Culturally Relevant Methods are vitally important to the success of the children and families in a program. Early childhood education professionals should be attuned to the needs of the families and children enrolled in their center and receive current information regarding how to best implement those methods in which best suite those needs.
Namestrategy AgeGroup Definition Classroom Example
1.Non-verbal gestures
Infant/Toddler
Looking for facial
expressions or body language to understand what a child needs or
wants.
When a child throws a ball
and looks happy, the teacher smiles
back.
2.Begining sign language
Infant/Toddler
Using simple words to use
sign language to
communicate.
Signing the word more when
a child wants more food during meal times.
3.Play hand games
Infant/Toddler
Using games to communicate
will allow children to have fun while they
learn.
Playing “Patty-Cake” or
“Peek-a-Boo”
4.Labeling
Infant/Toddler
When a child picks up an
item say the items name out loud.
When a child is eating you
can say the word “Cup” when they pick up their
cup.
5.Narrating
Infant/Toddler
Describing an action while
it is being done, a
play-by-play
During diaper changing, the
Teacher tells the child what they are doing. “I’m going to life your legs,
now.”
6.Music
Preschool
Sing simple, repetitive songs that have a
strong rhythm.
Singing songs like “Slippery Fish” or “Goin
on a Bear Hunt” are catchy and can be easily repeated.
7.Center/Item Labeling
Preschool
Use the written words of
the languages spoken in your program to communicate designated areas or where
to place items.
The block center is labeled
in English and Spanish because those two languages are spoken at the
center.
8.Books
Preschool
Have books that depict
people from different cultures and disabilities, and have words in different
languages.
Books like “Say Hola to
Spanish” by Susan Middleton Elya and “Don’t Call Me Special” by Pat Thomas are
great additions to the library.
9.Dress-Up
Preschool
Provide dress-up clothes
that represent the culture of the
classroom.
Providing different scarves
to wear over hair or allowing all children to wear high
heels.
10. Food
Preschool
Cooking activities
represent the diversity and culture of the families in the program and in the
community.
Have parents come in and
make a dish with the children that their family eats regularly.
11.Art
Preschool
Have children draw pictures
of themselves.
Have each child draw a
picture of what they look like. Place a mirror next to them so they can use it
for reference. Have different skin color
crayons.
12. Buddy System
Preschool
Pair up a new child with
limited English comprehension with a student who has fluency in English, or a
child with disabilities with a typically developing child.
During table activities have
a child sit next to a child who speaks their language or who can assist another
child in completing a task.
13. Family Banners
Preschool
Have children and their
families make a poster that depicts their
family.
Children can use pictures,
drawings, or stickers to make a banner of their family that can be hung in the
classroom.
14.Child Stories
Preschool
Children dictate to teachers
a meaningful story or event that happened to
them.
Have children draw a picture
and then ask the children to tell you about it. Write their words in both
languages.
15. Photo Albums
Preschool
Make a photo album of the
children doing activities at school and label it in the languages of the
families of the program.
Take pictures of the
children during meal time and label the
images.
16. Making Signs
School-Age
Have children make signs for the classroom
that have English and their home language.
Children can make signs for the materials
in the classroom, like for the paints or
paper.
17. Holiday Decorations
School-Age
Ask each child to make
something from a holiday that they celebrate.
Have a discussion about the
different holidays that different cultures celebrate. Display each child’s
chosen holiday decoration in the classroom.
18. Listen to Music
School-Age
Play different music that
culturally represents the children and families in your program.
Ask each child to bring a
song to play in class, or the teacher can look up the title online and create a
classroom “sound track.”
19. Classroom Rules
School-Age
Start a discussion about
discrimination, prejudices, and biases.
Have children make 3 rules
for having an accepting and non-judgmental classroom that respect each child’s
culture.
20. Classroom Skin Color
Wheel
School-Age
Using paint, have each child
find their individual skin
color.
Have children mix different
skin color paints to match their own skin color. Then make a color wheel that
incorporates each child’s unique skin color.
1.Non-verbal gestures
Infant/Toddler
Looking for facial
expressions or body language to understand what a child needs or
wants.
When a child throws a ball
and looks happy, the teacher smiles
back.
