Question - Maria Salazar
As Nieto suggests, we must validate our student’s experiences/background and embrace their “funds of knowledge” (Sleeter). Do you believe the notion of “cultural competence” will partake into the relationship you will be able to develop with your student(s)? Although we would all like to NOT use our “biases” in the classroom, how in turn will we as educators, “connect” and further develop our student’s learning and motivation? How will you make that “connection” with your students if you are not familiar to his/her culture? In what ways can our perceptions of “what they know” be underrepresented by our judgment (if we do not speak their language)?
posted by Maria Salazar at 7:19 PM
3 Comments:
I think that any kind of relationship has to be initiated by the teacher because it is up to the teacher’s to create a friendly approach with the student. One does not need to know nor experience the students’ culture to have a relationship although the teacher must be able to have an open mind, be understandable, rational, and not so critical about others.
All teachers must be able to be creative, learn how to use resources that will benefit every student that they are teaching and not depend on text books. I really think that some teachers are lazy and may be bias towards students’ culture and personality which may not encourage them to change their curriculum or lesson plan.
This question brings to my mind the article we read this week by Mercado and Moll, about funds of knowledge. Making home visits and interviewing students and their families would be a great way to learn more about students and their lives. I would, however, be a little apprehensive, even scared, to make these visits, because if I don't know much about a community, and because I am a little socially unskilled, I would be afraid of inadvertently offending someone. Yet Ana Stefany pointed out that it is important that the teacher have an open mind, and I think showing your respect and interest in learning goes a long way in establishing a connection with students and their families. This, for me personally, could be a great challenge, because I'd have to learn to be more outgoing when it would just be easier to hide behind the classroom and school!
I believe that a teacher who chooses to teach in a multicultural setting needs to first be open and willing to understand new cultures. Some teachers believe that are culturally aware of thier students but many are not. I think in order to make these types of connections you need to look at your own predjuices and biases that you have as a person so it does not affect the way you interact with your students.
Once you have done this then you can move on and be ready to embrace the backgrounds of the many children you will come in contact with. Take a step back sometimes and let the children educate you: they will feel proud. They will also be more willing to establish a relationship with you if you let them explain themselves to you instead of trying to figure them out.
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