TSD Inclusive
December 2023
"Now is the accepted time, not tomorrow, not some more convenient season. It is today that our best work can be done and not some future day or future year... tomorrow comes the harvest and the playtime."
~W.E.B. Du Bois quoted in Unearthing Joy~
Considerations During the Winter Months
This month, we aim to share December awareness days, December diversity days, December heritage months, December high holy days, December religious holidays, and religious festivals.
Please Consider the Following:
- Whose voices, perspectives, and/or experiences are heard and centered in this content, activity, event, or practice?
- What clipart, decorations, or images are represented in my classroom and/or materials/content? Does it place one practice/custom over another?
- What multiple identities are included in this content, activity, event, or practice? (Representation)
- Whose voices, perspectives, or experiences are marginalized and/or missing?
- What visual representations/microaggressions (clipart, images, etc.) further marginalize these groups? Are multiple perspectives present in this content, activity, event, or practice? (Perspective)
- Whose voice is present? Is there a single voice, or are there multiple voices represented? Is this the voice of a cultural-insider’s perspective?
Considerations for Pedagogy:
- Purpose of the activity
- Crafts, events, projects, activities, practices, graphics and/or media that may center one tradition over others (Religious or Secular Hierarchy)
- Consider how to celebrate various holidays that honor many cultures throughout the school year, while not over-emphasizing December holidays
- Do holiday parties in your classroom typically center a Christmas theme? If so, consider winter, snow, snowball/snowflakes, and elements that do not place an emphasis solely on one holiday.
- Not all students have a "holiday" that they celebrate during this time of year. Some do not celebrate any holidays at all.
Celebrations and Recognitions
Why is this Important?
The Troy School District is comprised of a very diverse and culturally rich community. Elevating celebrations and recognitions not only provides a space where the diversity of our community can be both seen and felt, but also provides an opportunity to learn more deeply about one another, and the world around us. Furthermore, it honors humanity and our need to be culturally responsive within our educational system especially. There are holidays and recognitions for virtually every part of the world, including religious/faith based observances. These multicultural calendar insights and newsletter highlights are important because they represent the whole of OneTroy, the humanity of OneTroy and of people across the globe. You are the steward of your learning. For humanity, you are encouraged to read on, digest for greater understanding, and even pass along to spread awareness.
MONTHLY
Universal Human Rights Month
WEEKLY
December 7 to December 15: Hanukkah (Jewish) begins at sunset on December 7, the start of an eight-day Jewish festival of lights, which offers an opportunity to explore Jewish traditions and resilience.
December 16 to 24: Las Posadas (Mexican): religious festival in Mexico and some parts of the U.S. during the Christmas season.
December 26 to January 1: Kwanzaa (Black/African American/Pan-African) is a seven-day African-American and Pan-African celebration emphasizing communal values and heritage.
DAILY
December 1: World AIDS Day: This day is observed to support those living with HIV and to remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
December 3: International Day for People with Disabilities: This day focuses on the rights and well-being of people with disabilities, promoting accessibility and inclusion.
December 5: International Volunteer Day: A day to celebrate and recognize the contributions of volunteers worldwide.
December 10: Bodhi Day (Buddhist): This day commemorates the Buddha's enlightenment and is a time for reflection and meditation.
December 10: International Human Rights Day: A day to celebrate and advocate for human rights around the world.
December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe: This day is significant in the Catholic faith, particularly among Mexican communities, celebrating the appearance of the Virgin Mary to Juan Diego in Mexico.
December 15: Bill of Rights Day: This day commemorates the ratification of the first ten amendments to the U.S. Constitution, promoting civil rights and liberties.
December 24: Advent (Dec 3 - Dec 24) (Christian): The period leading up to Christmas, observed by Christians as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ.
December 25: Christmas (Christian): A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ, which has also become a global cultural event.
communal values and heritage.
December 26: Boxing Day: A day of gift giving and appreciation
December 31: New Year's Eve: A day to celebrate and usher in a new year (recognized around the world, with diverse, celebratory and cultural experiences and traditions)
Our Endless Pursuit For Joy
Using The "HILL Model" to check in with students.
The HILL Model helps us identify areas that advance culturally and historically responsive educational pursuits: Histories | Identities | Literacies | & Liberation. Use this strategy to check in students and their well-being at any point in a unit of instruction.
- Identity: How's your heart? How are you feeling today? What emotions are you feeling? How do you see yourself recognized in our school and classroom? How do you feel about yourself? How are you learning more about yourself and who you wish to be?
