I can't get enough of the Ghanaian handshake! Besides that is an authentic Ghanaian greeting I saw while on my trip every day, it is just plain fun! You can see a video of the handshake HERE. As I wrote in an earlier blog post, 'Contemplating Culture,' this is one of those customs that I wish we could adopt in the United States. Oh wait! I am! In my classroom!
While on the 11 hour flight from Accra to New York, I thought immensely about what I was going to do in the classroom the first day back. For hours, I drew a total blank. I just had no idea how it was going to be possible to convey to my students all that I learned, experienced, and felt while on the trip, all in one day. I asked myself, "What is the one most important thing I learned on my trip that I could share with my students, and something that might impact them?" I had decided that it was the idea, connection is everything. To understand how that idea impacted my trip so much, please head to my post "Yes, I've been to Ghana." Connection leads to understanding, empathy, acceptance, and peace, all while still allowing an individual to maintain his or her sense of self. Connection breaks down walls, stereotypes, misperceptions, misunderstandings and builds up love. I can't think of a single student (or any person for that matter!) that can't tolerate a little more love and connection in their lives. So, my only solid concrete plan on day one back in the classroom was to teach the Ghanaian handshake, and talk about why it was so important to me. And so I did. The students just love it! Now it is something I start each day with. I greet each student at the door with the Ghanaian handshake, and it has turned into an unavoidable moment of connection between myself and every student I teach every day. It's great! I want to be able to give a personal hello to each student every day. Before I begin class, the students must also handshake-it-up with three to five other students, every single day. We are working hard on being sure to handshake with people other than just friends. It's a fun way to break the ice and connect with others while also building a sense of unity. Although I was only in Ghana for two weeks, I hope to Ghanaian handshake my way through the rest of my teaching career, connecting with each student along the way.
1 Comment
|
AuthorI am a teacher, traveler, and life-long learner. I connect students and teachers to globally -focused learning. I believe students crave to understand and interact with the world. I have a Michigan home, and a global heart. Archives
August 2018
Categories
All
|