Welcome To Our Classroom - FREE PDF download included below! 

As the new school year approaches (or has already begun for some of you!), it's time to start planning how you'll use culturally responsive strategies to cultivate engaging and inclusive learning experiences for your students of color. By embracing the unique backgrounds and experiences of your Black and Brown learners, you can lay the foundation for a positive and empowering school year. In this blog post, you'll discover five culturally responsive back-to-school activities you can do with your early childhood learners to begin building strong connections and fostering an environment of inclusivity and understanding.

1. Exploring Diversity Through Story Time: A Journey Into Our Names

Kickstart the school year by celebrating diversity through engaging story time sessions. Select books such as "The Name Jar" or "Chrysanthemum," which beautifully explore the themes of names and identity. After reading, delve into meaningful discussions with your young learners about the deeper meanings behind their names, their origins, and the importance of correct pronunciation. This interactive exploration not only opens a window into the diverse world of your students but also sparks curiosity and understanding about what makes them unique. Remember to take the time to learn and pronounce each student's name correctly. This serves as a foundation for fostering an environment of respect and acceptance right from the beginning.

 2. All About Me: Understanding Your Diverse Learners

All About Me activities provide an opportunity to get to know your students and design learning experiences tailored to their unique backgrounds and interests. Encourage kids to share family traditions, cultural celebrations, and personal interests through drawings, photos, or presentations. This not only helps you understand your students on a deeper level, but it also promotes empathy and unity within the classroom. Download our FREE PDF resource - "Get to Know Your Learners" (click the link and you'll find it at the bottom) for a fun activity that will help you learn more about your students, their culture, and their learning preferences.

3. Parent Survey: Bridging Home and School

Establishing open lines of communication with parents and caregivers from the beginning is crucial for creating a culturally responsive classroom, and really for fostering a welcoming classroom environment in general. A parent survey or questionnaire can serve as an initial bridge between the classroom and home environment, allowing parents to share essential information about their child's academic history, interests, and home life. By understanding the unique tapestry of your diverse learners, you can incorporate culturally relevant materials and activities into your lessons, creating an inclusive and meaningful learning experience for every child. By actively engaging with parents through a beginning of the year questionnaire, you can foster a supportive partnership that sets a positive tone for the entire school year.

4. On Display and in Action: Mirroring the Diversity of Your Learners in the Classroom

Designing an inclusive physical environment goes beyond classroom layout; it extends to the posters and visual aids that adorn the walls. Ensure that the visual elements and teaching resources used in the classroom reflect the diverse backgrounds of your learners. Update your classroom library with culturally relevant books featuring characters that reflect this year’s learners, as well as those from various ethnicities, abilities, and family structures. By frequently rotating these reading materials or borrowing new books from your local or school library, you can keep the content fresh and engaging for your learners.

When it comes to decorating your classroom or designing bulletin board displays, consider using images that showcase diversity and highlight positive values such as empathy, respect, and inclusivity, reinforcing the importance of these principles in daily interactions. You can also encourage kids to display photos from home of themselves and their families. If you have English Language Learners, a language board that displays common words like "hello" and "thank you" in the languages spoken by your students is a great idea as well. By creating a physical classroom environment that authentically represents your learners, you send a powerful message that their identities and backgrounds are celebrated and respected. This visually inclusive space fosters a sense of belonging and empowerment, promoting a positive learning experience for all students.

If you're seeking culturally responsive teaching materials and classroom decor that reflect your  learners of color, check out our shop! We offer a wide array of engaging early childhood resources that ensure all students can see themselves represented and feel valued in the learning process. We even provide grade-level bundles for preschool, kindergarten and first grade! Visit ABSee Me's shop today to discover how our learning materials can make a positive impact in your classroom. 

5. Establish Inclusive Norms: Creating Classroom Rules WITH Your Learners

Collaborate with your students to establish positive and inclusive classroom norms. Create rules together that emphasize inclusivity, promote empathy, and encourage your learners to share their unique ideas and experiences. This co-creation of norms empowers students to take ownership of their learning space, fostering a sense of belonging and a strong sense of community where all students feel valued and heard. Here are some examples of inclusive classroom expectations you can create with your learners:

• Celebrate our Differences: We celebrate and respect everyone's different cultures, families, and ideas.
• Be Kind and Caring: We listen to how others feel and try to understand them with love and care.
• Be a Friend to All: We include everyone in our fun and games so nobody feels left out.
• Speak with Kindness. We use nice words that make others feel happy and supported.
• Keep an Open Mind: We learn from each other and discover new things together.
• Take Turns: We take turns speaking and sharing, giving everyone a chance to be heard.
• Help Each Other: We help our classmates when they need it.
• Be Responsible: We make good choices and take care of our classroom and friends, so we all have a happy and safe place to learn and play.
• Be Patient: We know that we all learn differently and at our own pace, so we support and encourage each other along the way.
• Be Curious and Learn: We ask questions to know more about our friends' cultures and experiences, so we can understand and appreciate each other better.
• Respect Personal Space: We respect each other's personal space and boundaries, showing that we care about everyone's feelings and comfort.
• Solve Problems with Words: When we have conflicts, we talk calmly and find solutions together.
• Celebrate Together: We cheer for each other's achievements and support our friends in reaching their goals.
• Say Thank You: We show gratitude and say thank you to our friends and teachers for all the helpful things they do.
• Be Brave and Share: We speak up with confidence because our ideas and voices are important.

Conclusion

Infuse these culturally responsive activities into your Back to School plans to kickstart the journey of cultivating an inclusive and empowering learning environment. By celebrating diversity, understanding your learners' unique backgrounds, and fostering collaboration with families, you'll create a classroom culture that provides a strong foundation for the growth and success of all your learners, particularly those from Black and Brown communities. 

BUT WAIT! THERE’S MORE….

A Free Gift from Us - Our WELCOME TO OUR CLASSROOM freebie!

Introducing our "Welcome to Our Classroom" freebie – a handy tool for connecting with parents and caregivers to better understand your students and their families. This user-friendly form encourages family involvement, offering valuable insights into your learners' cultural backgrounds, interests, and experiences. By leveraging this resource, you'll initiate the journey towards crafting an inclusive space that mirrors the rich diversity of your learners. Use these insights to acquaint yourself with your new students and initiate culturally responsive teaching techniques in your classroom!

>>> CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR OUR WELCOME TO OUR CLASSROOM FREEBIE

Wishing you all a great start to the new school year! 

Happy Learning!

ABSee Me