- Skills: How do you feel about skills you've learned in our class? In what areas do you need more support? In what areas could you support a classmate?
- Intellect: What topics or concepts would you like to learn more about? What do you think about the knowledge you have been cultivating in class?
- Criticality: How are you reading the world? What are you noticing about what is happening in the world today and how it relates to what we learn in class?
- Joy: How's your joy? What has brought you joy today or recently?
3 Shifts For A More Culturally Responsive Classroom
Culturally Responsive Instruction is easy as 1-2-3!
Embracing culturally responsive teaching is pivotal in ensuring that every student feels seen, heard, and validated in the classroom. By recognizing and valuing the diverse backgrounds and experiences of students, educators pave the way for more meaningful learning outcomes. Here are 3 actionable strategies to amplify cultural responsiveness in your instruction:
1. Integrate Culturally Relevant Curriculum Content:
Description: Adapt your curriculum to include examples, case studies, and perspectives from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. This approach helps students connect their personal experiences with the learning material.
Implementation: Select texts, historical events, scientific achievements, and artistic works that reflect the diversity of the student body. Collaborate with students to explore topics relevant to their cultural contexts and experiences. This strategy can make the curriculum more engaging and relatable for students from diverse backgrounds.
2. Foster Inclusive Classroom Discussions:
Description: Create a classroom environment where all voices are heard and respected. Encourage students to share their perspectives and experiences, and recognize the value of diverse viewpoints in enriching the learning experience.
Implementation: Establish ground rules for respectful communication. Use discussion formats that allow every student to participate, such as think-pair-share or small group discussions. Pose open-ended questions that invite multiple viewpoints. Actively listen to and validate students' contributions, fostering an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding.
3. Collaborate with Community and Family Members:
Description: Engage with the families and communities of your students to bring a more authentic and comprehensive understanding of diverse cultural backgrounds into the classroom. This approach recognizes the importance of the community and family in the educational process.
Implementation: Invite family members or community leaders to share their experiences or cultural practices with the class. Organize community-based projects or field trips that connect with the cultural heritage of the students. Establish communication channels with families to understand their expectations and perspectives on education. This collaboration can provide valuable insights and create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for students.
Tips From Dr. Sonja Cherry-Paul
1. Choose a text that’s about and authored by a BIPOC. Authors who write about their lived experiences can offer a much more nuanced portrayal of characters that share their identities. You’ll also want to be sure that the text is culturally affirming and provides opportunities to develop critical consciousness. Be aware of not just showing oppression but also strength and joy.
2. Plan for students to interact with the text that explicitly addresses cultural competence and critical consciousness. Just as you would mark spots in a text with prompts for students to think about character and theme, mark spots that highlight cultural identity and systems of injustice. You might try prompts that sound like this:
- How is the character’s identity similar to yours or different?
- What part of this book is a mirror for you? Window?
- What bigger problems in our community or our world is this making you think about?
Disabilities and Human Rights
- Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80% live in developing countries.
- An estimated 46% of older people aged 60 years and over are people with disabilities.
- One in every five women is likely to experience disability in her life, while one in every ten children is a child with a disability.
Facts courtesy of: https://www.un.org/en/observances/day-of-persons-with-disabilities
International Human Rights Day
Human Rights Day is a special day that recognizes and celebrates the fundamental human rights that every person is entitled to. It’s observed every year on December 10th and is a time to reflect on the progress that has been made in protecting human rights around the world. It is also a day of recommitment; ensuring that all people are treated with dignity and respect. This year's Human Rights Day theme is “Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All” and the call to action is #StandUp4HumanRights.
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) adopted in 1948 by the United National General Assembly, is "a milestone document, which proclaims the inalienable rights that everyone is entitled to as a human being - regardless of race, color, religion, sex, language, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status." ~United Nations
International Human Solidarity Day
International Human Solidarity Day is a global holiday that celebrates the idea of humanity and cooperation. It was created by the United Nations in 2007 and is celebrated every year on December 20th. The goal of this holiday is to promote peace, understanding, and cooperation amongst all people. This day is also used to raise awareness about global issues such as poverty, hunger, and disease.
Learning for Justice
This webinar recording will help you create deeper understandings of religious and secular holidays, facilitate classroom discussions surrounding inclusion and respect for religious and non-religious differences, and evaluate existing classroom resources and strategies for equity and inclusion.
