The Good (Pros) Celebrating holidays can bring students together and help create a sense of community in the classroom. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Are there ways to acknowledge holidays, to have celebrations, to honor families that are respectful in a highly diverse world? For students with attention and focusing needs, class pets can provide too much stimulation and distract them from their work. Artwork by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator David Diaz and Pura Belpr Award-winning illustrator Rafael Lpez is used with permission. "Kids who are being treated for ADHD do better in more than just the classroom," Dr. Ravitz says. Benefit #2: You get cultural immersion for a few hours. June 8, 2022. 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. One of the benefits of school holidays is the time that families can spend together. They can also be used to mark the passing of the year with an annual end-of-year picnic or potluck dinner. 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? You may be considered cheap. As long as you don't shoot fireworks off your hands like Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback C.J. Other kinds of designated holidays often included in early childhood program activities may be based on beliefs or practices that negate some families. "Medication has to do with managing behavior in a variety of different circumstances.". The article offers suggestions that teachers can use throughout the school year, as well as when observing cultural and religious holidays and celebrations. Some [employers] give major Christian and Jewish holidays off and are moving to include major Muslim holidays as well. School work, especially in junior high and high school, becomes a child's job. For any reprint requests, please contact the author or publisher listed. Our Jewish ancestors in faith celebrate Passover to recall their redemption from slavery in Egypt. 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. Also, since the public school schedule is largely centered around Christian and Jewish holidays, many students may end up attending school on holidays that are important to them and their families. On Holy Thursday we recall that Jesus took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, This is my body that is for you. 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. And dont be afraid to look for primary resources within your school. Should You Celebrate Holidays in the Classroom? Now the United Kingdom has launched the largest test of its kind to see if five days is too long . Holiday celebrations are perfect opportunities for children to learn about our multicultural world and share traditions and values that are cherished parts of people's lives. Soon, many of the children enrolled in our public schools had come from such faraway places as Italy, Poland, Greece, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, and China. But, it can be tricky to know just what you can and cant discuss and which holidays you should include in your lessons. The answer is yes. Stay current on all things related to your professional association, from book releases to policy updates. This article was written by the Catechist Staff and appeared in Catechist magazine, May 2014. A Society for Human Resource Management poll found that 65 percent of HR professionals said their organizations will have a 2015 end-of-year/holiday party open to all employees. Some schools also have graduation ceremonies or Youre Off to Kindergarten parties for children transitioning out of the programs. 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. Include holiday premises in mathematical word problems. Learn how SHRM Certification can accelerate your career growth by earning a SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP. Plus, not everyone celebrates Halloween. Find the latest news and members-only resources that can help employers navigate in an uncertain economy. Recognizing these holidays in the classroom can help these students celebrate and share a part of their cultures while they are in school. Stay up-to-date on issues in early childhood education and hear perspectives from a wide range of educators. Con: If it's real pine, you'll be vacuuming needles all month and opening gifts under a glorified stick. Children's social behavior and emotions are still . First Amendment Centers Finding Common Ground, Be open to answering questions from students, talk with students about mindfulness and reflection, explore how light and shadow work while celebrating Diwali. They can return to our website and order the items you selected. Some of the most prominent are African-American History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women's History Month. While Christmas in the Northern Hemisphere is a beautiful winter wonderland event, Christmas in Australia is usually upwards of 30 degrees celsius. Expect sweaty upper lips, hot and bothered groomsmen and guests fanning themselves in wedding photos. President Obama called for a longer school year to extend learning opportunities for K-12 students. Theyre not in church on Sunday., Passing on the Joyful Encounter: The role of the catechist. 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 That includes: Louise Derman-Sparks Julie Olsen Edwards. Tell students that Jewish people celebrate Passover each year with a sacred meal called a Seder. Diversity, a Greenwich, Conn.based firm that promotes diversity in the workplace. Focus is on meaningful ways to celebrate holidays without spending money. But you can create lesson plans in all subjects around the holidays that will make your lessons far more memorable for students. An educational opportunity. Less visible are the different ways in which our cultures influence our understanding of the world and how we interact with others. Speaking of uncomfortable, try eating lunch or playing at recess in a costume! Some costumes cost a lot of money. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Everything you need is included: the nonfiction articles, a graphic organizer, stationery, and a rubric to grade the essays. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Enhance your career and improve your knowledge, skills, and practices with our in-person and online training. Please complete the form below. This year, Spredfast has planned a holiday gift drive where teams can sign up to receive $300 from Spredfast to purchase gifts for nonprofit organizations or charities of their choosing.Susan Milligan is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. You have successfully saved this page as a bookmark. Some schools may place no limit on holiday discussion while others may ask teachers to skip lessons on holidays entirely. The American Indian Movement, among other groups, have gone as far as to state that the continuous celebration of this holiday is oppressive towards Native Americans. Advantages Time With Family and Friends: When school is in session, it almost becomes a job for high school students. The holidays can be used to explore how people of diverse backgrounds practice similar values. Be sure the table is large enough for all class members to sit around. 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.. Read about this initiative focused on equity in early childhood and find other equity-related content. By most accounts, the United States educational system has fallen behind that of other countries. Sometimes they are closed just for the day of Tet, but many small businesses close their doors days before and after Tet. They can also help teach important lessons about kindness, gratefulness, and selflessness. Subjects: Language Arts, Literature, Geography, History. But having a culturally-aware, inclusive classroom means recognizing that for many cultures, there are significant holidays year-round. 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. 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. The next day a birthday celebration for another child includes cupcakes from the birthday childs family. Families may find certain holidays stressful due to the amount of commercialization and the media pressure to buy. The government or public action in question* should only engage in secular or civil matters, leaving religion up to the individual. The word seder means order or arrangement. Rabbinical scholars tell us that the Seder has evolved over the years. Look at historical photos from the holiday and have students make up their own stories about what is taking place. I went to the city with my family and cousins! 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. 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. School holidays comprise a significant portion of any school year. Please enable scripts and reload this page. This court decision has three important parts to it: [*such as classroom instruction in a public school]. 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. For expats, holidays can mean liberation from pressures to celebrate with family in the usual ways . Lets freeze your piece and you can eat it after the holiday. Esther relaxes, gives her cake to the teacher, and goes off to play. Homepage illustrations 2009 by Rafael Lpez originally appeared in "Book Fiesta" by Pat Mora and used with permission from HarperCollins. 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. How do teachers approach such issues as textbook content, values education, controversial issues, and religious holidays? Just because public schools in Texas have celebrated Halloween for generations is no reason to mindlessly continue it. Spread the tablecloth on the floor so students have ample room to work. Our country has always been home to people of many different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. 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. Need help with a specific HR issue like coronavirus or FLSA? One benefit of participating in Halloween events and celebrations is that it could be used as a conversation starter, sparking discussion between you and your children. On the other hand, they can increase prep time for teachers and can present challenges to students. Winter is the least busy month for movers because not many people want to move when it is extremely cold outside. Find a sponsorship opportunity thats right for you and help support early childhood educators, parents, and other professionals. 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. FREE eBooks offer for blended learning! Place this plate on the table. May offend families with different beliefs. For our Jewish brothers and sisters, the Seder is a sacred ritual. And you can create lesson plans in all subjects around the holidays that will make your lessons far more for! Program activities may be based on beliefs or practices that negate some families interact with others after. Year, as well most accounts, the United Kingdom has launched the largest of. 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