Scenario
You are working in an early
childhood setting of your choice—a hospital, a child care center, a social
service agency. You receive word that the child of a family who has recently
emigrated from a country you know nothing about will join your group soon. You
want to prepare yourself to welcome the child and her family. Luckily, you are
enrolled in a course about diversity and have learned that in order to support
families who have immigrated you need to know more than surface facts about
their country of origin.
· Costa Rica is the family’s origin.
·
I will first look up the country
and learn as much as I could from the internet.
·
I would also go to the library and
find a book that could be passed around to the different teachers in the center
so that they are aware of their culture.
·
Any traditional snacks that may be
eaten a lot in Costa Rica, I will purchase and hand it out on the child’s first
day of school.
·
Since the language is different, Spanish,
I would learn the basic words like hello, nice to meet you, your child is in
good hands, have a nice day, etc.
·
I would take a look at their
education system like the statistics, overall layout, ranks, etc.
All of the preparations will benefit not only me, but also the family.
I will do so much research like searching the internet, scamming through books
about the customs and lifestyles of their culture, and looking into their
education system I will be prepared mentally as well as physically for the
student. I could only imagine how it would feel as a parent to bring your child
to a center that speaks a different language and is the dominant culture. I
would practice saying some statements in their native language so that it would
put them at ease a little bit. My mother always said that food is the way to
anyone’s heart. The snack would just let the family and the child know that we
can incorporate any culture into the school.
Kelisha,
ReplyDeleteVery good idea to post the country flag. I think that is a good idea to try to purchase snacks that the child will also like. You stated that all the preparation will benefit not only the child but the family this is great because it will help the family to get involved and feel welcome. Great post
Kelisha,
ReplyDeleteYou and I have the same ideas. It is important that we show an interest in our families. Little things like learning phrases in their language mean so much. I know that my families get a kick out of hearing me "try" to same something in their language. The laugh and say, "No Mrs. Taylor. You say it this way." The funny thing is they never tell me what I said when I say it wrong. I have families who bring me food from their culture. I try not to offend them when they have put foods together that I don't like. I always take it and say I'm going to take it home so that my family can try it with me. Most of the time it is delicious, just spicy.
I like the snack idea for the child's first day. When they have something that they can quickly identify with it could help them adjust a lot easier depending on the child. Not only should the head teacher in his class get to know the child but everyone as well. There may be occasions where another teacher may have to step in and assist, the child moves up in another class or more.
ReplyDeleteOne can never go wrong in trying to learn the family and child's language. I can't tell you the numerous of laughter as I would try and speak their language. The children would speak slowly and anociate words and phrases to me.