Multicultural Education: How to Teach Culture without Encouraging Stereotypes

What is Culture? Culture is not just holidays, clothing, and food. Unfortunately, when we look at how teachers teach culture in the classroom, it is exactly that. We read a quick book about the Chinese New Year, discuss the ways Native Americans dressed during the month of November, and celebrate Cinco de Mayo by listing all of the Mexican foods we like - guacamole, anyone? Although holidays, clothing, and food are a part of culture - there is so much more. I spent a summer in Bangladesh while I was still in college. Before that, I had only been out of the country two times and they were both in the Western Hemisphere. It was amazing to live in an entirely new culture. We wore salwar kameez and scarves to cover our front in order to be appropriate. I was not allowed to look men in the eyes as a sign of respect. We could not show the soles of our feet when sitting down, which was a struggle for me since I had never thought about it before. Our food was incredibly spicy, and although most of my friends couldn’t handle it, I was able to impress everyone by eating the peppers and spiced sauces. The roads in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, were so packed that we witnessed several accidents every day. Once it took us two hours to drive seven miles because of the slow moving traffic. The house where I stayed always stopped for “tea time” in the afternoon, serving chai with cookies. I’d hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day, ringing through the city. Why did I tell you all this? Because when I returned, if you asked me to teach about the culture, I wouldn’t know where to begin. How do you take a whole country’s values and pack them into a few forty minute lessons? How do you simplify them for children to understand without watering anything down?

The Importance of Teaching Culture Now more than ever, students are able to access different cultures through technology in the forms of social media and television. However, these examples of culture are always oversimplified and often generalizations. World events that these children may see on the TV show military conflicts, radicalism, and natural disasters. Students hardly ever experience true examples of culture. For example, over the last few years, everything I ever heard about Syria was bad news. Reporting on bombs, wars, and deaths filled my TV. Then I learned that over 10,000 Syrian immigrants were coming to the United States. I realized, with so many Syrian children coming into our school systems, other students would not have a good impression of them, based on the news filling our TVs and radios. Syria, although war torn, also has some great people, traditions, and culture. There are Syrian artists, athletes, and leaders that can be admired. Students should hear the good, along with the bad, in order to be unbiased and welcoming of any new students coming to the school. You see, students need to see that there is more to this world than them. So many students are filled with a self-absorbed sense of entitlement that they don’t even realize that there are other countries, other beliefs, and other interests. Just because someone doesn’t look the same, talk the same, or pray the same, doesn’t make them bad or dangerous or unlovable. Children need the chance to learn how to engage with people of other cultures in a respectful way. The more children experience diversity, the more comfortable they will be with it. We can empower students, from early ages, to speak up against racism, accept all worldviews, and prevent cultural stereotypes.

Staying Away from Stereotypes Most teachers want to have a culturally aware classroom. Unfortunately, many teach it in a way that causes more harm than good. I have seen so many “cute crafts” that regard creating a popsicle stick teepee while learning about Native Americans. The problem with this is that it’s a generalization. Depending on the tribe, Native Americans lived in longhouses, wigwams, adobes, plankhouses, and, yes, teepees. But to only teach students about teepees limits the fullness of how different the Native American tribes are. There are even generalizations that may seem like a compliment. Make all the kids’ mouths water with talk of spaghetti and meatballs, pizza, bread, and lasagna, and give a “compliment” to the Italian culture by saying that “all Italians are good cooks!” That’s a compliment, right? We love Italian food, right? Until an Italian student goes home and asks his parents, who don’t like to cook, why they aren’t good cooks like every other Italian. It makes people feel as if they are not keeping up with the cookie cutter impression that the world has for their culture. I’ve heard many people say, in a good natured way, how smart students from India are. What happens if an Indian student is struggling with a concept or is having trouble moving onto the next reading level? Instead of treating them like any other student who is struggling, we hold them up to what we believe they should be like, wondering why they aren’t fitting into the box we created for them. It is really a dangerous thing to generalize in any way, especially if you are teaching the students to hold onto these same cultural expectations.

