Breaking down barriers to make career and technical pathways accessible for everyone, How employers are helping employees reduce student loan debt, Report: Only 6% of US companies offer comprehensive child care benefits, Millions of high school students set for success: Celebrating Career and Technical Education Month. Teachers can spark students motivation for learning by contextualizing the content and making it relevant to students lives. The 4 th Annual Celebration of Culture Day took place in Dundalk Grammar School turning the school into a sea of colour and creating an atmospheric vibe and buzz making it not like any other day. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Exploring the Benefits and Planning Tips, How to Watch the New Matrix Movie: Stream, Rent, Buy or Attend a Showing, How to Play Music on Jetson Hoverboard: A Step-by-Step Guide, Exploring Julia Stiles Career as a Dancer: From Beginner to Accomplished Performer, Can Artists Upload Directly to Spotify? As always you can unsubscribe at any time. In order for classrooms to be inclusive and equitable, educators need to understand the larger sociopolitical context that shapes individual experiences. This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. An entire culture simply cannot be capturedand is often trivializedby a single display board. Tip 4: Make cultural diversity visible. As educators engage in this process, their immediate reactions to the neighborhood can provide valuable data to examine and counter their own biases. Become a subscribing member today. With thoughtful planning and meaningful activities, culture day can be a powerful tool for teaching students about the importance of diversity and respect for different cultures. 15 August 1947, the date any Indian can hardly forget, the day of freedom, the day that bought hope, the day that made India independent seventy-four (74) years ago is celebrated with the same hope, enthusiasm, happiness, and patriotism. Its a time-honored school traditiona day of food and fun celebrating all the cultures represented at your school. It helps build tolerance, curiosity and respect for others. Unfortunately, Culture Day activities tend to focus on whats traditional. Ideas, Inspiration, and Giveaways for Teachers. Students also shared that Culture Day not only allows their experiences to be. Cultural activities have a variety of advantages. So, a celebration makes them aware of the world in a more fun way. not all students have a loving relationship with their parents. It was approved at the 1999 UNESCO General Conference and has been observed throughout the world since 2000. Finally, its important to incorporate student-led activities into the culture day celebration. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Others include nonacademic activities such as food or movies. Through culture day activities, students can gain an appreciation for different cultures and become more aware of global issues. See a passport template below. Teachers and schools regularly engage in activities during and after school to celebrate the various cultures that are represented in the school, as well as national holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Additionally, culture day can help students develop intercultural skills and global perspectives, as they engage in activities and conversations that promote dialogue and understanding between cultures. (Note: Is this article not meeting your expectations? Three Tips to Be More Intellectually Humble, A 7-Day Stress Prescription (The Science of Happiness podcast). Perhaps one of the first considerations should be which holidays and traditions are celebrated in school and why. Help us continue to bring the science of a meaningful life to you and to millions around the globe. He also advised parents to encourage their children speak their various mother tongues. They may fear their child is being mistreated or bullied, or they may distrust a teacher whose culture is not the same as theirs. There are five main reasons why students should take part in social and cultural events at college. Read diverse picture books to your class often. Your Industry Needs YOUR Expert Voice Turn your classroom into a visual celebration of culture! Some cultural and holiday activities may include academic activities such as artistic activities, reading books or articles about the topic or writing prompts. Greater Good Learn about the community. Your email address will not be published. Celebrating events and festivals in our school has become an integral part of learning and building a strong cultural belief. By celebrating diversity and promoting cultural awareness, culture day can play an important role in helping students become well-rounded global citizens. It is also the time when most schools organize the most important event of the year, the annual day. The time taken for these celebrations may well be worthwhile to build community, celebrate and have fun with students. Another key component of the tourist curriculum is that after your visit, you return to regular life. Latinx/ Hispanic Identity and Representation. A spokesperson for the school said: "We would like to expand our culture day into our parent/carer community and get families more involved in building the community at JCA. This is what informed the celebration of Cultural Day in the school, where everybody was dressed in gorgeous indigenous cultural attires. One of the greatest reasons for all of us to organize a multicultural celebration at our schools is the opportunity it offers students, teachers, and families to encounter one another in celebration of what we all bring to the table. Studies show that cultural appreciation and awareness contribute to building a positive self image. Theyre generally not part of a larger effort to promote and celebrate diversity. If you discuss one holiday in class, be sure to discuss them all. Getting rid-off stage fear is the first step toward gaining confidence. In fact, it is possibly one of