Developing a Culturally-Responsive Classroom Collaborative Paul J. Colbert, Ph.D Johnson & Wales University

Culturally Responsive Classrooms 2 “The simple realization that there are other points of view is the beginning of wisdom. Understanding what these points of view are is a giant step. The final test is understanding why they are held.” Charles M. Campbell, poet

3 Culture sum total of ways being shared by a group of people and then transmitted from one generation to another

4 the way life is organized within a community or identifiable group (students, teachers) the ways that community or group members use language, interact with one another, take turns at talking, relate to time and space, and approach learning Culture

5 impacts every aspect of life from the way we behave to relationship with natural environment

6 Culture is a fish living in water finds it natural to move around in the element (which to us is ‘alien’) last to notice water through which they swim “This concerns that which is taken for granted in cultural construction and what has become natural. It emphasizes the macroscopic dimensions of a phenomenon we do not see and the poverty of tools in which we analyze and communicate it.” Gherardi, Gender, Symbolism and Organizational Cultures.

Bridging the Gap: # 1 What is culture?7 General Ways Of Behaving Values Language Etiquette Traditions, Customs Food Dress Belief System Culture

8 Clothing Language Food Physical Features Values Beliefs Perceptions Assumptions The Iceberg Theory 10%: most visible 90%: least visible

9 ethnocentricity understanding acceptance awareness appreciation respect valuing selective adoption multiculturation Path of Intercultural learning

Bridging the Gap: # 1 What is culture?10 Beliefs = food is love Behaviors = large family meals, drinking wine Values = Family, good food Attitudes = Loyalty to family Culture of Italian-Americans

11 AfricanIndianIrishJewish Values Beliefs Behaviors Attitudes For those of you of the following descents, please provide examples under each category

12 Ups and Downs! “Power Walk Exercise” If you wear glasses2 steps back have blue eyes1 step forward are left-handed3 steps back are less than 5 ft. 6 in. tall1 step back drive a foreign-make car2 steps forward know the names of your students this year4 steps forward

13 How do you personalize culture? Through 5 social institutions: 1.Family 2.School 3.Religion 4.Politics 5.Economics Inward perceptions of culture:

14 Family Incidents or experiences that illustrate your cultural identity

15 Religion Incidents or experiences that illustrate your cultural identity

16 School Incidents or experiences that illustrate your cultural identity

17 Politics Incidents or experiences that illustrate your cultural identity

18 Economy Incidents or experiences that illustrate your cultural identity

19 School Family Religion Politics Economy How do each of these institutions affect the way we teach? Empowerment:

20 Life Experiences Family Gender Social Class Race/Ethnicity Your socio-cultural consciousness

21 Gaining Sociocultural Consciousness Sociocultural dysconsciousness Sociocultural consciousness Ethnocentric Unaware that life’s experiences, as impacted by class, race, ethnicity, and gender, influence perceptions of the world Multiple perspectives on world Insight into how one’s life’s experiences,as impacted by class, race, ethnicity, and gender, influence perceptions of the world Unaware of power differentials in society and the standard practices of the various institutions Understands power differentials in society and the standard practices of the various institutions are advantageous for the more powerful

22 Gaining A Sociocultural Consciousness “An awareness that one’s worldview is not universal…but profoundly shaped by one’s life experiences, as mediated by a variety of factors, chief among them race/ethnicity, social class and gender. Understanding that a person’s perspective, while accurately reflecting his or her personal experiences, is not necessarily shared by others, is a prerequisite for effective communication in a multicultural society”

23 Exercise on Cultural Diversity True or False: 1.Asian-Americans are the model minority because they all excel in school. 2.White students are affected by their cultural or ethnic background. 3.For most migrant or immigrant students, education is not a priority. 4.African-American students have difficulty in school because they are verbal learners. 5.All Hispanic students speak Spanish. 6.American Indian Students are by nature quiet. 7.You should speak up when talking to a student who is in a wheelchair. 8.The majority of students with Learning Disabilities are boys.