A child from Kenya my preparations is helping him to feel welcome.

Welcoming a child from Kenya would be a great cultural experience for all involved. Prior to the child's arrival, I would make it point to learn all that I can about Kenya and of the child's home village. I would read and learn as much as I could about the family and there reason for moving to this country. This may help me to better relate to the family and to be culturally responsive and possibly their emotional "climate, " prior to arriving to the United States.

Within my classroom setting, I would try to find items that are native to his country. I would work hard to boost up my multicultural area of my room as well as weaving additional "Kenya artifacts within the landscape of my classroom. Within the library area, he may find a sisal basket holding some of the books. I would try and have a weaving activity that would have the colors of the flag or a piece of  batik cloth may be stretched within the housekeeping area. I too would try and find some instruments from the region and place them within the music area of the classroom. I too would post pictures that are indicative of the landscape and of the animals that are inhabited in Kenya.

My hope is to have the parents come and visit and stay in the classroom prior to the child's first day of class. With hope of bridging the home and school and keeping in mind how important it is for the family to feel comfortable about sending their child to a new environment. During this visit, I would work hard at trying to establish a relationship with the family, I would too ask them of ways that I could help them to be comfortable with the new change. Being mindful of their culture and customs. My goals to would involve ways to bridge the gap between family and home. I would inevitably ask the family if they would be willing to share with the class common customs, food and parts of the language with the classroom.

My hope too is that the family would be able to bring in a picture of themselves and allow us to hang it up with the other family classroom photos.

I too would want to try and see if the family would be willing to share with us any artifacts from their native country.

Providing materials, and activities and acclimating myself with the Kenya customs and culture would be beneficially to both the children within the classroom, the family and the child. By providing this we are working hard to provide a unified front as well as a comfort level for all involved.