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Winter Holidays: December Dilemma or Teaching Opportunity
The ADL provides educators with guidance and resources during this festive time of year to help consider how to be inclusive of the many holidays celebrated by people from different religions, cultures and races. This time of year is often spent with family and friends, connecting with our faith or culture, giving and receiving gifts and enjoying special foods and treats. However, this time of year—especially in schools and whether it's in-person, online or hybrid—can be a time where some children can feel uncomfortable, excluded, insulted or marginalized.
Every November and December, public school students, parents, teachers and administrators face the difficult task of acknowledging the various religious and cultural holiday traditions celebrated during that time of year. While there are appropriate educational benefits to teaching about the diverse religious traditions and cultures of our country, school officials must be thoughtful about being inclusive and ensure they do not give students the impression that one set of holidays or beliefs is more important or more acceptable than others.
Be accurate and sensitive
Religious and cultural holidays offer excellent opportunities to teach about culture, religion and their historical importance. During the winter season and especially in December, we celebrate
- Diwali (depending on the Hindu Lunar calendar)
- Hanukkah (depending on the Hebrew calendar)
- Winter Solstice (December 21)
- Christmas (December 25)
- Kwanzaa (December 26)
- Three Kings Day (January 6)
- Ramadan (depends on Islamic calendar and periodically aligns with winter holidays—next time is 2030).
Be aware that some religions teach that celebrating holidays and birthdays is unacceptable
Children should always be permitted not to participate and should have the opportunity to engage in other optional, enjoyable activities.Consider activities which include all children.
Do not make assumptions
Children in our public schools represent a myriad of religions, cultures and traditions. Within those groups, not all members of the same cultural or religious group necessarily observe the same holidays or celebrate them in the same way. Many children, being multi-denominational and/or multiracial, commemorate more than one holiday.
Be inclusive
In-person or online events winter holiday school activities such as assemblies, choral presentations and plays should be inclusive.
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Oregon Students Selected For USSYP Scholarship
Oregon's Delegates and Alternates:
Warrenton High School- Alejandra Lopez Nestor
West Albany High School- Caroline Gao
Jesuit High School- Jenny Duan
La Pine High School- Trace Terrell
Congratulations to these students and all of the wonderful student applicants.
The United States Senate Youth Program, established in 1962 by U.S. Senate Resolution, is a unique educational experience for outstanding high school students interested in pursuing careers in public service. Two student leaders from each state, the District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity will participate in a remote learning experience about the work of their national government. Student delegates will hear major policy addresses by senators, cabinet members, officials from the Departments of State and Defense and directors of other federal agencies, and they will hear from the president of the United States and a justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. In addition, two delegate from each state will also be awarded a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies, with encouragement to pursue coursework in history and political science.
Information for the 2022-2023 program will be announced in this newsletter and with a notifications to school in August and September of 2022.
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The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde
K-12 Curriculum was created from the need for historically accurate and culturally relevant curriculum in Oregon schools about Oregon Native Americans and as a response to countless requests from Oregon teachers for classroom-ready materials on Native Americans. Traditional school curriculums carry negative stereotypes and reinforce bias towards many minority groups and diverse populations. The need for a culturally appropriate, relevant, and accurate curriculum has existed for a long time and this curriculum serves as a starting point to bridge that gap. Students deserve to see themselves reflected in their education – through the curriculum, classroom environment, and learning materials.
Our hope is that these lessons can be taught in a variety of settings and subjects – creating a more culturally responsive atmosphere for all students throughout all areas of their education experience. Each grade level contains lessons full of valuable resources and activities for students. Lessons are tied to Oregon State learning standards and use culturally responsive learning practices to engage learners – helping them to make connections between their own lives, the history of their State/community, and life in the present.
We hope you find these units useful and appreciate the positive difference you are making by teaching this as it will have an incredible impact on generations to come.
Questions? Begin exploring the curriculum or contact our Curriculum Specialist at Cheyanne.heidt@grandronde.org.
