What works and what doesn't ?

The word multicultural education is defined by Julia Scherba, as "a process of comprehensive school reform and basic education for all students. It challenges and rejects racism and other forms of discrimination in schools and society and accepts and affirms the pluralism (ethnic, racial, linguistic, religious, economic, and gender, among others) that students, their communities, and teachers represent." So the question I pose today is which methods of multicultural education actually work in the classroom, and which don't?

Being a "good" teacher involves engaging each student equally, without gender bias' or discrimination against any race in the classroom. The trouble in solving this is that teachers tend to create a bias or stereotype unconsciously or without knowing. The majority of instructors don't intend to not include boys or girls in a certain lesson, however, when they are planning they might forget to take this into consideration, leaving one gender to be left out. So, the obstacle we face here is how to stop this? How to design a classroom that student and teacher alike have no bias against one another, where each member of the class treats each other equally and as individuals, and most importantly make sure gifted or foreign students receive the attention they deserve.

To begin this discussion we will start with what doesn't work.
1.) Racism and prejudice DO NOT work in the classroom! There is no place within a school building that it is appropriate to be racist or prejudice. As a teacher going into this profession you must be aware that you are going to be working with a diverse group of children. If you do not have an equal respect for all beings than you have no place being in a classroom or being a teacher!

2.) Being uneducated about other cultures does not work in the class room! As I said before there is going to be a diverse group of children in and out of your classrooms through the years. In order to better connect, understand, and teach a foreign student you must be aware of their culture as well. It is important to research where an immigrant student is from so that you do not offend them or their native culture.

3.) Having high or low expectations does not work in the class room ! Having high or low expectations of student only makes learning for a child harder. "Students must believe that they can achieve before they will risk trying, and young people are astute at sensing whether their teachers believe they can succeed."
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107003/chapters/Educating-Everybody's-Children@-We-Know-What-Works—And-What-Doesn't.aspx

Although there are many other practices that counteract the task of multicultural education, there are some methods we found that I believe do work!

1.) Promoting parents to be more involved works! If the school and parents have a better relationship this will most definitely better the child. Students often work hard in school to impress their parents, and parents are their to help their children. If the parent is on the same page as the teacher it will increase the students involvement as well! Schools are now beginning to offer more pamphlets in different languages, translators, and even bilingual classes in order to benefit other cultures too.

2.)Teaching students about one another's culture! I think teaching a child that everyone is different and that this is a good thing is one of the most important lessons they will ever learn. It is crucial that a child understand why someone else is different, and how they're life may be. Young children have to learn the fundamentals of equality, sharing, and openness.

3.) The most efficient method I find is establishing a bond with and amongst your students. It is important to get to know your students so that you can start to form a relationship with you. If you provide a comfortable, welcoming environment to the children, and speak in a respectful tone, this will ensure that you and the students will bond. It is crucial that each student feels welcome, engaged, and important and through establishing a bond this can happen.

Multicultural education is a work in progress today, that teachers hope to expand and make more efficient. I hope that one day each child that enters a school building will feel welcome, safe, and secure. As a teacher I plan on incorporating multicultural education and all the things I have learned concerning this topic to ensure that my students will all feel equal. I think that this is one of the most important, overlooked topic within schools that needs to be assessed not only now, but throughout the years.