...Bakken, J. P., & Smith, B. A. (2011). A blueprint for developing culturally proficient/responsive school administrators in special education. Learning Disabilities -- A Contemporary Journal, 9(1), 33-46. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Introduction Nationwide, schools are being faced with a rapid increase in the number of students of color, culturally and linguistically diverse students, students with learning disabilities, students from low-income families, and students from non-traditional and single parent families. As a result, determining how schools can adapt to meet the needs of these vast demographics, as well as how the varied demographics can play a role in the education of these students, has become more than just a topic of conversation and research for academic professionals, educators, researchers, and practitioners. Literature and research point to educational reform by improving school systems to foster multicultural educational environments. Specifically, school leadership and professional development are closely looked at as driving factors in which to achieve this educational reform. In their article “A Blueprint for Developing Culturally Proficient/Responsive School Administrators in Special Education,” Bakken and Smith (2011) focus on the need for school administrators to be culturally responsive/proficient in the special education arena particularly in order to better meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students who have learning disabilities...
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...Culturally Responsive Teaching: Bridging the Gap Michael Warren University of Texas at El Paso Culturally Responsive Teaching: Bridging the Gap The changing demographics in classrooms are not often reflected in the pedagogies, curriculum and strategies used in represented grade levels and content areas by the education professionals that drive our education system. Recent research has considered the idea that culturally responsive or culturally pedagogical teaching may be the answer to closing the achievement gap created by the absence of cultural awareness. The concept of cultural awareness may be simply defined as an understanding and awareness of the diversity in the classroom (Villegas & Lucas, 2002); however, such a simplistic definition does not recognize the many dimensions involved in the pedagogy of culturally responsive teaching, which for students includes seeing germane links between subject matter and lessons and their experiences outside the context of the classroom and how those links influence what and how they learn. The purpose of this literature review is to examine the many facets that make up the term Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and the impact and implications implementing such a broad concept may have on the education system. While the literature discusses several topics connected to CRT, I will confine this review to the following: (1) CRT Background/Definition (2) The methods of study, the participants involved and the significance...
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...Differentiated & Culturally Relevant Instruction EDU 675 Change Leadership for Differentiated Education Environment Dr. Patricia Raney August 13, 2012 Differentiated & Culturally Relevant Instruction American classrooms are full of diverse learners. Some educational practices of the past no longer meet the needs of the ever-changing classroom demographic. As classroom demographics change, so must the perspective of educators charged with educating young people. It is the responsibility of teacher leaders everywhere to find meaningful ways to reach their students. With the growing popularity of professional learning communities on school campuses, teachers can take advantage of professional development prospects enabling them to establish differentiated instructional strategies that give all students equal access and opportunities to learn. Teacher leaders have several roles. To begin with, as lifelong learners these leaders “foster a collaborative culture to support educator development and student learning” (Teachers as leaders, 2011). In other words, teacher leaders are dedicated to improving educational outcomes for students, expanding the professional communities that they work in and creating positive culture. Positive school culture is vital to both students and staff. Roby (2011) offers that “Teacher leaders not only have the ability to shape the culture of the workplace, but if they are operating from a moral mindset...
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...Runninghead: ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUE PAPER Analysis and Critique Paper Cherrise L. Whye University of Phoenix September 17, 2012 Analysis and Critique Paper Public education, while still coping with the implications of an accountability system mandated by the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), is facing yet another “unprecedented challenge” (D’Angelo & Dixey, 2001) that has far-reaching implications. The increasing diversity of the student populations served by public education systems is already having an adverse effect on overall student achievement and is forcing more and more educators to question their own beliefs and prejudices. The article focuses on the major issues in public education failing to reach our culturally and linguistically diverse student population, particularly those with and at risk for disabilities, including disproportionate academic underachievement, special education referrals, and disciplinary actions (Cartledge & Kourea, 2008). An eruption of social consciousness and moral seriousness has occurred about the “savage inequalities” faced by minorities and poor children in so many of America’s urban schools today (Kea & Utley, 1998). Even while it is clear that culturally and linguistically diverse students have the greatest need for quality instructional programs, many researchers argue that they are less likely to be taught with the most effective evidence-based instruction. Banks (2002) contends that the challenges...
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...The overall goal for early educational professionals, however, is to provide every child, including children who are linguistically and culturally diverse, with a responsive learning environment. For culturally and linguistically diverse students to reach their full potential, instructions should be provided. As educators, it is imperative that we recognize that all students are cognitively, linguistically, and emotionally connected to the language and culture of their home. A curriculum that is culturally responsive capitalizes on student’s cultural background rather than attempting to override them (Zero to Three, 2008). Cultural, ethnic and racial diversity are important and are valued characteristics of the population of young students currently served by early childhood education programs. According to research, early elementary educators are facing the challenge of creating quality educational programs for young students from diverse cultural...
