Through further exploration of The National Association for
the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) website I was able to learn a few new
things. There is an area where NAEYC voices
all their core state standards initiative.
I was able to get a deeper understanding about the changes NAEYC wants
to bring about and the reason behind their recommendations. Also they have webinars and articles that
focus on each type of preschools, from home-based centers to Title I regulatory
that focus on guidance and strategies to having a successful center.
There is also a place where we as professionals can get
involved in helping the early childhood education profession. They are asking professionals and parents to
call into our local senators and ask them to not cut vital EC programs. Everyone is aware of the "fiscal
cliff" and usually educational programs are the first ones to get
eliminated and a either a decrease or stop in funding to necessary EC programs
too.
I had been following the issue of inclusion in the classroom
and some new information was provided in this issue. It talked about being sensitive to everyone's
religious beliefs during this holiday season.
The two ways they recommended was to either use December holidays as a
teachable moment to introduce different traditions and cultural celebrations or
don't celebrate any and just have a winter fest. The main thing that has to be done first is
to talk to parents to assure they are accept either plan action. I found that to interesting because when I
was a teacher I didn't think to ask parents and I just didn't celebrate any
holiday not even a winter fest.
The way families celebrate holidays (or don't celebrate) can be an explosive topic for some. The Christmas/Chanukah and Easter/Passover holidays can cause the most problems. I believe this is true because of the secularization of Christmas and Easter. These two holidays (which means Holy Days) are first and foremost religious holidays. This fact can cause a lot of tension between religious and non-religious families. My personal belief is that if you are not going to celebrate, or teach for diversity sake, religious holidays as religious holidays then they should not be a part of your program. And yes, parents need to be a part of the decision making. I would never have a "winter fest" but I would use winter as a Dec/Jan/Feb theme.
ReplyDeleteCynthia,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that parents must be involved in the decision process about how to celebrate the holidays. Personally, most of my class celebrate Christmas. However, I do have a child who is Muslim in my classroom that I have to take into account for how she feels, and I modify any art projects that pertain to Christmas for her.
Thanks,
Kelly Banik