Blog Entry #3

For this blog entry I was asked to read the following articles:

Pithissippi Burning: Race, White Nationalism and American Culture
Posted by PJ Tobia on Mon, Feb 23, 2009 at 10:00 AM from the Nashville Scene

"Why Multiculturalism is Wrong"

The Challenge of 'Multiculturalism' In How Americans View the Past and the Future
Samuel Taylor

I have to say I was absolutely shocked as to how people have reacted to Multiculturalism in the United States. The most shocking thing for me was the reactions that people have had to teaching Multiculturalism in American schools. I never would have thought that there are people in the world who were so adverse to teaching the histories of the many different peoples of the United States. I had no idea people were so worried about "White" culture in the United States. To me culture is in the home and with family, I know my family celebrates holidays differently than most - we celebrate some holidays like Catholics, we celebrate the Day of the Dead as it would be traditionally celebrated in Central and South America, but we don't really celebrate Easter, but we do celebrate Columbus Day as the Day of the Race, as it would be celebrated in Puerto Rico.

Speaking about the argument of how people affected by Columbus "negatively" really, from the experiences I have had in Puerto Rico, do not view it that way. Puertorricans that I lived with in San Juan, Puerto Rico celebrated it like a joyous holiday. Many said without Columbus they would not live in Puerto Rico, or be who they are. Many people celebrated around the island, and we were all out of school and off work. So, it is really strange that people say that Puertorricans do not like Columbus, when they were joyous about his discovery of their island and even have statues of him around the island. I wonder if maybe people impose that idea on Americans so we feel guilty.

After reading the article "Why Multiculturalism is Wrong" article, I was left with a wha????? I really did not know how to feel after reading that article or what was really the point the writer was trying to make. I do understand how the country makes the culture really does make sense.

When one is from a certain country a person usually identifies with the culture of the country being their own culture. I certainly identify with being "American" and know what life and culture is like for me.

I really have a hard time with people imposing any kind of culture on me. Yeah - I may be white, but I've lived around the world. I lived in Puerto Rico and have brought those cultures with me. I lived in Austria and celebrate Christmas and Lent much like an Austrian, not because I became Catholic, but because I enjoyed the celebrations.

I really hate supremecists telling me "my" culture is dying, because it isn't. My culture lives with me, inside of my heart, mind and home - I just wish everyone would quite judging me by it.

Blog Entry #2 - What is English Grammar?

Teaching grammar plays a central role in every ESL/ELL teacher's classroom. The important question that needs to be answered is: how do I teach grammar? In other words, how do I help students learn the grammar they need. What are your thoughts?

The main struggle I have with defining "Standard English Grammar" stems from my experiences living and working with Spanish-speakers in the United States. I have met so many people who do speak English very well, but often Code-Switch and use both English and Spanish as they speak to other speakers of both languages. It is the most interesting I have ever heard, and I wonder why this has not become a larger question in the definition of Standard English like the African American Vernacular - which to be completely honest having lived in both California and the American South, have never really heard, though I do spend time with African Americans.

The big question is how do I teach grammar? Well, I do lots of things!! I try very hard to differentiate instruction so students can show an understanding of of their knowledge of grammar without worksheets. I usually follow this basic outline when I teach grammar:

1 - PowerPoint presentation of the grammar with students taking notes

2 - a worksheet to practice

3 - Grammar Graphics where the students will have to identify different parts of speech and draw a visual representation of the part of speech above it. (Yes, this rings of diagramming sentences, but I was one of those kids that enjoyed it and if there are 2 or 3 that get it if I do it this way it's not hurting the ones who dislike it!!) http://www.grammargraphics.com/

4 - differentiated instruction "Menu Options" where students are asked to use the topic studied in a variety of ways

5 - *this is ongoing* MadLibs! I know it may sound cheesy, but we start every Language Arts class with a couple online madlibs to get our brains creative, we do these as a class through the computer and projector, it is FUN!! We were rolling on the ground today!!

6 - Test at the end of the unit to determine what needs to be revisited.

That is how I teach grammar. My class is both inductive and deductive I try to really differentiate instruction and show students in a variety of manners how the grammar point works. I am a self-proclaimed "Grammarian" I love grammar and to study it, but I know how much fun doing worksheets is, so I try to keep it light and quick, so students do not feel bogged down. Though I have noticed that they do really enjoy grammar once they realize it isn't as bad as they previously thought!

Blog Entry #1 - Multicultural Education

What is my definition of Multicultural Education?
To me Multicultural Education is any time a teacher brings a different culture into the classroom. To me a teacher can use literature written by authors who are not of the canon. I believe that even though we as a society study mostly white American authors, a caucasian author holds as much value as a non-white. Students can learn so much by reading and studying the works and collective histories of different authors and cultures, and they will benefit not only as students, but as future employees and members of society. Multicultural Education is recognizing everyone and their place in our society.
My personal and reflective thoughts regarding the challenge of defining multicultural education.
I feel that after Gorski's working definition of Multicultural Education I do my best to hit his major bullet points, but I feel the definition if general is missing the point that teachers have to teach what we are told to teach, I can deviate a little and have selected books for my students that are multicultural and written by immigrants or children of immigrants, but the lacking section is what school boards, districts and administration needs to do to provide teachers with the means for teaching multiculturally. I cannot make non-canonical literature appear in my classroom without funds from somewhere - lord knows I don't have them, nor do my 96% free and reduced lunch families. I would love to provide these things and do my best to, but I can only do so much without the proper support from my district.
I try my best to be understanding of the many different lives my children live and to be accepting of them and provide an avenue for them, I want to have a classroom where all students feel accepted and all students learn about their cultures and I feel that I am doing my very best at that right now. I know my classroom is very student-centered, and I will always continue to keep it that way.

The classroom challenges facing teachers as they strive to implement multicultural practices in their classrooms.
These are vast and I will probably not be able to hit most of them, but the first thing that popped into my mind was "Where is the money coming from to buy the books from authors outside of the canon, who are of the cultures of my children?" I live and work in an English-only school system where my Title 1 funds that do buy books are not allowed to buy books that are not in English. I do not have the money, nor can I require students to buy books to read in class. Where will I get the funds to buy 30 books by Gabriel Garcia Marquez?
What if I have no idea about the culture of the students that I am teaching and do not have the time to find anything out?
How can I provide texts from cultures that do not have a written language?
How can I provide information and solidly teach a concept that I am unfamiliar with?
How can I do all of this, plus make sure I hit all the standards, plus have lessons planned in a timely manner, plus sleep?
All the questions aside I already know I am way ahead of many teachers in the aspect of Multicultural Education. I realized that my students will not be reading any novels written by white Americans - all of my literature this year will come from authors who are mostly from Central and South America as well as the Caribbean and Japan. I have lived and worked in different cultures, so I know that I strive to bring other cultures into my classroom. The hardest part for me to buy into is that the "Leader" of Multicultural Education is not, nor according to his CV ever been a classroom teacher, I think it's fine and dandy to want change, but it has to be in the classrooms of America, not from an elite university. Give me the resources to make the change and I will, I WANT TO!!