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...Teaching Strategies Diversity encompasses numerous characteristics including socio-economic background, ethnicity, special needs, gender, and giftedness (Cazden, 2001). Today, classrooms are getting more varied and diverse with students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds, and students with a disability. It appears that teachers must meet the needs of all students successfully and individually to effectively teach a classroom of diverse students. This paper will first identify three challenges involved with ensuring that teaching strategies are appropriate for culturally diverse children. These three challenges are acknowledging there is a difference and that all students are not the same, establishing school-wide cultural collaboration, and implementing culturally responsive teaching. Second it will discuss these cultural challenges in the classroom using the sociological perspective of conflict theory. Third and finally it will discuss these cultural challenges in the classroom using the relevant perspective of Piaget’s preoperational stage of development. To make certain that all students in a certain classroom justly feel like they belong to that class, teachers who teach in diverse and inclusive classrooms must employ major strategies. The first challenges involved with ensuring that teaching strategies are appropriate for culturally diverse children is acknowledging there is a difference and that all students are not the same. To be effective teachers...
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...and Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 219-229. 2. There are widely documented cases across the United States of racially and culturally disproportionate discipline outcomes, whether through higher suspensions and expulsions of African American students, as well as higher students being referred to Special Education. 3. The purpose for this study is to outline that Positive Behavior Intervention Support (PBIS) is not enough and there must be an...
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...Respect for Cultural Diversity Poster. Twenty first century early childhood classrooms in the United States are filled with culturally diverse students. As an early childhood educator, you can help prepare this future generation of children to succeed in school. Chapter 1 of the textbook describes different strategies educators can use to support children in their classroom success. ECE 405 Week 1 ePortfolio Submission 1 Culturally Relevant Methods ePortfolio Submission 1: Culturally Relevant Methods. Throughout this course you will develop an ePortfolio that includes evidence of your cultural competence in each of the following areas: § CulturallyRelevantMethods § Anti-BiasCurriculum § DiverseFamilyStructures § MulticulturalEducation Using Chapters 1 and 2 of your text and at least one additional scholarly source, compile a list of 20 culturally competent strategies for English language learners (ELLs). At least five of your strategies should be appropriate for infants/toddlers, five strategies should be appropriate for preschool, and five strategies should be appropriate for early elementary age. You may select the age level for the five remaining strategies. ECE 405 Week 2 DQ 1 Culturally Relevant and Anti-Bias Classroom Culturally Relevant and Anti-Bias Classroom. Teachers can be genuine in their efforts to design and provide a culturally relevant and anti-bias classroom, but still fail to foster an environment where children are fully inclusive of others and free...
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...Multicultural Psychology Multicultural Psychology Psychology is the organized study of behavior, thoughts and affects. Multicultural Psychology is a branch of the many different areas of psychology that analyzes the effects of culture on the feelings, behaviors, and thoughts of individuals. Culture is defined as a group of people characterized by shared values, customs, and behaviors. In this country there is emphasis placed on different racial groups, inter-marriage, minority adoptions and numerous other areas. According to “What is Multicultural Psychology” (n.d.), multicultural psychology differentiates between a narrow definition of culture which is limited to race, ethnicity, and nationality. The broad definition of culture includes any or all important and meaningful ways to identify individuals or groups. Multicultural psychology is needed because this country is so diverse where people of different backgrounds will always encounter one another. History The field of multicultural psychology has a long and complex history. Studies recognized the large cultural and social change in the United States in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as new immigrants, new women, and racial minorities strived for equality and social justice (Oliver, 2010). Psychologist conduct studies on human issues that begin before birth, and continue through the end of life. Multicultural psychology evolved primarily from clinical and counseling psychology. It evolved through...
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...will have diverse strategies for instructing their students to teach each individual type. Teachers will be responsible for student learning as far as managing it and monitoring it. They will use varying types of tactics to measure the students understanding and growth in subjects and be able to assess the whole class. CEC (Counsel for Exceptional Children) Learner Development and Individual Learning Differences are when beginning special education professionals understand that all students learn on a different level and many come from different culture, have a different background and languages. Learning Environment is important because it helps a beginning special education teacher act appropriately in the event of crisis in a student. They also collaborate with general education teachers to help create an environment where learning can take place that is inclusive, safe, and culturally responsive. Integrating technology into their teachings and involving families and community members as partners in each of the student’s education. Teachers will evaluate their teaching and the effectiveness on their students by getting feedback by students and other staff and administration. Lastly, they will help by advocating for the curriculum and the instruction for the best learning environment that can be presented to each student. Teachers will...
