Lesson 4- Finding Resources that Reflect Your Students' Backgrounds
Objective
Students will be able to use the knowledge of their students to find relevant resources to use in their teaching.
Relating Cultures to the Curriculum
It is important to learn about the different cultures in your classroom, but now you're probably thinking "now what?" The next step is to take what you learned and adjust your teaching. In culturally responsive teaching you make connections between students' cultures, languages, and experiences to what they are learning in school.
Below are examples of how you might relate students' cultures to the curriculum at different grade levels:
Elementary- An easy way to incorporate culture at the elementary level is to choose culturally diverse picture books to read to your class. You may also invite students to write about their cultures. For example, if you are doing a persuasive writing unit, students might try to convince others to try a traditional meal from their culture.
Middle- Students typically begin learning a new language in middle school. Invite students to pick a few phrases in their native language to teach to the rest of the class. Middle schoolers are also very active. If there is a sport or dance that is popular in a student's culture, set aside some time for students to do this activity.
High School- Research papers are an easy way to relate students' cultures to the curriculum. This can be used in both Social Studies and English. If you are a Social Studies teacher, have students research their culture (what country do they come from, what language is spoken there, who is the leader, what activities are popular there). If you are an English teacher, have students find a novel that features their culture or language spoken. Have students write about how the novel relates to their life.
Choosing Appropriate Resources
Once you have decided how you will make the connection between students' cultures and the curriculum, it's important to find relevant resources to help you do so. Below are some resources that you may choose to use. Make sure to review resources and check that they are appropriate for the students in your class.
Picture Books:
The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
Eyes that Kiss in the Corner by Joanna Ho
Parker Looks Up by Parker Curry
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold
The World Needs More Purple People by Kristen Bell
Chapter Books:Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
I Lived on Butterfly Hill by Marjorie Agosín
Eagle Song by Joseph Bruchac
The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas
Websites:
Learning for Justice
https://www.learningforjustice.org
The World Factbook
https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/
National Geographic Kids
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com
Clothes Around the World
https://www.elcivics.com/esl/clothes-world-1
Videos:
Assessment
During this course you will answer reflection questions at the end of each lesson. There is a corresponding assignment on Google Classroom where you may type and submit your answers. Join our Google Classroom with code: 2yrw7cx
Assignment: Find at least 5 relevant resources to use with your class and give a brief description of each of them. You may use any of the suggested resources or find your own.
Resources
Next Lesson→ Lesson 5- Using Appropriate Resources in Your Teaching
Homepage→ How to be Culturally Responsive in your Teaching