S6.E11 - What do Classroom Celebrations Reveal About Culture, Belonging, and Equity?

As we enter the winter holiday season — a time filled with classroom parties, family gatherings, cultural traditions, and moments of both joy and complexity — this new series, The Culture of Celebration, invites educators to pause and ask a powerful question:What are we really celebrating?In this first episode, Jocelynn unpacks the deeper meaning behind celebration, explores the connection between culture and recognition, and models how cultural competence helps us design celebrations that are equitable, authentic, and inclusive for every student.Whether you love the holidays, find this season heavy, or fall somewhere in between, this episode offers grounding, compassion, and practical insight for educators navigating November and December with intention.In this episode we explore:Why this episode matters during Thanksgiving week and the National Day of MourningHow the holidays can bring both joy and tension for students and familiesThe difference between celebration as performance and celebration as meaningHow celebrations tell a story about what a community valuesA clear, accessible definitionWhy cultural competence is a mindset shift, not a checklistHow our own cultural lens shapes classroom celebrationsHow her approach to holiday travel and traditions transformedMoving from “this is how we’ve always done it” to “what do we actually need right now?”The role that grief, motherhood, and healing played in redefining celebrationHow to use the AnchorED principles (Agency, Norms, Community, Hope, Opportunity, Reflection, Empowerment, Data-Informed Practice) to evaluate classroom and school celebrations:Opportunity: Who gets seen?Agency: Who gets to choose how they are celebrated?Norms: What values guide recognition?Community: Whose stories are centered?Hope + Empowerment: Are we uplifting what is possible?Reflection: What messages are we sending?Themes inspired by Oriah Mountain Dreamer’s “The Invitation”Why authentic celebration centers truth, humanity, and belongingHow to move beyond calendar-based celebrations to culture-based celebrationsReflection Questions:Use these alone, with a colleague, or in a team meeting:What do our current classroom or school celebrations communicate about what we value?Whose traditions, identities, or stories are highlighted? Whose are overlooked?How might we invite more student agency into celebration?What would celebration look like if it honored each student’s story, comfort, and cultural lens?Where can we shift from performance to authenticity?Related Resources:If this episode inspires you to rethink celebration in your classroom, check out Jocelynn’s Focus Word Reflection Kit — a set of worksheets and slides designed to help you and your students enter the new year with intention, authenticity, and joy.Available in the Virtual Learning Library and Teachers Pay Teachers store.Connect:Instagram: @customteachingsolutionsLinkedIn: Jocelynn HubbardWebsite: customteachingsolutions.com