Expand Knowledge of other cultures/ethnicities

As teachers, I think that it is very important to be able to expand our knowledge base about other racial and ethnic groups as we grow as teachers and professionals.  In order to properly teach students, we need to be able to relate to them and understand the ways in which we can engage them in learning.  With more experience as we mature most will naturally meet different people and be able to learn something from them along the way about their ethnicity.  For teachers who come into a situation where they are unfamiliar with a child's ethnicity, there are many ways to expand knowledge.  For one, the computer is a great asset to be able to research different things and get a broad idea of a culture.  Probably the most profitable resource is the child themselves and maybe even more importantly, the child's parents and family.  In this way the teacher is learning and also opening up communication with the parents, maybe making them feel more comfortable and encouraging better communication throughout the year.  

An experience that I can relate to this idea for me happened about five years ago when my mother took a job as a Paraprofessional in Bridgeport, CT after working for ten years in the Catholic, K-8 school I attended during my childhood years.  I was nervous because Bridgeport is for the most part an inner-city area and I didn't know how the children would take to my mom.  Now, five years later, my mom is still working at the same school and loves her job.  Of course she has had to deal with some interesting children and parents but will tell you that she has a very rewarding job and enjoys going to work everyday.  I have gone into my mom's classes many times and see why she feels so good about her job.  Kids are kids no matter where they live or where they might come from and we have to be open to learn as much from them as they will hopefully learn from us.