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Essays on importance of cultural awareness
Adapting to the changes brought by multicultural education
Essays on importance of cultural awareness
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The American population is drastically changing over time. The census predicts that by around 2020, “more than half of the nation 's children are expected to be part of a minority race or ethnic group," Minorities will eventually be the majority! (Chappel, 2015). Since the United States is consider the world’s most culturally diverse country, the schools have transitioned to a highly diverse population of students. Thus, the education system has an important task to undertake; they must ensure that the early childhood educators are culturally competent; to embrace a culturally diverse program, and practices in which the new generation of students can greatly benefit from.
So, why is multicultural education so important in today’s society?
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There is an interconnection between Culturally Relevant Methods, Anti-Bias Curriculum, Diverse Family Structures, and Multicultural education that constructs cultural competence. Multicultural education can be taught to the students by developing a culturally relevant methods, Anti-Bias Curriculum, and Diverse Family Structures.
Teacher’s priority is to develop culturally relevant methods, where they will have the opportunity to learn about the student’s family’s background, culture, religion, priorities etc. Educators can build a strong relationship with the student, and their families; while promoting parent involvement in the classroom; in order for the parents to witness their children’s academic progress in a multicultural classroom. The students will feel welcomed, and accepted and be prone to a positive academic
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The Anti-bias curriculum is design to express diversity in the early childhood classroom. Educators can teach multicultural education, by providing multicultural posters around the classroom, as well as books, music, toys, and activities which encourages the children to explore different cultures. The Anti-bias curriculum not only promote multicultural education, but it also provides the students the opportunity to explore concrete interactive experiences with students from different cultures (Tarman, 2011).
Last, is Diverse family structure; it is another important component linked to multicultural education. If educators want to promote multicultural education in their classroom, they must keep in mind the difference between all the families. Each student comes from families who acquire different religion, culture, beliefs etc.; therefore, teachers must be understanding of each family’s needs, in order to promote multicultural education. It is imperative to develop a stable, environment for the student; where school would be known as their second home (Curenton,
Robles de Melendez, W. (2010). Teaching Young Children in Multicultural Classrooms: Issues, Concepts, and Strategies (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.
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.
Social identities are important to consider while educating an anti-bias classroom. Anyone can learn to be a skilled teacher who makes a point to be anti-bias. What many people don’t understand, is that even if you think you are completely un-bias, some of our schemas are learned when you are very young.
Gichuru, M., Riley, J. G., Robertson, J., & Park, M. (2015). Perceptions of Head Start Teachers about Culturally Relevant Practice. Multicultural Education, 22(2), 46-50.
Moreover, culturally responsive teaching practice demonstrates a clear feature since it contains guidelines that have a connection to different styles of teaching. It uses strategies that fit and matches with the teaching style that the teacher uses. Indeed, culturally responsive teaching practice is crucial because it plays a vital role in appreciating their culture and the cultural heritage of others. Besides, it includes resources, materials in all subjects, multicultural information disseminated in schools. Therefore, culturally responsive teaching practices consider the cultural customs of every student, thus it ensures that the content is worthy and fits in all cultures of the students. It is crucial to note that culturally responsive teaching practices involves considering the environment of the classroom. Activities would
It is an educator’s job to embrace and acknowledge the rich diversity all the children collectively bring to the classroom, while understanding that the children do not need to be treated the same because they are not the same as each other, but be respected and accepted for their differences. Inclusion is an essential; plank in the broad platform of social justice and raising achievement is a goal which all educators much hold for their pupils, It is important that early year professionals are aware of all different ways in which society constructs (Neaum 2010) this involves taking account children’s social cultural and linguistic diversity and including learning style, family circumstances, location in curriculum decision making process so all children are recognised and valued (Nutbrown and Clough 2006)
The world is made up of many different types of people, each one having his or her cultural background. Over the years, the United States has become increasingly populated with cultural diversity. This influx has prompted school administrators to recognize the need to incorporate multicultural programs into their school environment including classroom settings, school wide activities, and curriculum as it becomes more evident that the benefits of teaching cultural diversity within the school setting will positively influence our communities, and ultimately the entire nation’s future. The purpose of this paper is to share the pros and cons of multicultural education in the classroom. Additionally, I will express my views compared to those in the reading requirements for this assignment, as well as, new knowledge obtained through the research. Finally, I will share situations where I was challenged introducing a multicultural issue during a class.
Perhaps the most meaningful way to come to grips with the rather expansive scope of approaches and practices that make up the notion of “multicultural education” is to consider some of the various reasons that educators incorporate those approaches into their classrooms. While we will save the most important motivation—increasing instructional effectiveness—for last, here we will briefly review some of other the reasons that teachers incorporate multicultural education into their
Cultural diversity has been a major issue of concern for several decades, and it has affected institutions of learning, where facilitators have to balance the family and school involvement in enhancing learning. Establishing a meaningful environment for students with diverse backgrounds enhances positive performance in their academic, personal, and professional objectives. A healthy relationship with family members involves identifying the needs of each family’s cultural stand; this is because a culture may play a major role in defining a family’s responsiveness to a school’s involvement. The globalization aspect has facilitated the creation of a multicultural society, and hence the need for an education system that addresses the need to foster a conducive environment for learning. It is imperative to define the essence of family involvement and collaboration in schools’ activities, especially where cultural diversity is concerned.
Robinson, K., & Diaz, C. J. (2006). Diversity and Difference in Early Childhood Education: McGraw-Hill Companies,Incorporated.
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 gaining a high level of respect for those unlike them, preferably than a judgmental and prejudiced view.
The world is currently undergoing a cultural change, and we live in an increasingly diverse society. This change is not only affect the people in the community but also affect the way education is viewed. Teaching diversity in the classroom and focusing multicultural activities in the programs can help improve positive social behavior in children. There is no question that the education must be prepared to embrace the diversity and to teach an increasingly diverse population of young children.
The concepts included in providing a more diverse, multicultural education are requiring teachers to review their own issues and prejudices while expanding their knowledge of the many cultures that make up the classroom. These efforts help the educator recognize the various individual and cultural differences of each student, as well as gain an understanding on how these differences impact the learning process. The purpose of this paper is to reflect upon individual and cultural difference research and why diverse students struggle to succeed in school. Furthermore, I will share some instructional approaches I could implement in the classroom to accommodate diverse students. Finally, I will discuss the responsibility of educators in addressing the issue of how our o...
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
According to David O. McKay (2013), multicultural education is constructed to prepare pupils for citizenship in a democratic society by facilitating them to take into account the needs of all individuals; it shed light on how issues of language, ethnicity, culture, religion race, abilities/disabilities, and gender are entwined with educational content and processes. A multicultural curriculum is needed to accommodate for diverse learning and teaching styles of facilitators and pupils and to expose biases, stereotypes, and policies that can restrict achievement. What is more, a multicultural curriculum is also needed to help pupils, faculty, and staff become advocates for multicultural awareness, to ensure that content is fair, accurate, and inclusive, and to prepare pupils for diverse workplaces and multicultural environments. In writing this paper, the author will describe key issues of culturally diverse students, recommend a curriculum approach to address the issues, and discuss the challenges and benefits expected. In addition, she will describe three key issues of male and female students recommend a curriculum approach to address the issues, and discuss the challenges and benefits expected. In closing, she will describe three key issues of students with disabilities, who are mainstreamed, recommend a curriculum approach to address the issues, and discuss the challenges and benefits expected.