Cultural competency is the ability to interact effectively with people of different cultures. As you can imagine, this is very important for educators. Today's classrooms are becoming more and more diverse; therefore, I must deepen my awareness of my students' cultural differences. In order to truly understand other cultures, I had to reflect on my own during the workshop.
The administration gave all teachers and staff worksheets that asked questions such as, "What is your race and ethnicity?" and "Where did you grow up and what is your family background?" These questions are basic on the surface, but really contribute to a person's whole existence.
In groups of three, we all shared tidbits about ourselves. After sharing my "life story" in a nutshell, my group members were speechless. They were primarily amazed that I have accomplished a lot of things for such a young age. I shared that my friends affectionately refer to me as "Mama Alyshia" because of my "old soul." Perhaps, it is because I was an only child and had no one to play so I would always be amongst adults. Who, knows?! I also shared that I was raised in a single parent home with the best mother ever! She always stressed the importance of education and is the epitome of the mother I would like to become someday. One thing I know for sure is that my story is like no other and it makes me who I am today.
So, my challenge for you is to tell your story to your children. If you have no idea where to start, use the questions below as a guide. Children are always eager to hear stories, especially from loved ones.
- What is your race/ethnicity/religion?
- Where did you grow up (geographic location)?
- What is your family background?
- What do you like most about your gender/race/ethnicity/religion?
- What do you like least about your gender/race/ethnicity/religion?
Happy Storytelling!
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