COE DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER: OUR LENS  

Volume 3 – Issue 4

 

 

 

COE Diversity Newsletter: Our Lens

 

 

 

 

   BECOMING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROFESSIONALS

IN THIS ISSUE  

 

Multicultural Education for Every Lesson Plan

        Believe it or not, every lesson plan has the potential to be adapted to   incorporate multicultural awareness and appreciation.

Debra Clark, a professor at Kent State University, wrote an article titled, “Lesson Plans: Multicultural Awareness and Appreciation Adaptions.” In this article, she took lesson plans originally written for K-12 students in a number of content areas and demonstrated how they can be adapted for multicultural education and diverse learners. To read the full article and lessons plans, visit http://www.kent.edu/ehhs/Diversity/upload/Lesson-Plans.pdf.

 

Educational Resources In this section you’ll find a collection of educational resources and user friendly curriculum.

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Our Lens is a COE Diversity Committee sponsored project.   Please email ideas for future topics or upcoming events to Emily Hanson, GA, at [email protected].

 

Upcoming Community Events In this section you’ll find a compilation of upcoming community events, trainings and programs that will help you become a more informed educator.

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The University of Nebraska at Omaha is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive plan for diversity.    

 

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Professional Development: Curriculum, Resources & Events    

           Making Diversity Count: An Online Course for Educators: This course was developed by the Anti  Defamation League to provide educators with the tools and curricula they need to put together an  inclusive classroom. It explores   topics of diversity, personal identity, cross-cultural communication, and conflict. For details or to register, visit http://archive.adl.org/education/mdc/. The Sound of Silence in Football Lesson Plan: Consider using this lesson plan during Deaf Awareness week! You many have seen the commercial that went viral in Jan. of Derrick Coleman, football player for the Seattle Seahawks. During the commercial, which has received more than 5.5 million views, he talks about the impact his hearing impairment has had on his life. This is a lesson plan (created by the ADL) aimed to teach students what it means to be disabled, deaf, and hearing impaired incorporating this famous, inspirational video. http://www.adl.org/assets/pdf/educationoutreach/sound-of-silence-in-football-derrick-coleman.pdf Diversity Connection March 2014 Issue: Did you know the multicultural education program in the Nebraska Department of Education puts out a monthly newsletter called the “Diversity Connection?” This contains important information pertaining to diversity and multicultural education in the state. To view the latest issue, visit http://www.education.ne.gov/mce/Newsletters/2014/Mar%202014.pdf. Multicultural Kids Music Vids: This website has hundreds of YouTube videos that will help you incorporate cultural diversity in the classroom! Visit their website at http://multikidsmusicvids.com/. Leading with Diversity: Cultural Competencies for Teacher Preparation and Professional Development: This 2005 book, from Brown University, provides current research-based information on cultural competencies. Authors review the 2005 status of state cultural competency teaching standards and explore practice-based competencies related to culture, language, race, and ethnicity. To read this book, click here: http://www.brown.edu/academics/educationalliance/sites/brown.edu.academics.education-alliance/files/publications/lwd_entire.pdf ePals Classroom Exchange: For K-12, this is the world’s largest electronic pen pal network. Over 1 million students from 108 countries are registered with ePals. This is a great way for students to learn about other cultures and to practice writing skills. For more information, visit their website at http://www.epals.com/

“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same.” ~ Anne Frank

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Upcoming Community Events Omaha Czech-Slovak Festival: Sunday, April 27th from 11:00am to 4L30pm at the Millard Social Hall, 10508 S 144th St. Omaha. Join this traditional Czech Dinner, Button Accordion Jamboree, and Polka celebration! Admission is free! Visit www.omahaczechclub.com for details. The following list is by no means complete. It is our hope that you use these as suggestions for places to visit and events to participate in and then branch out on your own to find other local programs. Global Gala: Sunday, April 6th at the German-American Society, hosted by the Omaha Sisters Cities Association. Join OSCA for the incredible international experience, complete with Kokyo Taiko drummers, delicious buffet, and Japanese drumming to follow dinner. Register by visiting www.omahasistercities.com. Photographers and the Plains Indians: Exhibit open through April 19th at Kaneko, 1111 Jones Street, Omaha. Come visit this exhibition drawn from an archive of historical photographs. Admission is free. For hours of operation and more information, visit the Kaneko website: http://thekaneko.org/. 1968 Exhibit: Exhibit open through May 4th at the Durham Museum, 801 S 10th Street, Omaha. The year 1968 was a turning point for a generation coming of age and a nation at war, and the aftermath can still be felt today. For hours and admission prices: http://durhammuseum.org/