the most difficult but important things an educator can do. Learning about other cultures, languages, religions, and holidays aside from their own will help children learn that their classmates may be very different from them. This means that when children experience positive relationships, they are not only creating the pathways for lifelong learning, adaptation, and integration of social, emotional, and cognitive skills, but also making qualitative changes to their genetic makeup. However, an approach that many teachers take are talking to students one on one and learning more about the student. Additionally, we must be keenly aware that celebrating other cultures, when we are not members of that culture, can potentially be construed as tokenism or cultural appropriation. It is important that we also remember that a student's ethnic heritage is not necessarily directly tied to their cultural practices. At the root of developing a culturally responsive classroom lies the belief that students diverse cultural practices and ethnic backgrounds are assets in the learning process, that should be celebrated and incorporated into academic content and pedagogy. It helps to understand the perspectives of other cultures while broadening their own. It is within its mandate for peace that it works . etc. By making the culture day celebration interactive and engaging, students will be more likely to enjoy the event and learn something new. Copyright 2021. And they want to see Culture Day made the norm in all schools, not just their own. 2) This day is celebrated by people of all religions with great joy and enthusiasm. Singing songs. This is in keeping with the philosophy of EdoBEST in schools which promotes not just academic laurels. Given this emphasis on learning about and appreciating other cultures and perspectives, educators should carefully weigh the amount of time they are using for cultural celebrations and holiday traditions into their instruction. The Power and Importance of Celebrating We've taken our girls, who are now teenagers, to Disneyland over the yearsand we all love it there. A representative for the school said: "Students felt that we needed to celebrate the student diversity that we have at JCA and educate one another about different cultures that exist at our school.". The faculty here found that appointing a teacher or staff member to help coordinate the event has improved communication and increased school-wide support. However, educators still need to gain awareness of their own cultural identity, consider their biases, and how they use their power and privilege with students. As Hammond says, You need to put yourself in a place where you are not the majority. It makes white culture the norm I have a passion for learning and enjoy explaining complex concepts in a simple way. Typically, major national holidays such as Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Mother's Day and Father's Day are discussed and celebrated, with affiliated presentations, parties, and at times art or writing projects affiliated with them. This post may contain affiliate links for your convenience. The fetistivals are major platforms through which kenyan communities celebrate their unique cultures. 1. The quality of teacher-student relationships has been repeatedly linked with students academic, social, and emotional outcomes. We've got the platform you need. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Did you know that being culturally aware can have a significant affect on your students success? | The next step is to create a list of tasks that need to be completed in order to make the culture day celebration successful. Super Bowl [Read More: Football and Super Bowl Activities] February 2: Groundhog Day [Read More: Groundhog Day Activities ] February 2: 2s Day [Read More: Celebrate 2s Day in the Classroom] February 11: International Day of Women and Girls in Science [Read More: Inspiring Women Scientists] February 13: Galentine's Day. To promote cultural diversity by showcasing different types of cultural expression To encourage inclusive, equitable and vibrant participation by communities in the arts , culture and heritage sectors To create employment for producers of creative goods To promote and preserve Zimbabwean culture and identity Unfortunately, however well-intentioned, Culture Day is a misguided effort. 3. Cultural Learnings Several festivals are celebrated in several ways because of the diversification of area, culture, and practices in our country. And if you school already celebrates a Culture Night or some similar event, what can you learn from it? These reasons are: - They allow the students to connect to the resources available in their schools, tap the available resources to their benefit, as the onus of tapping on to college resources for their betterment and growth rests with the students. It is a day of thanksgiving. Without inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong opportunities for all, countries will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle . Celebrate tradition and cultural awareness with young children Cultural awareness and tradition play important roles in helping young children develop a positive sense of identity and build self-esteem. Cultural diversity and learning will be celebrated this month in the UK's second annual national Language Festival. Check out these 25 classroom activitiy ideas to foster greater appreciation for diversity. Furthermore, culture day can help foster a welcoming and inclusive learning environment, where all students feel respected and accepted regardless of their cultural background. Many of the students ditched their uniforms to come in wearing their own cultural attire. Schools and churches should also encourage cultural day celebration and teach the children the importance of culture from the cradle. So colourful and exciting are the events that they have been described as occasions where the old meets the new. How is that affecting the student population that