This lesson includes strategies for getting to know diverse families, including ways to help overcome language barriers, inviting parents and extended families to class events and familiarizing yourself with the cultures represented in your classroom.
Activities
Meet families in their environments
1) Walk through students’ neighborhoods and conduct a brief meet-and-greet with parents.
http://www.sedl.org/connections/resources/rb/rb5-diverse.pdf
(Module 2, Lesson 3 – Strategies to Improve Communication with Families: Welcoming Strategies)
2) If possible, visit students’ homes and communities and speak with extended family members.
(Module 1, Lesson 1 – What Happens When You Don’t Know Your Students: The importance of student and family background)
Help overcome language barriers
1) Provide information multiple times and in multiple ways, such as following emails with phone calls to summarize what was said.
http://www.culturosity.com/pdfs/10%20Strategies%20for%20Overcoming%20Language%20Barriers.pdf
(Module 2, Lesson 4 – How to Overcome Language Barriers: Overcoming Language Barriers)
2) Build connections among families who speak the same language
https://www.ode.state.or.us/opportunities/grants/saelp/trustnwrel.pdf (p. 25) (Module 2, Lesson 6: Reflecting on Our Biases: Identify and Address Gaps in Teacher-Family Communication)
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/article/many-languages-many-cultures (Module 1, Lesson 1: What happens when you don’t know your students: The importance of student and family background)
3) Explain (with an interpreter, if needed) to parents why meetings, such as parent-teacher meetings, are important. Some parents may not attend parent-teacher meetings not only because of language barriers, but also because they do not understand the significance placed on the meetings.
http://www.teslcanadajournal.ca/index.php/tesl/article/viewFile/29/29
(Module 2, Lesson 7 – Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers: Acknowledge the Unique Ways that Minority Families are Involved in Their Children’s Education)
4) Find people at school or in the families’ communities to help translate letters sent home and interpret at meetings with parents
http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/pt_ch1.pdf
(Module 2, Lesson 7 – Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers: Acknowledge the Unique Ways that Minority Families are Involved in Their Children’s Education)
5) Label spaces in the classroom and school in families’ home languages
http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/pt_ch1.pdf
(Module 2, Lesson 7 – Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers: Acknowledge the Unique Ways that Minority Families are Involved in Their Children’s Education)
Learn about family backgrounds and cultures
1) Ask families what language(s) they speak, what country or countries they come from and what their educational backgrounds are and the school systems in their countries.
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/connecting-ell-families-strategies-success
(Module 2, Lesson 5 – Ways to Familiarize Families with the School System: Learn About Others Strategies to Help Families Gain a Better Understanding of the School System)
2) Ask families which language they prefer to communicate in, and let them know they can bring an interpreter or one can be provided by the school (if possible). Avoid using translation websites, as they can often be inaccurate.
(Module 2, Lesson 5 – Ways to Familiarize Families with the School System: Learn About Others Strategies to Help Families Gain a Better Understanding of the School System)
3) Ask students and families about their home routines. Inquire about the responsibilities that students have in their families.
http://www.colorincolorado.org/article/encouraging-and-sustaining-ell-parent-engagement
(Module 2, Lesson 5 – Ways to Familiarize Families with the School System: Learn About Others Strategies to Help Families Gain a Better Understanding of the School System)
4) Have a world map where parents and students can mark where they come from with a pin to create a visual representation of the class composition
Interactive world map: http://mrnussbaum.com/interactive_world_map/
Printable maps: http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/maps.html
(Module 1, Lesson 4 – Culturally Responsive Curriculum Ideas: World Map)
5) Ask students to interview their parents, grandparents and/or other relatives about their communities, cultures and immigration experiences. Have students share what they learned during the interview with the class.
http://www.teslcanadajournal.ca/index.php/tesl/article/viewFile/29/29 (p. 91)
(Module 2, Lesson 7 – Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers: Acknowledge the Unique Ways that Minority Families are Involved in Their Children’s Education)
6) Ask students to write a biography of a special person within their culture, such as a parent, grandparent, other relative, a neighbor or community leader to share with the class.
(Module 1, Lesson 4 – Culturally Responsive Curriculum Ideas: Biography of an Important Person in the Child’s Community)
7) Invite students to bring in books, songs, poetry or crafts from their cultures to share with the class.
http://www2.ncte.org/statement/diverselearnersinee/ (Belief #5)
(Module 1, Lesson 2 – How Diverse are We?: Reflecting upon the challenges of cultural and linguistic diversity)
8) To get to know the cultures represented in your classroom, plan a multicultural night and invite students and their families to dress in their ethnic clothing. If possible, involve parents to participate in the decision-making about the events to further their involvement and move beyond the “holiday approach.”
http://www.teslcanadajournal.ca/index.php/tesl/article/viewFile/29/29 (p. 90)
(Module 2, Lesson 7 – Ways to Overcome Cultural Barriers: Acknowledge the Unique Ways that Minority Families are Involved in Their Children’s Education)
Field Visits
1) For teachers in the Nanakuli area, use these links to find out more about Hawaiian cultures and what events are happening in this area.
(Module 3, Lesson 4 – Ways to Engage Families at School: Field visits)
2) To help you understand more about Hawaiian culture, visit the following sites. There may be information on community events available.
https://www.hawaiimagazine.com
http://www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org
(Module 3, Lesson 4 – Ways to Engage Families at School: Field visits)