Wow, it’s that time of year again! The time to reflect on this past year and look to next year. As you reflect on 2022, be proud of the steps you have taken to celebrate all students in your classroom. Whether it’s adding more books to your library that represent your students or learning more about a student’s culture, congratulate yourself on journeying toward creating a more inclusive classroom.

Let’s take one more step this year by including all three cultural and religious holidays celebrated in December in the U.S. in our school festivities. Below is a list of ways to celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Christmas in your classroom.

Prioritizing Belonging in Your Classroom

• Hanukkah is an eight day Jewish celebration referred to as the “festival of lights.”
• Kwanzaa celebrates African heritage and identity and is based on traditional African harvest festivals. 
• Christmas is a religious holiday and worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon that is celebrated in many ways around the world. 

Practicing Social Awareness with Your Students

While we don’t need to wait until December to practice social-emotional skills, the holiday season is a great opportunity to focus on the Michigan Department of Education’s (MDE) Social and Emotional Learning Competencies and Indicators, and more specifically the competency of Social Awareness. 

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) defines Social Awareness as the ability to understand the perspectives and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures and contexts. This can look like taking others’ perspectives, understanding and expressing gratitude, demonstrating awareness of different cultures and reading social cues in order to respond constructively. 

Creating Diverse Experiences for Your Students

Research shows that students who can empathize with others and have practiced working alongside peers with diverse experiences, ways of thinking, and seeing the world, achieve greater success as adults, both at work and in their personal endeavors. We can learn from each other’s cultures and customs, just by caring about their lives and beliefs. Learn more about how to avoid common pitfalls when attempting to create a shared balance of various holidays. 

By observing how people celebrate what is dear to them and by sharing their values, we can come to know those around us better. Exploring the identities, families, cultures, holidays, and traditions provides meaningful opportunities to celebrate not only similarities, but differences, too. Incorporating these social awareness activities into your classroom deepens acceptance, inclusivity, and belonging for all learners. Our nation is rich in cultural and religious diversity, so why not search for more ways to celebrate and foster greater inclusion in your classroom?

Creating a classroom of belonging is a journey that takes time, so congratulate yourself on how far you’ve come this year and for how you are preparing to continue this journey each year. If you need additional services or supports in social emotional learning or creating belonging in your classroom, please connect with Chelsea or Sheree.

#Holiday #Celebrate #Inclusive #Belonging #Culture #AllStudents #SocialEmotionalLearning #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd

This blog post was written by Chelsea Kittridge, Social Emotional Learning Coach and Sheree Joseph-Bos, Diversity Consultant for Kent ISD and edited by Amanda Walma, Professional Learning Coordinator and Sara Johnson, PD Hub Intern for Kent ISD.