1. How Can We Make Multiculturalism Effective in the Classroom? Kimberly Kern English Language Fellow IHCIkern.kimika@gmail.com

2. What is multicultural education?

3. Multicultural education is equal education for all students. All students deserve the best possible education we can provide, regardless of:  Nationality/ Language  Gender  Race or ethnicity- indigenous  Religion  Socio-economic background  Learning Style  Disability  Sexual orientation  Family values and background  Etc.

4. This equality is evidenced by the books that are read, the activities that are completed, and the lessons that are taught. All activities should be inclusive of all students backgrounds and interests to provide authentic learning experiences.

5. Know your students!  What kind of learner are you?  What kind of learners are your students?  Visual  Auditory  Kinesthetic

6. Learning Style Assessment Please take a few minutes and complete the VISUAL section of the assessment only. What is your score? How many of us are visual learners? How does this effect our teaching?

7. Knowing your student’s learning styles helps all students have an opportunity to learn.

8. What do students bring to the classroom? Ask them….  Are they from this country? Where is their family from in Honduras?  What neighborhood are they from? Rich, poor, or middle class?  What past educational or life experience do they have?  What prejudices or biases do they have?  What cultural differences may they have?  What family traditions do they have? Religion?

9. Who is in this room?  Who has been to or is from the US?  Who is not Catholic?  Who went to public school?  Who is of indigenous decent?  Who was raised by only one parent?  Who prays before every meal?

10. Nationality, Language and Cultural Differences Learn about the language of your students. A few words can go a long way to show respect. Have students teach the class! To have a successful multicultural classroom, a teacher needs to understand these differences, but avoid cultural generalizations and stereotypes.

11. True or False?  Americans are rich.  Latin Americans are Catholic.  American cuisine is fast food.  Chinese people are shy.  Boys are better at math than girls.  Hondurans are always late.

12. Get together with a small group. Complete the “Culture Club” activity. You have about 5 minutes. Have you ever noticed these cultural differences?

13. Gender Differences  Assign tasks that challenge traditional social roles- Example: Assign men to be note-takers, women to be group facilitators  Encourage men and women to work together in groups  Be aware that women have been historically disenfranchised

14. Religious and Economic Differences  A student’s socio-economic or religious norm is part of their cultural identity  Stay away from one-sided text book lessons  Use material that is relevant to your student’s lives. Ex: facebook, twitter, news articles about their neighborhood, city, or country

15. So, how can we make the classroom a multicultural experience for our students?

16. Personalize Content  Know your students and use their names and life experiences in examples. Sally went to the mall to buy some shoes. vs. Alejandro went to the Multiplaza to buy the newest Wii.

17. How do you get from the church to the Police Station?

18. How do you get from UNAH to CARMAX?

19. My neighborhood- Bed-stuy, Brooklyn, NY

20. Use Different Teaching Styles  Vary your instructional materials as a way to draw in students with various learning styles  Consider visual, tactile, aural, and other dimensions of your instructional materials  Mix it up. Work in pairs, groups, independent.  Speaking, Listening, Reading, Writing activities

21. Avoid Stereotypes  Avoid other-ing; integrate diverse voices and sources together instead of having separate sections or units Example: No units on “women poets” or “Indigenous Voices,” etc..  Discourage gender, national, and cultural stereotypes that single some students out.

22. Ask Your Students! Give students opportunities to share anonymous feedback; surveys; questionnaires Note: Students already feeling uncomfortable are not likely to approach you about your teaching or curriculum What do they want to learn about?? What do they want to learn about?? Make ALL students feel comfortable and included in their learning!

23. Question, Comments, Concerns? kern.kimika@gmail.com “ Education means inspiring someone’s mind, not just filling their head”