Information access about the world along with cultural and racial migrations are a part of the lives of our students. It would be great for educators to cultivate a positive cultural awareness in their classrooms in order for our students to be able to compete effectively and efficiently in the global workforce of their future.
- The Danger of a Single Story - (18:46) - One of my favorite novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, tells the story of how she found her authentic cultural voice and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk a critical misunderstanding. (Recorded at TEDGlobal, July 2009, Oxford, UK)
- Expanding Teacher Self-Knowledge - (1:27) A quick tip from the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance Initiative explains the value of self-reflection and being aware of assumptions. Sonia Nieto shares a personal story about how perceptions of Puerto Ricans and Spanish-speakers affected her first teaching assignment and experiences.
- Education: Culture Matters - (14:25) Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii presents evidence that students from the native Hawaiian population thrive in an environment that fosters a learning process they can relate to. Students learn better in programs that incorporate their cultural heritage and traditions.
- Recognizing Individual Characteristics - (1:10) From the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance Initiative, Dr. Dorothy Strickland discusses the importance of learning the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of each student.
- 20 Things We Should Say More Often (3:31) Kid President shares a special list of 20 things we should say more often because he believes the things we say can help make the world more awesome.
After viewing "Kid President 20 Things We Should Say ore Often," I immediately thought of my students. This is an extremely important video for students to view in an effort to make the world a better place through manners and self reflection. Also, I viewed "Recognizing Individual Characteristics." This clip encourages teachers to view students as individuals, not as a group. I agree with Dr. Strickland it is difficult to see students as individuals, but it must be done. This is why it is important to establish a positive classroom community at the beginning of the year, so the teacher and students bond.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, Jathany. It is important for teachers to establish a positive classroom community from day one. From what I have read, the student-teacher bond can make or break a good educational foundation in the majority of cases.
DeleteI watched the Kid President video too and I loved it. Unfortunately, I feel like manners, thinking before you speak and thinking about others is something that has fallen by the wayside in today's society. It is so important that students develop these habits and see the value in being kind to others when they are younger. I think one way that teachers can implement these manners into their classroom would be to make them a part of the classroom behavior policies, and another would be for teachers to just lead by example. When I was in school, I just remember how much more I valued teachers who acted like they saw me as a human being and respected me, they didn't just write me off as a difficult teenager. I haven't had classroom experience yet, and I can't imagine how hard it must be to keep your cool in front of kids all day, but in order to earn their respect, I think you have to respect them.
ReplyDeleteThe other video that I watched was the "The Danger of a Single Story" Ted Talk by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (I really want to read one of her novels now by the way). I really enjoyed and got a lot out of her talk. I think one of the most important things that English Language Arts teachers can do is try their best to expose students to a variety of different types of authors and genres. Not only will it provide students with an opportunity to identify with numerous and diverse characters, but it will also help them learn about points of view, how to think outside the box, think critically and identify with people with backgrounds different than theres. I think one of the ways that teachers can do this is have students read two narratives that are either related or cover similar subject matter, but from different points of view. It could be anything from pairing the story of the three little pigs with the version of the story told from the wolf's point of view, to reading Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" and Jean Rhys's "Wide Sargasso Sea," or Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness" and Chinua Achebe's "Things Fall Apart." For me at least, reading these kinds of stories from different points of view opened up my mind and made me start seeing characters in other books that I read in a different light. I started to realize how much the narrator's point of view clouds a reader's judgement of the other characters in the book, and I was able to analyze novels in a completely different, more deeper way.
Mallory
Mallory, I think you're right about exposing students to a variety of different authors and genres. You never know what writing might engage them in their learning experience. The canonized classics of English literature are great books, but not many students identify with them and because such books might be the only books some students actually pick up never to pick up another book. When student lose interest in reading during secondary grade levels, I feel that it's because they do not connect with the writings.
DeleteI like your idea of students comparing two similar narratives. Students would probably get exactly what you came away with as well. The ability to analyze deeper and succeed in our diverse world.
I can see how blogs might actually help. As a teacher I think I could use a blog site to post extra credit style assignments or something to that effect.
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ReplyDeleteKesia,
ReplyDeleteUnfortunately, I was not able to get all of the videos to work for me. I am not sure what I was doing incorrectly. I was able to watch Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, which I loved. So many of the things she said regarding how we have develop that single story was amazing. I am now going to research her and read things she has written. So, thanks for introducing her to me.
I believe the cultural diversity is extremely important. I think it is important to know that cultural awareness extends beyond knowing holidays and recipes of other cultures. There are so many stereotypes associated with different cultures. I would love to do a dispelling the myths type of discussion with my students. I believe that it would be a great ground breaking activity to open their minds to receive true experiences of other cultures. I also believe it is extremely important to select text from a diverse authors. Like Adichie mentioned in the video, she originally only read American and British literature. As a result, she had experience a kind of tunnel vision. When she being to experience African text, her perspective was broaden. Reading authors from different backgrounds will impact the students, and give them a different message. I think students would also benefit from having speakers from different cultures come in and share their experiences. That could definitely contribute to the cultural awareness. I love this topic!
Norleisha, I am glad you enjoyed Adichie's TED Talk. I've followed TED on YouTube and there she was.
DeleteWith so many avenues that students will have access to in this world, I also think the "dispelling the myths" type of discussions with students would be great!
Hi, everyone!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say thank you and share a lil note.
The first time I watched Adichie's Ted Talk, a couple of years ago, I told myself that I would get to know her writings. I've only recently been reading one of her books, Half of a Yellow Moon. It's pretty neat historical fiction about a place and time I didn't grow up knowing. It's about twin sisters in their adulthood during Nigeria's Civil War. I enjoy the voices of this novel and when I'm in a novel I tend not to compare it to any other voice/novelist. What I can tell you is, some people like the style and others do not. She uses flash backs and forwards and some people don't like that.
If you enjoyed Adichie's TED Talk, you might also enjoy the whole TED Talk that Beyoncé used part of in her last release. I had watched this one last summer and then bought a book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hg3umXU_qWc&feature=youtu.be
Thanks again for your participation in this blog. You were very helpful.