How can we prepare teachers to work with culturally diverse students and their families? What skills should educators develop to do this successfully?
Read an opinion from a Harvard University writer that addresses this topic here: |
Culturally Responsive Teaching |
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Julia Thompson, a practicing teacher for more than 35 years, considers what it means to have a culturally responsive classroom and the steps necessary to create one. Adapted from the 3rd edition of her book The First-Year Teacher’s Survival Guide.
Culturally Responsive Teaching http://www.middleweb.com/9471/culturally-responsive-classrooms/ |
Why is teaching the contributions of all Americans important?
In February, 1926, Dr. Carter D. Woodson, founded Negro History Week. He did this because in most cases, black Americans were not represented in the history books of the day. It was his vision that Negro History Week would be in place only until the contributions of Black Americans were acknowledged and rightfully recorded in school textbooks. In his words:
"We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice." Dr. Woodson believed that students needed to see themselves as a part of history in order to achieve their highest level. He said: "those who have no record of what their forebears have accomplished lose the inspiration which comes from the teaching of biography and history."
We should all strive to handle history this way. Acknowledge and celebrate the accomplishments of all Americans, all the time. Educating Everybody's Children: Diverse Teaching Strategies for Diverse Learners
Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition by Robert W. Cole That minority and low-income children often perform poorly on tests is well known. But the fact that they do so because we systematically expect less from them is not. Most Americans assume that the low achievement of poor and minority children is bound up in the children themselves or their families. "The children don't try." "They have no place to study." "Their parents don't care." "Their culture does not value education." These and other excuses are regularly offered up to explain the achievement gap that separates poor and minority students from other young Americans. But these are red herrings. The fact is that we know how to educate poor and minority children of all kinds—racial, ethnic, and language—to high levels. Some teachers and some entire schools do it every day, year in and year out, with outstanding results. But the nation as a whole has not yet acted on that knowledge. To read more - click here |
Interested in reading about diversity in the classroom? click on the links below.Addressing Diversity in Schools: Culturally Responsive Pedogogy
Managing a Culturally Diverse Classroom Teaching Diverse Students Diversity and Multi Cultural Intro and Links From former U.S. Secretary of education arnie DuncanManaging a Culturally Diverse Classroom, Teaching Tips of the Week, Teaching Today, etc.
Info from Glencoe Education |
Updated by E. Harris