Students of all backgrounds, religions, and upbringings require us as educators to strive for an inclusive classroom, especially during the holiday season. We know every classroom is made up of a unique group of kids, so it can sometimes be challenging to make everyone feel welcome and included. So how do you create a holiday classroom environment that will allow all students to feel included?
From Thanksgiving onward, the holiday season is centered around generosity, thankfulness, and anticipating new beginnings in the coming year and the teachers at Teach Starter have put together our favorite ways to bring that spirit into an inclusive classroom environment. Here are some ideas that may spark a new conversation, encourage open-mindedness with your students, and end the calendar year on a high note.
What Is an Inclusive Classroom?
This may feel obvious to some, but we would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the meaning of an inclusive classroom before we start talking about how to celebrate the holidays in one. After all, holidays only come around once a year, but inclusivity should be embraced all year round.
Inclusive classrooms include all students of a similar age in a general education environment, inclusive of:
- disabilities
- special needs
- social and economic backgrounds
- minority languages
- religious practices
- sexual orientations
Think about this: About 32% of all public school students attended schools where students of color made up at least 75% of total enrollment in the fall of 2019. About 15% of the total public school enrollment in the US is receiving disability services. And about 12.3 million American kids are attending what the federal government considers high-poverty schools, where more than 75 percent of the students receive a free or reduced lunch.
It’s a diverse nation filled with students of all different backgrounds.
The purpose of inclusive classrooms is to expand the cultural knowledge and acceptance of all students, regardless of their background and upbringing. When children feel equally valued, the more likely their classroom will turn into a thriving learning environment.
How To Create An Inclusive Classroom This Holiday
Holiday time is one when some of the more inclusive classroom practices get put to the test from holiday programs to tree lightings. So how do you make sure you have holiday practices that are in keeping with the environment you’ve been working to create for your class? Try some of these ideas to get started:
- Organize cubbies, small groups, or lines by alphabetical order, birthdays, or clothing color instead of gender
- Create a diverse classroom library
- Display inclusive bulletin boards that don’t lean towards a specific race or holiday
- Enforce classroom standards consistently (i.e., using kind words, keeping hands and feet to ourselves, etc.)
Morning Meeting Discussion
Use this time to ask your students to share their winter traditions with the rest of the class instead of focusing on a particular holiday. You can ask them prompts such as:
- What is your favorite part of winter?
- What is your favorite smell this time of year?
- What’s your favorite holiday?
- What’s one food you want to eat this month?
- What is the best gift you have ever been given?
- What is the best gift you have ever given to someone else?
Keeping these questions generic will allow everyone in the class to feel like they can contribute to the discussion while giving your students some perspective on how their peers celebrate the season.
Teach Starter Teacher Tip: Download 180 morning meeting questions to keep the conversation going all year long.
Winter Decor
Take down that turkey-themed bulletin board, and have your class help you create a winter wonderland on your bulletin board. You can Warm Up With a Good Book, set up Twelve Days of Kindness or add a little fun with some deer mischief. The greatest part about winter bulletin board themes is that you can keep them up after the holiday break for January (and even into February before Valentine’s Day rolls around)!
Winter-themed crafts are fun and inclusive too! Make pomander balls that kids can take home to hang for a fresh holiday scent. All you’ll need are oranges, cloves, ribbons, and toothpicks (to help younger students place their cloves more easily). Students can get creative with their own clove patterns! Wrap a ribbon around the entire project at the end for a festive look.
Other fun ideas could include cutting out snowflakes, coloring a winter drawing, creating winter cabins, or turning toilet paper rolls into snowmen.
Giving Back
The theme of giving back and helping others is a universal winter theme that never goes out of style. It’s never too early for children to learn how they can help their friends, their family, and their community, laying the groundwork for a more inclusive future.
One way to give back to the community is through a food drive. Make it fun by competing against other classrooms in the school! Reward the classroom that collects the most canned food with a PJ day at school with pizza and hot chocolate. Explore Feeding America‘s website to see where your local food bank is located, and consider including that information in a newsletter for students to take home. Some families may want to contribute, while others may find it necessary during the holidays.
Other drive ideas include lightly used clothing and toys. You can set up a box in your classroom or school lobby then find your local clothing drive drop-off locations or use a company like Toys for Tots to get started.
Focus on Winter
Your weather might not change much from season to season, but there’s plenty to talk about when it comes to winter, regardless. The season lasts quite a while, so your December winter preparations will be relevant for the foreseeable future, saving you time after the holiday break!
Depending on your geographic location, winter may look very different. Ask your students:
- What changes do you see outside when fall turns into winter?
- What’s the weather like in winter? How do you keep warm when it’s cold?
- What do you think animals do during the winter months?
You can also try some Winter Would You Rather questions to prompt your kids into winter discussions.
If reading aloud is your style, here are some beloved winter-themed books for story time:
- Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter by Kenard Pak
- The Biggest Snowman Ever by Steven Kroll
- The Snowy Day by Jack Keats
- The Mitten by Jan Brett
How Can You Celebrate Holidays in a Diverse Classroom?
Winter celebrations are beautiful and diverse. In the classroom, you can be inclusive by focusing on traditions and facts to introduce cultural awareness. Some holidays include:
- Dec 8: Bohdi Day to Rohatsu
- Dec 18-26: Hanukkah
- Dec 21: Winter Solstice/Dongzhi Festival
- Dec 25: Christmas
- Dec 26-Jan 1: Kwanzaa
Some teachers use a theme such as Holidays Around the World to introduce various traditions and cultures. Focus on the dates and facts, such as where each holiday may be celebrated, instead of any religious aspect. Here’s a video that may give you some inspiration or ideas:
New Year Goals and Wishes
New Year is right around the corner, and it’s one December holiday that is celebrated by all. Now is a good time to reflect on the past year and set new goals. You can dedicate a Morning Meeting session to this topic or have it be a writing theme for the day. Prompt your class with questions like:
- What’s something exciting that happened to you this year?
- What are some things you learned this year?
- What is your favorite book or movie from this year?
- What is something you hope to accomplish in the New Year?
To formalize these reflections, use this Goal Setting Workbook for resolution setting, crafts, and puzzles. This is a great activity to include in a newsletter to students’ parents when they head home on the last day. Parents will appreciate seeing what their kids have worked on, classroom goals for the New Year and how they can help their child over the holidays through activities like reading.
Gifts for Students
Planning on student gifts for the holidays? Skip the Santa pencils and focus on items that have no connection to the holidays. This is a great opportunity to set them up for a winter break with something positive — after all, those vacations away from school can be especially rough for some children.
These positive affirmation cards are cute ways to end the year on a high note. Go a step further and attach each card to a packet of instant hot cocoa they can enjoy at home.
You can also encourage reading for fun with affirmation bookmarks that include a positive note every time they read.
Explore winter resources to celebrate this month with every child in mind!
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