Going Deep for All Grade Levels I started off discussing how culture is more than just food or clothing. So then, how do we effectively teach culture? This will all change depending on the grade level and subject you teach, but let me promise you, even young students can go deep and comprehend the beauty of differing cultures. Students can study other countries’ governments, constitutions or lack thereof, economies, and famous landforms. Students can compare and contrast religions, track weather patterns, and discover how animals adapt to their land’s climate. Students can read folktales from different countries and discuss similarities and differences, as well as compare the current exchange rate between the American dollar and other countries’ currency. Students can read biographies on immigrants from all around the world. To go back to the beginning, it’s not bad to read a read aloud on the Chinese New Year. In fact, some of my favorite stories are about the Chinese New Year celebration. However, if that’s all you do, you are not effectively teaching the Chinese culture. China has a wide variety of different landscapes, which could be a great Social Studies lesson. China also has many endangered animals, such as the South China Tiger that has 0 still living in the wild and less than 100 living in captivity, which would be a great lesson for Earth Day. There’s nothing wrong with discussing the ways Native Americans dressed or where they lived, as long as you are capturing the fact that there are hundreds of tribes that all differ in various ways. Instead of making popsicle stick teepees, create a map that shows where each type of house was found, or create a Venn Diagram to compare two different tribes. Discuss how Native Americans lived off the land and encourage students to make up games using things found in nature such as sticks, grass, and stones. Grind flowers and mix with water to create your own paint. Discuss the folktales and stories of how the world was made, according to different Native American tribes. There is also nothing wrong with discussing food. Students will probably feel more motivated to talk about food and participate more in your lessons if you’re showing pictures of yummy food! However, we don’t want to make any generalizations. If you have a Chinese boy in your class, don’t assume that his favorite foods are Chinese dishes. If you have a student from South America, don’t assume all she eats is Spanish dishes. Young students could sort food into categories such as bread, meat, soup, dessert, etc. Older students could compare what different countries have for breakfast. Students could even bring in a recipe or write a how-to on their favorite foods. Instead of focusing on meals, you could find what each country’s largest crop is and design a project on that.

What Can We Do? It is impossible to teach about the landscapes of China, the different Native Americans tribes, Day of the Dead, Chinese folktales, the agriculture of Italy, and endangered animals in Australia. We barely have time to teach what is in our curriculum, let alone make a unit on currencies around the world. Take what you’re teaching and add real world examples from around the world into it. If you’re learning about supply and demand, discuss agriculture and factories across the world to see where we get some of our favorite items. If you’re teaching about biographies, tell about Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada or Malawian engineer William Kamkwamba. If you’re teaching hours of daylight, talk about Reykjavik’s longest day consisting of almost 22 hours of daylight. In small ways, show the students that the earth is big and ready to be explored. Show them that the world is overflowing with people who make a difference. It is our job to make sure that students see examples of great leaders from different countries, different races, and different genders. Students should create stories, art, music, and dances, inspired by other culture’s. Students should feel so comfortable and knowledgeable about other cultures that they are able to contribute to this world’s fight for justice among all races, ethnicities, genders, and religions. Students should look at a culture and see more than just a type of food, more than a unique article of clothing, more than just a stereotype, and see the real people, with values, beliefs, and a rich history to explore. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ACE EBL5091 Jessica Lee DePasquale October 26, 2018

Things I Never Thought I'd Say

When becoming a teacher, especially for younger grades (second grade over here!), you are expected to be positive, upbeat, and encouraging. I take it to a whole new level.

I’m so glad my only audience is a group of seven year olds. If any of my friends saw me, they would be so embarrassed. I literally jump up and down, clap my hands together, cheer, sing, and dance all so that my class has a good time learning. I actually kind of annoy myself. (But of course the kids love it.)

I was prepared to sing the alphabet song. I was not prepared to rap a Dr. Seuss book.

I was prepared to praise good students. I was not prepared to thank each student who raises his/her hand.

I was prepared to teach spelling. I was not prepared to stand on their desk and dance if they spelled the bonus word correctly.

I was prepared to deal with tough situations from their home life. I was not prepared to openly cry with students.

I was prepared to clean desks. I was not prepared to clean shoes, shirts, hair, faces, books, carpets, backpacks, water bottles, etc.

I was prepared to say beautiful, heartfelt, educational things that students will always remember. I was not prepared to say -

“Wow, I am SO proud of you for not getting pizza sauce on your pants!”

“No, there’s not a baby in my belly.”

“Tie your shoes before your mom sees.”

“Stop licking your desk.”

“No, I’m not your godmother. I’m just your teacher.”

“Only hold your breath for a few seconds, or you might pass out, and that would make me very sad.”

“Miss Lee needs coffee.”

“Get out from under the desk. I want to see your handsome face.”

“I don’t know if you’re adopted. Ask your parents.”

“No, no one in this class has dwarfism.”

