A culturally competent teacher should not only understand a student’s views on culture, they should be able to find a way to accept the culture they might be faced with. Acceptance plays a huge role in society, especially in a school setting. In every classroom, there are multiple diverse learners who are willing to learn about sociocultural differences.
The teacher has to respond with an open mind, educate themselves in different diverse cultures and participate in connecting with students on their level. It is important to learn how to make an assessment verses judging students. Being open minded and educated about this issue will give the student’s a fair evaluation. Educating the students on diversity will make everyone comfortable in the classroom setting. By using a variety of assessment techniques, this can be the beginning of a learning environment. It is important for the students to feel comfortable when talking about sociocultural differences.
Things have changed a lot through the years. The students in a classroom are all from diverse backgrounds. They interact with one another and usually welcome the differences between them. The world is changing every day and with its change brings new experiences and lessons. The teacher(s) should learn as much as they can about diversity in a classroom. Not only will the teacher learn from this experience, the students will feel more comfortable with their teacher.
The teacher should be responsive in regards to the linguistic, ethnic and sociocultural characteristics of the students in his or her assessment in a positive way. When a teacher thinks positive, it can only bring goodness to the classroom. By the teacher showing his/her enthusiasm to the students in regards to these areas, the student will feel comfortable with the teacher and the classroom will excel.
While tutoring at Jamesfield Elementary school the other day, the classroom teacher discussed the subject of holidays. Mrs. Thomas began to talk about the Christmas season. Some of the students did not understand the Christmas holiday season; therefore she educated them on the meaning of Christmas. Mrs. Thomas wants all the students to be educated on all of the holidays that each student celebrates. It is a fun thing to do and sometimes stories can be shared about the holiday that could put a smile on every students face. The classroom is all about educating the children and on the other hand making them happy in the long run. This issue on accepting different cultures tied in with the thoughts of Lisa Delpit. This theorist talked about diversity in her article called “The Silenced Dialogue”. Lisa Delpit believed educators should be recognized, be aware of and treasure the cultural strengths that a student brings to a classroom setting. No one has the right to judge anyone else’s culture. People shouldn’t feel their culture is any better than anyone else’s. Different cultures should be accepted by everyone in the classroom including the teacher. Diversity is good for the world. We as upcoming teachers and students need to accept diversity as a whole. Only good things will happen if everyone accepts diversity in the changing world we live in.
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A culturally competent teacher should understand, recognize and participate to increase the marginalized voice in the classroom. Educating the students about diversity brings understanding of social and culteral differences in the classroom.
ReplyDeleteThe five aspects of power in Delpit's "the Silenced Dialogue" are relevant in education and important for teachers to incorporate democratic pedagogy in their classrooms. Issues of power, rules for participating in the 'culture of power', reflection of the rules, explicit rules to make acquiring power easier, and those in power are not usually aware of it.
The teacher needs to address issues of power that arise in the classroom and bring about discussion with democratic pedagogy and participation which initiates critical thinking. The teacher needs to use explicit instructions (direct and 'to-the-point') so those not in the power of culture will understand, instead of 'veiled' commands (vague or indirect meaning) that are only understood within the power of culture. Usually those who 'have' the 'power' do not realize it and are unaware of its existence.
Issues of power in classrooms include the power of the teacher over the students, the power of the textbooks and curriculum to determine their views, the power of a group to determine intelligence, and schooling received to get a job which determines economic status. The rules for participating in the 'power' are communicative or explained in the ways of talking. The rules of the power are reflections of how to acquire the power to become successful. Teachers need to use explicit(direct and easily understood explanations) rules to communicate efficently to break down barriers of communication.
The teacher you spoke of taught diversity about holidays celebrated and shared cultural strengths of a student within the classroom.
"I want the same thing for everyone else's children as I want for mine." This statement reflects liberal middle class values and ensures status quo. The classroom should have diversity and "incorporate strategies appropriate for all the children in its confines." (Delpit) This allows "interaction styles using written language codes that will allow them to be successful in the larger society." (Delpit)
The teacher needs to allow the student to express their own knowledge in their own words and use actual writing to help students understand their own voice in their learning process. The teacher will not use a process method of teaching or authoritarian (displays of power in the classroom)
since children have the right to their own language and culture and to express themselves in their own language style. The teacher needs to recognize if a student needs assistance in areas such as technical writing to empower the student to become successful.
I agree with you Gina that, as you said, only good thing will happen if everyone accepts diversity in the changing world we live in.
Hey Gina! =)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog! I agreed with you about how teachers need to be open about diversity and how we, as teachers, should educate our children on diversity. If we do this at a young age, then our children will grow up having a broader sense of what our world is. In other words, they will know that we are not all the same. Everyone is different and unique in their own different way, and everyone has a different background story. And if we can introduce this to our children at an earlier age, the more open our society will be as a whole. I think is vital because we need to instill in our children now that differences do exist. Also, I do agree with you that our society has changed a lot and there is more acceptance in terms of differences. I feel like to have a classroom where there are many ethnicities present is more socially acceptable than it was years ago. And I do think that is partly the teachers responsibility to accept children's differences and be a leader for her children. If they see that the teacher is okay with things like this then they will be more app to think that it is okay to.
Also, I like how you refered to Delpit with this particular question. I feel like Delpit reallystrives for diversity and the marginalized voices to be heard, and that is what this post is about. This post relates to Delpit so well because you are stating the arguement to fight against speaking out about the differences in our society and to praise everyone for being different, and that is what Delpit fights for in her article too.
I agree with you that the teacher has to go into the classroom with a very open mind. What you expect to happen in the classroom usually doesn’t happen. I also agree that the teacher has to be just as comfortable in the classroom and learn form their experience in order to make their students comfortable and able to learn from them. I love how your teacher taught the students about Christmas even though it is not the holiday that they celebrate or a holiday that they know anything about. I think it is very important for students to be able to explore all cultures and become comfortable to be able to talk about their own and other student’s cultures.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your blog!
Hi Gina,
ReplyDeleteI like your distinction between assessment and judgment. This would be a strong connection to Delpit, whom you mention later in your post. She would want a teacher to assess the needs (particularly the literacy needs) of students who have a background other than that of the dominant culture.
Keep thinking on these things,
Dr. August