Document 1450186

 COE DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER: OUR LENS Volume 3 – Issue 4
COE Diversity
Newsletter:
Our Lens
BECOMING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROFESSIONALS
IN THIS ISSUE
Multicultural Education for
Every Lesson Plan
Believe
it or not, every lesson plan has the potential to be adapted to
incorporate
multicultural awareness and appreciation.
Debra Clark, a professor at Kent State University, wrote an article
titled, “Lesson Plans: Multicultural Awareness and Appreciation
Adaptions.” In this article, she took lesson plans originally written for
K-12 students in a number of content areas and demonstrated how
they can be adapted for multicultural education and diverse learners.
To read the full article and lessons plans, visit
http://www.kent.edu/ehhs/Diversity/upload/Lesson-Plans.pdf.
Educational Resources
In this section you’ll find a collection of
educational resources and user friendly
curriculum.
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Our Lens is a COE Diversity Committee sponsored project. Please email ideas for future topics or upcoming events to Emily
Hanson, GA, at [email protected].
Upcoming Community Events
In this section you’ll find a compilation of
upcoming community events, trainings and
programs that will help you become a more
informed educator.
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The University of Nebraska at Omaha is an equal opportunity educator and employer with a comprehensive
plan for diversity. COE DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER: OUR LENS | Issue # 4
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Professional Development:
Curriculum, Resources & Events
Making Diversity Count: An Online Course for Educators: This course was developed by the Anti Defamation League to provide educators with the tools and curricula they need to put together an
inclusive classroom. It explores
topics of diversity, personal identity, cross-cultural communication,
and conflict. For details or to register, visit http://archive.adl.org/education/mdc/.
The Sound of Silence in Football Lesson Plan: Consider using this lesson plan during Deaf
Awareness week! You many have seen the commercial that went viral in Jan. of Derrick Coleman,
football player for the Seattle Seahawks. During the commercial, which has received more than 5.5
million views, he talks about the impact his hearing impairment has had on his life. This is a lesson
plan (created by the ADL) aimed to teach students what it means to be disabled, deaf, and hearing
impaired incorporating this famous, inspirational video. http://www.adl.org/assets/pdf/educationoutreach/sound-of-silence-in-football-derrick-coleman.pdf
Diversity Connection March 2014 Issue: Did you know the multicultural education program in the
Nebraska Department of Education puts out a monthly newsletter called the “Diversity Connection?”
This contains important information pertaining to diversity and multicultural education in the state. To
view the latest issue, visit http://www.education.ne.gov/mce/Newsletters/2014/Mar%202014.pdf.
Multicultural Kids Music Vids: This website has hundreds of YouTube videos that will help you
incorporate cultural diversity in the classroom! Visit their website at http://multikidsmusicvids.com/.
Leading with Diversity: Cultural Competencies for Teacher Preparation and Professional
Development: This 2005 book, from Brown University, provides current research-based information
on cultural competencies. Authors review the 2005 status of state cultural competency teaching
standards and explore practice-based competencies related to culture, language, race, and ethnicity.
To read this book, click here: http://www.brown.edu/academics/educationalliance/sites/brown.edu.academics.education-alliance/files/publications/lwd_entire.pdf
ePals Classroom Exchange: For K-12, this is the world’s largest electronic pen pal network. Over 1
million students from 108 countries are registered with ePals. This is a great way for students to learn
about other cultures and to practice writing skills. For more information, visit their website at
http://www.epals.com/
“We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives
are all different and yet the same.”
~ Anne Frank
COE DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER: OUR LENS | Issue # 4
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Upcoming Community Events
Omaha Czech-Slovak Festival:
Sunday, April 27th from 11:00am
to 4L30pm at the Millard Social
Hall, 10508 S 144th St. Omaha.
Join this traditional Czech
Dinner, Button Accordion
Jamboree, and Polka
celebration! Admission is free!
Visit www.omahaczechclub.com
for details.
The following list is by no means
complete. It is our hope that you use
these as suggestions for places to
visit and events to participate in and
then branch out on your own to find
other local programs.
Global Gala: Sunday, April 6th at
the German-American Society,
hosted by the Omaha Sisters Cities
Association. Join OSCA for the
incredible international experience,
complete with Kokyo Taiko
drummers, delicious buffet, and
Japanese drumming to follow
dinner. Register by visiting
www.omahasistercities.com.
Photographers and the Plains
Indians: Exhibit open through April
19th at Kaneko, 1111 Jones Street,
Omaha. Come visit this exhibition
drawn from an archive of historical
photographs. Admission is free.
For hours of operation and more
information, visit the Kaneko
website: http://thekaneko.org/.
1968 Exhibit: Exhibit open through
May 4th at the Durham Museum,
801 S 10th Street, Omaha. The
year 1968 was a turning point for a
generation coming of age and a
nation at war, and the aftermath
can still be felt today. For hours
and admission prices:
http://durhammuseum.org/
Cinco de Mayo: April 30th-May 4th
at the South Omaha Plaza, 24th
and N, Omaha. Attend the 29th
annual Cinco de Mayo celebration!
The festival will feature live
entertainment, carnival rides, a
parade, food, games, and
coronation! Best part? Admission
is free!
Race: May 9th – June 9th at the
Omaha Community Playhouse,
6915 Cass St, Omaha. This play is
a fast-paced legal thriller that
tackles issues of sexual assault,
gender discrimination, and race.
