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Teaching Tolerance - Diversity, Equity and Justice

Teaching Tolerance - Diversity, Equity and Justice
Educators today hear a lot about gaps in education – achievement gaps, funding gaps, school-readiness gaps. Still, there's another gap that often goes unexamined: the cultural gap between students and teachers. "A bunch of teachers here, they think they know what's wrong with us. But they don't know. If people want to help us, they have to see what we've been through, not from what their own experiences tell them." – Billie, a Lakota teen speaking of the teachers at her high school Most of us in the education profession are white, middle-class, monolingual-English speakers. But the truth is: culture matters. Culture isn't just a list of holidays or shared recipes, religious traditions, or language; it is a lived experience unique to each individual. Hear elementary school teacher, Diane Holtam, speak about how she works with other teachers to disabuse stereotypic notions of Asian American students' abilities. Look For: Go Deeper: You're Asian, How Could You Fail at Math? Reflect On: Look for: Related:  Sociocultural

The Cultural Identity of Students: What Teachers Should Know - Redorbit September 21, 2005 by Sam Savage Every student conies to the classroom with a set of behaviors and characteristics that makes him or her unique and that will affect his or her academic achievement. Banks and Banks (2005, 13) noted, "Behavior is shaped by group norms ... the group equips individuals with the behavior patterns they need in order to adapt." Furthermore, students identify with certain groups to experience a feeling of belonging. Campbell (2004) stated that students of all ages have a strong need to belong to groups, because groups provide a source of motivation. Students may identity with certain groups because of race, social class, or religion. Student Self-Concept The set of beliefs that individuals hold about themselves is termed self-concept or self-image (Bennett 2003). As students develop their selfconcept during adolescence, they also develop a sense of cultural identity. School Environment Multicultural Teaching What is it that teachers should know? References Banks, J.

Understanding how learners succeed and struggle across time, space, and social groups | Current Research It is not uncommon for children to thrive in one learning context but struggle in another. What accounts for such differences? The authors Bell, Tzou, Bricker, and Baines argue that we lack theory and research for understanding how people do and do not experience meaningful learning across formal and informal settings, over long time periods, and through various cultural value systems. Building on theories describing learning as social and situated (see Theoretical Basis below) as well as on their eight years of ethnographic research, the authors introduce “cultural learning pathways” as a framework for making sense of how people learn across time, spaces, and cultural value systems. This theory describes how pathways begin at a point of interest. The authors use the theory of cultural learning pathways in three case studies. Theoretical Basis The cultural learning pathways theory builds on the work of Banks et al. (2007) describing learning as:

Increasing Equity for All Students When I served as a mentor to new teachers, one of the greatest challenges I faced was trying to help other white teachers recognize and adapt to cultural differences in their new classrooms. This was especially difficult because for many white educators, race is an uncomfortable subject they’d rather not acknowledge. I’ve heard several white educators say, “I treat all my kids the same.” While this may come from a sincere place of wanting to promote equality, a color-blind perspective can diminish and undermine a child’s culture and identity and the validity of painful experiences they may have had with racism and bias. Likewise, refusing to discuss race frankly and openly can stymie a school’s growth and keep us from building a shared understanding of how our assumptions might advantage some students over others. Here are some steps leaders might take toward reducing bias in their schools and increasing equity to meet the needs of all students. Let the Data Be Your Guide

Diversity Printables, Lessons, and Resources For Teachers Teach students to respect differences among people in their community and around the world by using the resources below for elementary, intermediate, or high school students. You'll find printables that promote tolerance and understanding, and lessons about immigrant families. Art, reading, and writing activities will help familiarize students with the history and traditions of different religions and ethnic groups. Printables, Grades K-5 Use these printables to teach your students about the recipes, art and history of other cultures. Printables, Grades 6-12 Create in-depth discussions about the importance of diversity with these printables for grades 6-12. Lesson Plans Our lesson plans will help you begin to discuss diversity with your students. Art, Music, Drama, & Diversity Connected Diversity is celebrated through many different forms, such as art and music. Immigration Resources Immigration is a significant part of U.S. culture and history. Literature & Diversity Connected

The Influence of Environment - The Science of Adolescent Risk-Taking: Workshop Report - NCBI Bookshelf (Teacher Read) How Cultural Differences Influence Adolescent Development The parents of adolescents have the main responsibility of teaching children ethics. Scholars of adolescent behavior and authors of "Family and Peer Influences on Adolescent Behavior and Risk-Taking," Nancy Gonzales and Kenneth Dodge, note that while much of adolescent development happens outside the home, the culture of the family instills upon children their developmental roots. Parents coming from difference cultures emphasize different value sets and therefore teach their children different moral standards. For example, because honesty is an important concept in the West, American parents urge their children not to lie, even in situations where lying would be beneficial.

