Cultural Diversity in Your Homeschool Curriculum

How to Include Cultural Diversity in Your Homeschool Curriculum

Sometime ago a fellow homeschool Mom asked a great question: how do I include culturally diverse material in my homeschool?  This can be very challenging if you don’t know where to start.

We have been on this journey for approx. 7 years, so I’m not an expert by any stretch of the imagination. We are somewhat an eclectic homeschooling family. Although we are a black homeschooling family, I found that I needed to make a concerted effort to seek out and include material that would help my children to see, hear and understand a strong positive narrative and image. As a Christian Mom I felt I would be negligent if I failed to prepare them for life in this aspect. That being said, this is just a part of our routine and we cover many other subjects and topics in our course of study.

I like to read and include books that are written by the cultural group that we’re studying. Who better to tell their story than they themselves? Other perspectives are definitely included, but its really important for people to be allowed to their own story.

Scheduling time:  

You can schedule time on a regular basis to explore good books and stories written by the specific cultural group your interested in.

I’ve incorporated slotted time in my kids schedule that occurs on a rotational basis,  where we focus on what I call “Our History, Our Culture”. During this time, we select and use books that serve as our spine for learning, and research, arts and craft, narration and story telling.

My Homeschool Set up

Preschooler/ nursery school: I use all sorts of books and ensure to include those with visual representations of my little one. I seek out culturally specific picture books, like Ackee, Breadfruit, Callaloo written by Valerie Bloom which in gives an introduction to Caribbean food and the alphabet, or the book Ada Twist Scientist that features a curious little girl who happens to be the same shade as my daughter.

Free play includes dolls of various shades and representing different ethnicities.

I try not to be too intentional at this age, but just providing quality things for exploration and play.

Primary School: Mainly picture books, short videos and presentations, read-aloud, art projects ie

The Patchwork Path (a quilt map to freedom) written by Betty Stroud inspired us to create our own paper patchwork using different patterns and symbols.

Middle school:  We use picture books, documentaries, novels (age appropriate) and biographies as spines that lead into discussion, research, projects and narration activities.

Highschool: We use the Norton Anthology of African American Literature as our main source and various novels such as: Othello. To Kill a Mocking Bird, Souls of Black Folks, Things Fall Apart.  We explore the arts using Spoken Word videos, or listening to oral stories sourced online and plays for enhanced learning.  Activities usually include research, essay writing or dramatic performance.

Types of Sources used:

·        Picture books, board books and novels

·        Anthologies

·        You Tube interview and review

·        Classical Literature (ie the Conte of Monte Cristo or various works of Langston Hughes)

How I choose my books:

·        My christian worldview ultimately guides my book choices for any subject.

·        Relation to topics I want to cover or include in their Homeschool repertoire

·      The art work is another criteria. How the specific culture is depicted is important to me.

·        Readability based on my children’s age and interest

Building Your Library and Resources:

·        Public Libraries (borrow or buy)

·        Thrift stores

·        Used book store

·        Homeschool book sales

·        Amazon

**About 97% of my books are sourced through thrifting.

Organizing an Approach:

1.     Timeline approach:  starting at the beginning of time or earliest point in history or based on what time period you’re presently covering in your other history subjects

2.     Geographical region: The Caribbean, North America – Canada/ USA, Africa, Europe, Australia etc...

3.     Topical: famous people, key historical figures, lesser-known people, Emancipation, Post slavery, Series of Firsts (ie first black surgeon, first black inventor), The role of faith in Black identity

4.     Start where your heart desires or your children’s interest lies.

Tips:

·        Go slow and enjoy the journey, allow it to be organic and to inspire deeper interest

·        Read-Aloud’s are great for the whole family

·        Picture books are great for any age (can be used as a launching point (trigger good questions) or just for simple enjoyment for all)

·        Don’t be afraid to tackle the ugly stuff (that’s how we learn and grow, take time to explain and look for resources if you have to)

·        Gage your children’s interest and level of maturity

Suggestions for Exploring:

Current Events

What is the African Diaspora?

Sports and the African Diaspora

Depiction of Black people in Media (or another ethnicity)

The Cost or benefits of Migration

Black Contributions to the Arts and music. (Or other ethnicity)

Activism

Food recipes and influences by the African Diaspora

Rooted here, there and everywhere – Black People Around the World

… just a few ideas!

Finally, at the end of the day, you will need to choose the approach that works best for you and family. The goal is to deepen, broaden and diversify our homeschool so that our children are discerning and empowered.

Blessings