Learning Together, About Each Other

Culture shapes our values and beliefs. Along with family structures, culture also determines languages, dress, food, etiquette, approaches to disabilities, child-rearing practices, and even our expectations for children’s behavior.

Think about your own upbringing. How did your family’s expectations affect what you did? Your childhood experiences impact the way that you parent.

Each child and adult brings unique experiences and talents into our classroom, providing us opportunities to learn from each other. Noticing and appreciating differences in others is an important part of teaching children about themselves and accepting our differences.

Diverse books are one way to expose children to different cultures and experiences. Diverse stories can reflect different views and experiences. Having diverse books in a classroom allows all children to see themselves in the stories and provides opportunities for children to learn about others, their perspectives and experiences.

Here are a few of our favorites:

• Mae Among the Stars, by Roda Ahmed and Stasia Burrington

• Daniel's Good Day, by Micha Archer

• Little You, by Richard Van Camp and Julie Flett

• I Got Next, by Daria Peoples-Riley

• Hungry Johnny, by Cheryl Kay Minnema and Wesley Ballinger

Joelle Hofer

Early Learning Director