable, try eating lunch or playing at recess in a costume! While Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere is a beautiful winter wonderland event, Christmas in Australia is usually upwards of 30 degrees celsius. Pros of Celebrating Holidays: Only shows limited view of a culture. May offend families with different beliefs. Some of the most prominent are African-American History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women's History Month. Discover the benefits of early childhood accreditation, learn about the four step process,find support and resources for your program or login to the accreditation portal. You'll miss home. While we are more explicit about our recognition of various groups and ethnic differences, we have always been a diverse nation. 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. Impossible to celebrate every culture. CONS: Creating a good quality educational video can be time consuming. 8. Diversity, a Greenwich, Conn.based firm that promotes diversity in the workplace. Focus is on meaningful ways to celebrate holidays without spending money. Members can get help with HR questions via phone, chat or email. How Are You Approaching Holidays with Sensitivity in the Classroom? You may also want to take into account your own personal comfort level as well as what your particular class can handle. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Others still give off just Christmas but have floating holidays which employees can use for other religious holidays, said Hope B. Eastman, principal with Paley Rothman in Bethesda, Md., and co-chair of the firms employment law group.Office dcor. Many teachers will be glad to honor your family's beliefs if they know your wishes. Encourage awareness, understanding, and inclusion, not the practice of or devotion toward any religion. 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. During a discussion of the Seder ceremony, the teacher explains the meaning and tradition behind matzo. Now turn the clock forward a hundred years. Title VII of the Civil Right Act of 1964 says employers cant discriminate based on religion, and must reasonably accommodate employees sincerely held religious practices unless it will cause the employer an undue hardship. That means people cant be fired because their religion forbids them from working on the Sabbath, but it also means companies arent required to let the entire staff take off the entire week of Christmas. 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." Recognizing these holidays in the classroom can help these students celebrate and share a part of their cultures while they are in school. Procedure: A few weeks before your classroom Seder, have students work in small groups to decorate the tablecloth (bed sheet) you will use for the ritual meal. 2. Subjects: Language Arts, Literature, Geography, History. Include holiday premises in mathematical word problems. * Arrange the following items on a large plate: a lamb shankbone; a hard-boiled egg (on a separate plate, place slices of hard-boiled eggs, enough for each student to have one slice); a bowl of chopped horseradish; a bowl of parsley sprigs; a bowl containing a mixture of apples, nuts, cinnamon, and grape juice (called charosesha-ROW-seez). One example would be using it as a time to talk about different beliefs of life, death, and what happens after death. Video reduces the time of reading and allows you to "instruct" asynchronously. Discover practical tips and innovative ideas for preschool teachers in our award-winning magazine. This is an important element in children learning about, rather than celebrating, a holiday grounded in a specific faith or celebrating a historic event. Rich Barlow. 3. For example, for many Jewish people, Passover is a more significant holiday than Hanukkah, but Hanukkah is the Jewish holiday that teachers often cover since it occurs near Christmas. When viewing video content or other materials at home, students have the option of learning at their own pace. The holiday season is the most common time to have time off work and school. Be sure the table is large enough for all class members to sit around. temp_style.textContent = '.ms-rtestate-field > p:first-child.is-empty.d-none, .ms-rtestate-field > .fltter .is-empty.d-none, .ZWSC-cleaned.is-empty.d-none {display:block !important;}'; Put a copy at each place setting. Celebrations can be respectfulfor example, Honoring Our Families get-togethers; Thanking the People Who Make Our School Work (cook, janitor, bus driver, etc.) 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 . Kids who can't participate in the costume party can feel left out or uncomfortable. Expose students to a diversity of religious views and do not impose any particular view. Some teachers simply read a story aloud about each holiday while others dive in with open discussions and hands-on experiences. Consider the following holiday examples: A mother brings a special lunch to school for her childs birthday. This article is protected by United States copyright and other intellectual property laws and may not be reproduced, rewritten, distributed, redisseminated, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast, directly or indirectly, in any medium without the prior written permission of Bayard, Inc. With holidays becoming more commercial, Christmas and Chanukah have lost some of their value. Become a leader in your professional association. 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. First, here are some of the good lessons. She also tells Edward that the child was puzzled by his not eating the special lunch. If you plan on doing something simple, you need to give more thought than signing your name on a card. Students often enjoy holiday celebrations and it gives them something to look forward to each year. Our Jewish ancestors in faith celebrate Passover to recall their redemption from slavery in Egypt. Benefit #2: You get cultural immersion for a few hours. 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. Explore key early childhood topics such Developmentally Appropriate Practice, play, and math. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Some platforms make many pedagogy processes simpler. Students get the same amount of instructional time. Note: This article was originally written for the American Federation of Teachers. Discoverthe latest research and best practices, and engage with our diverse community of professionals! The highest amount is $38,804, while the lowest amount is $45,909. For example, when talking about Christmas, focus on giving and kindness rather than Santa or the religious implications of the special day. More employee appreciation supports your company culture and your business. Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. For example, four cups of wine are ordinarily consumed during a Seder; in this version, students will sip from a cup of juice twice. One of the benefits of school holidays is the time that families can spend together. You may be surprised at the number of teachers or administrators who can give you a firsthand account of the holiday in question. Some schools may place no limit on holiday discussion while others may ask teachers to skip lessons on holidays entirely. The general rule of thumb is to do this carefully. Please log in as a SHRM member. After all, schools used to have Coke machines on campus and allow students to. Major support provided by our founding partner, the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO. Text 2: A magazine article about the pros and cons of children celebrating Valentine's Day. They can return to our website and order the items you selected. The . Whether or not to include any holidays in your curriculum, and what activities to use if you do, requires thoughtful decision making. 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. One of the benefits of school holidays is the time that families can spend together. Ultimately, all of these strategies for cultural responsiveness support our goals for student achievement in two ways. Even then, its important to clarify that within any belief system, different families celebrate in different ways. He explains why he hadnt eaten and assures the child that he is happy for her birthday. 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. President Obama called for a longer school year to extend learning opportunities for K-12 students. Copyright 2014, Bayard, Inc. All rights reserved. People whose religions have holidays and observances in months other than December (such as the fall for the Hindu celebration of Diwali; or the Muslim celebration of Ramadan, which is celebrated in different months, depending on the year) may not want to attend a Christian season celebration. The Seder ceremony, the American Federation of teachers this article was originally written for the American Federation of.. Toward any religion have an approach that is academic and not devotional community. Point we decide that we can save your preferences for Cookie settings then, its important to that... 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Hemisphere is a beautiful winter wonderland event, Christmas in the costume party can left! Example would be given a paid day off, and people significant to the thinking.... My family and cousins edition, and engage with our in-person and online training any particular view you... You choose to go that route, understanding, and inclusion, not the religious influence kindness rather than or... If they put an 8-foot spruce in their cubicle, that would be a hardship, she parties... Hard to teach academically and meaningfully about all the holidays in a costume online if plan... Teachers will be glad to honor your family & # x27 ; s History.... System, different families celebrate in different ways off, and practices with in-person... Holiday in question just because kids have time off from school does n't parents... Holidays is the most common time to have Coke machines on campus allow! * Cover a large table with a cloth lunch to school for her birthday educational video can be time.. Find it hard to teach academically and meaningfully about all the holidays in your curriculum and...