Native Americans PLC & Culturally Responsive Teaching Strategies Presented By Erin Schilke EDU 639 Human Relations & Learning in the Multicultural Environment Professor Stephens May 14, 2014

Overview Of The Culture Native American Indians are a proud group of people who are an important part of the history and culture of the US.

Overview of Culture Historically they valued education to the highest degree. Educating the children was a community effort. Interactive and imitative processes in which different adult tribal members participated.

Overview of the Culture US Government created laws where American Indian Children had to be taught by them instead of their own tribe. Sent to boarding schools. Physically abused due to lack of understanding and interest.

Overview of the Culture It was during this time period when Native American’s began to go downhill in education, and poverty and alcohol abuse set in.

History of the Culture Late 1800s when Native American tribes began to struggle. Laws passed to remove them from their lands. Many battles fought to protect families and homes. In the end were forced off their lands and placed in reservations.

History of the Culture Native American Men Warriors Hunters Trained to defend their tribe from invaders. Becoming a great warrior was a high achievement Native American Women Gatherers Cooks Clothing makers Mothers Anything else required

Educational Considerations Little research done on Native Americans for best educational strategies. Academic Achievement rates for these people are lower than other ethnic groups. Too often cast off by policy makers and educational researchers. One theory for this reasoning… - attend school on reservations & excluded from schools outside this area.

Educational Considerations Poorly maintained schools on reservations. Very little assistance provided to help obtain necessary tools needed to properly educate their students

Educational Considerations We are seeing more research being done to help these people and their educational systems. Full inclusion of Native American Indians into the mainstream of public schools. Many debates and worries about full inclusion. - Segregation - Cultures & Traditions not recognized - Transportation to and from the school.

Inclusionary Practices Families, communities, and schools must work together. Good communication and knowledge to keep everyone on the same page, and possibly limit the amount of discrimination or segregation.

Inclusionary Practices The main thing is to make sure everyone is aware of the changes being made, and all the students feel welcome and accepted into the school and classrooms. For proper learning to take place a classroom must provide a safe and welcoming environment.

Parent/Community Involvement “It takes a village to raise a child.” Author unknown. Important for family and community to be involved. Community provides human, physical, and financial resources. Parents and Family are essential in the daily learning process of their children.

Parent/Community Involvement Studies show that family and community involvement correlates with higher academic performance and overall school performance. Also Decreases the overall student drop-out rate regardless of parent’s income, education, and/or background.

Conclusion Including more Native American students into the mainstream schools, and providing all six types of parent/family/community involvement, we will begin to see a drastic increase in their educational success.

References American Indian Tribal Articles. (2014). Native American Culture. Tribal directory. Retrieved from culture.htmlhttp://tribaldirectory.com/information/native-american- culture.html Freng, A., Freng, S., Moore, H. (2006). Models of American Indian Education: Cultural Inclusion and the Family/Community/School Linkage. University Of Nebraska Sociology. Retrieved from acpub acpub Maxwell, Lesli. (December 4, 2013). Education in Indian Country: Running in Place. Education Week. Retrieved from place.html#jump place.html#jump Van Roekel, Dennis. (2008). Parent, Family, Community Involvement in Education. NEA Policy Brief. Retrieved from Wardle, F. (2013). Human Relationships and Learning in the Multicultural Environment. San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Human Relationships and Learning in the Multicultural Environment