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  • Our Work
    • Cambridge OST Coalition
    • Communities of Practice
    • Elementary Network >
      • Elementary Network Coordinator
    • Quality Improvement System
    • Training >
      • Training On Your Own Time
    • OST Symposium
    • Middle School Network
    • OST-School Partnerships
    • Stories of Family Partnership
  • News & Events
    • Upcoming Training
    • Upcoming Communities of Practice
    • MSN Updates
    • Newsletters
    • Events Calendar
  • Stories of Family Partnership
    • Common Ground
    • Parent Voices
    • Showing Them that They Matter
    • Showing us What they Know
    • Empathizing with Parents
    • Building Dialogue
    • Creating a Welcoming Culture
    • Celebrating Families
  • Resources
    • OST FAQ & COVID-19 Resources
    • 5 Key Elements for Successful Virtual OST Programming
    • Blog
    • How to Write a Blog Post for AFCOST
    • Publications
    • Professional Development Reports
    • Find It Cambridge
    • STEAM@Home
  • About Us
    • Mission and Beliefs
    • Our Ways of Being
    • History
    • Organizational Structure
    • Who we are
    • Contact
    • Work with us

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Finding Common Ground Across Cultures


In this story, Nelhai, a teacher in the King Open Extended Day program, shares an account of her journey working to build bridges of cultural understanding with the families of the children in her program. Reflecting on your own biases and assumptions is a key first step in this process, she explains. Through Nelhai's story we learn that putting in the time and effort to find common ground with families can improve relationships with them and, ultimately, improve outcomes for children.

Guiding Questions

  • How can we ask parents about their experiences and expectations for their children and for us? How can we learn about their hopes and dreams for their children?
  • How can we work with children and families to create a shared common culture in our classrooms based on equity, inclusiveness and justice?
  • How can we find common ground with families and explore our common values? What do we do when our values and families' values don't align?

Our Takeaway

  • Remember who the children's first teachers are. Learn about where the children and families are coming from.
    Find common ground and build community together. ​

Cambridge Agenda for Children out-of-school time

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