When I enter any particular classroom at any particular school, my first instinct is to look around and find something I identify with. The Latino background in me longs to see something that reflects or resembles my culture. When I do find something, it makes me happy and it's even an opportunity to initiate conversations about the artifact's background.
So this got me thinking about my students. I teach English language learners (ELLs). My students come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Many of them are cross-cultural students (read more about it here). The point is, because of who my students are, it is my responsibility to establish and maintain an environment where all my students feel comfortable and safe. So as I rearrange my classroom and decorate my walls, I have to be intentional with my decor. You see, when students step into your classroom, they look around and they immediately search for something they can recognize. They look around for something to connect, whether is cultural, emotional, or linguistic; they long to identify with something...ANYTHING that assures them that their backgrounds are accepted....I can guarantee you that a desk globe and/or a world map on a wall doesn't quite do the trick.
After reading, "To Connect Across Cultures, Find Out What You Have in Common", I realized that I need to do more...WE need to do more in our classrooms to build trust and connections with our ELLs. We need to be intentional about what's in our classroom and support our students with diverse cultures find similarities and not differences among cross-cultures.
We need to come together and share ideas among educators on ways to bring awareness and gain multicultural backgrounds as well as activities that will help our students be sensitive to a diverse population.
I am going to start posting pictures of everything I have in my classroom that supports and promotes students' diversity using the hashtag #ELLchat_Snaps and I encourage you to do the same.
I can't wait to see the wonderful things you are doing in your classrooms to make your ELL feel important, comfortable, and accepted!
Thank you for reading!
4 Comments
Tan
9/5/2017 11:06:40 am
Thank younfor creating this hashtag! It will be a great way for teachers to share great ideas ro inspire each other! You're such a great leader in the field!
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Emily Francis
9/11/2017 10:49:08 am
Thank you so much for your support, Tan! Your comment is greatly appreciated! :)
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I am completely intrigued by this post! As a Spanish teacher to kiddos whose first language is English (almost all of them), and on top of that, teaching in a small town in a largely rural state, my classroom is filled with anything and everything Spanish. In many ways, I am hoping to transport my students out of their daily routine, and experience a different perspective. I never thought about how kiddos are looking for something familiar to connect with, and though I realize your post is in reference to ELLs, who most definitely are feeling greatly the need to connect to a foreign culture, I, too, am trying to connect my students. Building connections between their everyday lives and that of the Spanish speaking world is powerful indeed, and I thank you for this post- it has really got me thinking about ways I can make more connections in my classroom! ~Julie
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Emily Francis
9/11/2017 10:55:13 am
Julie,
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