Remake of Multicultural Education Digital Toolkit by Dara Washington

Multilingual Vocabulary Word of the Day

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Create a group activity that allows students to teach other students words from their native tongue. Calling it "Word of the day," this will allow students who are not familiar with or are having trouble to be taught the language by their peers, while teaching their English speaking peers something as well.

Translation Tools and Resources

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

In order for teachers to be able to teach students how to use translation tools and resources correctly, they must first be taught. After they have been taught they can give the students the information and tools needed to be able to not only pass their class, but teach others along the way.

Students Sharing Experiences

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Organize lesson plans and learning around multicultural themes. For example have a show and tell where students are able to bring books, clothing, and artwork that is descriptive of their culture.

Celebrate Diversity and Cultural Differences

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Celebrate the diversity within the room. Highlighting different cultures throughout the room through books, pictures and movie documentaries . Spotlight students by using a family representative to come and speak to the students and maybe bring a cultural dessert for the students. Teach using engaging materials and peer taught lessons.

Integrate Cultural Awareness Across all Content Areas

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

In English class read stories based on cultural differences. Including mythical tales, and stories or beliefs from different cultures. Present historical events from different cultures, and specific holidays other students may not acknowledge. Including the contributions made from different countries and groups around the world, including things such as food. You can incorporate this through reading and peer taught lesson, or through small group research-based projects.

Getting to know the Students

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

It is valuable for the educators and the students to build bonds with one another. This can be done by using survey's throughout the year, using teacher talk time during small group time, and building relationships with students that allow the educator to meet the students where they are.

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

It is important that educators be mindful and incorporate and develop curriculum that is culturally fit and respectful to all learners. Using materials that representative of every students background. This builds relationships and trust while gifting the students with the knowledge of students with different perspectives from around the world.

Open communication

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Having an open dialog between the students and the family. Making yourself accessible to reach out to those students, families, and communities. Open communication and dialog gives students the confidence needed to share with you and gives educators the opportunity to show students that respect is earned as well as given. Giving your students a safe space for them to express themselves and what they are feeling can help to build bonds with even the most difficult students. Modeling empathy for your students helps them pick up these skills and helps them to be respectful to other educators as well as their peers.

Empower Students

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Giving your students a voice opens the doors for them to help others. By building their confidence and allowing them time to express themselves through things such as small group, and peer lead activities educators can help to boost their confidence to speak and advocate for both themselves and their peers.

Continued Learning for the Educator

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

In order to create life long learns educators should never stop growing their own skills and knowledge. Taking the time to make sure that they stay current in things such as the latest technology as well as how things that can be used help those with language barriers.

Activities that Foster Cultural Respect

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Activities that can be implemented to teach students to respect differences and value their peers and help eliminate social biases. Encouraging students to develop relationships with those students who may not look like them or have the same beliefs within the classroom by placing them in peer groups that are culturally diverse. Host cultural family/community nights and activities. It is important acknowledge the various cultural backgrounds within the classroom.

Host Family nights and events

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Inviting families to come into the classroom is one of the most powerful ways to keep families involved. Things such as family game nights can draw both parents and communities out to allow them to see what their students are being taught and learning. Family involvement also opens up the doors for communication both positive and negative. Keeping families involved keeps things like absences and behaviors at bay.

Family Projects

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Giving students assignments and projects that include their family allows them to have family time that they may not otherwise have, while opening the door for questions to be asked about their background that students may not otherwise ask.

Forums and Communication with Families

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Family forums helps students to feel like they can talk to their parents and family members without fear. It is important for students to be able to have that open communication with their parents. We as educators can help with this by giving our students an assignment that will create a dialog between the students and their families.

How to Empower Parents

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

As educators it will never be our job to tell parents how to parent their children, but we can help them when we see the need. By offering literature and host family nights that have vendors such as clinics, doctors, psychologist, and therapist that can give them information as to where to start if they want to maintain or improve the overall well being of their student.

1. Use Multicultural Literature Across Subjects

dwashingto106 — 2025-10-11 18:50:35 UTC

Incorporate books and stories that represent different cultures, abilities, and family dynamics. For example, connect students to specific topic and have them create a lesson plan that they will teach to the class.

Celebrate Cultural Heritage Months Through Lessons

Plan activities tied to Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, or Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, have them to create things like family trees, generational traditions, and belief systems by tying these into projects, and class discussions.