Reflection 1-Findlay

Sarah Findlay

Reflection 1-

Developing Multicultural Educators-Chapter 1

Review-What did I learn?

            Many of the things that were discussed in chapter 1 of Developing Multicultural Educators were not a surprise to me.  The topics discussed were cultural differences that I have observed in my encounters with students, travels to other countries, teammates, colleagues, friends, and other families that I’ve known.  This book simply gave me an explanation of why these cultural differences that I’ve observed exist. 

            On page 13, the author discusses the reason we as people develop and accept the cultures that surround us.  They serve as a means to physiological needs and safety needs.  They give us a sense of belonging and they teach us how to be the best person that we can be.  The way we communicate with one another, not only the spoken language, but body language, tone, pitch, and volume are influenced by the culture in which we accept.  Our organizational structures such as personal space and time values are developed this way.  In addition, our intellectual styles and decision making are also effected by our cultures.  (p.15)  These cultural styles effect how students learn, how they choose career paths, how they interact with teachers and peers, and how they behave both in the classroom and at home.  Having read this, I feel that I have a better understanding, not that my students may have different cultural beliefs than I do, but why they have those different beliefs. 

            Another interesting topic discussed was the two perspectives on socialization.  The Functionalist Perspective on Cultural Socialization (p.31) believes that educators have the responsibility of creating a society of citizens who all believe in the same things, have the game goals, and share a bond.  My understanding is that they feel we as teachers should teach students to serve a purpose in our society by teaching them to fill a job.  The Critical Perspective on Cultural Socialization believes that we should teach students to function appropriately in the dominate cultural beliefs.  These beliefs are driven by who has the power.  The ones in power determine how we evaluate students, school finances, the values and norms we expect from our students, what knowledge should be taught, and what the gender roles should be.  These socialization practices are taught in schools in a variety of ways, many even without intention. 

Reflect-What does it mean to me?

            To me, this understanding of where cultural beliefs come from helps me to understand not only my students who speak other languages but all of my students.  Language is only one factor in culture.  Even students who speak English as their first language may have different cultural beliefs than me.  These cultural beliefs effect my students in the way that they view themselves and their teachers, how they interact with each other and even how they learn. The way they communicate such as volume, taking turns talking, looking at me when speaking and the words they use are based on their individual cultural backgrounds.  The differences in cultural time values is often apparent when conference times are established or during after school functions.  This may also explain the consistent tardies or absenses of some students.  Their goals and desires for their own lives and their values of education are also culturally based and may differ from mine. 

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Refine-How will I use this information in the classroom?

I can use this knowledge of different cultural beliefs when planning instruction, when accepting behaviors, and when teaching moral values.  I feel that I should take a closer look at who my students are and where they come from.  I am guilty of forgetting that the 20 3^rd graders in my classroom are actual human beings.  I become so wrapped up in trying to fill them with the AKS needed for the year that I don’t take the time to understand where they are coming from and what they believe.  I know now that this plays such a major role in their education that I must consider this in order to effectively teach them.  I also feel that it would benefit me, as well as my students, to share some of our own cultural beliefs as a class, so that we can all better understand one another and create a classroom culture of comfort and success.