As an educator it’s very important to be aware of your own culture and how it influences in the way you think, react and approach other people with different cultural background. Identifying and acknowledging the differences that prevail in indigenous and non indigenous culture is an important aspect for the educators to reflect and act upon while dealing with ATSI children and families.
One of the example that I can think of on how my cultural perception could have a negative impact on the development of an ATSI child in my care is listed below. • In some ATSI group culture avoiding eye contact while talking is a sign of respect. Whereas in most of the other culture avoiding eye contact while talking is a sign of disrespect. Silence,
Eye contact is important in America and Europe, but it can be rude in most of Asian countries and in Africa. Closing your
Another challenge educator’s encounter is the cultural gap that is between students and teachers. It is important for educators to understand that some culturally diverse children may need things explained to them in a different way for them to gain an understanding.
In order to be effective and affective educators we need to understand how the new culture will affect them and why. Educators must understand that children are always affected by the perceptions and cultural acceptance of their parents. Parents can choose to assimilate or isolate themselves in the new community. This move is detrimental in the ELL attitude towards their new cultural surroundings.
Diversity is very visible in the schools within the United States. When you enter most classrooms you see students from different nationalities. As the immigrant population continues to grow in the U.S., teachers need to make sure they take everyone’s culture into consideration when teaching. It is important for teachers to create an atmosphere where all cultures are recognized and respected. Teachers should ensure to use culturally responsive practices in order to be able to engage all the student and their families, despite where they come from.
I believe that our culture helps to shape our identity and therefore I believe that early childhood education should reflect the culture of the children attending the program, while teaching other cultures to promote diversity and inclusion. Aboriginal Head Start programs are contributing back to the communities through culturally responsive education, which reinforces Aboriginal identity. Nguyen (2011) argues that Aboriginal early childhood education needs to provide children with a “sense of who they are and where the come from, which will impact community self-government and self-determination” (p.231). Similarly, Greenwood et al. (2007) points out that early childhood education should socialize children into their heritage and ancestry through programs that reflect their community and nation. The Aboriginal Head Start programs foster the education of both Aboriginal culture and language into the program in hopes that this inspires children to learn their respective language and participate in their communities (Nguyen,
• Cultural differences – when the same thing means different things in two cultures, communication can be difficult. For example, it is seen as polite and respectful to make eye contact when speaking to someone in Western culture but in other cultures, for example in East Asia, it can be seen as rude and defiant.
It is important to respect and understand a child and their families culture because if educators don’t it can make it difficult for families to feel a sense of belonging to the centre. As educators it is important for us to help families and their children develop a cultural identity and sense of belonging but it is important we don’t change the families parenting style, we just assist them in any way we can. It helps children feel positive about their culture if they feel a sense of belonging within a child care, school and community. Educators can use the internet and community to learn more about the languages, traditions, beliefs and values of the children’s cultures so that they can help the children feel more positive about their culture
By respecting, understanding and including a child’s culture you can encourage their confidence and growth as a person. By helping a child to accept and embrace their culture and to be truly proud of it they can have a stronger sense of confidence in themselves, and with today’s media that is something that the children can use. If the children have confidence in themselves it allows them to be comfortable in their surroundings and this way they can open themselves to new experiences, learning or otherwise. Not only will it help the child with feeling confident but it will help the educator to further their own knowledge of the culture and assist them in being empathetic towards the child and their parents. By respecting, understanding and
Being open minded to the different practices and environment allows us to learn more about a person individually. Not only that it allows us to learn innovated ways practices may or may not work within our own children and families that can make impacts. Overall this class has changed how similar and different families and children are raised within their culture as it is a huge role to their personal
Teachers must learn about their student’s cultures if they want to educate them to the best of their ability. Many of the students in culturally diverse classrooms will want to learn in different ways. Some will want to learn in pairs, groups, as a class, or just alone. If the teacher is educated in their culture then lessons can be adjusted to appeal to every student as much as possible instead of forcing some to forget about their culture and learn like others. Students from
With this in mind, the Native American culture is faced with many obstacles but there is a multitude of ways to incorporate mediated instruction into the classroom. Firstly, the teacher must develop an understanding and foundation of the culture’s history that is not cloudy with prejudice judgement or beliefs. This involves the teacher researching the student’s experiences with learning and teaching styles. For example, home visits are a great opportunity to, “interview parents about how and what students learn from them” (Brown, 2017, para.3). This gives the teacher an opportunity to see the child as a whole and ask the student’s preference for learning.
Usually you use eye contact with your parents if you are in trouble to show respect (rez, 1999). If you are just having a normal conversation you do not need to use eye contact. If you are speaking to a stranger especially two males, eye contact can be interpreted into a challenge or to intimidate. With younger people you also do not need to use eye contact. Facial expressions are also use to show special meaning. When you are sad, angry or happy your facial expressions will show others what you feel. The acceptable way of greeting people is by giving a hand shake that ends with a hug if you are a male greeting another male. And if you are a female, you usually give kisses on the cheek to greet another female or
As an educator it is important to be aware of the various learners in the classroom as well as being able to shift lessons accordingly to adapt to a greater number of students. In addition it is essential that culturally responsive practices is adapted in the classroom in order for all students to have a sense of belonging and are able to participate. For this reason, a teacher must actively use culturally responsive practices to engage students and their families because it helps to develop a relationship and maintain a level of communication. Learning “facts” about different cultures is not enough, it is more important that we make
Learning from indigenous knowledge in education: Indigenuous knowledge has been the foundation for learning that aboriginal families, communities and nations have always maintained for their children. It has been our knowledge systems, cultural traditions and values, and ancestral languages that have affirmed our place within the Canadian context. Indigenous perspectives on learning do not see indigenous and western knowledge traditions in opposition to one another.(Battisfe,2002).Indigenous peoples ability to thrive is a testament to the ways they can a
Within education teachers come in contact with a large population of culturally diverse individuals (students,