This course has taught me a lot that I
thought I knew. It has definitely given me a new outlook and approach. My hope
is to create a classroom that is always culturally diverse, not just one that
becomes diverse because of a new child coming. Having different books in the
library in different languages or portraying people from other cultures or
having pictures and posters around the room displaying differences are simple
changes I can make. I want to take it beyond that and learn specific things about
the families I have in my classroom and include them daily. Additionally, I was
thinking of taking a week at Christmas to learn about how different countries
celebrate the holiday (I used to do this but for no reason I can think of haven’t
in the last few years). Not only within my classroom, but my hope extends into
the goal I have for early childhood.
My goal for the early childhood
field is that we become more open and understanding of the diversity around us
and we embrace it. While we as educators may not come to be fluent in all
languages we encounter, if we create open classrooms where all children feel
safe, secure, loved, and accepted that will ‘speak’ to them and their families.
If we learn about the different cultures in our classrooms and apply what we
learn (not just tuck it away in a file) we will ‘show’ we are open to the
differences.
There is more I could say but words are
escaping me so as yet another course comes to a close I cannot believe how much
I have learned, not just from the resources but from each of you as we have
shared our thoughts and personal experiences. I cannot get over how much I
thought I knew about diversity, but did not. Given the new insights I have
gained, I hope to change my classroom and my approach. So thank you all for
sharing this journey with me and teaching me through your experiences. I hope
you can say that you have learned from me as well. Thank you and I wish each of
you the best as you continue on your individual journeys.
Hi Heidi,
ReplyDeleteAt first I was a little sceptical about this class. I thought I knew all that I needed to know about diversity. This class has opened my eyes into things that I took for granted. I truly enjoyed reading and sharing the insights into our world with our fellow classmates. I wish you much success with your future endeavours and I hope to see you in another class.
I agree I thought I new a bout diversity but I can say I really have a feel for it for I have internalized it now as a way of being and communicating. I love what you said about "My hope is to create a classroom that is always culturally diverse, not just one that becomes diverse because of a new child coming". This hit me with such a truth, our classrooms need to teach diversity. It has been great blogging with you, keep the positive change and equity flourishing
ReplyDeleteI think we have all grown over the past 8 weeks, both as individuals and as professionals. We have learned many things that we thought we knew about cultural differences, but now we have a much better idea of what it really includes. It has been a pleasure reading your posts and gaining new insights. I wish you the best in the future.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing how much you learned from this course and will be able to grow as a teacher. I agree that we should try to make our classrooms as diverse as possible at all times, not just when it seems "necessary." I know it can be difficult if your population of students is not diverse. I think that then it becomes even more important to bring diversity into the classroom through books, toys, media, and other experiences. I also like the idea of exploring how other cultures celebrate holidays. I think that in order to be multicultural, we must teach about other cultures rather than, what seems to be the typical practice regarding holidays now, ignoring all holidays.
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the future.
:)Jen