Sociocultural Factors and School Engagement among African American Youth: The Roles of Racial Discrimination, Racial Socialization and Ethnic Identity- Teacher Read Best Middle School Books, As Chosen by Teachers 9. The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry Jonas lives in a society in which the government controls everything: childbearing, careers, marriages. His utopia has sacrificed emotions and uniqueness in favor of a safe and predictable life. When Jonas learns that life could be different, he can never turn back to the life he’s always known. 10. Ponyboy and his brothers, Darry and Sodapop have a tough life. 11. On a trip to visit her mother’s grave, Sal learns about herself and her family. 12. Is eternal life really that wonderful? 13. Bud Caldwell, is a 10 year old orphan who has grown up in Flint, Michigan. 14. Basketball-loving twins Josh and Jordan find their way through isolation and conflict in this novel in verse by master poet, Kwame Alexander. 15. Melinda Sordino can’t tell anybody why she called the police to break up a party the summer before ninth grade. 16. 17. Parvana is eleven when the Taliban comes to power in Afghanistan. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. Luke Garner’s existence is illegal.

How Does Poverty Influence Learning? Editor's note: This piece was adapted from Turning High-Poverty Schools into High-Performing Schools by William H. Parrett and Kathleen M. Budge. People in poverty are as diverse as people in any other socioeconomic class. They present, like other groups, a wide array of values, beliefs, dispositions, experiences, backgrounds, and life chances. As educators, in order to be responsive to the needs of our students, it is helpful to consider the constraints that poverty often places on people's lives, particularly children's, and how such conditions influence learning and academic achievement. Health and Well-Being These factors are interrelated, and one factor can compound another. Language and Literacy Development Children who live in poverty often come to school behind their more affluent peers in terms of literacy and language development. Material Resources Poverty often places constraints on the family's ability to provide other material resources for their children as well. Mobility

Essay about Cultural Influences on Identity Development The question we are answering is, how does culture influence identity development? By the end of this paper you would be able to conclude that no matter what the surroundings of an individual is it will have some sort of an effect on either the physical or mental aspects of an individual. In order to answer this question we must understand how identity is developed, what culture consists of and concluding how culture influences identity development. First and Foremost in order to know what motivates identity development we must understand how identity is developed. During childhood, self – awareness continues both growing and changing.

Cultural and Societal Influences on Adolescent Development The relationships adolescents have with their peers, family, and members of their social sphere play a vital role in their development. Adolescence is a crucial period in social development, as adolescents can be easily swayed by their close relationships. Research shows there are four main types of relationships that influence an adolescent: parents, peers, community, and society. When children go through puberty in the United States, there is often a significant increase in parent-child conflict and a decrease in cohesive familial bonding. Arguments often concern new issues of control, such as curfew, acceptable clothing, and the right to privacy. Parent-adolescent disagreement also increases as friends demonstrate a greater impact on the child; this is especially true when parents do not approve of new friends' values or behavior. The parent-child relationship When children go through puberty, there is often a significant increase in parent-child conflict. Culture

Resources for Youth in Crisis Suicidal thoughts Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800 273-TALK (8255) – Call anytime if you’re feeling desperate, alone or hopeless. This number will route you to the crisis center nearest you. Military Crisis Line 800 273-8255 (or text 838255) – Crisis support for current or former U.S. military personnel and their families. Befrienders Worldwide – Find a suicide helpline in your country. Mental health support (which can include bullying, cyberbullying, suicidal thoughts and everything below) Boys Town National Hotline 800 448-3000 (serves girls too) – The Boys Town National Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and staffed by specially trained counselors. Covenant House — Nineline 800 999-9999 – A support service and 24-hour helpline for homeless youth. ReachOut 800 448-3000 – Site where teens and young adults can find the information they need, reach out, tell their stories, and voice their opinions “without fear of being judged or being different.” Dating abuse & domestic violence

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