THE BRIDGE ISSUE 24 - DECEMBER 14, 2025
For years, I celebrated my Western, Christian tradition of Christmas in my classroom and hallways without ever stopping to consider the impact that might have on my students who didn’t celebrate it—or who celebrated something else entirely.
It wasn’t intentional exclusion.
It was comfort. Familiarity. Tradition.
But as I spent more time getting to know my students, I realized that my classroom walls, words, and work told only one story—mine.
And that story wasn’t enough to make every learner feel like they truly belonged.The shift didn’t come from a single “aha” moment or training. It came slowly, through relationships.
The more I listened to my students and their families, the more I wanted our classroom to mirror their experiences, not just mine.
I wanted every learner to see themselves in our space.
So, I began asking.
“What traditions do you celebrate? What does this season mean to you?”
And then, I did something that felt both vulnerable and freeing—I invited them to teach me.
One student shared about Diwali, another brought in a menorah to explain Hanukkah, and another talked about how their family simply focused on kindness and gratitude in December.
Those stories began to fill our classroom with something richer than any garland or glitter could create: connection.
Over time, I learned that inclusion means widening the circle so every tradition can find a place.
Every small action—from the words we use to the decorations we hang and the work we do together—can build belonging.
There’s no limit to celebration.
Words
Language matters. The words we choose either invite or exclude.
Replacing “Christmas party” with “winter celebration” may seem small, but it sends a clear message: this gathering is for everyone.
Our greetings, our lesson titles, even the way we talk about the season can honor difference and signal inclusion.
Try this:
Instead of saying “holiday season,” say “season of light, reflection, and connection.” It acknowledges diverse traditions without assuming sameness.
Walls
What’s on your walls tells students who belongs. I learned to look closely at the visuals around my room—posters, crafts, bulletin boards—and ask, “Who’s represented here?”
Expanding displays to include multiple traditions doesn’t require knowing them all. It requires curiosity and humility.
Invite families to contribute photos or symbols. Use digital slideshows to spotlight celebrations from around the world.
Try this:
Host a “Traditions Gallery Walk.” Each student or family contributes an image, story, or symbol representing what matters most to them during this time of year.
Work
The work we do—our lessons, projects, and conversations—has the power to make belonging real.
Connect literacy, art, and social studies by exploring how people around the world mark time, light, and gratitude. Center universal themes like kindness, generosity, and care.
Try this:
Use Jam Teaching’s guide to design activities where students learn about, not just celebrate, global holidays.
The goal isn’t to “collect” traditions—it’s to understand humanity’s shared rhythms of hope and renewal.
As you head into this season, take a quiet moment to look around your learning space. What story do your words, your walls, and your work tell about who belongs there? If it’s not yet everyone’s story, that’s okay—you can begin now.
Start small. Ask. Listen. Expand.
Because inclusion isn’t a checklist; it’s a mindset.
And when we make space for every learner’s beliefs, values, and ways of celebrating, we remind our students—and ourselves—that education, at its heart, is about connection.
Here’s to a season where belonging shines brighter than any holiday lights—and where celebration truly has no limits.