“You’re not a fool. Who told you that?”

Teaching is such a blessing, with opportunities for prayers to be answered and miracles to happen every day.

I never thought it would be so hard, and I also never thought that I would leave every day feeling so happy.

I Thought I Was Going to Be a Teacher

I am a few months into my second year of teaching second grade. Including student teaching, I have taught well over fifty kids, so while I am still considered a new teacher, I have hundreds of stories to tell.

There are some thing that my undergraduate classes didn't cover, that nothing prepared me for. Because it's easy to be a teacher - come up with fun games to teach math concepts or help the students to write daily in a journal. The hard part is all the other jobs that comes with teaching.

I am not just a teacher.

I am a hair stylist, washing candy that got stuck in a little girl's hair ten minutes before the class picture was taken.

I am a nurse, applying ice and bandages, inspecting bug bites and scratches.

I am a musician, singing silly songs over and over to help the class memorize grammar rules.

I am a police officer, blowing my whistle to stop kids who are trying to jump over the fence and leave school property.

I am an artist, drawing pictures of flowers, seahorses, hearts, and wild things.

I am a referee, listening to angry friends each tell their side of the story.

I am a judge, enforcing consequences and requiring apologies.

I am a fitness coach, teaching students how to do burpees.

I am a Oscar winning actress, pretending to be surprised at things I've known all along, or holding in laughter when a child is being unknowingly hilarious.

I am a speech therapist, making sure the students are saying "erosion" and not "erection".

I am a scientist, giving kids a chance to suggest theories and test them out.

I am a cleaner, scrubbing paint off of desks and glitter out of rugs.

I am a mother, cleaning the wrinkled shirt that is worn to school every day, sneaking them an extra snack, comforting them after a hard night.

I am a doctor, making sure the little boy with asthma has his inhaler, and knowing the details of a seven year old's antidepressant medication.

I am a reporter, taking notes, sending information home, asking questions, finding the truth.

I am a grief counselor, when a family member dies and the child feels lost.

I am a constant, always smiling even when I feel sick or distracted.

I am an improv actor, finding words to say to "Do storks really bring people babies?" and "Is the tooth fairy real?"

I am supernatural, somehow going the whole day barely eating and never going to the bathroom.

I am a friend, holding hands, swinging next to them, giving hugs.

And I thought I just signed up to be a teacher.

Three Weeks Adventuring through Paris - All the Spots You Have to Go to!

I have not blogged in months and months and months, but I decided that for my own memory's sake, I should do a re-cap of my three weeks in Paris. Instead of stories, this is a list of all our favorite spots, with links so that you can learn more about them (and someday go to them!) So if you're interested in Paris or are planning a trip there, definitely read on! There are several hidden gems!

First of all, Natalie and I stayed in Montmartre, which I personally think is the best place to stay. You really get to live like a local. Everything is SO close together that it's easy to walk to, and there are many metros in the neighborhood that will easily get you to the other side of Paris. We lived right by the Sacré-Coeur, which was beautiful, especially if you climb up it (only six euros!) Any day that we were bored, we would wander up to the Sacré-Coeur, at the summit of Butte Montmartre, and walk around the block to Place du Tertre, also known as the Artist's Square, for live music and the best cafes! We were there probably a dozen times.

Although we took some special trips to restaurants that were recommended to us, we ate mostly in Montmartre. Just picture it - bakeries on every corner, ice cream, éclairs, macarons, nutella everything, crêpes. We both gained like five pounds. (It was worth it!)

Because we were there for three weeks, we were able to go to almost everything on our wish list. Museums, gardens, cafes, famous streets. Now that I'm back, places will pop up on Pinterest and I'll think, "What! Why didn't we go there?" I guess it just gives us a reason to go back.

As much as I loved scheduling to see museums or taking a day trip, I really liked our lazy days, when we would just wake up and wander around Paris. We discovered so many cool streets, beautiful houses, and cute cafes. 

We went to the Notre Dame Cathedral for mass on our first Sunday. It was absolutely beautiful! Neither of us are Catholic, so we went to experience a whole other culture - different religion, different language, different customs. It was so overwhelming and definitely one of the highlights of our whole trip! I learned so much from just those few hours. And then we went home and watched The Hunchback of Notre Dame and ooed and awed over how realistic the drawings were! 

