Transcript Creating a Respectful Classroom

Creating a
Respectful Classroom
Module 2:
Cultural Competency
Activity
• Pick 3 groups from the list below and write
them across the top of your paper. Add
the word all or always after each group.
For each group, write the first thing that
comes to your mind.
– Politicians
– Stock Brokers
– Celebrities
– Professional Athletes
– Lawyers
– Fashion Models
What is Culture?
• Culture is a learned, patterned behavioral
response acquired over time that includes
implicit versus explicit beliefs, attitudes,
values, customs, norms, taboos, arts, and
life ways accepted by a community of
individuals. Culture refers to an individual’s
race, class, gender, sexual orientation,
religion, immigration status and age,
among other things.
What is Culture?
The culture of the school community emerges from
the diversity of the members including, but not
limited to:
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Race and ethnicity
Socioeconomic status
Sexual orientation
Religion
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Gender
Immigration status
Disability
Age
What is Culture?
• Groups we are born into
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Race
Linguistic grouping
Religious/spiritual beliefs
Socio-economic status
Ethnicity
Disability
• Groups we join
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Professional organizations
Social organizations
Political affiliations
Religion
Disability advocacy groups
*Cultural groups
are not
necessarily
linked by a
common sense
of ancestry*
How does culture impact our lives?
• Communication style
– Verbal vs non-verbal communication
• Facial expression
• Body language
• Eye contact
– Language usage
• Words and phrases are often used in different
ways even in the same language
– Degree of intensity
• Volume
How does culture impact our lives?
• Attitudes about emotion and personal
issues
– Disclosure of personal information or conflicts
• Who you tell
• Asking for help
– Opinions about types of conflict
• Divorce
– Expression of emotions (ex. Happiness, sadness,
anger)
• Crying
• Hugging
• Time alone
Activity
• A key step in becoming culturally competent is
knowing your own culture
• List different cultural groups that influence your
life
• How do those groups influence you?
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Behavior
Dress
Communication
Diet
Language
What is Cultural Competence?
• The attitudes, knowledge, and skills
necessary for providing quality care to
diverse populations. Competence is an
ongoing process that involves accepting
and respecting differences and not letting
one’s personal beliefs have an undue
influence on those whose worldview is
different from one’s own.
Why is cultural competency in
schools important?
• 4 out of 10 public school students are
racial and ethnic minorities
• By the year 2035 close to 50% of
children in the United States will come
from racial and ethnic minority families,
immigrant families, or both
• 9 out of every 10 teachers are White
and from nonimmigrant backgrounds
Rogers-Sirin & Sirin, 2009
Cultural
Mismatch
Why is cultural competency
in schools important?
• Research suggests that students’
aptitudes, intents or abilities can be
misinterpreted due to differences in
language use and communication style if a
mismatch exists between home culture
and school culture
Rogers-Sirin & Sirin, 2009
Characteristics of a Culturally
Competent Professional
• Values diversity
• Is self reflective
• Weaves cultural knowledge into the
curriculum
• Supports other staff to expand their
cultural competence
Sample Activities for Learning About
Students’ Culture
• Have students write autobiographies about
themselves.
• Have students create a family photo album to
share with class.
• Have students interview one another.
• Seek out a different student each day and get to
know something about him or her.
• Ask students to write about what important
things are currently going on in their lives.
• Display flags around the school/class
representing students’ nationalities
Sample Activities for Learning About
Students’ Culture
• Find out what your students are thinking, feeling,
and doing in their everyday lives.
• Have students write some assignments in their
own/native/home language.
• Have students do written/oral reports on their
favorite person from their own culture
• Include in the school calendar and celebrate
cultural festivities
• Ask students and parents to showcase
traditional clothing or art in a designated area in
the school
Suggestions for Improving
Cultural Competence
• The best way to learn about a culture is to
make friends with others from the culture.
• Educate students about the meaning of
culture, as well as differences and
similarities between cultures
• Be open to learn something new and
different from what you are accustomed to
• Question/challenge stereotypes presented
by colleagues
Suggestions for Improving
Cultural Competence
• Before you have any other conversation
with a parent, find out what is important to
them.
• Familiarize yourself with the cultural
identities of your students.
• Learn basic greetings.
• Stay familiar with current events in key
countries or regions
• Recognize when you are using stereotypes
Group Activity: Design a Culturally
Competent Classroom
Write 1 way you can develop cultural
competence in the classroom through the
areas below:
• Interactions with students
• Interactions with parents
• Environment
• Threading in the curriculum
• Connecting with the community