1. I would ensure that my classroom is already culturally diverse through resources and materials including books, poster and activities.
2. I would do my best to study where the child is moving from to make myself knowledgeable of current events and issues from her home country.
3. I would prepare my students for the arrival of the new student. I would explain to them that she is from another country where things are different and it is all of our jobs to make sure that she feels welcome.
4.I would also make sure that I am communicating with the family of the child to see if there are any special things I need to know or different things I can do to make sure that the child feels most comfortable.
5. I would also invite the student and their family in for a a visit to the classroom before the child's first day of school. This would give the child the opportunity to become familiar with their new classroom and would also the the family and I a chance to chat in person.
My hope would be that these 5 preparations to become culturally responsive would help the family, child and my classroom of children to become comfortable with the new situation. It would also help me develop a rapport with the family. Although a few of my preparations may not seem as though they directly effect the child they all do. The child is coming from their culture and entering my classroom, which has it's own classroom culture. Filling my classroom with books, posters and activities that are culturally diverse would lay the foundation for cultural acceptance within my classroom. By preparing my students it is already going to prepare them, as well as myself, to be culturally responsive.
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Amy, I completely agree inviting the family in to tour the school/program prior to the child starting the program is extremely important. I am a director at a childcare center and we have families tour our center as part of the enrollment process. I cannot tell you how many times a child a part of the dominant culture was extremely standoffish and shy at the beginning of a tour and their entire demeanor changed after the tour was completed. I would suggest letting the child transition into the program as well. You could have the child come to visit for only an hour on the first day, the second day for the morning, the third day through lunch and so on. That would allow the child to adjust. Along with give the teacher time to observe and prepare their environment better for the child.
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