Personal Journal Entry #3 : Chapter 5, pg. 59, Getting Centered

 

Cultural Barriers

 

Think about the last time you were frustrated in your classroom. What was keeping you from doing your best work? What barriers may have kept the learners from doing their best work?

According to, the text Culturally Proficient Instruction (2006), the chief barriers to cultural proficiency are, “a lack of awareness of the need to adapt, a sense of entitlement, and institutionalized systems of oppression” (2006, p. 61). Through my past years of teaching I have been confronted with classes characterized by cultural diversity for which I have been unprepared to service their needs. There was a disconnect between my students’ cultural values and my teaching practices. This gap was a hindrance to my students learning and my ability to reach and teach them effectively. There were uncertainties over my students’ level of background knowledge, and their reluctance to participate in class. Initially my lessons were presented as a whole group, there were very limited resources and materials to address my lessons, and I never took the time to learn about the students’ culture. In my experiences, I can say I have not been successful in providing guidance and support to my diverse students, but today I can say I have resulted in expanding life opportunities for my English learners. I have adapted changes in the way I teach that incorporates a wide variety of instructional strategies that include tools I would use to respond appropriately to any English Learner issue that comes up now or in the future.

 

Reference:

Robins, K.N., Lindsey, D. B., Lindsey, R. B., & Terrell, R.D. (2006) Culturally Proficient Instruction: A Guide for People Who Teach (2nd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, Inc