The example of the Persona doll by Dimitrios Chlemes Coordinator Teaching Methods and Tools for Multicultural Education- How do I help my students to approach Diversity The example of the Persona doll by Dimitrios Chlemes Coordinator

Introduction In order to help the students to approach the diversity we can use a wide variety of methods, such as: painting, animation, photos, videos, Role Play, work plans, newspapers, interview, Brainstorming, discussion, questioning, verbal allusion, recreation information, Participatory interactive work in small groups, etc.

In my short presentation I will try to approach the case of the Persona Doll, a teaching methodology is primarily intended for children of the first grade of primary school and older through courses such as: environmental education, health education, theater and art education.

Persona doll

What is the Persona Doll? The Persona dolls are used for role-playing games and helping children to externalize their feelings, develop their vocabulary, and their imagination to solve problematic situations.

Each Persona Doll must have personal identity, like the children in the classroom. To have her own family, to live in this town - village have specific friends. The identity of the doll created when we want something to teach. It must meet the physical characteristics, the identities, the way and the particular conditions of life of children in this group. The creation of the character, but also the appearance of the doll is very important. We need to think what diversity elements exist in our group, so that through the doll, to give us the opportunity to talk about these differences.

For the construction of the doll should include enough information concerning: the name and age, language, family and culture of background, social class belonging and structure of the family, place of residence, the daily habits and preferences (ie preferences in food, and way of preparation), important for this days and celebrations, and her favorite activities, music and television programs.

The teacher gives a name to the doll (avoiding child's name in the order), and recommending the children, explaining that he would speak on its behalf, it is quite shy or too angry to speak. With this practice, put intense reflection points, but later, when longer create bond with the doll, it might be best not to continue to characterize as shy.

We create stories about the doll and the theme that we want to reach We create stories about the doll and the theme that we want to reach. Gradually, the stories grow over imported more details, and stimulate debate. So, the next meeting onwards, and especially where the story had great emotional impact or reflect some difficult personal situation, children start to identify with the doll, which is a favorite and trusted their friend.

The primary goal is the children to name the feelings of the doll, to feel and to advise, helping their own self. Children are happy to give their advice to the dolls through references on their own experiences and actions. And the doll, to be grateful for their advice, strengthens and boosts their self- confidence and also creates them safely within that group.

In conclusion Implementation of Persona Doll helps strengthen children's confidence and self- image and gaining empathy, perception, namely, the concept of diversity. Moreover, it helps to cultivate the spoken word, to act collectively in accordance with the principles of their community and to feel proud of their cultural background. Contributes more to cultivate feelings such as respect and solidarity, and to reduce the gender differences.

The Persona dolls are used in some cases as a tool for language learning. The systematic use of the doll can improve their language level. Most importantly, however, it is respect for the native language of the child.

As adults, we have a responsibility to help children cope with the injustice, inequality and stereotypes in their lives. We need to strengthen their ego to understand that acts as their own, and others, have a big impact on their lives. They need to understand the concepts of justice and injustice, to conquer conflict management skills and problem solving and encouraged to feel proud for families and their habits, without being overcome by feelings of superiority or inferiority.

Children need to feel that love and also to receive the necessary support to cope with difficult life situations, social exclusion, poverty, abuse, intimidation, inequality. The difference of cultures, languages and lifestyles should not be perceived as a threat to the cultural identity of the individual.

It's necessary to revise attitudes about the way of communication between people worldwide. The universality of relations is an undeniable fact and, opposite to this, the presence of individual citizenship and individual group is necessary, so that all can participate in the formulation and testing procedures of this reality.

The Persona Doll approach called to bring about a necessary link: compromise and tolerance that characterize the current reality of universality, that is, the relations of the one and the negative attitude of a substantial percentage of people on the other.

"People will forget what you said or did you, but I will never forget how you made them feel"