Webinar: Trauma Informed Care for Refugees and Children
What are the effects of trauma on immigrant children? How is mental health screening done? What are some options for helping children who have experienced trauma? Recorded in November 2016,
this webinar discusses issues that children face when exposed to trauma and helps caregivers learn to respond appropriately.
Breaking the Stigma: Can Children with Special Needs Learn a Second Language?
Some families and professionals believe that it’s too difficult for a child with special needs to learn a second language, but
research shows that children with special needs can become bilingual. In a study of children with language impairment, Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder, researchers confirmed that children’s ability to learn is based on their age, the degree of their disability, their intellectual capacity and their proficiency in their first language.
What does it mean to be culturally competent?
What does cultural competence mean and why is it so important for children to have their culture and cultural backgrounds acknowledged, respected and valued? Underlying cultural competence are the principles of trust, respect for diversity, equity, fairness, and social justice.
Read more...
Podcast: Immigrant and Refugee Children in Childcare
In this
recording, Julie Dotsch, writer, presenter and trainer for CMAS, discusses research and practices that support refugee children and families. She looks at the importance of keeping traditions alive by integrating them into the new culture as well as the importance of newcomer families maintaining their home languages.
Wouldn’t it be fun to sing O Canada with children in their home languages?
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra recorded our national anthem in 12 languages: Arabic, American Sign Language, Cree, English, French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Punjabi, Spanish, Tagalog, and Tamil. This is part of celebrating Canada’s 150th birthday (sesquicentennial) starting in 2017.
Hundreds of Free Tools to Build Leadership and Enhance Cultural Competence!
The
Community Tool Box is a free, online resource for those working to build healthier communities and bring about social change. It offers thousands of pages of tips and tools for taking action in communities.
Want to learn about community assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation, advocacy, and other aspects of community practice? Then help yourself to over 300 educational modules and other free tools. The website is currently available in English, Spanish, and Arabic, and includes an entire unit on Cultural Competence in a Multicultural World
My Name/My Identity
Have you ever mispronounced a child's name? It’s okay to make an error, but it is not okay to ignore the mistake or not learn from it. A child's name can be a powerful link to their identity. To promote equity and respect in the classroom, pronouncing students names correctly should always be a priority. Read more, take the pledge, and access resources on how to honour childrens' names at
My Name My Identity.
How to Improve Your Cultural Awareness and Understanding
The
National Centre for Cultural Competence has a
Curricula Enhancement Module Series on Cultural and Linguistic Competence. It is intended for health and mental health professionals, but has modules that will help early learning and care professionals improve their cultural awareness and understanding as well!
Childhood Interrupted: Lost Years for the Children of the Syrian Refugee Crisis
Earlier this year, a team travelled to Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey to assess the situation of refugee children in the region. Their report describes the children and families at risk, and documents the educational crisis. It also recommends consideration of family unity and the best interests of the child when developing services.
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Video Snapshots: How to Support a Young Dual Language Learner at the Beginning of the Year?
These
video snapshots are a great training tool! They not only document the early stages and strategies of preschool second language acquisition, but also reflect current research. It is a rare look at the first stages that are so vital to the teacher-child connection.
