Running head: MULTICULTURALISM

Multiculturalism
Amber Parham
Education 255
Dr. Sandra Mahl
03/05/15

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2
Multiculturalism
Abstract

A major goal of our school systems today is giving every child an equal educational opportunity,
which can be obtained through multicultural teaching. This does not mean that every child is
equal, but that each child deserves access to the necessary resources and opportunities for which
they learn best. By incorporating a multicultural approach in your classroom, you are able to
provide academic support and services to all of your students. Multiculturalism helps students
overcome feelings of alienation and can assist in getting the necessary instruction they require.
Learning about your students and their families is essential in really gaining an insight to who
your students are and what you can do for them. This encourages class participation, potentially
higher grades, and students who actually enjoy school.
As an educator, it is essential to understand the key qualities of multiculturalism. To evaluate
your knowledge of multiculturalism, you can start by analyzing these three questions:
1) How does multiculturalism in your classroom help your students of different cultural
backgrounds learn?
2) How can I design curriculum and instructional strategies so that my students understand
multiculturalism?
3) How will understanding multiculturalism help me grow as a teacher?

How does multiculturalism in your classroom help your students of different

cultural backgrounds learn?

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Multiculturalism allows diverse cultural groups to maintain their unique identities, while
still participating in the dominating culture equally. Young children feel more included and as
though they are better understood if they are in a classroom that is supportive of their differences
in ethnicity or culture. By embracing other cultures that students can relate to in your classroom,
students feel special and as though they can contribute to what the class is learning about.
Students quickly become aware of the educators who respect their cultures, believe they can
learn, and value the differences in the classroom. With students from diverse cultural groups
increasing in the school populations, a good, effective teacher should begin learning to
understand more about cultural diversity so that they can deliver better instruction to help
students learn. Not only should a teacher educate their students about various cultures, but they
should guide those of other cultures on the ways of the dominating one, so they can become
more productive and successful members of society, as well. Culture is learned through
enculturation and socialization, resulting in different ways of thinking, feeling, behaving, and
expressing oneself. Familiarity and participation with the community in which a student comes
from, also benefits educators in understanding and knowing their students and their families.
As one Community College Professor, Darrell King, expressed through his own personal
experience:
Being able to connect with all students is vital to the retention of all students. In
far too many cases, instructors misinterpret nonverbal cues for agreement and
understanding when trying to provide instruction to students who speak English
as a second language. Student's successes are predicted upon their confidence that
they matter in the collegiate environment. Part of a student's belief that he or she
matters can come from a faculty member's familiarity and understanding of that

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student's cultural background, issues of importance and the student's ability to

relate to all students (King).
How can I design curriculum and instructional strategies so that my students understand
multiculturalism?
One essential element for a multicultural curriculum is to include exercises that allow
students to explore concepts, concerns, and events from various perspectives. These efforts assist
students in understanding that different people can view one event or issue in different ways. It is
important for teachers to relate the curriculum to the lives of their students, and reflect their
images and their natural experiences. In order to do this, teachers must expand their own
knowledge about the sociocultural backgrounds of their students and their families. A
multicultural curriculum should focus on integrating content across disciplines. Interconnecting
all subjects and examining how they are used together is more effective than teaching content as
separate entities. To truly engage students, we must reach out to them in appropriate ways both
culturally and linguistically. We must also examine the cultural customs and stereotypes we bring
into the classroom that may create a barrier in communications and connectedness. Instead of
relying on prior experiences with students of similar backgrounds or any stereotypes, teachers
must know each students academic abilities and personalities, individually.
How will understanding multiculturalism help me grow as a teacher?
The INTASC Standard #2 on learning differences requires, The teacher uses
understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities to ensure inclusive
learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards (CCSSO). As an educator
you will have students of various genders, socio-economic statuses, languages, ethnicities,
religions, youth cultures, geographies, and sexual orientations. Each of these can affect the way a

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student learns. In order to grow as a teacher, it is essential to understand how to communicate

and instruct such diverse students. Researching your students native countries, cultures, and
educational systems gives you a better understanding of their background knowledge.
Association to a group can be greatly affected by a persons identity within that group. Learning
more about the history, traditions, customs, geography, and biodiversity of their home countries,
helps you to connect your lessons with things your students already know. It is important to give
your students ways in which they can contribute their own experiences to the classroom. This is
expanding not only your knowledge of your students, but ways in which you can expand their
knowledge, as well.
Conclusion
In conclusion, a major goal of our school systems today is giving every child an equal
educational opportunity, which can be obtained through multicultural teaching. As an educator, it
is essential to understand the key qualities of multiculturalism. To evaluate your knowledge of
multiculturalism, you should analyze questions such as how multiculturalism in the classroom
helps students of different cultural backgrounds learn, how designing curriculum and
instructional strategies for students to understand multiculturalism is essential, and how
understanding multiculturalism helps teachers grow. With the support of research, experience,
and expertise, the inclusion of multiculturalism within classrooms will expand the knowledge
and understanding for both educators and their students.

References
KING, DARRELL. "Experience in the Multicultural Classroom." Community College

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Week 2 Oct. 2000: 4. Military and Intelligence Database Collection. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.
Retrieved from: http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE
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863a9dbc627c50

CCSSO. Council of Chief State School Officers. The InTASC Model Core Teaching
Standards At A Glance. April 2011. Retrieved from:
http://www.ccsso.org/Documents/2011/InTASC%202011%20Standards%20At%20A
%20Glance.pdf