2.Begining sign language
Infant/Toddler
Using simple words to use
sign language to
communicate.
Signing the word more when
a child wants more food during meal times.
3.Play hand games
Infant/Toddler
Using games to communicate
will allow children to have fun while they
learn.
Playing “Patty-Cake” or
“Peek-a-Boo”
4.Labeling
Infant/Toddler
When a child picks up an
item say the items name out loud.
When a child is eating you
can say the word “Cup” when they pick up their
cup.
5.Narrating
Infant/Toddler
Describing an action while
it is being done, a
play-by-play
During diaper changing, the
Teacher tells the child what they are doing. “I’m going to life your legs,
now.”
6.Music
Preschool
Sing simple, repetitive songs that have a
strong rhythm.
Singing songs like “Slippery Fish” or “Goin
on a Bear Hunt” are catchy and can be easily repeated.
7.Center/Item Labeling
Preschool
Use the written words of
the languages spoken in your program to communicate designated areas or where
to place items.
The block center is labeled
in English and Spanish because those two languages are spoken at the
center.
8.Books
Preschool
Have books that depict
people from different cultures and disabilities, and have words in different
languages.
Books like “Say Hola to
Spanish” by Susan Middleton Elya and “Don’t Call Me Special” by Pat Thomas are
great additions to the library.
9.Dress-Up
Preschool
Provide dress-up clothes
that represent the culture of the
classroom.
Providing different scarves
to wear over hair or allowing all children to wear high
heels.
10. Food
Preschool
Cooking activities
represent the diversity and culture of the families in the program and in the
community.
Have parents come in and
make a dish with the children that their family eats regularly.
11.Art
Preschool
Have children draw pictures
of themselves.
Have each child draw a
picture of what they look like. Place a mirror next to them so they can use it
for reference. Have different skin color
crayons.
12. Buddy System
Preschool
Pair up a new child with
limited English comprehension with a student who has fluency in English, or a
child with disabilities with a typically developing child.
During table activities have
a child sit next to a child who speaks their language or who can assist another
child in completing a task.
13. Family Banners
Preschool
Have children and their
families make a poster that depicts their
family.
Children can use pictures,
drawings, or stickers to make a banner of their family that can be hung in the
classroom.
14.Child Stories
Preschool
Children dictate to teachers
a meaningful story or event that happened to
them.
Have children draw a picture
and then ask the children to tell you about it. Write their words in both
languages.
15. Photo Albums
Preschool
Make a photo album of the
children doing activities at school and label it in the languages of the
families of the program.
Take pictures of the
children during meal time and label the
images.
16. Making Signs
School-Age
Have children make signs for the classroom
that have English and their home language.
Children can make signs for the materials
in the classroom, like for the paints or
paper.
17. Holiday Decorations
School-Age
Ask each child to make
something from a holiday that they celebrate.
Have a discussion about the
different holidays that different cultures celebrate. Display each child’s
chosen holiday decoration in the classroom.
18. Listen to Music
School-Age
Play different music that
culturally represents the children and families in your program.
Ask each child to bring a
song to play in class, or the teacher can look up the title online and create a
classroom “sound track.”
19. Classroom Rules
School-Age
Start a discussion about
discrimination, prejudices, and biases.
Have children make 3 rules
for having an accepting and non-judgmental classroom that respect each child’s
culture.
20. Classroom Skin Color
Wheel
School-Age
Using paint, have each child
find their individual skin
color.
Have children mix different
skin color paints to match their own skin color. Then make a color wheel that
incorporates each child’s unique skin color.
Resources:
Curenton, S.M., & Iruka, I.U. (2013). Cultural competence in early childhood
education. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education,
Inc.
Click, P.M., & Parker, J. (2009). Caring for school-age Children. Clifton Park:
Delmar
Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008). Diversity in early care and education.
New York: McGraw Hill
Curenton, S.M., & Iruka, I.U. (2013). Cultural competence in early childhood
education. San Diego: Bridgepoint Education,
Inc.
Click, P.M., & Parker, J. (2009). Caring for school-age Children. Clifton Park:
Delmar
Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008). Diversity in early care and education.
New York: McGraw Hill