How Can We Make Multiculturalism Effective in the Classroom?

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How Can We Make Multiculturalism Effective in
the Classroom?

• Kimberly Kern
• English Language Fellow
• IHCI
• kern.kimika_at_gmail.com

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What is multicultural education?
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Multicultural education is equal education for
all students. All students deserve the best
possible education we can provide, regardless of

• Nationality/ Language
• Gender
• Race or ethnicity- indigenous
• Religion
• Socio-economic background
• Learning Style
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Family values and background
• Etc.

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This equality is evidenced by the books that are
read, the activities that are completed, and the
lessons that are taught. All activities should
be inclusive of all students backgrounds and
interests to provide authentic learning
experiences.
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Know your students!

• What kind of learner are you?
• What kind of learners are your students?
• Visual
• Auditory
• Kinesthetic

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Learning Style AssessmentPlease take a few
minutes and complete the VISUAL section of the
assessment only.What is your score?How many
of us are visual learners? How does this effect
our teaching?
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Knowing your students learning styles helps all
students have an opportunity to learn.
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What do students bring to the classroom?Ask
them.

• Are they from this country? Where is their family
  from in Honduras?
• What neighborhood are they from? Rich, poor, or
  middle class?
• What past educational or life experience do they
  have?
• What prejudices or biases do they have?
• What cultural differences may they have?
• What family traditions do they have? Religion?

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Who is in this room?

• Who has been to or is from the US?
• Who is not Catholic?
• Who went to public school?
• Who is of indigenous decent?
• Who was raised by only one parent?
• Who prays before every meal?

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Nationality, Language and Cultural
DifferencesLearn about the language of your
students. A few words can go a long way to show
respect. Have students teach the class!To have
a successful multicultural classroom, a teacher
needs to understand these differences, but avoid
cultural generalizations and stereotypes.
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True or False?

• Americans are rich.
• Latin Americans are Catholic.
• American cuisine is fast food.
• Chinese people are shy.
• Boys are better at math than girls.
• Hondurans are always late.

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Get together with a small group. Complete the
Culture Club activity. You have about 5
minutes.Have you ever noticed these cultural
differences?
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Gender Differences

• Assign tasks that challenge traditional social
  roles- Example Assign men to be note-takers,
  women to be group facilitators
• Encourage men and women to work together in
  groups
• Be aware that women have been historically
  disenfranchised

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Religious and Economic Differences

• A students socio-economic or religious norm is
  part of their cultural identity
• Stay away from one-sided text book lessons
• Use material that is relevant to your students
  lives. Ex facebook, twitter, news articles about
  their neighborhood, city, or country

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So, how can we make the classroom a
multicultural experience for our students?
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Personalize Content

• Know your students and use their names and life
  experiences in examples.
• Sally went to the mall to buy some shoes.
• vs.
• Alejandro went to the Multiplaza to buy the
  newest Wii.

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How do you get from the church to the Police
Station?
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How do you get from UNAH to CARMAX?
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My neighborhood- Bed-stuy, Brooklyn, NY
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Use Different Teaching Styles

• Vary your instructional materials as a way to
  draw in students with various learning styles
• Consider visual, tactile, aural, and other
  dimensions of your instructional materials
• Mix it up. Work in pairs, groups, independent.
• Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing activities

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Avoid Stereotypes

• Avoid other-ing integrate diverse voices and
  sources together instead of having separate
  sections or units
• Example No units on women poets or Indigenous
  Voices, etc..
• Discourage gender, national, and cultural
  stereotypes that single some students out.

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Ask Your Students!

• Give students opportunities to share anonymous
  feedback surveys questionnaires
• Note Students already feeling uncomfortable are
  not likely to approach you about your teaching or
  curriculum
• What do they want to learn about??
• Make ALL students feel comfortable and included
  in their learning!

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Question, Comments, Concerns?kern.kimika_at_gmail.c
omEducation means inspiring someones mind,
not just filling their head