Preparing for the new year
"The increasing diversity in our schools, the ongoing demographic changes across the nation and the movement towards globalization dictate that we develop a more in-depth understanding of culture if we want to bring about true understanding among diverse populations."
-- Maria Wilson-Portuondo (EABU, 2012)
Learning about your students culture should start as soon as possible. Not only will it help you in teaching your students, it will also show that you support them. The children will also feel welcomed in the classroom and It may seem like a daunting task, but there are several things you can have your students do in order for you to get a feel of their culture. These can include the students talking, writing, or demonstrating something to the class. Below is an aggregated collection of ideas to help you learn about your students.
Colorin Colorado suggests that educators, "Invite students and/or family members for show-and-tell, story-telling, food tasting, dancing, etc." (2007). This will help be the students be confident about their cultural background and sharing it with others will make their culture feel validated. Other students will also experience the diversity in their classroom, but also find that some of their traditions, foods, dances may have similarities. You could also take this beyond your classroom and have a cultural appreciation day at your school!
Brown Univsersity (2006) also has a outline of different ways educators can understand their class' cultures:
-- Maria Wilson-Portuondo (EABU, 2012)
Learning about your students culture should start as soon as possible. Not only will it help you in teaching your students, it will also show that you support them. The children will also feel welcomed in the classroom and It may seem like a daunting task, but there are several things you can have your students do in order for you to get a feel of their culture. These can include the students talking, writing, or demonstrating something to the class. Below is an aggregated collection of ideas to help you learn about your students.
Colorin Colorado suggests that educators, "Invite students and/or family members for show-and-tell, story-telling, food tasting, dancing, etc." (2007). This will help be the students be confident about their cultural background and sharing it with others will make their culture feel validated. Other students will also experience the diversity in their classroom, but also find that some of their traditions, foods, dances may have similarities. You could also take this beyond your classroom and have a cultural appreciation day at your school!
Brown Univsersity (2006) also has a outline of different ways educators can understand their class' cultures:
- Vary teaching strategies
- Use cooperative learning especially for material new to the students
- Assign independent work after students are familiar with concept
- Use role-playing strategies
- Assign students research projects that focus on issues or concepts that apply to their own community or cultural group
- Provide various options for completing an assignment
- Bridge cultural differences through effective communication
- Teach and talk to students about differences between individuals
- Show how differences among the students make for better learning
- Attend community events of the students and discuss the events with the students
citations
Brown University. (2006). The education alliance: Teaching diverse learners -- culturally relevent teaching. Retrieved from http://www.alliance.brown.edu/tdl/tl-strategies/crt-principles.shtml