differences 10/05/2008

WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT THIS WEEK 10/05/2008
CULTURAL AND ETHNIC DIFFERENCES we might deal with in students in our classrooms:
Ebonics
Okay for informal papers – reflections, etc
Formal audience – no
English only education
1st generation immigrants – depending on the age of immigration – keep original language
2nd generation turns away from – generations can’t speak to each other
3rd /4th turn back to original language
What do we do with kids whose parents speak another language?
Send home bilingual instructions / notes, etc?
Can be cumbersome if there are a lot of languages in classroom
Purpose of teacher is to EDUCATE!
Use multiple intelligences to help so language isn’t
Visual / hands on
Parents WANT kids to learn English
CULTURAL NORMS
eye contact
silence vs. speaking out
waiting vs. interrupting
public vs. private performance
views about teasing
concept of time
Need to teach punctuality and getting assignments on time – prepare for real world
Hold kids to the bar – scaffolding at the beginning of the year to educate
Assignments – have check points along the way to check progress
family relationships and expectations
COOPERATION VS. COMPETITION:
Why do some teachers encourage competitions?
It can make some kids work harder
Can make it about completion with someone else but with yourself
Are you improving???
Have different kinds of competitions that hit all areas
Group competitions
Weekly improvements
GENDER DIFFERENCES
Physical activity and motor skills
Cognitive and academic abilities – not any difference
Visual-spatial ability
boys tend to have a little bit better spatial ability
Variability in performance – expect same performance
Variability in boys is a large spectrum / girls more in a group
Verbal
Mathematical
Sense of self
Interpersonal behaviors and relationships
Physical aggressions – more boys / testosterone
Relational aggression – more girls
Self-socialization
Message – we may be engaging in a lot of behaviors that discriminate against one gender or another
SOCIOECONOMIC DIFFERENCES -Longer in this situation and earlier exposed – more of a problem
Family income
Parent’s education levels
Parent’s occupations
Low income
Poor
Risks
Nutrition and Health
Housing and length of residency
Exposure to toxins
Social environments
Emotional stress
Backgrounds knowledge
Parental involvement
School Quality
STUDENTS AT RISK
History of academic failure
Older age
Emotional and behavioral problems
Friends
Lack of attachment to school – really important!!!!!
Extra curriculars – keep at risk students in school – YEAH!
Increasing disinvolvement with school


SO WHAT: As a teacher I need to-
Understand my cultural lens
Create a more multicultural Classroom environment
Incorporate values, beliefs and traditions of the students in my classroom
Break down my ethnic stereotypes
Not make an incorrect assumption about the student without knowing what the student’s culture teaches.
Promote interaction
Import cultural diversity
Foster democratic ideals
Have my kids help chose what they want to learn as far as their cultures
Be aware of body language in regards to culture
Respect the student

NOW WHAT:
As a teacher my job is to educate and prepare students to be fully functioning and productive members of society. My personal goals would be to appreciate the uniqueness of each child, to know their strengths and weakness and be able to provide a safe learning environment using multiple teaching methods to reach each student.