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Pulitzer Center Lesson Plans and Resources
The Pulitzer Center raises awareness of underreported global issues through direct support for quality journalism across all media platforms and a unique program of education and public outreach.
Browse and adapt hundreds of lesson plans for K–12 classrooms. Lessons encourage students to make local connections to global news stories while strengthening skills such as critical thinking, media literacy, and communication.
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The Rural Experience in America: Community Civics Through Historical Inquiry
Professional Development Opportunity for Teachers
Funded by a grant from the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources program, NCHE is proud to announce a 3-part colloquium for teachers focusing on Rural America.
The Rural Experience in America - Asynchronous Learning - K-12 teachers will learn to use primary sources from the Library of Congress's collection in their classrooms. Sign up to participate in the asynchronous, online modules beginning December 1, 2021 through February 28, 2022.
The Rural Experience in America - Online Colloquia - K-12 teachers will participate in three online synchronous Saturday professional development sessions led by historians and educational specialists. These sessions will be held on March 5, 2022, April 2, 2022, and May 7, 2022 and will focus on the regions and history of rural America. Sign up today to save your spot!
The Rural Experience in America - Onsite Colloquium - In this unique grant experience that will bring together public history and civic action, 15 teachers (preference will be given to K-12 teachers in rural schools) and their community partners will travel to the University of Oklahoma for a two-day learning experience in July of 2022 (specific dates coming soon). Teachers and community partners will build civic connections and develop a plan for their students to create a public history project in their own community. Teachers will receive a $750 stipend to defray travel costs and up to $750 to support their community project. Sign up today to apply! The deadline for applications will be Friday, June 17, 2022.
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OJMCHE To Bear Witness – Extraordinary Lives
December 12, 2021 – May 15, 2022
To Bear Witness – Extraordinary Lives features photographs, profiles, and short films that capture the stories of individuals who left their homelands for safe haven in Oregon. These brave men and women, born in places as far-flung as Austria, Bosnia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Germany, Hungary, Rwanda, Sudan, Syria, and Tibet, witnessed the atrocities of war, genocide, and the Holocaust. Each profile reveals the resilience of the survivor and the generosity of the many who provided assistance along the way.
The exhibition is a partnership between OJMCHE and The Immigrant Story, in collaboration with Jim Lommasson and NW Documentary, and presents a multimedia exhibition focused on the lives of these 14 refugees. Founded in 2017 by Sankar Raman, who immigrated to the U.S. from India, The Immigrant Story is a volunteer-run nonprofit with a mission to foster empathy and build a more inclusive community by sharing stories of immigrants and refugees who often overcame tremendous odds to reach the United States. Sankar, who has experienced violent, racially-motivated attacks, founded The Immigrant Story in response to a Kansas shooting in February 2017 that killed one Indian American man and injured two others.
The Immigrant Story has collaborated with Portland photographer Jim Lommasson, building upon his project, Stories of Survival, originally produced in collaboration with the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center. His work focuses on objects survivors were able to carry with them on their perilous journeys. From his photographs of the objects, the participants respond with handwritten testimonies — stories, memories, poems, drawings. Their stories speak to the luminous inner life of these ordinary things and testify to the unspeakable anguish of lives forever left behind.
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Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announces 2022 Oregon Kid Governor: Emerie Martin
Fifth-grader from Pleasant Hill will raise awareness about animal abuse in Oregon
Pleasant Hill, OR – Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan announced the winner of the 2022 Oregon Kid Governor® (ORKG): Emerie Martin of Pleasant Hill. Secretary Fagan traveled to Pleasant Hill Elementary for the announcement and to congratulate Emerie Martin in person.
Every candidate for Oregon Kid Governor chooses an issue platform in order to run for this office. Emerie’s community issue is animal abuse in Oregon; her campaign video can be viewed here. Emerie was selected from numerous candidates across the state by Oregon fifth graders. A "breaking news" video about Emerie's selection is here.
