Brittany Shaw
Assignment #3
1.) Do our curriculum
materials accurately represent the histories, experiences, and contributions of
various cultural groups?
When I asked Ms Rivera this question her response was,” Yes, we have to acknowledge all holidays. We must do lessons on Black History, women’s rights, ect.” In the handbook handed out to all the parents, it states that the district acknowledges holidays and allows teachers to talk about them throughout the year. It clearly says they are not allowed to endorse religious holidays. I think there is always a fine line with the holidays. The teachers themselves have to be knowledgeable of all holidays and prepared for the children to ask a lot of questions.
2.) Do classroom
practices encourage multiple intelligences and reflect an understanding of
different learning styles?
Ms. Rivera said, “Yes, we have guided reading groups, use of different teaching strategies, using manipulatives, and direct instruction. I want every student to understand what I’m teaching so I’m always trying new things.” When observing her classroom I noticed that was true in her classroom. Some students just understood when she read them a story others I saw going back to read it again for themselves. The whole time I was with the class she had them moving around the room. They were working independently, in pairs, in groups, and independently again. I feel she really tries to reach out to her students and understand how every child learn differently.
3.) Does our school
provide ongoing parent education and training so parents can learn ways to
enhance their child’s learning at home?
When I asked Ms. River she said, “We have Back to School Night to inform the parents about on reading and math programs but other than that they pretty much have to teach themselves.” I believe the Swedesboro-Woolwich school district is very good with incorporating parents with their children’s learning experience. First the school has a Parent-Teacher Organization where they encourage parents to join. They also have a Parent Information Program through Global Connect. They send out newsletters, calendars, assignment books, and student communication folders to keep the parents informed. In Neito and Boto’s study on parents they stated, “Very few of them we involved in school in any way. The reasons for this lack of involvement were many, ranging from inability to speak English, to limited funds, to lack of previous experience with such activities, to their own negative experiences with schooling.” I feel parent need to put the past behind them and try to better their children in any way possible. If the teacher and parents can work together the child will have a much better experience in school.
4.) Do we provide
opportunities for staff to gain knowledge about different cultural groups?
Yes, we have workshops offered to
us and we have to attend a certain amount of hours a year. She also said she
was going to
Children from especially different cultural groups have problems coping in school. Neito
talks about multicultural education not just being about inner-city schools or food festival, but about equality for all students. I think multicultural education is great for the students, but harder on the teacher. I feel that teacher and prospective teacher like myself need to receive more training in this area. Not just a seminar every year, if that.