Cinco de Mayo: April 30th-May 4th at the South Omaha Plaza, 24th and N, Omaha. Attend the 29th annual Cinco de Mayo celebration! The festival will feature live entertainment, carnival rides, a parade, food, games, and coronation! Best part? Admission is free! Race: May 9th – June 9th at the Omaha Community Playhouse, 6915 Cass St, Omaha. This play is a fast-paced legal thriller that tackles issues of sexual assault, gender discrimination, and race. For ticket information, visit http://www.omahaplayhouse.com/. Maifest: Saturday, May 10th from 11:00am to 11:00pm at the German-American Society, 3717 S. 120th Street, Omaha. Celebrate with us as we dedicate our new Maibaum (may pole). This event includes German folk dancers, a classic car show, ethnic food, and German music! Visit the GermanAmerican Society website for details. Viva Omaha Heritage Festival: Saturday, May 17th from 10:ooam10:00pm at the Lewis and Clark Landing. This free festival consists of a parade, programs, and (NEW) a cultural pavilion to promote art

and culture of the different ethnic groups of Omaha. To view full agenda, visit www.omahaheritagefestival.com. Santa Lucia Italian Festival: June 5th-8th at Lewis and Clark Landing, Downtown Omaha. This festival includes entertainment for all ages! To view the full schedule of events, visit http://santaluciafestival.com/. 14th Annual Intertribal Gathering: Sunday, June 15th at Fort Robinson State Park. Fun for all ages, this local American Indian Pow Wow celebrates and promotes cultural awareness in Nebraska! Participants will partake in traditional music, dance, crafts, and story-telling. Scandinavian Midsummer Festival: June 21st from 1:00pm6:00pm in Elmwood Park. Celebrate the joys of Midsummer with Norwegian food, folk dancers, trolls, ABBA karaoke, and lots of games! Admission is free and all ages are welcome to attend. World Refugee Day: Saturday, June 23rd at Benson High School from 10:00am-4:00pm. Come learn about many of the new communities in the Omaha area! Visit their Facebook page for event agenda and details: https://www.facebook.com/worldrefu geedayomaha.

   

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April: Autism Awareness Month

     

 

   

     

In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the United States recognizes April as a special opportunity to educate the public about autism and issues with the autism community. Click here to visit the Autism Society website: http://www.autism-society.org/ Fast Stats about Autism (Provided by Autism Society Website): • 1 to 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder • Fastest-growing developmental disability; 1,148% growth rate • Only 56% of students with autism finish high school Participate in the month of education by utilizing some of the resources below! •

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Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper: Poster boy for Asperger’s Syndrome?: This blog looks at popular TV character, Sheldon Cooper, and analyzes his actions and how they could be attributed to Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of autism. Click Here to Read Full Blog and Watch Clips from the Show! Practical Tips to Make your Classroom Autism-Friendly: This blog contains trips for creating a autismfriendly classroom! Click Here to Read Blog Does my student have Autism? Common signs: Read this blog to learn about the common signs of autism! Click Here to Read Blog

Spotlight on Military-Connected Children April is also the month of the Military Child. Children of military personnel add to the rich diversity of K-12 schools, bringing both opportunities and challenges to the classroom.                                                

Military-connected students are dependents of military service members (active duty, Guard & Reserves). They may be enrolled in any level of education. These students add to a classroom’s diversity and in their own way, serve our                                         country through their personal sacrifices.

 

There are approximately two million military-connected students in the U.S.   • Over ½ of these students are children between the ages of 4-18   • Over 80% of these children attend PK-12 public schools • Approximately 30% of Bellevue Public School students are military-connected students Watch this introduction video about the Military-Connected Education Coalition: http://vimeo.com/27776013 For more information or resources for working with Military-Connected Children, check out these websites: • Operation Educate the Educator: http://aacte.org/Programs/Operation-Educate-the-Educators/ • American Association of School Administrators : http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=9008 • Military Impacted Schools Association: http://militaryimpactedschoolsassociation.org/

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UNO Criss Library Multicultural Books  

  Young Adult Literature: Children of the River by Linda Crew. Having fled Cambodia four years earlier to escape the Khmer Rouge army, seventeen-year-old Sundara is torn between remaining faithful to her own people and enjoying life in her Oregon high school as a “regular” American. (Description via Worldcat). Figs and Fate by Elsa Marston. A collection of five stories portraying Arab life in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, a Palestinian Refugee camp in Lebanon, and Iraq today. (Description via Worldcat). Children’s Literature: If the World Were Blind by Karen Gedig Burnett. When Jason asks his grandfather why people have trouble getting along, it makes them think about how things might be better if we looked past physical attributes to see the person underneath.. (Description via Worldcat). Everybody Cook Rice by Norah Dooley. A child is sent to find a younger brother at dinnertime and is introduced to a variety of cultures through encountering the many different ways rice is prepared at the different households visited. (Description via Worldcat).

Need more resources for your classroom or school project? Please contact, Melissa Cast-Brede, Research Services Unit/Education & Psychology Liaison at [email protected].  

 

 

The Colors of Us! [Based on the book, The   Colors of Us by Karen Katz]  

Featured Pin Using social media to enhance the classroom!  

                                       

 

Visit http://www.schcounselor.com/2009/03/colors   of-us.html for the full blog post on this activity!