Multicultural Education in the 21 st Century Overview of Multiculturalism and Global Awareness and What it Means for Your Classroom

Overview 1.What CHANGES are occurring in West Virginia and the World? 2.What does Multicultural Education / Global Awareness MEAN for me? 3.What RESOURCES can I access for Implementation?

Changes in World Population Changes Hispanics = 13.7% of US population projected to be 25% by 2050 Asians = 4.1 (increase from 3.6) Economic Changes (2004) Foreign-born workers comprise 14.5% of US labor force US-based multinational corporations employ 21.8 million workers (1/5 total)

Changes in West Virginia $2.2 billion in foreign trade with countries such as Brazil, China, Italy Japan 100 international companies created 30,000 jobs 1200 limited English proficient (LEP) students from 60+ languages 4.7% African American (state avg) 3.3% and 3.8% Hispanic students Eastern panhandle (Berkeley and Jefferson counties)

Core Subjects ICT Literacy Life Skills Content Learning & Thinking Skills Assessments Changes in West Virginia

Civics, Economics, Geography Changes in West Virginia

What does Multicultural Education /Global Awareness mean for ME?

9/8/2015 What is Multicultural Education? Current Policy and Code W.Va. Code a Study of multicultural education for school personnel WVBOE Policy – “multicultural education programs must be developed and implemented for faculty, staff and students to foster an attitude of understanding and acceptance of individuals from a variety of cultural, ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds.

What is Multicultural Education? Current Code and Policy Policy 2421 (11.1) Racial, Sexual, Religious/Ethnic Harassment and Violence Policy –13.1. The West Virginia Department of Education will prepare an annual report to the West Virginia Board of Education to include: reported and substantiated incidences of harassment and/or violence; action taken in response to incidents; training and staff development offered by the agencies; and agency reported numbers and types of multicultural education offerings Policy 2510 (5.56) Assuring the Quality of Education: Regulations for Education Programs –9.7. Multicultural education is required to be taught to all students at all programmatic levels, pre-k-4, 5-8, and Schools/school systems are required to develop and implement a program for multicultural education. (See Section and Policy 2421.) Policy 2320, A Process for Improving Education: Performance Based Accreditation System – Multicultural activities. Multicultural activities are included at all programmatic levels, K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 with an emphasis on prevention and zero tolerance for racial, sexual, religious/ethnic harassment or violence. (Policy 2421)

What is Multicultural Education? Two Sides of the Same Coin GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE in the Content in the Content CULTURAL COMPETENCY SKILLS in the Classroom

KNOWLEDGE Global perspectives  Social Studies  All content areas SKILLS Cultural Competency Critical Thinking ICT Literacy Foreign Language ATTITUDES/BEHAVIOR Life Skills Character

What does Multicultural Education / Global Awareness mean for ME? DEVELOP A PLAN 1.Needs Assessment 2.Meaningful Objectives 3.Implementing Activities & Approaches 4.Locating Resources 5.Refining/Expanding the Plan

What does Multicultural Education mean for My Class? Needs Assessment Who are your students? –Racial, Ethnic, Religious, Linguistic Diversity –Cultures and subcultures in school What do students want to study? Where are your students needs? What are you seeing? What do students see? What are you anticipating?

US culture Local culture School Culture Global culture “Tour and detour methods trivialize, patronize, and stereotype cultures by emphasizing traditional costumes, foods, and dances while avoiding the true picture of the everyday life of the people from that culture.” (Derman-Sparks, 1993)

What does Multicultural Education Mean for My Class? Meaningful Objectives To Increase Awareness of Global Issues and Dynamics To Develop Multiple Historical Perspectives To Strengthen Cultural Consciousness To Strengthen Intercultural Competence To Combat Racism, Sexism, and All Forms of Prejudice and Discrimination To Increase Critical Thinking Skills

SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS CULTURE OF COMMON BELIEFS & VALUES Dedicated to “Learning for ALL…Whatever It Takes” HIGH PERFORMANCE SCHOOL SYSTEM SYSTEMIC CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT PROCESS CURRICULLUM MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTIONAL PRACTICES STUDENT/PARENT SUPPORT

9/8/2015 What does Multicultural Education Mean for My Class? Activities AND Approaches One Day Events Field Trips/Food Holidays Regular Instruction/Lessons –Health –Literature –Foreign Language Instructional Units Interdisciplinary Lessons Advisor/Advisee Responsible Students Program Parent Programs

What does Multicultural Education Mean for My Class? Locating Resources Current School Programs International Businesses Parents Higher Education Civic Groups Internet

What does Multicultural Education Mean for My Class? Locating Resources

Questions and Comments For more information, please contact: Amelia Courts Exec. Director ESL/International Schools