I chose the country of Romania for the scenario of a child
from this country emigrating to my early childhood education program.
The five ways I would prepare myself to be culturally
responsive toward this family would be:
1. Research as much as I could about the surface culture of
Romania, with the understanding that the family would not necessarily
participate in all these cultural beliefs but it would establish some sense what
basic cultures exist in Romania.
2. Find out what language the family speaks. I would not assume it was Romanian. If needed, I would try to get an interpreter
established so I could have an effective way of communicating with the family
when I meet with them.
3. I would invite the
family to meet together with me, along with an interpreter, to get to know them
and welcome them into the classroom. I
would ask them if they have any cultural beliefs, family pictures, traditions etc.…that
they would like to share in the classroom.
I would also find out what expectations, questions or concerns they have
for their child’s education and what kind of ongoing communication they are
comfortable with moving forward.
4. I would prepare
the other children in my classroom regarding the cultural differences/beliefs
of the Romanian child. If possible, I
would show pictures of the child and his/her family and we would discuss how
the child might feel in coming to a new country that was diverse from their
home country, and how we might make the child feel welcome in our classroom.
5. I would make sure
the classroom environment reflects the child and his/her culture so they are
made to feel welcome and respected. This
would be done through pictures, toys, music and other cultural items (perhaps
dress ups & food). When the child
arrives, I would introduce the child to the classroom and allow him/her to
explore areas of interest. I would make
introductions to the other children/staff, and continue to be watchful of any
anxiety or stress the child demonstrates.
I would continue establishing an ongoing relationship with the child’s
family to address any concerns/questions that may arise.
Above all, I want to make sure the family feels welcomed,
accepted and valued in our school environment.
I would want to create a feeling of mutual respect and openness, where
the family feels comfortable in approaching me with questions, concerns and
feedback regarding the child’s education and personal well being. Having this collaborative approach will
respect the child and make him/her feel connected to the classroom community,
and also hopefully aid in their transition into making this new country feel
like home.
Collett,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that it is important not to make assumptions about a family. Often times, we tend to make assumptions based on what we have predominantly heard about a particular country or group of people. You made an excellent point that it is important to pay attention to the new child and notice any signs of stress or anxiety and support them in acclimating to their new environment. I also agree that finding out the expectations of the family and figuring out the best modes of communication is essential for building and maintaining a respectful relationship with the family so that both the child and family will have a positive experience.
Collett,
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy reading your post. The things that you would do to prepare for your student is what one would need to know to do. Making sure the classroom environment reflects the child and his/her culture so they are made to feel welcome and respected, is very important . This would help make their transition smoother.
Thanks for sharing,
Pam