Culture encompasses everyone. All over the world, in every country, on every continent, people are part of certain cultures. Each culture is unique in its own way, contributing to the melting pot of humanity. Much like an orchestra, each instrument is beautiful played solo, but the sound is richer and more complete when accompanied with the other instruments. I realize that children are spectacular individuals, each belonging to the cultures that have shaped them. It is my job as a teacher to recognize and celebrate my multicultural classroom, allowing each child’s unique characteristics to play solo, while also contributing to the symphony of learning.

Culture begins at home and should be enhanced in the classroom. By inviting children to share aspects of their cultures with the class, everyone learns about the diverse world around them. A Hispanic child may share about his family in Mexico while an Asian student might talk about a long standing family tradition. The sharing of cultural traditions and lifestyles can help to diffuse stereotypes and help promote acceptance. By inviting parents into the classroom to share ethnic music or traditions, the children are gaining new role models and becoming aware of the cultures in their own communities. By bringing the awareness of the diverse cultures of each individual child to the classroom, we create a microcosm of society.

Students spend a significant amount of time in their classrooms and the environment makes a great impact on them. I will display the children’s own personal school work on the walls so they will feel accomplished. By hanging posters with diverse children on them, each child will feel included and appreciated. The literature that is available for the children will represent many cultures and students can find books to read about themselves. It is important to provide my students with the diverse materials they need to enhance their education.

The curriculum in my classroom will also represent many races and cultures. It is important to remember that one race did not affect all of history. While learning about Abraham Lincoln, we can also study Frederick Douglas. There are many diverse people who helped to shape the world we live in and they should be included in the lessons. The students can create family trees and do research about their ancestors. We can find historical figures who were alive at the same time and place as their parents and grandparents. By pulling their family history into our standard based history lesson, the students are learning that their heritage is an important and contributing factor of our world.

Each child’s contribution is important at the classroom level. In an attempt to be fair, I will call on all children equally. Girls and boys, as well as different races, will have the equal opportunity to participate in classroom discussions and activities. Learning is not representative of race, and I will expect all children to perform to their very best ability. Having high expectations and challenging my students I will provide a great opportunity for them to get the best education possible.

Education is the key to breaking down the walls of racism and hatred and building up a foundation for equal opportunity. While celebrating and acknowledging each child’s individual culture, it is also important to find the common threads that bind us all together in the textural symphony that is the world. While we are all different, we are also very much alike and we can take comfort in the likenesses of each other. As a teacher, I will celebrate each child’s individual cultures and accomplishments, at the same time build up the kinship of humanity.