8082 MD3 Dis 1

Assignment Task Part 2:

Read 2 of your colleagues’ postings.

Respond in 125 words or more to your colleagues’ postings.

· Suggest ways to extend or adapt a strategy they described.

· Share at least one peer-reviewed resource that is relevant to supporting meaningful learning for young children through personalized learning and/or culturally responsive teaching.

Cite appropriate references in APA format to substantiate your thinking.

Module 3 Discussion 2 Colleague Responses

Colleague #1- Renee Morris 

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Culturally Responsive Teaching and Personalized Learning

Culturally responsive teaching and personalized learning are designed to empower children by including the students’ cultures, language and backgrounds in the learning process. According to Krasnof (2016) “ teachers must be prepared with a thorough understanding of the specific cultures of the students they teach; how that culture affects student learning behaviors; and how they can change classroom interactions and instruction to embrace the differences.” Getting to know your students’ likes, beliefs, backgrounds and families are  important aspects of teaching. 

Personally it is my belief that students should be taught holistically.  To do this, one must know some background information to reach the students. Working with fifth grade students, I have found myself to have an abundance of patience and understanding.  Many students at this age have faced some adversity in their life.  Some children can not escape adversities.  Children are faced with many challenges; physical and verbal abuse, neglect, poverty, domestic abuse, discrimination, academic pressures and bullying.  Culturally responsive teachers will identify concerns of their students.

Options

Opposed to showing anger or irritability when a student is rude or disrespectful, a conversation is had with the student.  The conversation usually will yield something that is deeply rooted in the child’s emotions.  Most children want to do the “right thing” and not be disrespectful. Once issues of adversities are shared students need more support and not punishment. Lunch and talks are a practice used.  This is when students are allowed to come back for lunch with the teacher and students are able to talk about their feelings, concerns or anything that may be on their mind.  

Before behaviors become concerning, it is important to help children build resilience. Resilience is a skill needed to be successful in life.  Resilience is the ability to recover from tough situations.  Protective forces that help change the outcome of adverse situations need to be discussed with students. According to Bartlett and Sacks (2019), three ways for educators and schools to assist students and families is to strengthen interpersonal relationships by building social and emotional skills, support students’ physical and mental health needs, and reduce practices that may cause traumatic stress or retraumatize students.

Relates to Culturally Responsive Practice and Personal Learning

Lunch and Talks are a culturally responsive practice that allows teachers to get to know their students through conversation.  Students enjoy sharing their feelings when others are genuinely listening and providing advice.  This also shows students that sometimes talking out feelings will help with making choices that are more productive than harmful.  Teaching resilience helps with culturally responsive teaching and personalized learning as a preventative measure. Both practices are important for a student to be successful in life. They both involve educators reaching a child holistically, not just academically.  

 

References

Bartlett, J., & Sacks, V. (2019). Adverse childhood experiences are different than child trauma, 

and it’s critical to understand why. https://www.childtrends.org/blog/adverse-childhood-experiences-different-than-child-trauma-critical-to-understand-why#:~:text=Common%20examples%20of%20childhood%20adversity,extreme%20poverty%2C%20and%20community%20violence.

Krasnof, B. (2016). Culturally Responsive Teaching: A Guide to Evidence-Based Practices for 

Teaching All Students Equitably. https://educationnorthwest.org/sites/default/files/resources/culturally-responsive-teaching.pdf

Colleague #2- Katheryn Gonzales 

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Culturally responsive teaching (CRT) validates and recognizes students' cultures while incorporating student culture into the learning environment. Using CRT, personalizing learning brings engagement, motivation, and learning into the classroom. Teachers can personalize learning through CRT by incorporating literature, music, and art that is culturally responsive. Another meaningful way the teacher can personalize learning through CRT involves incorporating families in classroom activities. This can be done by inviting families to school events like field trips, class celebrations, or curriculum events (Armstrong, 2020).  

In my classroom, I use CRT by getting to know my student's families. I encourage family participation in the classroom by having parents come in as mystery readers. I ask the parent or family member to choose a book they would like to share with the class representing their family. Having mystery readers starts with the family member reading and usually ends up with students sharing about their families. I want my students to know they are wanted, included, and valued classroom community members.

Inviting family members into the classroom to be mystery readers illuminates personalized learning or CRT because the teacher and class are getting to know the student and their family more personally, which allows the teacher to learn how to be responsive to the student's needs. Mystery readers are also a great way to build relationships and community in the classroom, fostering a positive classroom environment. Students who feel safe and represented will be more engaged, active learners in the classroom (Armstrong, 2020).

 

Reference :

Armstrong, A. (2020, June 25). Culturally responsive teaching in early childhood education:

Four ways to validate and affirm young students' cultures in meaningful ways, which can boost their engagement and motivation. Edutopia https://www.edutopia.org/article/culturally-responsive-teaching-early-childhood-education

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