In the Valuing Diversity section
- How to create an accepting and respectful environment for different cultural backgrounds
The first step is recognizing that various similar, yet unique cultures should not be discriminated. Utilizing the open-door policy is critical in ensuring that people feel at peace to approach and share information on various concepts regarding culture (Oakes, 2018). Speaking about traditional values without bias is another way of creating a safe environment. It includes maintaining a high degree of concern, especially on matters on language. Enacting cultural celebrations that involve different cultural food, dance and costume help in creating a welcoming perception. Also, showing that you are interested in the cultural background of the students helps in creating an accepting environment.
- Explain how to foster home-school partnership
Children will always learn best when they are in a good relationship with their environment. Also, their learning is affected by the relationship between the teachers and their home structure. They are developing better lines of communication between the parents and the teacher’s help in improving information sharing techniques. In this case, children start to create a sense of organization and problem solving through inquisition. Involving parents in the learning process through activities where children share the information they know, then expect feedback from the family—creating a perfect attitude for understanding the prerequisites of establishing good partnerships.
- Describe one diversity activity that you would implement in an environment that families can be part of
Children indeed start developing a set of identities that shape their way of thinking and create a framework through which they relate to the environment. One diverse activity that will incorporate families is with regards to sayings and traditions. The event involves children asking their families for sayings that are very common in their culture with their respective meanings. Comparison of the senses to these words should be considered. It includes allowing children to talk about what they think of their traditions.
In the Being Culturally Self-Aware section
- State the cultural competence philosophy
My philosophy is towards having a positive mind and attitude towards cultural differences. I know that each culture is unique and special in its way. As such, children coming from their own learning and bonding through a central structure is fantastic. I believe that respecting cultural diversity makes it possible for children to build a good relationship with each other irrespective of them as such cultural competence is only made possible through efficient relationship building constructs.
- Describe two or three ways to incorporate your philosophy
An understanding and respectful childhood environment are characterized by activities that engage the child in a diverse manner of ways. Organizing play activities and materials in a situation is crucial in ensuring that educators and parents deliver effective teaching. Ideally, play materials help in developing the cognitive and social context of a child. As such, encouraging students to engage in these activities within the environment is crucial. Secondly, getting to know each student concerning their characters and cultural dominion is an effective way of creating an understanding of a respecting environment. In other words, putting variations in activities with consideration to the family set up is necessary. In most cases, the sharing of stories of cultural transition within the family or school construct plays a significant role in creating and understanding and accepting environment. Cultural stories help students know and appreciate their cultural differences.
- Discuss two or three obstacles in creating a culturally relevant environment and ways to mitigate them
Difficulty in teaching due to the language barrier is one of the challenges that can be experienced. In most cases, this problem is always experienced for students who speak any other language rather than the common language expressed by the majority. A right way of mitigating this obstacle is to avoid non-verbal cues and start utilizing different imagery and graphics to illustrate ideas. Also, incorporating activities where these students begin to learn the primary language is imminent. Another obstacle is about assessment and testing, where there is no equal understanding of the concepts in the test. Students who do not understand start to feel left out since it brings a lot of negative feelings which is not easily erased. A right way of solving this obstacle is by incorporating different ways through which students can absorb information. It includes shaping the student’s attitudes by exposing them to different scenarios that make them culturally eccentric.
In the Dynamics of Difference section
- Develop an activity that you can share with children and families to encourage and support respect for differences
Appreciating the differences in culture is one of the significant ways through which cultural equality can be supported. As such, various activities can be incorporated, such as making slides and art on different cultures other than their own. The operation involves children working with their families to elucidate on the different characteristics and constituent of various cultures allocated to them. The illustration will encompass an overview of the food they take, the type of music they listen to, the preference in clothing and their religious beliefs. Doing this makes it possible for them to understand the different cultures and begin to appreciate them. Parents play a significant role in assisting them to research on the components of the given culture being analyzed. The project is based on different questions that tackle the whole project.