the school serves. Climate, Hope, & Science: The Science of Happiness podcast, How Unequal Discipline Hurts Black Students, How to Change the Story about Students of Color, Four Ways Teachers Can Reduce Implicit Bias, How to Teach Online So All Students Feel Like They Belong, Resources to Support Anti-Racist Learning, Six Ways to Build More Equitable Learning Environments, Seven Tips for Better Relationship Conversations. Read on for ideas and inspiration for . "This is the event at our school that makes me most proud to be a teacher at Walt Disney. For students, parents and members of staff of Bishop Howells Memorial Grammar School Bariga, Lagos, celebrating Nigeria's rich cultural heritage is not only necessary, but of utmost priority.. A lot of preparation precedes the function. If educators notice they only see the deficits in the community, while having a difficult time seeing the assets, that can be an indicator that additional exploration and reflection is needed. 3:44 am. To cast a spotlight on the richness of their wonderfully diverse community, this school has hosted a Culture Night every May for the past 16 years. Hi, I'm Happy Sharer and I love sharing interesting and useful knowledge with others. March 26, 2023; tampa bay golf and country club tidbits Are they meant to bring awareness of the history of the holiday, to bring fun and excitement to the classroom, or to bring unity and assimilation to U.S. culture? Kimmie was the 2009 Puget Sound Teacher of the Year. Here are a few lessons that the community has learned along the way. Incorporation of them into the school curriculum helps students in several ways. At times, these celebrations and parties are conducted just before holiday breaks, as students are excited and potentially more focused on vacation than doing academic work. They may question a teachers suitability because the classroom doesnt look like the classroom they attended when they were kids. Winners are announced and ribbons distributed as part of the evening's events. Growing in popularity are American Indian/Alaska Native . Exploring the Benefits of Probiotics in Greek Yogurt, Who Invented the Pythagoras Theorem? This event promotes the benefits of regular physical activity, reduces traffic congestion and pollution around schools, and teaches children about road safety. Click Registration to join us and share your expertise with our readers.). Benefits of cultural activities in schools. For instance, I love what Lagos State Government has done at Tafawa Balewa Square. 29 March 2017 | Communicate regularly with a class in a different country via Skype. Learners and their Teachers. 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. Cultivating an inclusive classroom environment will encourage new connections between classmates (and between you and your students) and help engage students of all backgrounds in learning. Conclusion: Annual Day is a yearly celebration that takes place in schools. When safe and supportive environments are created, and students unique traits and life experiences are acknowledged, celebrated, and used to enrich the learning environment, students are more likely to feel a sense of belonging and be able to engage with the classroom content in meaningful ways. As we were preparing for our Thanksgiving dinner, our seven . With the theme Cultural Integration, a Tool for Unity in Diversity, he further stated that Nigerias culture is gradually fading away, though not dying and that is why we are encouraging everybody to dress traditionally. Bristol Rovers predicted team vs Sheffield Wednesday: Quansah back but will Barton make changes? There are some of the days celebrated in most of the schools are Independence Day, republic day, Janmashtami, children's day, Mother's Day, Grandparent's . Allow students to share: Student love to be the experts and allowing them to share and feel excited to share will bring a positive climate to your classroom. Even if students identify with a single racial or ethnic group, educators shouldnt make assumptions about their values or beliefs, since there is great variability within communities. This means that diversity to represent such people is necessary across all of the cities institutions. One of the most popular activities to promote diversity in the classroom is hosting a Multicultural Fair. Have only adults as presenters. Today there is growing awareness that languages play a vital role in development, in ensuring cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue, but also in strengthening co-operation and attaining. "Students can expect food tasting, live music, a cultural clothing fashion show (organised by Year 10 students), education about different cultures through class lessons and visiting speakers and organisations who champion equality and diversity," a spokesperson for the school added. The importance of holidays and traditions spans across most cultures. This is not a small task. Something went wrong, please try again later. While an increasing number of schools are adopting social-emotional learning (SEL) programs and practices to create positive learning environments, many fail to incorporate cultural competence as an essential building block to foster these trusting relationships. 3) The festival of Christmas is celebrated on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. Academic Language Learning Institute, Inc. Culture is central to student learning, writes education consultant Zaretta Hammond. The festivities held in different prefectures encourage everyone to engage with traditional Japanese culture, with museums around the country often offering free admission on the day to allow the general public to be able to delve into the history and culture of Japan. There is nothing wrong with wanting to highlight them in schools. The Parents' Day celebration is the most important function in my school. Or are the people doing the planning only from the majority culture or only people in power? 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