Global Gatherings

1. Global Gatherings Proposed beginning Fall 2014 Proposed Times: 8:45 – 9:10 a.m. OR 3:10 – 3:30 p.m. June 12,2014

2. Introduction Classes have an opportunity to share what they have been learning and writing about. It also creates a space for discussion of important issues that may come up during the school year. Global Gatherings are roughly based on Red Cedar’s “Morning Celebrations” which have had phenomenal success in creating a cohesive community across a diverse population as well as enhancing the learning environment. Red Cedar’s “Morning Celebrations” have been praised for its creation of space to share and discuss: “It is a morning meeting on a large scale.”

3. Reasons for “Global Gatherings” at Donley Need to Bridge the Social and Class Divide at Donley It Creates Social Cohesion Among Diverse Income and Ethnic Groups It Validates that Every Child is Important Too Much Video Gaming Builds World Citizens (i.e. recently students at Stepping Stones Montessori School in East Lansing took part in the Montessori Model United Nations Program)

4. 1. Need to Bridge the Social and Class Divide • Donley is made up of high, middle and low-income neighborhoods • Edgewood Village is made of low-income families, including recent refugees from the Middle East (Iraq), Africa (South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia) and South Asia (Afghanistan), African-Americans and Whites. • Donleyalso has some international student families (Somalia, Germany, India, China, Saudi Arabia) and some recent immigrant families (Turkey, Pakistan)

5. 2. It Creates Social Cohesion Among Diverse Income and Ethnic Groups • Shared rituals create social cohesion and thus a feeling of community • “When we perform rituals en masse with a group we bond with that group. We identify with that group and will protect that group” Eldon Taylor • Rituals include an activity that occurs in the space or special ceremonies or rituals used to dedicate or transform the space (i.e. rituals of interaction)

6. Each day, the Five Rituals of “Global Gatherings” (in order) are: Lunch Choices(administrative task that has to be done) (Lunch choices displayed on smart board. Teachers pass clip-board down the line) (not necessary if Global gatherings are in afternoon) Around the World with The Principal(“Who wants to play around the world with the teachers?”) The Pledge of Allegiance: All Stand Country of the Week (to be described later) Birthdays: b-day students go to the center Peace Pledge

7. 3. It Validates That Every Child is Important Example: “Country of the Week” • Teaches acceptance and inclusion • Opportunity to teach that “we never make fun of other people’s special foods or culture” Example: Birthday Ritual • Everybody knows its your birthday • Birthday acknowledgement can be made toward the students all day long Example: “Around the World with the Principal” • Everybody learns everbody’s names • Teachers take ownership of all children in the school • Children learn who all the teachers are

8. Birthday Ritual at Red Cedar

9. Short Clip for Birthday Ritual at Donley? (use first 23 seconds of clip) Chipmunks – Happy Birthday Song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOxjJZCOWJk

10. 4. Too Much Video Gaming • “Country of the Week” Ritual: • Increases Factual Knowledge: Teaches Geography, knowledge of the geographical and cultural world. • Reinforces rules • Reinforces positive behavior • Promotes good assembly behavior • Everybody will be practicing the behavior that was discussed that morning • Provides children with more “hooks” with which to continue learning in the classroom.

11. 5. Builds World Citizens (through “Country of the Week”) Activities for the “country of the week” for each day of the week are: • Day 1: See how far it is to get there on the map/present flag/Greet neighbor with hello in that language (teaches geography & multi-lingualism) • Day 2: Major Cities/Housing/Urban Development • Day 3: Food/Dress • Day 4: Currency (teaches financial literacy) • Day 5: Music: Song and Dance Day (students get up and move to the music)