We took a day trip to the Palace of Versailles on the hottest day of our entire trip. We walked over 10 miles non-stop, but it was definitely worth it! The gardens were beautiful, and we even got to tour Marie Antoinette's cottages. We took a wrong turn (read: we got absolutely lost) and ended up on this beautiful path. I don't even know how to describe it. There were trees and fields with people biking and picnicking. Natalie sketched the scene while I read out loud, taking several breaks to coo over little toddlers walking by us (French kids are definitely cuter than American kids, no offense.) 

For the 4th of July, we took another day trip to Deauville/Trouville. There's a video at the bottom of this post so you can experience more of this beach town. Rumor has it, this is where all the Parisians go on holiday. It is actually North of Paris, while most popular French beaches, such as Nice or Marseille, are on the Southern coast. I thought it was so interesting to see Parisians on vacation. They were touristy and laid back and relaxing - kind of just like us! Fun fact - Coco Chanel opened her first store in Deauville. 

Natalie's husband surprised us and gave us tickets to Disneyland Paris. I never in a million years would have thought I'd be going there. It was SO fun. It was nice to just get out of the city and all that was familiar to us. Because the EuroCup was going on, they knew that a lot of people would be there instead of Disneyland so they decided that this would be a great time to close down all the popular rides to do construction. We were super bummed because three of the coolest rides were closed, but we were able to go on almost every other ride! Our favorite by far was the Ratatouille ride - if I could have, I would have spent the whole time there. The It's a Small World ride was AMAZING. I almost cried - I love seeing the world come together and appreciate all cultures and all walks of life. Also, we got to meet a Mary Poppins who didn't speak English and a super friendly (let's be real - flirty) Bert. 

One of my favorite things about Paris was that there were gardens and parks EVERYWHERE. And there would always be couples wandering through, holding hands and kissing, or families picnicking, or groups of kids skateboarding and biking. The top picture is of Tuileries Garden and the bottom is right by Le Palais Royal. I recommend always bringing a book or a sketchpad with you because I guarantee you will often stumble upon beautiful gardens that will make you want to stop and enjoy the day.

My FAVORITE place of all - Musée Picasso. It is free the first Sunday of the month, and was filled with so much many of Picasso's works and the best gift shop. It inspired me so much, and if I could recommend anything, this would be the place. 

We also visited the Louvre, Champs-Élysées, Arc de Triumph, Eiffel Tower, Hillsong Paris, the Seine, the Panthéon, Galeries Lafayette (free view of Paris from the rooftop), and more! I am so blessed to have been able to enjoy THREE WEEKS in Paris, and I can't wait to go back! 

Check out the video Natalie made of our day in Deauville - 

Thoughts on the Terrorist Attacks from a 20-Something Year Old

I think, in my young American life, this is the first time that something "big" has ever hit me so hard. Yes, I was alive during 9/11 but it did not seem real to me. It was on the TV. And everything on the TV was fake, right?

It's not just Paris. There have been attacks all over the world recently. There have been so many natural disasters in just the past 6 months. There are thousands of victims of other circumstances - homelessness, domestic violence, bullying. And it's hitting me all at once.

There is a feeling of hopelessness that comes over me every time I think about the terrible recent events. What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to take care of the millions of children who will sleep on the streets tonight? How am I supposed to raise the funds for new homes that hurricanes and earthquakes have destroyed? What am I supposed to say to those who have lost loved ones? What is expected of me?

Nothing. Nothing is expected of me. Actually no, I'm expected to change my profile picture to France's colors to show my support. And I understand why..but what about the mass shooting in Kenya? What about the earthquakes that happened over the summer in Nepal - where people are STILL struggling to survive day-to-day? There are too many disasters for me to change my profile picture to one country's colors and not feel guilty about it. I do support France, but I support everyone else, too. Changing my picture to France's colors feels like I'm brushing every other attack under the rug, and I don't feel comfortable doing that.

And even if I did change my profile picture, I know that I would not feel any better. The uneasiness and the fear that is inside my heart as I blindly scroll through dozens and dozens of articles about ISIS and bombings and terrorist attacks has not gone away since Friday. I scroll, I scroll, I scroll. Because all I have in front of me is my screen and since I can't do anything, I just want to know everything.

If you look at my recent internet history, it will show you that instead of sleeping, I am googling ISIS and instead of taking my lunch break, I am reading CNN articles. I scroll, I scroll, I scroll.

I had plans to go to the gym today. But my heavy heart screamed at me because there are thousands of people in this world who would give anything to have a "normal" day today. To have a day where they wake up early, go to work, and then hit the gym on the way home. This "normal" life that I have lived daily suddenly fills me with feelings of selfishness. Who am I to have this "perfect" life? Who am I to live life "normally" even after these attacks?

