Culturally Relevant Inspiration Rachel Wellington EDU 692 Creativity, Culture, and Global Contexts in Education Decision Making Professor Thinh Nguyen September 7 th, 2015

 Instruction that focuses on students’ learning strengths, styles, and cultures and incorporating them into academics and school appropriate behavior (Wardle 2013). Culturally Relevant Instruction

 Lower Yukon School District  LEAP High School  Kamile Academy Schools/Programs with Culturally Relevant Instruction

  Located in a remote area in western Alaska with 10 villages.  98% of the student population is Alaska Native, specifically of Yup’ik Eskimo descent Lower Yukon School District

 The school district is unique because it provides various activities that students can participate in on top of their academics. For example, Eskimo dancing, fishing and mukluck hunting.  The district supports 21 st century skills such as creativity, innovation, communication and collaboration. To support these skills, teachers will have students participate in activities that promote their culture. For example, at Alakanuk School their students created Moose hide in order to experience what their ancestors had to do to survive.  The learning experiences within the district reflect culturally relevant pedagogy by including the local community. For example, the district has a program called Natural Helpers that brings in people from the community to teach students and teachers about local customs and traditions. Here is a video of the experience. Lower Yukon School District

  LEAP High School is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota and students are between the age of years old. The students are new to the United States and learning English while earning a high school diploma. They are currently serving 425 students.  The school is unique because it offers educational opportunity for students whose needs are not met through traditional school. LEAP High School

 At LEAP High School students are given the opportunity to take keyboarding and tech classes. In these classes they learn about technology tools that they can use in education and work. For example, they can learn coding skills and how to search online resources. These classes contribute to the 21 st century skill of being digitally literate.  Each December, LEAP High School has a Culture Day party. At this party students and teachers demonstrate their native songs, dances and traditions. This is an example of cultural relevant pedagogy because it gives students a chance to learn about other cultures and teach about their own.  Creativity is promoted at LEAP High School because they offer art and music classes on top of regular general education courses. Subjects like art and music provide students with different ways to understand the English language. LEAP High School

 academy.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=197475&type=d&p REC_ID= academy.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=197475&type=d&p REC_ID=  Kamaile Academy is located on the Wai’anae coast of O’ahu. 78.7% of students live in economic hardship. 58.9% of students identify primarily as having Native Hawaiian ancestry.  The school is unique because they focus on all students’ cultures, with Hawaiian culture being the center. Students learn Hawaiian values, customs, traditions, music, legends, and language. Kamaile Academy

 21 st century skills that are developed at Kamaile Academy are communicate powerfully, think critically, collaborate productivity, and complete projects effectively.  Culturally relevant pedagogy is displayed through Kamaile Academy’s co-teaching program. There are a number of different ways to incorporate co-teaching but one example is having one teacher use visual and auditory material while the other teacher uses tactile/kinesthetic strategies. This method gives every student the opportunity to learn by using the learning style they feel comfortable with.  Art and music are promoted through the Turnaround Arts program. This program helps supply art teachers, art supplies, musical instruments and art integration with other core subjects like reading, math and science. Kamaile Academy

 Framework for 21st century learning. (n.d.). Retrieved from Framework for 21st century learning  Kamaile Academy. Retrieved from  LEAP High School. Retrieved from  Lower Yukon School District. Retrieve from  Wardle, F. (2013). Human relationships and learning in the multicultural environment. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.Human relationships and learning in the multicultural environment References