Building Belonging With Cultural Ambassadors
By asking families to visit the classroom to share their language and traditions, this school creates a sense of community and connection for all students.
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Go to My Saved Content.Whiting Lane Elementary School, in West Hartford, Connecticut, is a school that celebrates the diversity of their students—more than 30 different languages are spoken in the building—through cultural ambassadors. The program, developed by an English as a Second Language (ESOL) teacher, is one way they show their commitment to inclusivity—and to making all families feel like they belong. Family members serving as cultural ambassadors are invited to come into the classroom, read a book in their native language, and share aspects of their home culture with the class. Students compare elements of the language with English and are given space to ask lots of questions. As a result, classmates develop a deeper knowledge and appreciation of cultures around the world, and families feel truly welcomed by the school community.