Kwanzaa And Me

"All these white schools I've been sent to are racist," Sonya says. "I'd have done better in a black school. I was an outsider here." These are hard words for Vivian Paley, whose own kindergarten was one of Sonya's schools, the integrated classroom so lovingly and hopefully depicted by Paley in White Teacher. Confronted with the grown-up Sonya, now on her way to a black college, and with a chorus of voices questioning the fairness and effectiveness of integrated education, Paley sets out to discover the truth about the multicultural classroom from those who participate in it. This is an odyssey undertaken on the wings of conversation and storytelling in which every voice adds new meaning to the idea of belonging, really belonging, to a school culture. Here are black teachers and minority parents, immigrant families, a Native American educator, and the children themselves, whose stories mingle with the author's to create a candid picture of the successes and failures of the integrated classroom. As Paley travels the country listening to these stories, we see what lies behind recent moves toward self-segregation: an ongoing frustration with racism as well as an abiding need for a nurturing community. And yet, among these diverse voices, we hear again and again the shared dream of a classroom where no family heritage is obscured and every child's story enriches the life of the schoolhouse. "It's all about dialogue, isn't it?" asks Lorraine, a black third-grade teacher whose story becomes a central motif. And indeed, it is the dialogue that prevails in this warmly provocative and deeply engaging book, as parents and teachers learn how they must talk to each other, and to their children, if every child is to secure a sense of self in the schoolroom, no matter what the predominant ethnic background. Vivian Paley offers these discoveries to readers as a starting point for their own journeys toward community and kinship in today's schools and tomorrow's culture.

Encourages young children to read with a purpose and is an excellent book for culturally responsive educators and parents. Little Readers, Habari Gani!

STRENGTHENING THE FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY Each year on December 26, the African American holiday of Kwanzaa begins. What is the purpose of Kwanzaa? How did it get its start? Dolores Johnson's easy-to-follow guide gives detailed descriptions of Kwanzaa's principles and symbols. This comprehensive resource also includes recipes and craft and gift ideas, as well as suggestions to help young readers and their families create their own special Kwanzaa celebration.

Kwanzaa Songs for Everyone is a unique collection of music and poetry that celebrates the spirit of Kwanzaa. Set to familiar holiday tunes, these songs have all new lyrics and are expressed with a distinctive cultural flavor. The word Kwanzaa comes from the Swahili language and means the first fruits of harvest. It is celebrated during the seven-day period from December 26 to January 1. Kwanzaa is a unique cultural event that pays homage to the past, present, and future of African Americans. It has no religious connotations nor does it attempt to replace or substitute for Christmas, or any religious beliefs or observations. The reason why Kwanzaa came to be is simple: Until the creation of Kwanzaa by Dr. Maulana Ron Karenga in 1966, African Americans did not have a specific occasion to universally celebrate our culture. Kwanzaa incorporates African heritage into the festivities of the winter solstice and holiday season. After over forty years, practice, Kwanzaa is now celebrated by millions of people thorough out America, the African Diaspora, and all over the world. The seven principles of Kwanzaa promote family values, cultural enlightenment, and the growth of a cooperative community spirit, collective economic opportunities, community strength, family cohesiveness and progressive individual expression. The ultimate goal of Kwanzaa is that the Nguzo Saba, the Seven Principles, become a living part of the individual and community until they are practiced every day of the year.

Share this Kwanzaa story with your family or in the classroom. Very bright, playful, textured pictures capture the spirit of community that is the essence of the holiday. The two final pages about 'The Nguzo Saba--The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa' will take kids back to the story to find the holiday message in action.* The story of Li'l Rabbit captures the true meaning of Kwanzaa--coming together to help others. Donna L. Washington's story, with art from Shane W. Evans (Chocolate Me!), provides a fun introduction to the holiday. Li'l Rabbit is not having a very good Kwanzaa. Granna Rabbit is sick, and so his family won't celebrate his favorite part of Kwanzaa this year: a big feast called Karamu. Li'l Rabbit knows what to do! He'll find Granna Rabbit a special treat for Karamu so she can celebrate anyway. He looks under a pile of logs, in the field, and in the pond and along the way meets Groundhog, Momma Field Mouse, and the frogs--but he doesn't find anything for Granna Rabbit. Maybe I'm just too little to help Granna Rabbit celebrate Kwanzaa, Li'l Rabbit thinks. Or maybe he just needs a little help from his family and friends. *Booklist --Booklist

Learn Interesting Facts About Kwanzaa."Once Again It's Kwanzaa Time" is a story of twin siblings that take part in the annual Kwanzaa celebration in their quiet town. They are part of an on-stage presentation that combines style with lessons about the holiday. This story teaches valuable lessons about The Seven Principles of Kwanzaa and the importance of the holiday. Children will also learn about aspects of African history, heritage, and culture. "Once Again It's Kwanzaa Time" pulls the reader deep into the meaning of Kwanzaa and shows how Kwanzaa creates a strong sense of community and purpose. "Once Again It's Kwanzaa Time" is a perfect introduction to Kwanzaa. It makes excellent use of The Seven Principles and teaches about the core meaning of Kwanzaa. This is an appealing narrative that children will want to read year after year.

Introduction to Education, Second Edition is written for students beginning their study in education. As the school population increasingly reflects the diversity of America's population, many prospective teachers, typically from the middle classes, will be unprepared for the diverse classrooms they will inevitably encounter. This text helps students prepare to be teachers in a pluralistic society whose classrooms represent an increasingly varied set of cultural histories and values. Introduction to Education, Second Edition identifies and examines key educational topics and issues: A history of Education that goes beyond the standard Puritan background and begins instead with indigenous Americans and the influence of the Spanish., Surveys of a broad spectrum of children's backgrounds, including experiences with drugs, poverty, and lack of access to vital cultural currency like the Internet., And provides numerous pedagogical aides:, Reflective in-text questions that challenge students to think beyond their own cultural backgrounds and to develop an appreciation for a variety of different cultures, Student Web materials including supplemental readings involving issues in contemporary American education, in-text case studies, An issues-based guide to websites on hot topics like vouchers and the No Child Left Behind Act, Instructor's Manual with Test Bank (still under construction)

"Containing the public messages, speeches, and statements of the President", 1956-1992.