Diversity in My Class

      My fictional new family is from Taiwan. Even though Taiwan is considered to be a part of China, its history is such that it has had various cultural influences. Taiwan has three main languages Mandarin, Taiwanese, and English; however, English is not taught until elementary school. Therefore, although the parents most likely will be fluent in English, the child in my preschool class is not likely to know much, if any.

     In order to help the child’s transition go more smoothly, I would research common words/phrases in Mandarin that I typically use in the classroom. I would also ask the family to provide photos of their family that the child could keep at school. These pictures could be used by the child as a comforting mechanism and/or a way to share with others about those who are important in his/her life. I would encourage the family/child to share foods and other items with the class in order to expand the class’ understanding of their culture. Along those lines, I would also look for items that would remind the child of his/her culture to add to the dramatic play area. I would also ask the family what religion they practice at home, most likely Buddhism or Taoism, and research important holidays for that religion. When it came time for those holidays, this would be another opportunity to have the family interact with the class.

    My hope is that, by incorporating these steps, both the child and the family will feel welcomed in my classroom. I also hope that the rest of my class would be more understanding and welcoming as well.