December Library
Winter Holidays Around the World
Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish holiday that celebrates the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. It is celebrated for eight days and nights, usually beginning on the 25th of Kislev according to the Hebrew calendar. Hanukkah (also spelled Chanukah or Chanukkah) is a Jewish holiday that lasts for eight nights and usually occurs in December. It is also known as the Festival of Lights.
Las Posadas is a December holiday celebrated in Mexico and many other Latin American countries. It commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.
Christmas
Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. It is celebrated by Christians all around the world and is considered one of the most important holidays of the year. Christmas honors the day that Jesus Christ was born to Joseph and Mary in the city of Bethlehem.
Expressions of "Merry Christmas" in different languages:
Arabic: Milad Majid
Chinese (Cantonese): Gun Tso Sun Tan'Gung Haw Sun
Chinese (Mandarin): Sheng Dan Kuai Le
Croatian: Sretan Bozic
Danish: Glædelig Jul
French: Joyeux Noel
German: Fröhliche Weihnachten
Greek: Kala Christouyenna
Hawaiian: Mele Kalikimaka
Italian: Buone Feste Natalizie
Japanese: Shinnen omedeto. Kurisumasu Omedeto
Korean: Sung Tan Chuk Ha
Portuguese: Feliz Natal
Swedish: God Jul
Spanish: Feliz Navidad
Boxing Day
Observed on December 26, Boxing Day is a public holiday with its roots forming during the middle-ages in the United Kingdom. Today, Boxing Day is celebrated in many countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. In Canada, the U.K. and Commonwealth countries around the world, Boxing Day was traditionally the day employers would give their staff Christmas presents, called "boxes," to celebrate the season. But since the day after Christmas is now usually a statutory holiday, in our modern society, many often gift boxes to themselves. Or at least that's one way of looking at this longtime tradition, which has been noted for centuries. There's no exact definition for this longtime tradition, though some tie it to British service staff who helped their lords and ladies with Christmas dinner and literally took home boxes, with the next day "off" from their work.
Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a winter holiday that celebrates African-American heritage. It was founded in 1966 by Maulana Karenga. The name Kwanzaa comes from the words matunda ya kwanza, which means “first fruit” in Swahili, referring to the first crops of the harvest. In Africa, the first fruit festivals are celebrated in accordance with the summer solstice (winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere). Some might consider Kwanzaa as an alternative to Christmas. However, Kwanzaa was not created with the purpose to give black people their own religious holiday as an alternative to Christmas. Many African-American families celebrate Kwanzaa in addition to Christmas. Maulana Karenga defined the seven principles of Kwanzaa, calling them “Nguzo Saba” (the seven principles of African heritage). Together, the seven principles make up Kawaida (meaning tradition). Each of the seven days during Kwanzaa symbolically represents one of the seven principles on which the holiday builds.
These principles are:
Umoja (Unity)
Kujichagulia (Self-determination)
Ujima (Collective work and responsibility)
Ujamaa (Cooperative economics)
Nia (Purpose)
Kuumba (Creativity)
Imani (Faith)
Kwanzaa is also distinguished by seven symbols including:
Makka (mat), a traditional straw or woven textile. It represents the base or the foundation on which the other symbols are placed
Kinara (candle holder) holds seven candles
Mishumaa Saba (the seven candles)
Mazao (crops)
Mahindi (corn)
Kikombe cha Umoja (unity cup)
Zawadi (gifts)
The winter solstice is a holiday that celebrates the shortest day of the year. It is observed on December 21st in most countries, but some celebrate it on other dates. The word “solstice” means “sun stands still,” and this name reflects the that on the winter solstice, the sun appears to stand still in the sky. After the winter solstice, the days begin to get longer again.
Yule is a winter holiday that celebrates the rebirth of the sun. It is celebrated by many different people around the world, including Pagans, Wiccans, and Druids. Yule usually takes place in late December or early January and is often marked by special celebrations, gift-giving, and family gatherings.
New Year's Eve/Omisoka
New Year’s Eve, people around the globe celebrate the coming of the New Year on this last day in the gregorian calendar.
Omisoka is the last of the December global holidays as the Japanese celebrate it on December 31st. It is a day to celebrate the coming of the New Year, and people typically exchange gifts, eat special foods, and participate in traditional ceremonies.
(some) New Year's Traditions From Around the World
- United States: Watching the ball drop
- Brazil: Heading to the beach
- Spain: Eating 12 grapes
- India: Building a sculpture of an old man and burning it down
- Japan: Eating soba noodles
- France: Feasting with Champagne
- Haiti: Sharing soup joumou
- Denmark: Throwing old plates
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