My notebook by Yuri Padron-Ennis

Category 1: Curriculum Integration- Strategy 1:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:34:45 UTC

Different ways to incorporate multicultural perspectives in literature are broadening the understanding of the students by representing diverse cultures, traditions, and experiences. Helping the students understand them from an authentic standpoint and respecting their cultures. Go further than what they think they know or understand from stereotypes. Research the different cultural identities in depth, like the personalities, struggles the cultures face, victories they have experienced, family dynamics, spiritual practices, and social norms. Compare those things to what is familiar and normalized for themselves within their own culture.

Cat 1 Strategy 2:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:37:39 UTC

Look at different cases and the experiences people from different cultures have had. Explore these different events and how they have shaped culture today. The social injustices and prejudices that changed due to the different oppressions they have suffered. If you look back on the time around World War II and the impact of the bombings on American soil changed the way Japanese immigrants and their American-born children endured because of something they had no control over. If you’ve never read the book The Light Between Us, it is a great one for this topic and revolving around the Holocaust as well!

Cat 1 Strategy 3:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:39:11 UTC

Try different styles of storytelling that bring different techniques of traditions. Research ways to enhance and respect all the diverse myths and folktales. Use different narrative voices and perspectives when storytelling that include multiple first-person narrations from different cultural backgrounds. All while being respectful, of course. Making the stories intriguing and allowing the students to want to learn more about diverse cultures.

Cat 1 Strategy 4:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:39:37 UTC

Reflect on issues that are present today. Every day, something is happening within our own mixed culture country that affects the future of the students. Respectfully, have a current events time set aside every day where the current issues changing today can be reflected on and discussed. Discuss the pros and cons of these issues and what can come from them, how it makes them feel, and maybe even what they would change about them.

Category 2: Culturally Responsive Teaching Methods- Strategy 1:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:43:57 UTC

Utilizing student surveys and questionnaires to get to know some of the unique facts about your students' likes and dislikes. Learn more about their interests, hobbies, traditions, nicknames, and culture. Things that they do as a family at home, and some of their favorite things about growing up in the culture they have. The more you get to know them, the more personalized your relationship becomes with them.

Cat 2 Strategy 2:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:45:26 UTC

Set time aside to have one-on-one conversations with them. It doesn’t have to be a long and drawn-out conversation but just to check in and see how they are doing. What they like about the class or lessons, what has been their favorite lesson, if there is any experiences they would like to share.

Cat 2 Strategy 3:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:46:03 UTC

Learn about the students' diverse cultures and revolve around the curriculum and materials. Give them different text and literature, scenarios and examples that relate to their cultural backgrounds to draw off of. Make connections with them and the lessons and use that in the curriculum to enhance their learning experience. Make it student centered.

Cat 2 Strategy 4:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:47:08 UTC

Promote strong relationships with peers and with the teacher. Suggest group projects that involve getting to know each other and learning about each other. Make sure that all the class agrees on a set list of respectful rules to follow and use when discussing each other's cultures and differences.

Category 3: Fostering a Multicultural Classroom Environment- Strategy 1:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:49:42 UTC

Have flexible seating and aesthetics that create a welcoming space that is inclusive of everyone's individual needs and cultures. Make the students feel comfortable working in the classroom within their comfort and norms. Once again, areas that promote group projects and small groups. Display student work and different cultural appropriate works/art.

Cat 3 Strategy 2:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:51:13 UTC

Another inclusive practice I feel very strong about is learning correct pronunciations for language and verbiage used in certain cultures and backgrounds. Different cultures have different ways of saying things and asking before assuming is always respectful. Learning how to say student names and making the effort to do so shows them that you value their feelings and want to show them respect in return for theirs as well.

Cat 3 Strategy 3:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:51:52 UTC

Allow the whole class to help come up with a set of rules for everyone to follow or use as guidelines, rather than having a set you provide. Make it a group effort so that they can brainstorm over that helps everyone feel comfortable and respected.

Cat 3 Strategy 4:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:52:44 UTC

Make sure to focus on the behaviors and actions, not their characteristics or identities. Make it something realistic and easier to follow, not something impossible to agree to and out of their reach, depending on their individual needs and behaviors. Keep it simple, about 5 or so, not too many that makes it hard to understand or follow and then make a visual representation of those guidelines.

Category 4: Engagement with Families and Community- Strategy 1:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:54:07 UTC

Invite parents to participate in the classroom. I know this may be harder to do because of restrictions and district rules, but if allowed, bring in different parents as guest speakers. Allow them to come in on days that they can share different aspects of their background and culture. How have they become who they are today? Share their different skills or even norms that may be different because of their cultural diversity. An elder of the family and the traditions they try to keep going through the generations.

Cat 4 Strategy 2:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:54:36 UTC

Offering the parents workshops to help navigate topics in school that they may not understand. Supporting reading at home, or how to work with the school and navigate your child’s education for the most benefit. For some parents, offering this to them in a bilingual form or however they may need it perhaps visually.

Cat 4 Strategy 3:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:55:06 UTC

Asking parents and the community to volunteer for events and celebrations. Sending out brochures and notifications to have them involved in PTO/PTA. This can allow their voices to be heard, and they can suggest better and more productive ways to incorporate community-wide cultures.

Cat 4 Strategy 4:

ypadennis2017 — 2025-07-02 22:55:47 UTC

I think a lot of us mentioned before a cultural showcase night or event. This allows the students to showcase their work and the community to see the diverse cultures they may not have known about within the district. This allows everyone to see the efforts that the students have put into the classroom and allows different families to get together and share stories, food, and music. Invite a couple of multicultural guest speakers to share experiences and express themselves and their own culture.