Part of honoring diversity in your classroom is teaching about holidays you dont celebrate. Having taught about holidays for the better part of 15 years in four schools, I have rarely been questioned but know theres always the potential concerned parent. 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." There are no exceptions to this rule. For any reprint requests, please contact the author or publisher listed. 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 Encourage awareness, understanding, and inclusion, not the practice of or devotion toward any religion. Linda Kamp, a primary education teacher in Arizona, shares ideas for accommodating students who don't celebrate holidays: "Make a plan with parents for situations like birthdays and holiday activities and discuss what an acceptable alternative might be.". A wide range of things to buy. 1. Each community, under the supervision of the rabbi, developed its own Haggadah, which means guide or script. What do seem to be fairly consistent are the four questions that are at the heart of the ritual. Many parents do not have the same time off as their children, causing added expense with babysitting or daycare. Less traffic in big cities. Virtual & Washington, DC | February 26-28, 2023. Search an ECE degree directory, explore professional standards, and join our community of practice. Put a copy at each place setting. Here are our tips on what to cover, how to incorporate the holidays into your educational lesson plans, and more! 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. Video can help in explaining difficult subject matters. 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. 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. The holidays are a time to celebrate with loved ones. Holidays teach us history and the foundations of our society, deepening our understanding of ourselves and others. In almost all early childhood settings, the beliefs and traditions of some families may differ from those of others. Kids who can't participate in the costume party can feel left out or uncomfortable. May offend families with different beliefs. Review the Story of ExodusMake a Seder Tablecloth. If you are dating or married to someone that wants a large Valentine's day celebration, it may not be the time to make it small. Fill each cup with grape juice. Learn about NAEYCs informed positions on significant issues affecting young childrens education and development. Read about this initiative focused on equity in early childhood and find other equity-related content. The three sections of the guide discuss rethinking the holidays, planning for change in teaching approaches, and aspects to consider when using holidays in the classroom. Jot those experiences down and suddenly you have all . } Up to 3 times higher prices of services. When discussing Ramadan, talk with students about mindfulness and reflection. Pros and cons. Some platforms make many pedagogy processes simpler. Some [employers] give major Christian and Jewish holidays off and are moving to include major Muslim holidays as well. While everyone wants American students to be competitive, students need a break from the classroom occasionally. 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. We recognize the obvious cultural differences such as foods, heroes, holidays, arts, and clothing differences that, much like the tip of the iceberg, are clearly visible above the water. Learning about a holiday means teaching children about what the holiday means to different people and about the many different ways those families who honor the holiday celebrate it. The government or public action in question* should only engage in secular or civil matters, leaving religion up to the individual. By this they mean that different actions, readings, and prayers have changed through the centuries. History of Elf on the Shelf The scout elf tradition . Deepen your professional knowledge wherever you are with NAEYCs exciting webinar series and online and face-to-face training opportunities. It is important to note that like the values we instill in our children at school, the holidays of many world religions share common themes, such as thankfulness, caring for others, peace, and forgiveness. Copyright 2014, Bayard, Inc. All rights reserved. Tell your students that they will have the opportunity to participate in a modern-day Seder in this session. On the one hand, they help teachers save valuable class time while boosting student engagement. 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. Phone: 800.233.0759 Pamela Rivers is a writer and English teacher who has been writing for over 20 years. 8. This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience. 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. Sign up today for free resources, activities, lessons plans, special promotions, and much more! If you plan on doing something simple, you need to give more thought than signing your name on a card. Text 1: A magazine article about the pros and cons of celebrating Valentine's Day in general. 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). The holidays can be used to explore how people of diverse backgrounds practice similar values. At Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil services, Catholics, too, proclaim the Exodus story. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. The government or public action in question must not involve itself excessively with religion. $(document).ready(function () { Advantage of moving during the holidays - it is cheaper. Celebrating a particular holiday is appropriate in faith-based programs or in programs in which the holiday is truly lived by every family in the program. These days, many public schools use the First Amendment Centers Finding Common Ground as their academic guide. Tours and tickets tend to sell out. 5 cons of having technology in the classroom Photo credit : Markus Spiske 1. Elizabethtown, PA 17022 Likewise, if students need to excuse themselves for prayer during the school day, it'd be best to plan a schedule and accommodate them in such a way that it does not interfere with their educational time in the classroom or with other students. 3:12 AM. Engage with our policy agendas, advocacy resources, and current initiatives. We may earn a commission from links on this page. For our Jewish brothers and sisters, the Seder is a sacred ritual. The rest of that time is spent on weekends, holidays and vacations. Members may download one copy of our sample forms and templates for your personal use within your organization. Thats why its interesting, even surprising, that nearly 100 percent of students say they celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, Passover, and Halloween. Cons of visiting Vietnam at Tet Festival. Your shopping cart will be sent with product images, information, and subtotal. School work, especially in junior high and high school, becomes a child's job. Restaurants, coffee shops, shopping places are closed. You'll miss home. Please note that all such forms and policies should be reviewed by your legal counsel for compliance with applicable law, and should be modified to suit your organizations culture, industry, and practices. 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. President Obama called for a longer school year to extend learning opportunities for K-12 students. So as Thanksgiving 2021 the 400th anniversary of the supposed first Thanksgiving approaches, you may be wondering exactly why Thanksgiving is bad. Pros and Cons Preschool Theme Days Are Fun! When beginning a lesson about the winter holidays right around Thanksgiving, I ask the question, What is one thing many of the winter holiday traditions have in common? Among many correct answers, the one I am looking for is light. The stories, traditions, and lore of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and even Chinese New Year contain things like stars, fireworks, lamps, candles, and fire. Celebrating holidays in the classroom is fun and exciting, but it can also be very educational and culturally valuable for students. Small notes may not be considered thoughtful. 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. To curb the spread of the virus, school districts around the country offered a variety of educational possibilities, from in-person school with masks to full online school to a delayed start to the academic year to a hybrid model that offered some days in a physical classroom and other days virtually. These are topics that require clarifying conversations. Your language choices also support or undercut the concept of religious diversity and each familys freedom of choice. 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. Longer breaks such as the winter holidays allow families an opportunity to reconnect. Focus on the historical and cultural impacts, not the religious influence. Sponsor study about religion, not the practice of religion. Even some Christian families see these as pagan appropriations that trivialize one of their two most important holy days of the year. Login to the Early Learning Accreditation Portal to take charge of your accreditation process. Election Day could be made a holiday if a bill were passed by the House and Senate then signed into law by the president. Whether or not to include any holidays in your curriculum, and what activities to use if you do, requires thoughtful decision making. 3. Christmas = Snow And snow means being cold, which is only cool when you're snuggling under soft blankets with a hot drink. 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? Approximately two million people who work for the federal government would be given a paid day off, and . 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. How people of diverse backgrounds practice similar values ECE degree directory, explore standards... Of others one hand, they help teachers save valuable class time boosting. 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With NAEYCs exciting webinar series and online and face-to-face training opportunities or publisher listed Inc. all rights reserved,. Holidays you dont celebrate may earn a commission from links on this page through centuries...
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