Using Multicultural Literature

A multicultural classroom needs to provide a safe and accepting environment for successful learning, prevents prejudices and discriminations from the class, and have a strong cultural consciousness. (E.K. Garcia, 2016) To accomplish this, teachers should be integrating a diverse list of reading materials, introduce

One of Beverly Tatum’s most popular works, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, outlines racial identity development and shows us what it means to be Black in today’s society. Tatum uses reasonable examples of her experience both as a parent and as a college professor. She is able to get readers to think in ways that might not be comfortable but are necessary and compelling. Recognizing understanding and embracing

The story provided an excellent discussion of the many issues that surround race in schools, it centered on the topic about whether integrated schools were more beneficial than segregated schools. This book focuses on young children in the early grades, listening to parents and racial integration. The author wanted to find the truth that is surrounding multicultural classrooms from those that are involved in it. This book includes many side stories, which serve to explore the concepts, and displays them in a clear way; it also added depth to the book. This book was well written and shows all sides of multicultural education. It does not take one side in particular and it encourages people to explore multicultural education in a new light.

As mentioned in previous chapters the need to teach multiculturalism among young children. There are many misconceptions about multicultural teaching. For example, Bill Howe presents misconceptions about this theme and there were a few that were interesting such as, tour and detour approaches as appropriate in multicultural education. For example, Black history month is when many schools celebrate the accomplishments of African Americans. It is great to celebrate the accomplishments of the diverse population in the United States, but why celebrate it one a year. Maya Angelou once remarked that she will be glad when Black History Month is no longer necessary. When all Americans are sufficiently a part of our courses of study and daily instruction,

“Pioneer researcher, Florez-Tighe (1983), was one of the first educators to advocate the use of multicultural literature in school curriculum. Her research indicated that culturally authentic children’s literature enhances language development and thought processes of African-American children (Florez-Tighe, 1983)” (Pirofski). By having different cultures expressed to students in literature, they will more likely become more accepting and understanding of those who follow those customs. The languages expressed in the literature can also help strengthen the left frontal lobe of the brain which is the language dominant part of the

After reading the definition of culturally responsive, I have discovered that neither of my schools is culturally responsive. With the increase of diversity in both schools, administrators and teachers will need to increase their knowledge as well as resources in order to aid these students. Until teachers are formally trained, it is my hope that they will at least incorporate one of Banks’ “five dimensions of multicultural education.” (Banks, 1993) During social studies and science lessons, teachers can incorporate the content integration dimension. In this dimension teachers can tell students “various isolated facts about heroes from diverse groups.” (Banks, 1993) With the knowledge construction

In today 's ever changing world teachers need to understand the importance of a multicultural education. It’s becoming essential to provide opportunities for their students to learn about the many cultures represented in america and the world around them. Studies have shown that by the year 2040 as surveyed by the U.S. census bureau, that “white non-hispanics will make up less than half of the school aged population” (Smith) Our country is ever growing and it doesn 't seem right to exclude cultural education to students when our nation was built by immigrants. Building curriculums that acknowledge different cultures,

Moreover, teaching multicultural diversity in preschool ages increase children’s awareness, appreciation and inclusion of diverse beliefs and cultures. It means that children with different needs are giving opportunities to participate in the general education curriculum based on their ages and grades. Those children are not separated by classrooms, but rather the curriculum and the rooms are conformed to meet their needs. Research shows that children are capable of understanding differences and abilities of surrounding people at the very early ages (Perlman, Kankesan, & Zhang, 2010). Therefore, a program, which fully regards to multiculturalism, allows children to explore varying cultures and create opportunities for them to recognise that even when people have various customs and traditions, they often share some similar characteristics as well. The ability to function compatibly and efficiently in a multicultural society is also promoted throughout a multicultural program. It is obvious that children are able

And, although preschool administrators have a desire to begin increasing the amount of multicultural materials in the center as well as train the staff on ways to incorporate a child’s culture into the learning environment, it has been found that teaching practices are notoriously slow to change (Hooven & et al., 2018). By conducting literature research, examining the current practices at Kiddie Academy, and meeting with the center’s staff, it is hoped that new and innovative ways to celebrate diversity will be found and agreed upon by staff members. Since collaboration is crucial to the implementation of anti-bias curriculum in order for students to learn about their own culture and those of people who are different from them, communicating the results of the study will increase the chances of finding additional ways to up productivity, provides access to new sources of information, present opportunities to learn and go beyond traditional ways of thinking, problem solving, and forming partnerships as teachers and administrators begin to see positive results from the trainings, acknowledgement and celebration of diversity, and anti-bias curriculum being put into action. It is critical for early childhood teachers to promote culturally inclusive classrooms and experiences and provide learning materials and other resources that help children develop a greater appreciation of

Mary Louise Pratt did well to propose an integration of the western culture that has been so imposed in the reading materials with a multicultural blend of curriculum contents. This is what Appiah advocated for that for good and amicable relations among different communities, there should be a commitment of exploring the cultures of other societies and tolerance in learning them in order for people of different cultures to live well with one another (Pratt, 1991).

Children must be taught about diversity. They should be taught how to live with others no matter the race they are coming from or their families. These three books are great in teaching children about diversity because everyone in general want them to grow up in a society free from discrimination and bias. The books will help prepare children by informing them how to live in the modern diversified society where everyone is unique in his or her own way.

Never before has the society we lived in possessed the level of inclusion and acceptance it does today. Voices that have been denied public forum for centuries can now be heard, relatively uncontested, and we have responded to this by consistently under-utilizing them in the classroom. We have a responsibility to students to do our best to present them with an education that engages them with the material and works to integrate their own culture and experiences. We need to walk away from terms such as “merit” and “great” in the classroom. With that we can facilitate the inclusion of more diverse texts in the school setting, and we can begin to bring the societal revolutions of today to the people they matter to most: the great authors, and thinkers, and movers, and shakers of tomorrow. Inherently, we can bring education back into the realm of the

Today’s classroom is very diverse and the activities should represent the classroom culture. The development of children is centered on what is taught in the classroom. Therefore, the language, intellectual, personality, social and moral, and aesthetic and creative development of preschool age children should be enhanced through multicultural activities and lessons.

A Literacy Environment is very instrumental to young children’s learning. A learning environment that is culturally sensitive is to create a multicultural climate in the classroom. Multicultural awareness could be taught in all of the subject matters in a classroom. A teacher can use strategies and a teachable moment when they are encountered. For example, if a student is making fun of another because of how they talk or sound. The teacher can use that moment to punctuate the importance and relevance of different backgrounds and culture. The world we live in a diverse world with different religion, beliefs, color and shapes of people. A teacher should be verse in multicultural education to be able to teach students about

Multicultural literature is a way of increasing cultural awareness. Through multicultural books many young readers are able to make a connection with their own culture