As a CSUSM credentialing candidate we are required to read and respond to numerous education based readings covering a wide range of topics. I will be responding to these readings and topics in this space. Please feel free to add comments about my responses or the readings themselves. This first set of responses is based on a number of readings from the "Focus On" series found on the NEA website. As stated by the NEA, "The 2004 - 2005 Focus On series examines and enriches our understanding of this achievement gap for six groups: American Indian and Alaska Native students; Asian and Pacific Islander students; Black students; Hispanic students; women and girls; and gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students. Each publication highlights some of the barriers to learning and success faced by one of these groups of students, concrete strategies to address these barriers, and additional resources for school personnel."
Task: Identify research-based instructional strategies you can use in your ITU.
1) Asians and Pacific Islanders: In designing our ITU it will be important for us to be aware of this segment of students, while the Temecula area does not have a large segment of this population it is certainly significant and growing. To effectively reach these students teachers need have an appropriate level of cultural competency and they must use this competency to create an inclusive classroom. Furthermore, we must teach these students to examine the curriculum and look for items that my be lacking or that may be to simplistic in their representation.
2) African Americans: In this article a few of the main points that need to be considered are that as teachers we need to hold our African American students to the same level of expectations as our other students. Furthermore, the article points out that African American students may need more encouragement than other students, while being held to a high standard of achievement.
3) Hispanics: According to this article there are many steps that teachers can take to help ensure the success of Hispanic students. As with all segments of disadvantaged students one to the best ways to increase achievement is to make the subject matter relevant to them and meaningful in the big picture. This article also states that cooperative learning is effective in assisting Hispanic students raise their level of learning. Along with this this teachers need to supply this population with challenging curriculum that has real world applications.
4) LGBTQ: I think all of us are equally appalled when we hear someone use a racial slur of any type and we are quick to reprimand those that use these types of terms. We must be equally swift in our actions against those that use anti-LGBTQ language. However, we must do more than simply punitively punish the offender, we must educate them on how and why the words are hurtful and damaging. All students have the right to feel safe and secure at school and we have not only the duty but the power to make that a reality.
5) Native Americans: As with most of student segments mentioned above it is important to "build a comprehensive school curriculum that is culturally-based, that promotes language development in both the Native language and English early, and that provides the literacy base so critical to improved academic performance.”
6) Girls: In order for us to help our female students achieve at their maximum we must strive to continue to break down the gender stereotypes that are still to common on campus. For example, use inclusive language, call on all gender types equally, make sure women are given equal "wall space" and included in the curriculum as active participants in history, science and all other areas.
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