understanding and appreciating cultural differences:

1. Understanding and Appreciating Cultural Differences: Role of the Teacher versus Role of the Family By: Tonisha Cook EDCI 6100 November 2, 2006

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3. 3 Objectives Identify the importance of appreciating cultural differences within racial and ethnic groups. Identify the correlation between teacher preparation and student achievement when dealing with cultural differences. Identify the correlation between family involvement and student achievement. Outline methods that can be implemented in order to have a positive impact on student achievement.

4. 4 The importance of appreciating cultural differences within racial and ethnic groups. Culture is defined as the values, traditions, norms, customs, arts, history, folklore, and other institutions shared by a group of people. Culture shapes how people see their world and structure their community and family life. A person's cultural affiliation often determines the person's values and attitudes about disasters and ways to cope and heal.For this reason, it is important for everyone to respect each other�s differences and similarities.

5. 5 The correlation between teacher preparation and student achievement when dealing with cultural differences. The relationship between teacher preparation and student achievement is vital to the educational process. Teacher educators are being challenged to prepare teacher candidates for work with diverse students. The lack of the understanding of diversity issues can negatively affect the educational success of their students (Davis 2005).

6. 6 The correlation between teacher preparation and student achievement when dealing with cultural differences (cont.) Recognizing these differences and similarities can be especially important when helping children to recover from a disaster. To be effective in the classroom, it is helpful to learn the skills that enable you to interact with persons of other cultures in ways that demonstrate knowledge, respect, and sensitivity.

7. 7 The correlation between family involvement and student achievement. As a result of the �No child left behind� legislation, school districts have been under increasing pressure to insure that students perform on their respected grade level. Although parents attend meetings, their awareness of the actual process is limited. This suggests that additional parental education is needed in order for parents to become actively involved in their child�s educational needs (Lee-Tarver 2006).

8. 8 The correlation between family involvement and student achievement (cont.) �One of the factors that appear to contribute to early student success in school is the acquisition of the intellectual tools and social skills needed to function effectively in a school environment prior to the student's entry into school. In the eyes of many urban educators, the knowledge that so many children come from environments in which these tools and skills are not taught indicates that parents have little interest in the education of their children. Parents do care about their children, and schools in today's society need to take the lead in fostering partnerships with them�.

9. 9 Methods that can be implemented in order to have a positive impact on student achievement. Teachers who use methods such as understanding multicultural issues, support teams, and the use of technology, exert a potent influence over the achievement of all students; low-income and culturally diverse students in particular (Tucker 2005).

10. 10 Methods that can be implemented in order to have a positive impact on student achievement (cont.) Studying children�s literature from different perspectives can be a tool for developing techniques to help understand multicultural issues. There are four categories: Racism Poverty Gender and Equality Religious Beliefs

11. 11 Methods that can be implemented in order to have a positive impact on student achievement (cont.) Support teams aid in designing alternative strategies to assist students at risk as well as provide assistance to students with disabilities.

12. 12 Methods that can be implemented in order to have a positive impact on student achievement (cont.) The use of technology in schools and at home will help improve student�s achievement. It opens doors to information and resources that are not readily available in the classroom.

13. 13 Annotated Websites and Print Resources Adoption.com http://library.adoption.com/resources-and-information/tips-for-teachers-the-role-of-culture-in-helping-children-recover-from-a-disaster/article/3608/1.html You can find information about adoption procedures as well as tips for parents and teachers on how to deal with issues. Learning Point Associates http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/leadrshp/le0bam.htm This website is a source of high-quality educational resources. PTO Today http://www.ptotoday.com/parentinvolvement/ This website provides ideas, insight, and inspiration for all parent groups. The Talking Page Literacy Organization http://talkingpage.org/artic009.html This website provides research information related to early childhood .

14. 14 Annotated Websites and Print Resources (cont.) SchwabLearning.org http://www.schwablearning.org/articles.asp?r=790 This website is a parents guide to helping kids with learning disabilities. Promoting teacher efficacy for working with culturally diverse students. C. M. Tucker This is an article about teachers� beliefs about their own ability to bring about change in their students. A survey of teachers' perceptions of the function and purpose of student support teams. A. Lee-Tarver All of these websites and articles are a good source of information for anyone who interacts with children.

15. 15 Conclusion As stated earlier, the teacher must be able to adapt and teach to a multi-cultured group of students. If teachers keep and open mind and implement the three methods discussed, they will be well prepared for the multicultural audience they face in today�s society. Parents must also get more involved with their child�s learning process and school activities. Parents need to know what the child is learning in school so that they can continue teaching the information at home.

16. 16 Reference Bamburg, J.D. (1994). NCREL Monograph: Raising expectations to improve student learning. Retrieved from NCREL's Urban Education Program. Web site: http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/leadrshp/le0bam.htm Davis, K. L., et. al. (2005). Experiencing diversity through children's multicultural literature. Kappa Delta Pi Record, (41)4, 176-9 Lee-Tarver, A. (2006). A survey of teachers' perceptions of the function and purpose of student support teams. Education (Chula Vista, Calif.), (126)3, 525-33 Tips for teachers: The role of culture in helping children recover from a disaster. Web site: http://library.adoption.com/resources-and-information/tips-for-teachers-the-role-of-culture-in-helping-children-recover-from-a-disaster/article/3608/1.html Tucker, C. M., et. al. (2005). Promoting teacher efficacy for working with culturally diverse students. Preventing School Failure, (50)1, 29-34