1. Culturally Responsive Teaching Paper Tommie Isom EDU639: Human Relations. & Learning in the Multi. Envmnt Instructor: Regina Miller 3/10/14

2. Overview Overview of Culture. History of Culture. Educational Considerations. Inclusionary Practices. Parent/Community Involvement – Improving the Learning Process.

3. Culturally Responsive Teaching The field of education requires a certain level of understanding into cultural diversity and a core adherence to the individual needs of each student. In teaching the educator has to be a person who can employ social and cultural relations with any of his/her student. To truly inspire students in their learning a teacher has to showcase diligence, empathy and understanding while dealing with the students

4. Culturally Responsive Teaching The traditional understanding of motivation as an aspect of mechanical, behavioral and deterministic approach is becoming more and more a rigid attempt at inspiring intelligence and knowledge. The notion that is popularly held that student is only dependent on external means of motivation is highly misleading (Raymond & Margery, 1995). Research has shown that students are capable of motivating themselves if a platform upon which they are understood and appreciated is created.

5. Culture Culture can be defined in a number of ways but the most applicable to society is: culture is a pattern of human behavior that has be learnt over a period of time, and it incorporates an appreciation for religion, food, clothing, virtues and roles. Culture is studied as a vital aspect of human beings survival, despite this, culture is highly dynamic and can be easy lost due to its intangible nature. Languages, buildings and artifacts are not culture in themselves they just highlight the culture of a people just because someone from Africa and speaks Kiswahili that doesn’t make them member of Swahili heritage (Zimmermann, 2013).

6. History of Culture Culture is a product of regions and areas; Western Culture is attributed to the people of European countries. Western Culture has its origin from the Greco-Roman era and the rise of Christianity in the early 14 century. Eastern Culture is the product of the people of the Far East Asia regions China, Japan and North Korea, the culture bear little distinction between secular and religious norms unlike Western Culture. Latin culture has its root in Spanish speaking countries; these are the Latin countries of South America, North American and even Mexico its key aspect is the language which has Romance influence.

7. Educational Consideration Exclusion practices in educations were adopted to cater to the urgency of students with special needs. These exclusion policies have however become less applicable in the modern world due to the following. Population changes have paved way for students with severe ailment than previously expressed and the norm of autism in society. The issue of defining who really is a special need child, this subject is conditioned. What is an ailment in one place may not be viewed as such in another. The push for inclusion is another factor that is causing the phasing out of exclusion.

8. Inclusionary Practices The common fear held by academicians is that of inclusion becoming the new form of assimilation instead of it becoming a stepping stone in the build to diversified learning and a socially accepting culture amongst scholars. The inclusion practice has come a long way since the days it was primary a policy that cater to special needs student to the present day phenomena that seeks to break down barriers to effective learning and teaching in a school setup (Mitchell, 2010). Inclusion has been adopted by some to mean new and broader opportunities for student regardless of gender, ethnic background and religious beliefs.

9. Parent/Community Involvement When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more. Students who parents are involved in their education are more likely to earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs. They can be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits for college courses. As long as they attend school regularly, students will have better social skills, and show improved behavior, and adapt well to school. The best thing about having parents involved is that the student will graduate and go on to postsecondary education. They will be motivated to do things they didn’t image without their parents being involved in their educational life.

10. References Ann, K. (2013, April 22). American Culture: Traditions and Customs of the United States. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from live science: http://www.livescience.com/28945-american- culture.html Gratz, J. (2006, November 16). The Impact of Parents’ Background on their Children’s. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from macalester: http://www.macalester.edu/educationreform/publicintellectualessay/gratz.pdf Intime. (2000). Culturally Responsive Teaching. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from intime : http://www.intime.uni.edu/multiculture/curriculum/culture/teaching.htm Mitchell, D. (2010, July). Education that fits: Review of international trends in the education of students with special educational needs. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from education counts: http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/special_education/education- that-fits/chapter-eleven-inclusive-education Raymond, W. J., & Margery, G. B. (1995, september). A Framework for Culturally Responsive Teaching. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from ASCD: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational-leadership/sept95/vol53/num01/A- Framework-for-Culturally-Responsive-Teaching.aspx Zimmermann, K. A. (2013, July 9). What is Culture? Definition of Culture. Retrieved March 2, 2014, from live science: http://www.livescience.com/21478-what-is-culture-definition- of-culture.html Wardle, F. (2013).Human Relationships and Learning in the Multicultural Environment. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.*