Culture in the Classroom | Learning for Justice
For this discussion, you will use the Culture in the Classroom webpage. On the webpage, read the three scenarios; Overcoming Stereotypes, Culturally Relevant Curriculum, or Honoring Home Languages.
Choose one of the three scenarios listed below to complete your discussion.
In your initial response, you must include the following:
Address all of the questions listed in your scenario details listed below
Include citations from the textbook and the Teaching Tolerance Website
SCENARIO 1: OVERCOMING STEREOTYPES
Watch the video on the website and read the accompanying article, You’re Asian, How Could You Fail at Math? Once you have viewed the resources, respond to the following:
What are some myths about Asian American students in the classroom that Diane speaks about?
How does Diane suggest teachers reach out to Asian students?
How are Asian students and their non-Asian counterparts affected by inappropriate teacher expectations and stereotypes?
Which of the strategies that the authors offer to overcome this “model minority” myth can you use in your classroom?
Share another way to build cohesion and understanding in your classroom or workplace.
SCENARIO 2: CULTURALLY RELEVANT CURRICULUM
Watch the video on the website and read the accompanying article, Learning Lakota.
Once you have viewed the resources, respond to the following:
What does Foster say about including authors of different backgrounds and the message it sends to his students?
How does he think reading authors from different backgrounds will impact his students?
How do the teachers at Todd County High School use culturally appropriate teaching methods to connect with their Lakota students?
How do the students interviewed say this makes them feel about themselves and their studies?
In the future, how can you bridge the disconnect between students’ cultural backgrounds and teachers’ cultural backgrounds?
SCENARIO 3: HONORING HOME LANGUAGES
Watch the video on the website and read the accompanying article, Crossing Borders/Borders Crossing. Once you have viewed the resources, respond to the following:
What techniques did Diane use to help her ELL students learn English more quickly?
How might you replicate some of her strategies in your classroom?
Even if you are a monolingual English speaker, what outreach or other work might you do?
What does the author mean by “multicultural lens,” and what is its importance in working with students/coworkers from backgrounds different from your own?
What role does teacher attitude play in the development of linguistically inclusive classrooms?
How is that attitude conveyed through teacher behavior in the article? In your experience?
