A major theme that I found throughout all of the readings was that it is important that educators teach in a culturally responsive way and help to bridge the gap between different cultures and the required curriculum. In the Gay Article, it states that culturally responsive teaching is validating to students. I feel that this is important because everybody, young and old, want to feel validated. When student's individual culture is recognized and celebrated within the classroom, their comfort levels increase and they become more motivated to learn.
In Gallego, one of the things that jumped out at me was "rather than attempt to their students' literacy to vocational aspirations ('You need to learn to read so you can get a good job'), they assert that literacy is a tool of liberation, both personal and cultural" (Gallego et al, 150). We have been talking in class about how it is important to connect school literacy with home literacy. We have discussed that children should know how literacy applies to the real world (careers, bus schedules, maps, menus, etc..). This quote from Gallego forced me to think about it in a different way. I feel that it is important to do both. As educators, we should absolutely connect home literacy with school literacy, but we should also inform students how their literacy will empower them. Being explicit in your instruction and making sure that your students understand why you are doing something is very important because it helps to validate their learning.
2 comments:
I think you make an excellent point about the need to feel validated. Everyone wants to feel accepted and validated in who they are. I want to add that it's not only important to validate children from parallel cultures but it's equally as important when teaching children from the dominant culture not to make them feel guilty about it. Sometimes when I'm reading about heavy issues like race and poverty I feel guilty that I'm a middle class white kid, and I can't relate. I think we need to stress to our middle class white kids that it's okay to be who you are, but also encourage them to see beyond it as well.
I completely agree with teaching students why you are teaching something. I have been asked so many times.."but why do we need to know this?" and it's like well... here this is why. As a teacher you have to be prepared to answer a lot of questions.
We have to encourage students too also look beyond themselves and accept and respect other cultures. If teachers have to do it, our students must have that same respect in order for the classroom community to work.
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