Chapter 4 Learning Log

What? Who we are is composed of our past experiences, beliefs and knowledge. This is an important concept because it applies to the social relationship between teachers and students. All of us get in the habit of looking at the world through our own cultural lenses, seeing things the way we believe they are supposed to be seen. But, what happens when a student sees the world differently than other students see it, or how the teacher sees it? This is why it is so important to have an open mind as a teacher. In order to effectively work with students, teachers must try hard to overcome these biased behaviors. For example, in some cultures, children do not look adults in the eye as a sign of respect. The best thing to do is to know who your students are. Communicate with the parents to find out if there are any cultural differences that you should be aware of as their teacher. As a teacher, it is also very important to be able to quickly adapt and modify your teaching style to those students who are culturally different.
So What? It is important to know these things because in the classroom I will have many students from diverse cultures. I need to know how to handle situations where students may think other students are weird for being "different", but in fact every one is different, and it is my job to make each and every one of my students aware of that. No parent wants to send their child off to school when they are unsure of how their child is "viewed" each day. It is the teacher's job to make sure that there is an atmosphere of respect that is maintained in the classroom.
Now What? Now that I know this information, I am more aware of the cultural aspects of a classroom. I will be able to educate my students about the differences between all the students. I could maybe have a "Me Day" where each student chooses a way to present themselves to the class. I could do this activity in the beginning of the school year as an introduction activity. I think it is so important, and so much more important after reading Ch. 4, to be educated about cultural differences among students. The better you know the students, the more comfortable they will feel around you as their teacher, and the more successful they'll be in your class.