EDCI 607AA Foundations of Culturally Proficient Teaching

This is a foundation course that is not typical, nor is it deficit based. Foundations of Culturally Proficient Teaching presents an asset model where the focus is on the learner. The biggest myth in education is that we can close the gap by only focusing on improving achievement (i.e. curriculum, instruction and assessment), when the truth of the matter is that to close the gap we must also focus on the students’ culture and examine the conditions that create barriers to inclusive instruction. Participants examine their own culture, their students’ culture, and examine how culture and economics (wealth and poverty) impact their view on which students are teachable and which students are not.

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Language Arts - Grade 6

Standard: Elements of Literature: The student recognizes complex elements of plot (e.g., cause and effect relationships, conflicts, resolutions, etc.)

Students, who can look for the PATTERNS that exist in stories, are better able to think critically about that content. They can more easily compare and contrast stories to other stories or their personal lives. They are able to draw conclusions and make generalizations about stories with similar patterns. Students can analyze stories more easily when they can recognize the elements of plot.

HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP AT HOME!

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My name is Tamara Edwards. I find such joy in my work with Learning Bridges. Honestly, I feel I have gained more from my students (fellow teachers) than they even gain from me. I love to hear the different things that they are doing in their classrooms. It is inspiring and reassuring to hear of such great things happening in so many classrooms across this country.

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A Third America - Permanent Underclass

A new College Board document, The Educational Crisis Facing Young Men of Color" reported in Education Week (Quillen, 2/3/10) that, "Male students who are members of minority groups continue to face overwhelming obstacles to pursing their academic aspirations. The result is a little-talked about "third America" that is predominantly male, largely incapable of contributing to society, and often destined to be incarcerated." U. S. Representative (AZ) Paul Raul Grijalva says, "It's gotten to the point where we're talking about, almost, a permanent underclass in this country, and that is a very, very dangerous development." Grijalva is a member of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.

The College Board report suggests that male students across minority backgrounds cite these reasons: lack of male role models, a search for respect outside of education, the sense of a failing education system, poverty, language barriers, community pressures, and a loss of cultural memory.

What do YOU think? Is this a crisis being overlooked? If so, what do you think should be happening?

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