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...and passion to serve those with special needs. Our values of compassion, hospitality, respect, innovation, stewardship and teamwork guide us in all that we do. Mercy Health About Mercy Health As a Catholic organisation, Mercy Health is grounded in a 2,000 year tradition of caring for people in need. Established by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Health provides acute and subacute hospital care, aged care, mental health programs, specialist women’s health, early parenting education and support, palliative care, home and community care, and health worker training and development. Our organisation is also supported through Mercy Health Foundation, which secures philanthropic support and donations to foster the constant improvement of care. Strategic Plan 2013-17 Mercy Health Level 2, 12 Shelley Street Richmond Victoria 3121 Phone +61 3 8416 7777 mercyhealth.com.au Mercy Health Strategic Plan 2013-17 The Vision As a ministry of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia and Papua New Guinea, Mercy Health is grounded in a rich history of providing compassionate care to people in need. We remain committed to working collaboratively with the Institute and its ministries to advance health and aged care services in Australia. Our key focus will continue to be responding to the current and emerging needs of the communities we serve, with an emphasis on partnering with individuals and their carers to provide compassionate and responsive care and improving the health outcomes...
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...Current Events Impact on School Counseling Profession Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting occurred December 14, 2012 in Newton, Connecticut. This was one of the deadliest mass shooting at a grade school in the history of the United States. A 20 year old male, Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and 6 adult staffers. Lanza also shot his mother. Lanza committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. Lanza had significant mental health issues which psychologist say did affect his ability to live a normal life. (www.CNN.com). Today there are has been more than 100 school shootings since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary. (www.schoolsecurity). Traumatic stress and psychological distress play a major role in counseling children. School counseling has become even more valuable in the U.S. due to traumatic events such as school shootings. School shootings have had a major impact on students, families and communities. There is a more security and law enforcement present at schools across the US and metal detectors in schools also. School children are being taught how to prepare if there is a shooter or shooters in schools. Due to the increased acts of violence in schools and the need for intensive intervention in student issues, school personnel, school boards, and communities are recognizing the need to provide effective prevention and intervention programs to address social, emotional, and academic needs of students. (Davis, T., 2015, Exploring School Counseling). In the next...
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...and Assistive Technology (AT). In particular, educators must decide how and when poor academic performance will trigger appropriate technology interventions. The historical development of education has seen a lot of changes though out the last three decades. Changes in key components of education such as teacher qualification, financial funding, curriculum, and assessment have all had huge impacts on education. Teacher qualification has seen a lot of changes in how teachers educate and use curriculum. “Since the 1980s, competing and often contradictory reforms have combined top-down, centralized efforts to improve teaching with efforts to promote decentralization and school-based management (Rowan, 1990) (Borman & Rachuaba 1999) History has had a huge impact on education throughout the years. Education throughout history has faced gender, cultural, and religious issues. The way schools are funded also had a huge impact from history. The control of funding for the school was taken from the community and became a political issue. Politicians realized the importance of education and how important it is in the community. Teachers have to deal with the changes in diversity within the classrooms and changes in technology used to educate. One of the impacts technology will have on education is change in student and teacher roles. With the increasing use of technology in the classroom...
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...Embracing the Change in Multicultural Education 1 Embracing the Change in Multicultural Education Karri Runion Western Governors University Embracing the Change in Multicultural Education 2 Abstract As schools prepare students to live and work in a comprehensive nation, it is evident that teachers and faculty must be readied to embrace this challenge. This paper discusses the ever- changing cultural landscape and the obligation of educators to reform common communication practices by the use of diversity skills. Embracing the Change in Multicultural Education 3 Demographic Changes There are three dominant demographics present in the faculty and volunteers of our local school district. Our interest for this growing trend will reveal the source from which they derive as well as bring growth and improvement to our schools. They are as follows: * Socio-economic * Ethnicity * Language A diverse teaching staff as well as student community is important to strengthen our school as a whole. Students have the right to gain experience and knowledge from teachers with similar cultural backgrounds or at the very least teachers that can relate with and teach from an understanding of a wide array of cultures. “A benefit of a diverse workforce is the ability to tap into the many talents which employees from different backgrounds, perspectives, abilities and disabilities bring to the workplace.” (Lindenberger, J...
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...Many Mexican Americans share a common culture and value system that is unique in a number of ways including experiencing widespread discrimination, prejudice, and unequal opportunity in education, employment, income, and housing (Cartwright, 2014). Furthermore, these individuals are considered to be at a heightened risk for development of potential mental health problems (Fierro, 1988). Within this group of individuals, there is an underutilization of mental health services that is causing a growing concern in research and clinical practice. Various socioeconomic and cultural factors place this group of individuals at a risk for developing mental health problems, and research finds that they may be in need of mental health services (Kouyoumdjian,...
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