For the many families of other faiths, the activities are inseparable from the underlying meaning of the religious rituals themselves (after all, a Christmas tree is still a Christmas tree, and the Easter bunny is the Easter bunny). There are definitely pros and cons of celebrating this spooky day. Explore key early childhood topics such Developmentally Appropriate Practice, play, and math. However, the Elf on the Shelf tradition may not be right for every family. We currently live in a world where our knowledge about other cultures, languages, and traditions is extremely important to foster understanding and mutual respect, and we are now expecting teachers to be our first responders on the front line in this complex task. Celebrations can also be whimsical and playfulfor example, "Bring Books Alive Day" (making and wearing costumes from books, eating foods from favorite books, acting out favorite stories); "Pajama Day" (wearing pjs and slippers to school, telling bedtime stories, sharing family bedtime rituals); or "Backwards Day" (wearing clothes backwards, However, it does not prohibit students from worshipping on their own. Join NAEYCs team and help us advance the education of young children across the country. Respecting the cultural diversity among the families you serve means recognizing that all have the right to their traditions. Many parents do not have the same time off as their children, causing added expense with babysitting or daycare. But meaningful multicultural education must go beyond saying that we're a "melting pot," having an ethnic food celebration a couple of times a year, and acknowledging a few well-known historical figures. Step #1: Save My Cart Join us at the members-only event and build your advocacy skills, expand your networks, and advance federal and state early childhood policy. The key, employment lawyers and workplace experts say, is to make sure no one feels excluded or forced to participate in workplace festivities. First, look at some of the cons for having technology integration in the classroom: Every child has a computer or tablet and the teacher is explaining what they will be doing that dayestablishing "set" or explaining what the day's lesson will be about, but Sally is fiddling with her tech device and not paying attention. Helps to relieve the fatigue of continuous work and to restore the energy and health for the next schedule. Sponsor study about religion, not the practice of religion. That's because it's a misnomer to think that ADHD affects only their performance in school. During the Jewish Passover celebration, our Jewish brothers and sisters drink wine and eat unleavened bread. First, we build a democratic foundation for equal access to education. Not having to take extra time off work could also make some guests available who might otherwise not be able to come. 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.. However, holidays also pose a range of challenges to ensuring that all children, families, and staff feel respected and to children learning about diversity of families. When elementary-age children have holidays and parents do not, parents can be left scrambling for day care options. Include holiday premises in mathematical word problems. Less visible are the different ways in which our cultures influence our understanding of the world and how we interact with others. 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. You may be surprised at the number of teachers or administrators who can give you a firsthand account of the holiday in question. While we are more explicit about our recognition of various groups and ethnic differences, we have always been a diverse nation. Now playing. Learning about a holiday means teaching children about what the holiday means to different people and about the many different ways those families who honor the holiday celebrate it. The article offers suggestions that teachers can use throughout the school year, as well as when observing cultural and religious holidays and celebrations. 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? Please add products before saving :). The First Amendment Center, in coalition with the AFT and a number of other organizations including the NEA, have issued a guide for educators on such issues called "Finding Common Ground." Some of the most prominent are African-American History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Women's History Month. It is important to note that like the values we instill in our children at school, the holidays of many world religions share common themes, such as thankfulness, caring for others, peace, and forgiveness. Learn about NAEYCs informed positions on significant issues affecting young childrens education and development. At my school, this lines up with our four pillars: knowledge, community, effort, and kindness. Contact us with your questions-- we're here to help! Focus is on meaningful ways to celebrate holidays without spending money. Build specialized knowledge and expand your influence by earning a SHRM Specialty Credential. School work, especially in junior high and high school, becomes a child's job. Have an approach that is academic and not devotional. You have to be sensitive to peoples religions, said Louise Ann Fernandez, a labor and employment lawyer with the California-based firm Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell. Families may find certain holidays stressful due to the amount of commercialization and the media pressure to buy. In October, I draw a large circular calendar and mark October 31. However, they may be ridiculed for not believing, as it is not a social norm. In May, I teach the children English Morris dances, which date back to springtime planting celebrations of more than a thousand years ago. 