I am changed inside. Part of me wishes that I could go back to normal and absentmindedly go for a run and then shop at some thrift stores before going home to cook myself a vegan, gluten-free meal. I cringe at myself.

But the other part of me is thankful for this chance to grow up. For this opportunity for me to actually, literally, physically get down on my knees before God and PRAY. For those who are directly affected, for the countries who have some serious decisions to make, for the fear that is consuming so many people's lives. To repent for those who have made terrible comments, ignorant posts about how it's a certain religion's fault or it's a certain country's fault. To ask God to give me wisdom, because I don't know what to do. There is nothing I can do.

All I can do is pray. And scroll, and scroll, and scroll.

One Year Local: Three Month Update

It has been hard for me to define what shops count as independent. One of the main reasons that I am doing this challenge is to try new cafes, restaurants, and shops, instead of just sticking to what I'm used to. So some of the independent shops that I have found and love do have several franchises, but I still feel good about it. I am branching out, supporting small franchises, and making new memories!

It has been so fun to find hole-in-the-wall places that serve phenomenal coffee, hire a great staff, and have the coolest interior design. I've also found several places that serve burnt coffee, nothing vegan, and are overpriced. Oh, well. You win some, you lose some.

I have also been searching for friends' Christmas presents at farmer shops, thrift stores, etsy stores, and independent shops. The gifts are so much cooler, and often, so much cheaper! They are also one-of-a-kind!

Here are some of the best local, independent places that I have found in the past three months of my One Year Local challenge.

Rock 'n' Joe

One of my favorite small franchises is Rock 'n' Joe's Coffee. I have been to three different franchises all over NJ and they are all SO different. Some have macarons, some have their own special brand of soda. They all have their own complete style and feel, and I love that about them. They also have the BEST iced coffee I've ever had, hands down, no competition. 

Baco Juice and Taco Bar

There were so many vegan, gluten free options, including fresh pressed juices. This was some of the best Mexican food I've ever had, and my "Orangeade" was made fresh with oranges, lemon, and agave. I cannot rave enough about how good this place was, and I can't wait to go back.

Tomato Pie Cafe

For a friend's pre-wedding breakfast, she introduced us to Tomato Pie Cafe. I had their gluten-free quinoa pancakes, and they were SO good. The artsy, woodsy feel of the restaurant was perfect. I wish I lived closer so that I could go back!

Burlap and Bean

For a coffee date, Tori (she gets photo credit) and I tried Burlap and Bean for the first time. They had gluten-free, vegan cookies for me, and plenty of other pastries for Tori to try! I ordered their dark roast and just put some cream and sugar in it. It was probably the best cup of coffee I've ever had at a cafe. Tori's latte was way too sweet and she wasn't a fan of the doughnut (although it looks incredible!), but I'm definitely up for trying it again! It's also only just a short drive from my town.

Phoenixville Farmer's Market

Every weekend when the weather is good, my town hosts a farmer's market. It is so nice to see local farmers and get to support the community. I also love getting the chance to eat organically for not crazy-expensive. Just remember to bring a bag, because the first time, I didn't and I ended up carrying my mushrooms and cucumbers around in just my hands, and it was a little embarrassing.

Artisan's Cafe and Gallery

This has been one of my favorite cafes for years. I always get their vegan, gluten-free honey mixed berry muffins. It is such a great place to meet up with friends, and they have a bunch of games and books to entertain yourself with. They also sell fantastic paintings and pottery made by local artists.

Wild Joy Studios

I need to promote this etsy shop. One of the most inspiring women I've ever met started this etsy shop while living in Nepal. I bought that bear print in the the left top corner, and I am obsessed with it. There are so many great prints, and I am always amazed by her talent. These make fantastic presents.

Summer Re-Cap

Lots of dates.

Lots of books.

Lots of crossing things off my bucket list.

Lots of hikes.

Lots of new cities.

Lots of exploring new places.

Lots of beach trips.

Lots of green smoothies.

Lots of driving.

Lots of museums.

Lots of crisp nights.

Lots of local cafes.

Lots of farmer's markets.

Lots of celebrating friends' marriages and successes.

Also starting a new job as a second grade teacher!

Also..fall doesn't start til September 23rd. So it's still summer, and no one can stop me. More hikes, more coffee dates, more parties, more traveling!

Follow me on instagram to keep up with my fall adventures!