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Cultural Community Outreach Event

TESOL 507 Nona Hall Lydia Abu-Rahmeh, Melissa Aronson, Margot Franco, Martha Freewalt

Cultural Diversity

Cultural diversity is defined as the cultural variety and cultural differences that exist in the world, a society, or an institution; the inclusion of diverse people in a group or organization (http://dictionary.reference.com).
We believe as educators that it is in our best interest to draw students and families into our school and help them become partners in the education process.

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Literacy

Night
Student Success
Through community participation, parent involvement, and staff support.

Including the Community

We will send newsletters home with information on how these events will positively change the community and student learning. We will also use social events, fundraising efforts, parent education sessions, the PTA, and offering volunteer opportunities for community members.

Including School Leaders

School leaders must take the lead in forming strong partnerships and informing stakeholders of their mission and how their cooperation will help the community. http://www2.ed.gov/programs /readingfirst/support/stakehol derlores.pdf

This would be seen through personal success and that of our students. Parents would be proud of progress and the community would gain satisfaction in the school district and its staff.

We would increase yearly progress making school a good investment for taxpayers.
Real estate in the area would become more valuable for buyers.

What it would look like

TOGETHER: Parents and students would mingle with light snacks and beverages and engage in ice breaking activities to begin the night. This allows parents and students to find common points and connect with one another and members of the community. Once they are feeling relaxed and comfortable they will be open to learning.

SEPARATE: Students will be in a room with teachers participating in readers theater activities and hands-on literacy games. Parents and community members will be in a room listening to presentations and participating in workshops that provide parents with ways to help their students build literacy skills.

What it would look like

We would invite local business owners, library employees from school and the community, as well as reading specialists to present to parents and students.
These presentations can explain the importance of achievement in literacy and how its value holds throughout adult life We will emphasize ways that parents can work with students and books in a positive way

We would make sure our presentations are without cultural stereotypes

English Language Learners

We aim to bridge cultural gaps in the community through positive and effective communication. Knowledge is translated into instructional practice. (McLaughin, 2013). We can reach English Language Learners more effectively once we make them comfortable in the classroom.

Conclusion

By having a literacy night the community, teachers, parents and students can all be on the same page of what we do at our school and why we do the things we do. The importance of literacy not only in school, but also in our community can be stressed as well.

References

McLaughlin, B. (n.d). Changing the Way We View Our English Language Learners. Retrieved from http://www.kennesaw.edu/tell/manual/section01.pdf
http://www2.ed.gov/programs/readingfirst/support/stakeho lderlores.pdf Chartock, R. K. (2010). Strategies and lessons for culturally responsive teaching: A primer for K12 teachers. Boston, MA: Pearson Dictionary Definition of Cultural Diversity: http://dictionary.reference.com. Pictures from Microsoft Powerpoint Clip Art