IB Learner Profile of the Month: Open-Mindedness
As an IB student, I recognize that all people are different. I listen to the points of view of others and consider many possibilities before making a decision. I respect, appreciate and celebrate the differences that make all people unique.
How can parents help to develop this Open-Minded trait at home?
-
Encourage your child to try new things-new foods, new games and new activities
-
Expose your child to different festivals, celebrations and traditions and be sure to present them in a non-judgmental way.
-
Encourage your child to really listen to others when they speak.
-
Introduce literature about many different cultures into your home library.
-
Goodreads has a list of multicultural children’s novels with parent and teacher reviews.
-
-
The Cooperative Children’s Book Center also has multicultural books broken down by age and reading level (ages 3-13 yrs).
Social Emotional Learning
Throughout Bloomfield Hills School we have placed a great emphasis on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) for our students and staff. The resource for our SEL curriculum development is based on CASEL’s Core Competencies which allow for design opportunities where adults can connect, heal, and build capacity to support students and each other.
March SEL Lessons - Diversity & Inclusion
Throughout the month of March we focus on Social Awareness: The abilities to understand the perspectives of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds, cultures, and contexts. This includes the capacities to feel compassion for others, understand broader historical and social norms for behavior in different settings, and recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
As we focus on diversity and inclusion we deepen our understanding of CASEL’s Core Competencies of Social Awareness (Social Awareness allows us to understand the broader historical and social contexts around the inequities exacerbated by COVID-19 and ongoing individual and institutional impacts of systemic racism.) and Relationship Skills (Relationship Skills are essential to help us build and maintain meaningful connections across race, culture, age, and distance; support one another during collective grief and struggle; and collaboratively find solutions to new obstacles.)