We are living through a unique time in history right now. Teachers have had multiple opportunities in recent months to make learning more meaningful by focusing on current events. For example, the presidential election alone was a topic that could have been used to teach social studies, reading, writing, and even math. Unfortunately, many teachers did not have the time to dedicate to this important subject over the past few months. Why? You guessed it. Standardized tests.
I'll give you a perfect example. GreenGuy was fortunate enough to have been able to watch and discuss the inauguration during school time this past January, but StrawberryGirl was not. When she came home from school, I couldn't believe that she hadn't seen it. A friend of mine was so upset about this that she called the principal. Do you know what he told her? He said that since standardized testing was taking place the next day, parents would have wanted to make sure their children were prepared! My reaction was, Whaaaaaaat???? You've got to be kidding me. This principal had many previous days to have his teachers focus on test preparation. Teachers missed this highly teachable moment because of a test! It's one more reason why we must find ways to informally teach our own children.
I had previously mentioned in another post, Why Older Children Should Read Picture Books, that the one subject that often is not focused upon enough in elementary schools is social studies. With everything going on in this world these days, I feel this is a costly mistake. The subject of social studies is about more than just "history." It's about the interrelationship of people within neighborhoods, communities, states, countries, and continents. To teach social studies effectively in my eyes, you must place a strong emphasis upon geography, diversity, and tolerance. That's why I dedicated much of my time during graduate school to finding resources, and creating lesson plans and units revolving around these three subcategories of this all important subject.
As a parent, there are three important things you can do on a regular basis that will raise your child's global awareness. They are:
- Talk about current events. Some world issues are too sensitive for younger children, but even small, local community events qualify as social studies.
- Seek out related picture books. Social studies education starts with teaching about the meaning of "family," and how people get along in communities. Even preschoolers can discuss these issues, especially if they read about them in picture books. There are so many pieces of high quality children's literature out there (for all ages), and I will share them with you on a regular basis.
- Have your maps handy. Children love to learn about faraway places, and if you keep a globe or a world map within view, you can easily point to different places when they come up in your discussions. It will also serve as a daily reminder that their little world is not the only place on this planet! My sister-in-law keeps a large world map and a map of Italy on the walls in her twin sons' bedroom. I love this idea!
I am dedicating a category on this blog to resources relating to diversity, tolerance, and global awareness. There will be picture books and other resources for all ages, but today I'd like to start you off with a couple of wonderful books that are mainly for children in the Pre-K to Grade 3 age range. They happen to be written by the same wonderful authors I mentioned yesterday!
Mary Ann Hoberman's And to Think That We Thought That We'd Never Be Friends is another one of her classic rhyming books. It starts off with two siblings fighting, and ends with an annual musical parade around the world. Any child who's had a disagreement with a sibling or a friend can relate to this book. I like the fact that there is an element of fantasy in it. For example, tigers and whales couldn't ever join a real parade, which makes room for a discussion of fantasy versus reality. This picture book is about cooperation, and can lead to a discussion of culture and diversity. It's a great introduction to social studies.
I absolutely love the next book, and used it extensively when I student taught 1st grade. It's Mem Fox's Whoever You Are. Words cannot express how much I love this book. It sends the message that all children are the same on the inside, even if they dress, talk, or eat differently. I had each child draw their face on a paper plate, and then we displayed them around a circular world map in the hallway. It looked beautiful, and I think the children really understood the message behind it. I can't say enough about this book!
To sum it up, picture books, maps, and discussions of current events are powerful tools that parents and teachers can use to increase global awareness. Social studies are not just about history. They're about learning how to get along with a diverse group of people. There is no doubt that your child will be conversing with people from around the world eventually, given the growth of the internet these days. The more you discuss issues like tolerance and diversity with your child, the more likely it will be that he or she will succeed in life, and the better the world will be. It's one more way moms make the world a better place, one child at a time.
