Africa
1. I would start by researching the country of
Africa to make sure I know what they are accustomed to including their values
and norms, so I can be able to communicate in a respectful manner.
2. I would incorporate in my classroom the
culture in Africa on the board that I have all the other children’s cultures. I
would ask them to bring something to the class that I can also put on that
board that will share with us something about their cultures
3. I will make sure that I have an interpreter,
so I am able to communicate in case the family do not speak English. I want to make sure that we are communicating
so I can make them feel welcomed.
4. I would invite them to the classroom, so they
could share with us a bit about their background, so we can all learn directly
from them about their cultures.
5. I will make sure that I do not cross any
boundaries and respect their culture.
The
benefits of preparing before I meet the family and learn what I can about their
cultures and beliefs will show that I have an interest in their child and the
family as well. It will also show to
them that I respect their culture and that learning more about who they are
will open the lines of communication. I
will make them feel welcome and cared for if I show that I have taken the time
to learn about their cultures.
Miguel,
ReplyDeleteI like how you have made the second point about all the children and not singling out the "new" child. This is so important when it comes to making the child feel a part of the new classroom and environment. I have been in a situation where I have had students who did not speak English and an interpreter was not going to be provided, Google Translator helped immensely not only for learning phrases to use with the child but also for conveying important information with the family. You have a great outline here and I respect your last point about maintaining boundaries.