When I picture my ideal science classroom, I see all of my students’ different perspectives and cultures coming together as we explore the ever changing world of science. I want my students to see themselves in the content we are studying and feel that their culture is valued and respected in the classroom. How do we inspire our students to be themselves? How do we encourage students to be proud of all of those unique traditions and customs? How do we have students share their cultural values with others, while also teaching necessary state standards?
We all want to know that we are heard and that our thoughts are appreciated by others. Sometimes teachers can be in such a hurry and so focused on lesson plans that we don’t take the time to really ask for student input and ideas. Students don’t feel heard and can feel unseen in the curriculum.
When I taught elementary school I would always show respect to my students’ beliefs concerning holidays. For example, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day crafts always brought a discussion that all of our families are so different and we could just celebrate a special person in our family. I always made sure that my library had diverse books and books that hopefully all of my students would see themselves in and could relate to. However, when I became a middle school teacher, my eyes were truly opened to how vital it is that students see the importance in what you’re teaching.
Let’s look at some ways that we can bring students closer to the curriculum:
1. Try placed-based learning- bring the community into the classroom! Students can learn about the world around them and what is truly important to them. They can also solve community problems and see what they value being utilized and taught in the classroom.
2. Being respectful with teaching different content- be mindful of cultural beliefs. Have students teach you! For example, before I moved to my current location I never knew there were cultures that could not view eclipses. This realization during my first year here really opened my eyes to so many things I was taking for granted due to my own culture and beliefs.
3. Have a Padlet board ready or create a discussion board on Nearpod to start a new unit- have students share any cultural beliefs or things they might already know about the topic. I love doing this and getting the chance to learn from my students! It also helps me to plan for the unit ahead mindful of my individual students.
4. Bring in a variety of perspectives and mindsets when choosing video clips, articles, and other materials. Our teaching materials should include different cultures and represent different perspectives.
5. Get to know your students- students will share cultural celebrations and beliefs as they get to know and trust you. I start the year with get to know you surveys and we always do a get to know you question at least once a week during warmups. As I get to know more about them, I can be respectful of those beliefs as I teach the curriculum. My students know that I value each of them and I love getting to know my students!
I want my students to succeed and to learn the necessary standards they need to move to the next level with confidence. In order to do that I want my students to be fully invested in their learning and to have intrinsic motivation. By incorporating students’ cultures into the curriculum, students will see themselves and the importance in what they are learning. How do you show your students that you value their cultures in your classroom?
Lisa Barnard
Lisa Barnard is a 6th-grade science teacher in the city of Flagstaff. She has experience in both elementary and middle school settings. This will be her 11th year of teaching and she loves inspiring a joy of learning in her students. She also mentors university students who are interested in becoming teachers. After earning her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University, she went on to also get her masters in Elementary Education with a Reading Specialist Endorsement. In her free time, she enjoys landscape photography, reading, collecting fossils, writing, and hiking around Arizona with her husband Nick and their two dogs.
Comments 1
Great ideas. The district I am in is very diverse and I love it! The students are so comfortable with each other that sometimes they “forget” about all of their differences. Having discussions about their cultural beliefs helps them to understand and enjoy one another that much more.