Noll
As I read this article about two very individual Native American young people I began to question if I allow my students to truly bring their world into the classroom with them. We have multi-cultural bulletin boards and watch videos about children from other cultures but do I use the children’s families and their cultures as a way into the child. I had a student this year and didn’t know that she was of the Jewish faith until April. She was out of school around Spring Break for a week of religious observances and I was shocked when I found out. I thought about all of those important cultural events she had attended and I hadn’t given her the opportunity to share them with her school friends. I talked with the mother later and apologized for not doing a better job in offering her the opportunity to share. She explained that they had always kept a separation between the two since it was different than what most of her friend’s belief systems at school. I was saddened by that. Sometimes I feel that the majority takes for granted our ability to share without worry of what others might feel.
Candy Mooney
Comments (6)
I had a similar situation happen as well this school year. I didn't find out until later in the school year that one of my students was Catholic. I teach in a very rural area, so most of my students attend the local churches around our school, which are Baptist or Methodist. So, I felt bad for assuming that all my students were the same in every way. I want to do a better job of getting to know my students early on next school year.
Posted by Odessa Scales | June 11, 2010 4:16 PM
Posted on June 11, 2010 16:16
I agree with you. I think sometimes we do teach to the mainstream population of our classes. Like the article one thing I have found that I do, is teach my students about major events that happened in different cultures. Usually those events are when a certain group of people have faced oppression. I think that we should teach to more cultures than the majority but I also think we need to try and point out the positive aspects of different cultures and point out the accomplishments that often get overlooked.
Posted by Katie Templeton | June 11, 2010 4:35 PM
Posted on June 11, 2010 16:35
Candy,
I think as teachers we do sometimes forget to pay attention to the differences in our students. I believe that we should make a point to give the students of different cultures the opprotunity to share what make their culture really great. It would open students eyes to different cultures and make them have more respect for cultures different from theirs because they would have a connection.
Angie
Posted by Angie Somers | June 11, 2010 6:01 PM
Posted on June 11, 2010 18:01
I think sometimes as teachers we get so busy with teaching the curriculum that we forget to take the time to get to know our students. I had six hispanic students in my class this year, and I found it difficult to get them to open up and participate in class. I should have asked more questions about their culture, and tried to pull from their prior experiences more.
Posted by Pam Aubuchon | June 11, 2010 6:21 PM
Posted on June 11, 2010 18:21
I can remember back to my first year in the classroom and celebrating Halloween with my students. Mostly all we did was carve jack-o-lanterns and make cookies, but I can remember one of my little Hispanic boys basically shut down and refused to participate. Looking back now I wish that there had been an open door of communication about the beliefs of the child and his family between them and myself.
Posted by Nikki Leggins | June 11, 2010 7:14 PM
Posted on June 11, 2010 19:14
Candy, I try each year to celebrate different holidays from other cultures than our traditional ones within our school. I always have a concern about parent complaints and have had a few children over the years complain to their child but not to me. I think it might be easier if I had a student of that faith or culture to actually share with the class instead of me just presenting information and us researching it.
Posted by christy findley | June 13, 2010 3:21 PM
Posted on June 13, 2010 15:21