Closing The Achievement Gap Essay

1546 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Cultural diversity in the classroom

There are many factors that play a role in the deficit of how well our students of today are doing academically. From environment to the actually teacher plays a crucial roll in filling in the achievement gap. It’s more than just the basic knowledge of knowing how to read, write and do math. A lot of social and emotional problems play a huge role in how successful our students can be. In order to close the achievement gap we have to do more than just teach the basic. In this paper I will discuss best practices that are used in school throughout the country in hopes to close the achievement gap. Race and poverty plays a huge role in closing the achievement gap. “Low achievement and dropping out are problems rooted in social and economic inequality” (Boyd-Zaharias &Pate-Bain, 2008). Closing the achievement gap can …show more content…

Teachers must understand the culture of their students. Being able to understand the cultural differences will help to make a connection of what is being taught. “Helping learners make the link between their culture and the new knowledge and skills they encounter inside school is at the heart of ensuring that all students achieve at high levels” (National Education Association, 2011). Helping our children understand their culture helps them to learn about their roles in the world. Educators are suppose to work with their students to culturally develop their student in a very diverse world. Knowing where they com from and having a solid understanding of their culture will prepare them to be responsible, proud individuals. Its important for teachers and administrators to be culturally diverse so that they are able to connect with their students. When students can make a genuine connection with their teacher, they feel a sense of belonging and they feel that some one cares about them as a person not just a student. Having that sense of feeling that they matter will motivate them to do their best at all

Show More
Related

  • Summary Of Michael W Mcconnell's 'Don' T Neglect The Little Platoon

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    “In addition to giving special attention to the history and current situation of their own nation, [children should] learn a good deal more than they frequently do about the rest of the world in which they live” (6). In this method of education, students will be creating bonds with characteristics of cultures that they personally find good and worthy of upholding. Rather than upholding traditions of their own nation without the respect they where originally meant to give. In this way, you would find differences in other nations cultures and not see them as flaws, but as unique features you can appreciate and strive to

    Read More

  • The Shame of The Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol

    2303 Words  | 5 Pages

    Landsmen, Julie. (2004, November) Closing the Achievement Gap: Confronting the Racism of Low Expectations. Educational Leadership 62 (3).

    Read More

  • Empathy and Cutlural Competence by Michaela Colombo

    697 Words  | 2 Pages

    The article talks about how teachers need to have cultural compatibility. While it might be difficult for some teacher to grasp and understand the different cultures behaviors and beliefs. For those teacher that can are more likely to provide a learning environment that is enriching and responsive to the children’s different cultures. Teacher should have “meaningful interactions with members of other cultures and promote cultural disequilibrium (Colombo, 2005, p. 2).” Activities that have this are more likely to increase cultural competence.

    Read More

  • Achievement Gap

    1449 Words  | 3 Pages

    The achievement gap is defined as the disparity between the performance groups of students, especially groups defined by gender, race/ethnicity, ability and socio-economic status. The achievement gap can be observed through a variety of measures including standardized test scores, grade point averages, drop out rates, college enrollment and completion rates. The Black-White achievement gap is a critical issue in modern society’s education system. Although data surrounding the issue clearly indicates that the racial performance gap exists in areas of standardized tests, graduation rates, dropout rates, and enrollment in continuing education, the causative reasons for the gap are ambiguous—therefore presenting a significant challenge in regard to the most effective way to close the gap. The gap appears before children enter kindergarten and it persists into adulthood (Jencks 1998). Since 1970, the gap has decreased about 40 percent, but has steadily grown since. Theories suggest the Black-White achievement gap is created by a multitude of social, cultural, and economic factors as well as educational opportunities and/or learning experiences. Factors such as biased testing, discrimination by teachers, test anxiety among black students, disparities between blacks and whites in income or family structure, and genetic and cultural differences between blacks and whites have all been evaluated as explanations for the Black-White achievement gap (Farkas 2004). The research that follows will elaborate on these factors as they affect the decline in academic performance of black males—particularly the literacy achievement of black males.

    Read More

  • Closing the Achievement Gap

    2009 Words  | 5 Pages

    In conclusion, the Academic Achievement has been fueled by society's presets, minority students' lack of effort, and the failures of the schooling system in America. There has been some challenging setbacks, but the Gap can be fixed to create a common ground for all prospective members of America's society to excel on equally. By realizing that change can be achieved, there are little to no limits for minority students to create a better mindset towards education. Students, parents, and teachers have to be willing to work together, as well as tackle obstacles upheld by society, and the economic deficiencies that effect schools across America. This will, in turn, take America one step closer to closing the Academic Achievement Gap in America.

    Read More

  • Achievement First: Closing the Black-White Student Achievement Gap

    1707 Words  | 4 Pages

    Achievement First is a charter management organization (CMO) that operates 17 schools from the elementary to the high school level in New York and Connecticut. Achievement First works to close the black-white student achievement gap by providing a high quality education to students in low-performing urban districts, having started initially with Amistad Academy in New Haven and moved into Hartford and Bridgeport, Connecticut, and New York City. Achievement First has been recognized for its impressive results – with two K-8 schools reaching the top four percent among New York City schools on the Department of Education’s Progress Reports in 2008 and with Achievement First’s flagship middle school scoring at the top of the region in reading and writing. They do this by setting high expectations and ambitious goals with a challenging curriculum, developing teachers and school leaders, focusing on data, increasing the length of the school day, and creating a strong school culture. Like other CMOs, a huge challenge for Achievement First is scalability – specifically, recruiting and developing effective leaders and teachers.