For ticket information, visit
http://www.omahaplayhouse.com/.
Maifest: Saturday, May 10th from
11:00am to 11:00pm at the
German-American Society, 3717 S.
120th Street, Omaha. Celebrate
with us as we dedicate our new
Maibaum (may pole). This event
includes German folk dancers, a
classic car show, ethnic food, and
German music! Visit the GermanAmerican Society website for
details.
Viva Omaha Heritage Festival:
Saturday, May 17th from 10:ooam10:00pm at the Lewis and Clark
Landing. This free festival consists
of a parade, programs, and (NEW)
a cultural pavilion to promote art
and culture of the different ethnic
groups of Omaha. To view full
agenda, visit
www.omahaheritagefestival.com.
Santa Lucia Italian Festival: June
5th-8th at Lewis and Clark Landing,
Downtown Omaha. This festival
includes entertainment for all ages!
To view the full schedule of events,
visit http://santaluciafestival.com/.
14th Annual Intertribal Gathering:
Sunday, June 15th at Fort Robinson
State Park. Fun for all ages, this
local American Indian Pow Wow
celebrates and promotes cultural
awareness in Nebraska!
Participants will partake in
traditional music, dance, crafts, and
story-telling.
Scandinavian Midsummer
Festival: June 21st from 1:00pm6:00pm in Elmwood Park.
Celebrate the joys of Midsummer
with Norwegian food, folk dancers,
trolls, ABBA karaoke, and lots of
games! Admission is free and all
ages are welcome to attend.
World Refugee Day: Saturday,
June 23rd at Benson High School
from 10:00am-4:00pm. Come learn
about many of the new communities
in the Omaha area! Visit their
Facebook page for event agenda
and details:
https://www.facebook.com/worldrefu
geedayomaha.
COE DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER: OUR LENS | Issue # 4
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April: Autism
Awareness Month
In order to highlight the growing need for concern and awareness about autism, the United States recognizes
April as a special opportunity to educate the public about autism and issues with the autism community. Click
here to visit the Autism Society website: http://www.autism-society.org/
Fast Stats about Autism (Provided by Autism Society Website):
• 1 to 1.5 million Americans live with an autism spectrum disorder
• Fastest-growing developmental disability; 1,148% growth rate
• Only 56% of students with autism finish high school
Participate in the month of education by utilizing some of the resources below!
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•
•
Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper: Poster boy for Asperger’s Syndrome?: This blog looks at popular TV
character, Sheldon Cooper, and analyzes his actions and how they could be attributed to Asperger’s
Syndrome, a form of autism. Click Here to Read Full Blog and Watch Clips from the Show!
Practical Tips to Make your Classroom Autism-Friendly: This blog contains trips for creating a autismfriendly classroom! Click Here to Read Blog
Does my student have Autism? Common signs: Read this blog to learn about the common signs of
autism!
Click Here to Read Blog
Spotlight on Military-Connected Children
April is also the month of the Military Child. Children of military personnel add to the rich diversity of K-12 schools,
bringing both opportunities and challenges to the classroom.
Military-connected students are dependents of military service members (active duty, Guard & Reserves). They may
be
enrolled in any level of education. These students add to a classroom’s diversity and in their own way, serve our
country through their personal sacrifices.
There are approximately two million military-connected students in the U.S.
• Over ½ of these students are children between the ages of 4-18
• Over 80% of these children attend PK-12 public schools
• Approximately 30% of Bellevue Public School students are military-connected students
Watch this introduction video about the Military-Connected Education Coalition: http://vimeo.com/27776013
For more information or resources for working with Military-Connected Children, check out these websites:
• Operation Educate the Educator: http://aacte.org/Programs/Operation-Educate-the-Educators/
• American Association of School Administrators : http://www.aasa.org/content.aspx?id=9008
• Military Impacted Schools Association: http://militaryimpactedschoolsassociation.org/
COE DIVERSITY NEWSLETTER: OUR LENS | Issue # 4
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UNO Criss Library
Multicultural Books
Young Adult Literature:
Children of the River by Linda Crew. Having fled Cambodia four years earlier to escape the Khmer Rouge army,
seventeen-year-old Sundara is torn between remaining faithful to her own people and enjoying life in her Oregon
high school as a “regular” American. (Description via Worldcat).
Figs and Fate by Elsa Marston. A collection of five stories portraying Arab life in Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, a
Palestinian Refugee camp in Lebanon, and Iraq today. (Description via Worldcat).
Children’s Literature:
If the World Were Blind by Karen Gedig Burnett. When Jason asks his grandfather why people have trouble
getting along, it makes them think about how things might be better if we looked past physical attributes to see the
person underneath.. (Description via Worldcat).
Everybody Cook Rice by Norah Dooley. A child is sent to find a younger brother at dinnertime and is introduced to
a variety of cultures through encountering the many different ways rice is prepared at the different households
visited. (Description via Worldcat).
Need more resources for your classroom or school project? Please contact, Melissa Cast-Brede,
Research Services Unit/Education & Psychology Liaison at [email protected].
The Colors of Us!
[Based on the book, The Colors of Us by
Karen Katz]
Featured Pin
Using social media to enhance the classroom! Visit http://www.schcounselor.com/2009/03/colors of-us.html
for the full blog post on this activity!