Let’s Talk…The Snowy Day

Malisa Rader — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 04:11:28 +0000

I recently heard a program aired on National Public Radio discussing the inspiration behind one of my all time favorite children’s books, The Snowy Day, as it celebrates its 50 year anniversary. The program is titled ‘The Snowy Day’: Breaking Color Barriers Quietly. February is Black History Month and the perfect opportunity to think about how we include children and families from different cultures, races, and ethnicities in the books we read and share with young children.

I truly hope you will take a few minutes to listen to the show! I love one of the final notes in the program where the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation director shares how a kindergarten teacher contacted the author to let him know that the African-American children in her classroom were now using a brown crayon in their self-portraits. Make my heart smile!! And I can’t help but wonder what happened to the little boy in the 1940 Life magazine receiving the immunization that was the inspiration behind the story (be sure to see his pictures) - does he know the impact he has had on so many of us to see illustrations in early childhood literature that included children of different races just being kids?

Thank you Ezra Jack Keates and happy 50th anniversay to The Snowy Day!! The NPR page also has a link to LeVar Burton reading The Snowy Day which you can use as you share the book with children in your care. Do you have favorite stories that show children of different backgrounds simply doing what kids do?

Hope you will share!!

Malisa

Let’s Talk…Census Data

Malisa Rader — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 05:50:53 +0000

Have you checked on the new census data for your state and community? In Iowa, the census data shows that between 2000 and 2010 our Latino population grew nearly 84 percent. According to the State Data Center of Iowa, Latinos have a higher concentration of preschoolers among the population than any other race or ethnic group. You can find more of these statistics in the document Latinos in Iowa 2011.

Knowing information related to our changing communities helps us to plan and prepare for being open and inviting. We might think we already are, but a recent article in Education Week shared that nationally preschool program enrollment by Latinos is declining. The article speculates that the increase in Latino population numbers, yet decrease in enrollment, is due to a variety reasons such as Latino families relying on relatives for child care more than other population groups. Linda M. Espinosa, a professor emeritus of early childhood education at the University of Missouri, shares that she believes in many communities where Latino families are settling there are inadequate numbers of early childhood programs that are culturally/linguistically appropriate.

So, what can we do? The NAEYC Position Statement: Responding to Linguistic and Cultural Diversity Recommendatio ns for Effective Early Childhood Educators is an excellent resource to get us started. I love this statement, “When early childhood educators acknowledge and respect children’s home language and culture, ties between the family and programs are strengthened. This atmosphere provides increased opportunity for learning because young children feel supported, nurtured, and connected not only to their home communities and families but also to teachers and the educational setting.” To me, this means we honor home language, that we take the time to learn what the families in our program value and make changes or accommodations where needed, and that we encourage the engagement of all families in their child’s education.

So, let’s hear from you! In what ways are you reaching out and working to relate to children and families whose language and cultural background is different than your own?

Let's Talk ... Child Care » culture

Let’s Talk…The Snowy Day

Let’s Talk…Census Data