    Read More

  • Brendel Elementary School Internal Analysis

    1140 Words  | 3 Pages

    One important lesson of the past decade, however, is just how difficult it is to close longstanding achievement gaps experienced by students from low-income families, students with disabilities, English Learners, and racial and ethnic minorities. We know from research that these gaps often start during the first years of life, even before children enter our education system, with children from low-income families starting kindergarten, on average, 12 to 14 months behind their peers in language development and pre-reading skills.

    Read More

  • Cultural Diversity Reflection Paper

    1623 Words  | 4 Pages

    We need to be aware of the diversity in the classroom. Cultural diversity includes: bi-racial, adoptive, immigrant, gay, and step-families. It is a large majority of the students today even in my generation. Focusing on making a balanced curriculum that exposes the students to all of these different backgrounds is very important. I know that it is likely that a teacher will not be able to cater to every student, but it is important to involve each of them. There is a large percentage of students that have dropped out due to the lack of having a connection with the curriculum. It is frustrating that we are lacking progress in our schools to help these children connect when studies show that each cultural group will soon be equal in numbers. We need to form a better

    Read More

  • Essay On The Achievement Gap In Education

    1027 Words  | 3 Pages

    In society, education can be seen as a foundation for success. Education prepares people for their careers and allows them to contribute to society efficiently. However, there is an achievement gap in education, especially between Hispanics and Blacks. In other words, there is education inequality between these minorities and white students. This achievement gap is a social problem in the education system since this is affecting many schools in the United States. As a response to this social problem, the No Child Left Behind Act was passed to assist in closing this achievement gap by holding schools more accountable for the students’ progress. Unsuccessful, the No Child Left Behind Act was ineffective as a social response since schools were pushed to produce high test scores in order to show a student’s academic progress which in turn, pressured teachers and students even more to do well on these tests.

    Read More

  • Diversity in the Classroom

    899 Words  | 2 Pages

    Diversity in classrooms can open student’s minds to all the world has to offer. At times diversity and understanding of culture, deviant experiences and perspectives can be difficult to fulfill, but with appropriate strategies and resources, it can lead students to gain a high level of respect for those unlike them, preferably from a judgmental and prejudiced view. Diversity has a broad range of spectrums. Students from all across the continent; students from political refugees, indigenous Americans, and immigrants bring their cultural and linguistic skills to American classrooms. Students not only bring their cultural and linguistic skills, but they bring their ethnicity, talents, and skills.

    Read More

  • The Decline of Education Standards in the United States

    1664 Words  | 4 Pages

    Wagner, Tony. The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don't Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need--and What We Can Do about It. New York: Basic, 2010. Print.

    Read More

  • Importance Of Economic Diversity In Higher Education

    950 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is a huge achievement gap between students from different economic background and it is continuously growing. As proof, Professor Reardon, a Stanford University sociologist, conducted a study which showed that the gap of standardized test scores between high-income and low-income students had grown by about 40% in comparison to the 1960s. Colleges are currently facing a growing

    Read More

  • Social Psychology Reflection Paper

    1035 Words  | 3 Pages

    Culture is a powerful influence plays a big role in our interactions. Culture may also impact parenting style and a developing child. Having a strong sense of their own cultural history and the traditions associated with it helps children build a positive cultural identity for themselves. This also supports children’s sense of belonging and, by extension, their mental health and wellbeing. This class is crucial in understanding and working well parents, staff, and children. An effective educator understands how students’ cultures affect their perceptions, self-esteem, values, classroom behavior, and learning. As director, I need to use that understanding to help my students and staff feel welcomed, affirmed, respected, and valued. One way that I can do this is by using multicultural literature, especially children’s literature, to honor students’ culture and foster cross-cultural understanding. If cultural differences are not understood by teachers and management, it can lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings on both sides. It will be my job to do all I can to overcome both language and cultural differences to ensure a positive learning environment for

    Read More

  • Socioeconomic Status And Education Essay

    900 Words  | 2 Pages

    It can be argued that the academic performance of children has nothing to do with their socioeconomic status, because there have been many cases of children from very poor families who have excelled greatly in academics (APA, 2017). Furthermore, many predominantly high-end schools have posted poor results when compared to school with poorer backgrounds. This is despite the fact children from lower socioeconomic classes do not have access to the best forms of learning materials. The high performance of children from poor backgrounds is often attributed to the fact that they are not preoccupied with many activities which would otherwise hinder them from concentrating on their studies (Sacerdote, 2002). Therefore, some believe it is false to say that poor performance is associated with children who come from low socioeconomic classes. Rather, they believe academic achievement is genetic (Sacerdote, 2002).

    Read More

  • Social Inequality In Education Essay

    1193 Words  | 3 Pages

    Numerous studies have found that social inequality starts before a child has begun formal schooling. First documented at the start of kindergarten, these gaps become more widely sufficient as the child moves up in grade level. Achievement gaps show up starting from preschool to college, with all subjects of academic skills and at home literacy. Where the educators and leaders have been trying to terminate the gap during the last several years, it has commonly been failed due to

    Read More

More about Closing The Achievement Gap Essay

Open Document