- Describe the type of cultural relevant antibias curriculum that can be used in a learning environment
An antibias in the early learning relies on equality and consideration that every culture is equal though characterized by peculiar norms. It, therefore, becomes possible to examine different personal perceptions that shape the different ideas and understanding of religion. A very good curriculum that integrates cultural antibias is when students start to learn the significance of different cultures. It can effectively be done through creating and designing a family tree (Research, 2020). It is a piece of work which shows the hierarchical lineage of a family from its ancestors to the current generation. It is essential in ensuring that students know their family background and are able to understand where they originated from. In the case of a mixed culture, reading and listening to audio files that elucidate on this phenomenon is advantageous. Doing this gives one a deeper understanding of how and why one would come from a mixed culture. In addition, knowing the different cultures brings a sense of appreciation as one starts to relate to the various concepts of that culture. In turn, holding cultural celebrations promotes cultural antibias to a great length. These celebrations make it possible for students to accept different cultural environments without discrimination.
In the Institutionalizing Cultural Knowledge and Adapting to the Diversity section
- Explain how you would adapt to diversity and serve diverse populations in early childhood
To adapt to variety, I will increase my understanding of different cultures through reading various cultural books which shape a positive attitude towards given learning. It includes understanding the history of a given culture, their way of thinking, the type of food, their beliefs and perceptions. Doing this will ensure that I value and appreciate the differences that exist with each culture. In most cases, it is convenient to adapt to these cultural premises in different sectors, such as in the curriculum. Developing the curriculum to compose a well-structured and non-biased ideology of different cultures is essential. Also, I will engage in self-assessment whose aim is to figure out my level of understanding of different existing cultures. It makes it easy to understand the curriculum and devise effective ways of teaching and understanding the various concepts relating to religion. It means being in a position to challenge stereotypes and encourage positive relationships through effective communication. I will also partner with families, to understand their cultural beliefs. Doing this makes it easy to define and construct a competent curriculum.
- Explain how you apply The NAEYC Code of Ethical Conduct and Statement of Commitment (Links to an external site.) Links to an external website. In your work with diverse young learners.
About diverse young learners, they are indeed differentiated by a wide range of different cultures. The best way to use the NAEYC code of ethics is devising ways to learn how diverse learners think, and operate about the cultural phenomenon. It is essential to incorporate this strategy as it ensures that the teacher gets a detailed understanding of the best way a learner can understand concepts. It entails knowing the different attitudes that shape the learning experiences of the students. Despite learning new facts and sentiments, the curriculum should ensure that they do not lose the grip of their cultural ways. As such, it becomes easy to incorporate efforts from both the family and the teacher in shaping the cultural ideologies of students, even after exposing them to new ideas. Doing this helps learners to respect the fact that people come from different cultures, and that no religion is superior to the other. The real difference should be placed as a vital factor in remembering how leaners have various intellectual capacities. As such, they should be treated according to their capabilities.
- Defend your embrace of the following themes
Culturally appropriate methods- These are methods which reflect upon a specific culture and appreciates its unique values and understanding. As a theme, it is essential in devising a viable curriculum that integrates the fundamental aspects of different cultures. Ideally, learners can cope well in an environment in which favours their understanding. To this, they can form and shape their attitudes as conveyed through different languages. As such, children should not be isolated as it creates a negative attitude towards their learning construct.
Anti-biased curriculum- An anti-biased curriculum creates a general incorporating curriculum that does not discriminate against any culture. The curriculum includes different cultural proponents with a deep understanding of various cultures. Since there are so many cultures, preparing a curriculum requires intense research to include every learner. It means that no learner should feel left out in the learning process.
Diverse family structures- every family is different in terms of culture and dynamic. It is through this dynamic that families form strong cultural identities which shape their way of thinking. It is, therefore, essential to understand and appreciate every family structure.
Multicultural education- it involves getting information and knowledge about different cultures that exist. It is essential as it makes it easy for one to embrace a given culture in consideration to its religion, language and perspective.