In some cultures, students are embarrassed to speak in front of others, so I take this into account and don't call on these students in class.
Background
Some students learn lessons in their homes and communities about appropriate behavior that discourage them from participating actively in class discussions. Others prefer to work in small groups or on their own but not to speak out in class. For example, such dispositions are common among some Native American students and some students of Asian descent. Clearly, teachers need to be sensitive to such concerns among their students. On the other hand, when students do not learn to express themselves in public settings and to feel confident about their verbal abilities, this may undermine the development of verbal skills, and of literacy more generally. This, in turn, may limit these students' willingness and capacity to take on certain potentially rewarding roles and responsibilities. Of course, the reluctance of some students to engage in class may not be tied to culture at all; many and varied factors may contribute to such behavior. Thus, generalizations about cultural characteristics should be treated as possible explanations rather than definitive diagnoses.
Questions to Consider
- How does a culturally relevant curriculum validate the cultural identity of students?
- What is the connection between students' cultural identities and knowledge of their history?
To explore these and other questions, take a closer look at the resources below. At any time, add your comments to the Discussion by starting a new discussion or viewing an ongoing discussion.
- Kris Gutierrez explains that there is more variation within groups than between groups and that teachers need to rethink the ways that they categorize members of cultural groups:
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- Jacqueline Jordan Irvine explains how verbal and non-verbal communication styles differ among cultures:
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- Carrie Kilman describes how teachers on a Lakota reservation in South Dakota build on the cultural knowledge that their students bring to school.
