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Creating a Culture of Belonging
December 1, 2023
If we have no peace, it’s because we’ve forgotten that we belong to each other.
-Mother Theresa, Albanian-Indian missionary, 1910-1997
-Mother Theresa, Albanian-Indian missionary, 1910-1997
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“Instead, educators can focus on ensuring that all children are engaged as contributing members of the classroom community. When a child is engaged with peers or adults or engaged with materials, they are constructing their knowledge of the world.” Elsewhere in the book, Huber invites us to consider, “What can you do so the child feels they belong in the classroom? Rather than focus on how to make the child fit in to the classroom culture, we need to create a culture that fits all children.” Some of the ideas in Huber’s book are echoed in his 2023 article, “Addressing Barriers in the Classroom,” available to the public on the Exchange Hub. In it he provides considerations and solutions for potential physical, sensory, informational, attitudinal and cultural barriers. In recognition of December 3 as International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we honor and celebrate each individual’s right to belong and the steps we take to cultivate communities of belonging for all. Correction: In November 22nd’s ExchangeEveryDay, I cited the wrong title for the book by Iris Chin Ponte and Debbie LeeKeenan. The correct title is "From Survive to Thrive: A Director's Guide for Leading an Early Childhood Program," available from NAEYC. |
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ExchangeEveryDay is the official electronic newsletter for Exchange Press. It is delivered five days a week containing news stories, success stories, solutions, trend reports, and much more.
Comments (2)
Displaying All 2 CommentsEugene, OR, United States
I couldn't agree more, Francis. Much of the approach relies on seeing only the 'problems' within the child rather than recognizing changes we could make in the physical, social, sensory and cultural environments we place them in.
University of Phoenix/ Red Rocks Community College
Denver, Colorado, United States
I think there is a fifth barrier - and for many families, it's the largest barrier. That's an institution barrier. Here in Colorado, if a child 3 years old or older who is being served in a non-public program is identified with a developmental delay, the only way to get free services is by removing that child and placing the child in a public preschool. And in many programs, a child with a delay is routinely removed from their normal activities to receive therapy and other services (often their favorite activities). To address this issue IDEA has to be radically changed, and our institutional approach to serving children with delays must be changed.
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