Welcoming a Family from Egypt!

The family that just arrived to my child care center is from Egypt.  I have always wanted to visit Egypt, and I am really excited about getting to learn more about my student and her family as well as their culture.  Considering that I know nothing about life in Egypt, nor the way of the people.  I composed a list of five ways that will help me to get to know my student and her family better.

1. I would send a family questionnaire home with the family before the child's first day of school asking about the culture and expectations of the family.
2. I would research school systems in Egypt to become more familiar with the type of schooling this child has already been exposed to.
3. I would include books about several different countries in the classroom including Egypt.
4. I would ask the parents to come in and sit in during a class session so they can become more familiar with the structure of her new school.
5. I would also ask her parents if they have any concerns or questions for me, and how would they recommend I include their child's culture in the classroom.  

I believe by showing the parents that I care about their input about their child's learning, will show that I value them and I would like to include them in their child's learning.  By asking them how to include their culture in the classroom will hopefully show that I do no want them to conform to the "norm" but rather accept and appreciate their family and their differences.  By communicating with the parents and the child about what they like and things they may dislike,  will help promote a caring and trustworthy relationship among us.