The other final candidates and their community issues included:
- Andy, Adams Elementary, Eugene: Homelessness Help
- Benjamin, Hawks View Elementary, Sherwood: Creating a Stronger Community
- Gwendolyn, Skyline K8, Portland: Climate Change
- Katy, Pacific Ridge Elementary, Seaside: Equal Opportunities
- Kinley, Territorial Elementary School, Junction City: Reducing Food Waste
- Vedant, Springville K-8, Portland: Physical and Mental Health in Kids Development
To learn more about the Kid Governor Program and to view all the candidates' videos go to: http://or.kidgovernor.org/.
You may also contact Nikki Fisher, Civic and Education Elections Director at 503-302-9618 or Nikki.Fisher@OR.KidGovernor.org
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Classroom Law Project
Ridgley Scholarship Application Opens January 5th, 2022
The Bob & Marilyn Ridgley Classroom Law Project Scholarship recipient receives $2,500 in each of their four years of college for a total of $10,000. One student is selected each spring to receive the award. Students with any connection to Classroom Law Project programs are eligible including Current Events, Court Tours, Town Halls, and more! Visit here for more information and eligibility. The application will open on Wednesday, January 5th.
We the Readers Book Club: Now Virtual!
Classroom Law Project's third book club meeting for the year will be on February 3rd to discuss “Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents" by Isabel Wilkerson. View the 2021-22 book selection list and register here to join! Meetings will be held virtually until further notice.
Mock Trial Team Registration
There’s still time for teams to register for Mock Trial! New teams are free in their first year, and schools can register multiple teams at a discounted rate. The program adapted very well to hybrid and virtual formats last year, so new schools are encouraged to give it a try. Visit here to register
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George Packer: Last Best Hope
Packer's previous book "Our Man" was reflective, revealing, romp of a read about long-time state department official Richard Holbrooke. A career diplomat and grinding behind-the-scenes policymaker, Holbrooke's career takes us inside some of the most dangerous and deadly conflicts of the last 50 years. Packer makes us feel like we are in the room as Holbrooke tries to find the pathway to peace.
Packer's latest book condenses years of political reporting into just over 200 pages. The book is of the moment, written in a journalistic style with current events waiting for historical judgment. Perhaps most useful in Packer's analysis of the current state of our democracy is the chapter that expands on his Atlantic article on the "Four Americas."
Beyond the usual Left-Right divide, Packer's framework describes Just America, Real America, Free America, and Smart America with equal parts care and critique. For anyone looking for a new way to think about the political divides in the current U.S. and perhaps gain a better understanding of the groups they do not identify with, The Last Best Hope offers an empathetic analysis. For high school students, the Atlantic article or the chapter from the book makes for an excellent shared reading and discussion.
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Oregon Council on Economic Education
RESOURCE CENTER
We have added a lengthy listing of resources to our web site to assist you in teaching of economics.
Titles range from Using the Bernstein Bears to teach economics in the elementary classroom to Economic Lessons from the musical Hamilton.
Stock Market Game
The Spring competitive game of the Stock Market Game starts on Jan 24th.
Some excellent resources for teaching the Stock Market Game;
Link for signing up for the Stock Market Game;
Econ Challenge
The Econ Challenge is quickly approaching. Initial competition will be during the month of March (using an online approach as we have done the last few years), with in person state finals taking place in April. The top finishing teams in Oregon will advance to the regional competition, with an opportunity to compete on a national basis later in Spring 2022.
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Colonial Williamsburg: Scholarship Application 2022 Teacher Institute
We are very pleased to announce scholarship opportunities for elementary and secondary school teachers for the 2022 Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute of Colonial Williamsburg. These scholarships are made possible by the generosity of many Colonial Williamsburg Foundation friends, their deep commitment to and respect for teachers, and their belief in teachers’ role in educating the citizens and leaders of tomorrow.
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