Transition to Kindergarten Parent Guides: What About Sharing My Family Culture?

Your family beliefs have a great impact on your child’s life. Each family has its own set of customs, attitudes, and hopes for the education of their children. Good teachers accept and respect the beliefs held by families.

Children gain when their classrooms feel more like home. They learn more easily.

Share your family’s culture with school. Here are some ideas:

• Ask the teacher about opportunities to share photos of family events and customs in class.
• Volunteer to read stories in your child’s class, in your language.
• Volunteer to make tape recordings of stories in your language. They can be used in class or in the library.
• Help the teacher make labels for the classroom that reflect your language.
• Work with the teacher so that the toys and materials in class reflect your culture.
• Help set up staff trainings about your culture and home language.

Feel free to ask the teacher to help you in these ways:

• Ask that newsletters and notes be provided in your language.
• Ask that contact with you be at times that are good for your family.