A teacher needs to be able to creatively insert multiculturalism into the curriculum. For example, suppose the class was to analyze a poem. Each student could read the poem and interpret it in how it relates to their own life. As Sleeter and Grant note in chapter 5 of their book, Making Choices for Multicultural Education, it is imperative that a teacher puts the lesson into contexts and make it relative to students' lives, experiences, and ethnic backgrounds. Subsequently continuing the theme of learning about other cultures and sub cultures each student can present their own interpretation of the poem and how it connects to them.
In class today, we spoke a little about creativity and the importance of a teacher being creative in their classroom style and allowing the students to develop their own creative style. As displayed in the youtube video of Ken Robinson and according to John Holt, it is important for teachers to encourage students to... strive for success, develop their own gifts and talents, and not be intimidated by potential failure. In many schools, students are not only steered away from individual expression but they are trained from such an early age that if they do display creativity and if it goes against what the teacher is teaching they will not be successful. We are teaching our students to avoid risks when doing assignments.
Now I ask, why does failure need be such a negative thing? Some of the most successful people in this world have had many failures. A famous quote from Donald Trump, is "I learned that to be successful you must never give up. Every failure is a step on the way to success". This quote shows that it is through the failures in life that we learn and grow and reach ultimate success (however success is personally defined). When a child fails at something instead of punishing him or her, a teacher should take that student aside and see why they did poorly, what was it that they did not understand and how can they do better next time. And on another note, maybe it wasn't even that they didn't understand the topic but perhaps the method in which it was assessed was unsuitable. Prof. KM Smith recalled that she had a student who she allowed to do an art project rather then the final writing assignment critiquing a lesson. The student knew the information and understood it but was unable to articulate it through his writing. I found that very interesting and very comforting to know that there are teachers out there who cater to their student's individual expressive abilities.
I have posted a video link below. I have chosen this video because it highlights a point spoken about in class today. One aspect of multiculturalism is the importance of involvement from the parents, the community and the school. I found it so interesting that principal Perry said that people need to stop blaming the government and start taking responsibility. He explains that communities, parents, schools, and religious leaders need to take responsibility for why kids from low income communities are failing. And as it was mentioned in the Hillard article, students from the "non-white cultures" such as African American or Latino American are more likely to fail academically. This is why I believe it needs to stem from the involvement of the family, community and school to help students be successful and reach their potential. Please enjoy this short video.
I like how you stated that failures help us to succeed in whatever the case might be. It's true that when students are creative in school and their teachers don't see it or disagree with it then it's simply wrong. All throughout elementary school I remember slumping down in my chair trying not to be seen because I was afraid of getting the answer wrong. Teachers should be more encouraging of students to participate and be creative, especially at a younger age. I also agree that the community, parents, and the schools should all work together throughout a child's education experience. It's important for children to get that support from all of the people around them in order to succeed.
ReplyDeleteThe paradigm shift in the education system you call for is quite progressive: to view failing as method of educating rather than a sign of lack of education. In my own learning of the German language, I learned more of the language by getting things wrong than I did by picking things up right away.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you think portfolios do in the way of realizing this paradigm shift?
Portfolios allow students to see their mistakes and see their growth, all in one sitting. It's through their mistakes that they are able to see the journey they have taken to achieving a final product.
ReplyDeleteSteve Perry is right! The community ought to take full resonsibility but his point assumes that the community is concerned about these children and more importantly, that the community has any control over them!