https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c Amber Smith -- How to become a "successful teacher of African American children" en-us 2016-08-25 14:09:31 UTC 2017-05-17 06:31:21 UTC hello@padlet.com asmith491 https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119952305 This image puts the lack of diversity in children's literature into perspective. These are the types of stories that are being read to or by children every year in the United States. These books are proving to be majority "culturally relevant" to Caucasian students. The Dreamkeepers reveals that in order for children to be as successful as they can, they must be provided with cultural relevant instruction, including literature that they are exposed too. This puts minority students at an extreme disadvantage. ]]> 2016-08-26 00:14:04 UTC https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119952305 asmith491 https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119952408 It is very important for teachers to get to know their students and where they come from. The Dreamkeepers mentions the importance of cultural relevant teaching. If teachers do not get to know their students, they are unable to contribute to their maximum performance level. This image shows an activity a teacher did with her class to learn about some of the cultural aspects of his/her students.  ]]> 2016-08-26 00:15:30 UTC https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119952408 asmith491 https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119953507 This image illustrates a typical assignment that I've seen in a PreK class I observed in the past. As you can see, each community server that appears in this image is white. This is an example of hidden curriculum. By providing students with assignments that don't include a variety of people, they are indirectly developing the interpretation that people of other races/ethnicity cannot have the same job. The Dreamkeepers provides examples that also reveal a negative hidden curriculum, like a teacher letting an African American student "get away with murder"  because she feels sorry for them and wants them to know she "cares." (Ladson-Billings, 2009, p.23). These types of teachers are not racist, in most cases. Usually, they do not realize "their perceptions of African American students interfere with their ability to be effective teachers for them."(Ladson-Billings, 2009, p.23).]]> 2016-08-26 00:29:24 UTC https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119953507 asmith491 https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119954491 2016-08-26 00:41:27 UTC https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119954491 asmith491 https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119955492 The author of The Dreamkeepers,  Gloria Ladson- Billings (2009), suggests that "...schools place little value on what is termed the "nonstandard English" that African American children bring to school even though that language is rich, diverse, and useful in both community and work settings" ( p.19). This language has been coined the name Ebonics. It is treated as if it is it's own language all together, rather than simply being a dialect of English. Speakers of this dialect are being recognized as being less proficient in the English language. African American's are the main group known for using Ebonics. As we know, the media does a poor job at focusing on the cultural circumstances that this dialect stemmed from. Language is a part of everyone's culture and should be respected as so. ]]> 2016-08-26 00:50:39 UTC https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/119955492 asmith491 https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/120162641 This image illustrates the many things that are associated with culturally relevant teaching. In The Dreamkeepers, culturally relevant teaching is mentioned on multiple occasions, as it is extremely important. Ladson-Billings (2009) even references the opinions of parents on what they thought makes a "good teacher". "They wanted them to help their children succeed at traditional academic tasks (reading, writing, mathematics, and so on), but at the same time they wanted them to provide an education that would not alienate their children from their homes, their community, and their culture" (P.30). The culture of students is very important in education, and must be taken into account to provide differentiated learning. ]]> 2016-08-27 22:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/asmith491/kqvbdefcal5c/wish/120162641