Cultural DifferentiationCultural Differentiation

Or Ridding Ourselves of Bias in the Or Ridding Ourselves of Bias in the ClassroomClassroom

Must know our own Must know our own biases:biases:

Recognizing our own inadequacies Recognizing our own inadequacies and biases is the first step to having and biases is the first step to having tolerant, safe, and comfortable tolerant, safe, and comfortable classroom.classroom.

www.tolerance.orgwww.tolerance.org

Go to the Go to the Hidden Bias Hidden Bias link on right link on right hand side to take testshand side to take tests

Some areas of Some areas of cultural cultural

differentiation to differentiation to consider:consider:

EthnicityEthnicity

What is the major ethnic group in my What is the major ethnic group in my classes?classes?

What is/are the minority group/s?What is/are the minority group/s? What ethnicity does my class seem to What ethnicity does my class seem to

understand the least?understand the least? What stereotypes exist about certain What stereotypes exist about certain

ethnic groups within my school and ethnic groups within my school and community?community?

What could I do to foster understanding What could I do to foster understanding among ethnic groups in my classes?among ethnic groups in my classes?

GenderGender What are the stereotypes for males and What are the stereotypes for males and

females in the subject I teach?females in the subject I teach? What have I done to combat those What have I done to combat those

stereotypes?stereotypes? Have I been observed on how I interact Have I been observed on how I interact

with boys and girls in my teaching?with boys and girls in my teaching? Am I cognizant of what is said that could Am I cognizant of what is said that could

be offensive?be offensive? Are there positive adult role models in Are there positive adult role models in

both genders of this subject area?both genders of this subject area? Do I have any pictures of those people or Do I have any pictures of those people or

references to them in my room?references to them in my room?

Generation/AgeGeneration/Age

How old am I and how much older than my How old am I and how much older than my students?students?

What are my attitudes about the young?What are my attitudes about the young? What are my students’ attitudes about the What are my students’ attitudes about the

old?old? How do I listen to young people—or do I?How do I listen to young people—or do I? Do I share stories of my own youth and Do I share stories of my own youth and

show security in laughing at myself?show security in laughing at myself? What do I do to let my students know that What do I do to let my students know that

all ages matter?all ages matter?

Socio-economic classSocio-economic class How could differentiation even matter for How could differentiation even matter for

this “culture”?this “culture”? Am I aware of how little some of my Am I aware of how little some of my

students have, even in the area of basic students have, even in the area of basic needs?needs?

What could I do in my classroom to foster What could I do in my classroom to foster equality for those who are not in style?equality for those who are not in style?

How can I help my students and me raise How can I help my students and me raise their/our consciousness about people their/our consciousness about people mattering more than things?mattering more than things?

PoliticsPolitics What is the background of my students?What is the background of my students? What do they need more exposure to?What do they need more exposure to? Do I have any non-partisan descriptions of Do I have any non-partisan descriptions of

Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians for students to see—either on Libertarians for students to see—either on a bulletin board or a bookmarked website?a bulletin board or a bookmarked website?

How do I lessen my own bias in order to How do I lessen my own bias in order to give students information and not give students information and not unsolicited opinions?unsolicited opinions?

ReligionReligion Besides Christianity, are my students and Besides Christianity, are my students and

I aware of other main religions?I aware of other main religions? Is there acceptance for all believers and Is there acceptance for all believers and

even non-believers, regardless of their even non-believers, regardless of their views?views?

Is there anything about all religions that Is there anything about all religions that is in common?is in common?

How do I accommodate students whose How do I accommodate students whose backgrounds, families, and cultures are backgrounds, families, and cultures are very different from the mainstream of my very different from the mainstream of my classes?classes?

To do, think about, or To do, think about, or rememberremember

Invite someone of different background to Invite someone of different background to join your class in celebration of a holidayjoin your class in celebration of a holiday

Have students (as well as you) take an Have students (as well as you) take an inventory of home’s artwork, music, and inventory of home’s artwork, music, and literature. Bring it all together, create an literature. Bring it all together, create an excel chart, and decide what could be excel chart, and decide what could be added to make your homes have more added to make your homes have more diversity.diversity.

Point out stereotypes and cultural Point out stereotypes and cultural misinformation depicted in movies, tv misinformation depicted in movies, tv shows, computer games and other mediashows, computer games and other media

Applaud the other team. Promote good Applaud the other team. Promote good sportsmanship and ban taunting.sportsmanship and ban taunting.

Develop a school calendar that celebrates Develop a school calendar that celebrates diversity.diversity.

Invite billingual students to give morning Invite billingual students to give morning greetings and announcements on the PA systemgreetings and announcements on the PA system—or if you have no billingual students, then have —or if you have no billingual students, then have majority voices give information on minorities.majority voices give information on minorities.

Write a letter to the editor if your local Write a letter to the editor if your local newspaper ignores any segment of the newspaper ignores any segment of the community or stories about cooperation and community or stories about cooperation and tolerance.tolerance.

Conduct a diaper equity survey of local Conduct a diaper equity survey of local establishments and commend managers who establishments and commend managers who provide changing tables in men’s as well as provide changing tables in men’s as well as women’s restrooms.women’s restrooms.

ASSIGNMENTASSIGNMENT

You and your students, together, think You and your students, together, think of one thing you can do in your of one thing you can do in your classroom or community to help lessen classroom or community to help lessen bias in at least two of the suggested bias in at least two of the suggested cultural areas: ethnicity, gender, cultural areas: ethnicity, gender, generation/age, socioeconomic class, generation/age, socioeconomic class, politics, and religion.politics, and religion.

E-mail me the results and I will share E-mail me the results and I will share them with the group. them with the group. Other StuffOther Stuff