12. Proposed Weeks Based on Regions(Red = represented at Donley) 20. Region: Middle East: Egypt Region: Middle East: Iraq Region: Middle East: Turkey Region: Middle East: Iran “Ididaread” and “Brainstormer’s” Week Region: South East Asia: Thailand Region: South East Asia: Philippines Region: South East Asia: Indonesia Region: East Asia: China Region: East Asia: Japan Region: Western Europe: France Region: Western Europe: Italy Region: Western Europe: Germany Region: Eastern Europe: Bulgaria Russia Region: Australia and Pacific Islands: Australia Science Questions Week Wrapping Up • Welcome (Lunch/Rules/Pledge/Bucketfiller/ Donley Song) • Planet Earth • Region: United States & Canada: US and Canada • Region: Middle America & Caribbean: Mexico • Region: Middle America & Caribbean: Honduras • Region: Middle America & Caribbean: Costa Ricaand Guatemala • Region: South America: Venezuela • Region: South America: Brazil • Region: South America: Peru • Region: Sub-Saharan Africa: Kenya • Region: Sub-Saharan Africa: Ethiopia • Region: Sub-Saharan Africa: Southern Sudan • Region: Sub-Saharan Africa: Somalia • Region: Sub-Saharan Africa: Nigeria • Region: Sub-Saharan Africa: Ghana • Region: South Asia: India • Region: South Asia: Pakistan • Region: South Asia: Afghanistan • Region: South Asia: Nepal

13. All files, videos and resources to be shown at Global Gatherings will be stored on the Wikispacehttp://country-weeks.wikispaces.com/ See following examples of Nigeria and Afghanistan: first showing the “country of the week” section for each day followed by their wikispace page at the end (Also see wikispace page for Kenya)

14. Example – Nigeria Day 1 – Map (file)

15. Example – Nigeria Day 1- Flag (Website)

16. Example – Nigeria Day 2- Housing (Video)

17. Example – Nigeria Day 3- Food (Video)

18. Example – Nigeria Day 4-Currency (Website)

19. Example – Nigeria Day 4- Currency (Website) Question: “How many Nigerian Niarasdo we need to reach one US dollar? “

20. Example – Nigeria Day 5- Music (Video)

21. Nigeria wikispace page File Website Website Video Other Video choices Video Other Video choices Website Video

22. Example - Afghanistan Day 1 – Map (File)

23. Example - Afghanistan Day 1 – Flag (Website

24. Example - Afghanistan Day 2 – Housing (Video)

25. Example - Afghanistan Day 3 – People (Video)

26. Example - Afghanistan Day 4 – Currency (Website) Question: “How many Afghan Afghanis do we need to reach one US dollar? “

27. Example - Afghanistan Day 4 – Currency (Website)

28. Example - Afghanistan Day 5 – Music (Video)

29. Afghanistan wikispace page File File Website Video This website contains good info but no pictures Video Website Website Video

30. Kenya Wikispace page File Video Website File Video Video Video

31. Wikispace will make coordination easier and faster • Instantaneous sharing: Resources can be added or deleted at any time and instantly shared by users, ievideos and/or websites can be added and shared with the team the night before… allows for last minute editing • Add to the page at your convenience as your schedule allows

32. A Few Questions remain • App based or Windows based? Would we rather have all our presentation materials built around iPad apps? (instead of windows) Will presenters be using an ipad? • Scheduling: Are Gatherings Cancelled on Half-days? What about classes going on Fieldtrips early in morning?

33. Example Only: “Red Cedar Message to Parents from the Principal” “Dear Red Cedar Families: This year we have implemented an exciting new start to the school day. When the children enter our doors at 8:40 a.m. they go directly to their coatrooms or lockers where they leave their coats and backpacks and wait for their teachers. Then at 8:45 a.m. students follow their teachers into the gym for our Daily Morning Celebration! “With all 250+ children gathered around the perimeter of the gym, we begin by offering American students the opportunity to say the Pledge of Allegiance. We then highlight one of the flags from another country, representing some of our children at Red Cedar School. (A different flag is featured each week.) We all listen to that country’s anthem before greeting each other by saying “hello” in that language. “ “Daily announcements, the recognition of birthdays and the singing of a beautiful “Peace Pledge” all take place prior to the close of our celebration. “ “Parents wishing to join us for this unique morning experience are welcome to do so! Once the children have entered the building and gone to their classrooms, parents may go directly to the gym and wait for us there.” “Do keep in mind that this special Morning Celebration lasts only 10-15 minutes, so children should arrive promptly to school (no later than 8:40), so they don’t miss a minute of it!”