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. Educate about all religions do not promote or denigrate any religion. However, this can be a huge advantage if you are on a tight moving budget. While students look forward to those holidays as a break from their regular studies, there is a growing fear that American students are falling behind because of the lack of actual classroom time. Cons of visiting Vietnam at Tet Festival. Below, find out how Elf on the Shelf works and explore the possible pros and cons of bringing home a scout elf for your family this holiday season. Tell students that Jewish people celebrate Passover each year with a sacred meal called a Seder. Breaks give students time to bond with family and friends. Chapters 1 and 2 examine the personal and social meanings of holidays, as well as current approaches and new ideas for celebrating, noting the benefits of a holiday curriculum. During the Passover celebration, Jews retell the story of the Exodus, when the Israelites were led out of Egypt to freedom. Pro: Appreciate the money, time, and effort spent in decorating the tree as much as you can prior to Christmas Day, because after that, they are just a sad reminder that the holiday is over. 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. At Holy Thursday and Easter Vigil services, Catholics, too, proclaim the Exodus story. document.head.append(temp_style); You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. } We are published by the George Lucas Educational Foundation, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization. The word seder means order or arrangement. Rabbinical scholars tell us that the Seder has evolved over the years. They all depend on factors like age, social, marital and parental status, company position or carreer choices. Celebrating holidays in the classroom is fun and exciting, but it can also be very educational and culturally valuable for students. For example, four cups of wine are ordinarily consumed during a Seder; in this version, students will sip from a cup of juice twice. --Making the season about more than traditional cutout cookies and grab-bag gifts. This is especially necessary in publicly funded programs where religious teaching is not allowed by law. Learn about the collaborative initiative to advance a unified early childhood education profession. In honor of St. Paddy's Day, Jimmy weighs the good and bad of joining the festivities.Subscribe NOW to The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: http://bit.ly/. The Good (Pros) Celebrating holidays can bring students together and help create a sense of community in the classroom. Halloween is fun, but it can be stressful. Caution: Eliminate the nuts if there are students with allergies. While we suggest reviewing their recommendations in full, here are some general rules: Many educators have fought to continue celebrating holidays in the classroom because they see firsthand the value these lessons bring to their students. June 8, 2022. The Supreme Court decided that schools could not receive public funding if they engaged in religious instruction. See Review the Story of Exodus at the end of this article for an activity that will help you and your students review the story of the Exodus in preparation for your classroom Seder meal. For example, one group might draw Moses before Pharaoh; another group might depict one or more of the plagues. Celebrating the Holidays and Diversity in the Workplace The winter holidays can also be a source of conflict for HR managers, who must ensure the season doesn't lead to hurt feelings,. The government or public action in question* should only engage in secular or civil matters, leaving religion up to the individual. Neither members nor non-members may reproduce such samples in any other way (e.g., to republish in a book or use for a commercial purpose) without SHRMs permission. Materials: You will need Bibles, a new white bed sheet (large enough to serve as a tablecloth for the table where you will gather for your Seder), and several sets of fabric markers. Your school librarian may also be able to provide resources for you and your students to use in your research. Search an ECE degree directory, explore professional standards, and join our community of practice. All cultures commemorate beliefs, historical events, and people significant to the culture through special celebrations and holidays from daily work. So what is a teacher to do? 3:12 AM. The United States currently has 10 national holidays, including Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Christmas Day. 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. Phone: 800.233.0759 Students use inquiry-based learning to gather information about Columbus's impact on the Americas. Even within groups that honor the same holiday, how individual families celebrate will reflect both similarities and differences. With generous support provided by the National Education Association. Ultimately, all of these strategies for cultural responsiveness support our goals for student achievement in two ways. As there are three sides to holiday work, we will take a look at each of them individually: For the employees For example, the actual Exodus took place over 3,000 years ago, and it is likely that the first Passover meal was celebrated in the desert as the Israelites journeyed toward the Promised Land. They can also help teach important lessons about kindness, gratefulness, and selflessness. PROS: Video is engaging and fun, it triggers more senses and can enhance learning. Restaurants, coffee shops, shopping places are closed. Explain that a Seder celebrates the story of the Jewish Exodusthe freeing of the Jewish slaves in Egypt. He explains why he hadnt eaten and assures the child that he is happy for her birthday. A typical week earns approximately $746 per week. 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