© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. 1 CHAPTER 5 Sociocultural Diversity

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Culture Cross-Cultural Studies  Provide information about the degree to which people are similar  Elucidate behaviors specific to certain cultures Culture refers to the behavior patterns, beliefs, and all other products of a particular group of people that are passed on from generation to generation.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Individualism vs. Collectivism Individualism Gives priority to personal goals Values feeling good and personal distinction Fosters independence Collectivism Values group; personal goals are subordinated Encourages interdependence of group members Supports harmonious relationships

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Socioeconomic Status Socioeconomic status (SES): the categorization of people according to their economic, educational, and occupational characteristics Educating students from low-SES backgrounds requires strategies that address issues such as discipline, motivation, parent involvement, mentoring, and the untapped knowledge these students can access.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Children in Poverty Of the 17.6% of U.S. children who live in poverty: 50% live in female-headed households 40% live in African American households 40% live in Latino households

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Negative Impact of Poverty on Children and Schools Poor Schools Have fewer resources Old, poorly maintained buildings Less-experienced teachers Encourage more rote learning Provide environments not conducive to learning Poor Students Poor language development Less cognitively stimulating home environments Lower achievement scores Lower graduation rates Lower % college bound

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Ethnicity Ethnicity refers to a shared pattern of characteristics such as cultural heritage, nationality, race, religion, and language. For children of color, educational segregation is still a reality that affects the school experience.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Examples of Ethnic Differences Dialect Individual vs. Cooperative Efforts Eye Contact Personal Space Public vs. Private Performance Family Relationships and Expectations Conceptions of Time

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Prejudice An unjustified negative attitude toward an individual because of his/her membership in a group.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Bilingual Education Offers academic subjects in a student’s native language Gradually introduces English instruction

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Sociocultural Diversity Multicultural Education Issues- Centered Education Culturally Relevant Teaching The Issue of Whether a Core of “White” Values Should Be Taught Empowering Students Improving Relationships Among Children from Different Ethnic Groups

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. The Multicultural Classroom Is sensitive to racist material/interactions Includes historical descriptions of diverse cultures in course content Is sensitive to students’ cultural views Views all students positively, regardless of ethnic background Strives to close the academic achievement gap

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Improving Relations Among Children from Different Ethnic Groups The Jigsaw classroom Positive personal contact with others from different cultural backgrounds Perspective taking Critical thinking and emotional intelligence Reducing bias Increasing tolerance School and community as a team

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Gender Gender refers to the sociocultural dimensions of being female or male. Gender roles are the social expectations that prescribe how males and females should think, act, and feel.

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Gender Similarities and Differences Physical Performance Math and Science Skills Verbal Skills Educational Attainment Relationship Skills Prosocial Behavior Aggression Emotion and Its Regulation

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Eliminating Gender Bias Teacher-Student Interaction  Bias against boys  Bias against girls Curriculum and Athletics Content

© 2008 McGraw-Hill Higher Education. All rights reserved. Brainstorming With a few other students, come up with a list of specific diversity goals for your future classrooms. Brainstorm and come up with some innovative activities to help students gain positive diversity experiences, such as the inclusive quilt discussed in the chapter.