Multicultural Education: Children and Families in a Diverse Society Essay Example

"The influence of multicultural educational practices on student outcomes and intergroup relations" by Sabrina it is clear that students exposed to multicultural practices have increased performance and good interrelations with their fellow students. According to the article “Wilson Multicultural education by Wilson,” multicultural education prepares all learners to learn together toward structural equality in the organization and school by equipping the known how, disposition, and abilities for the allocation of power and income among diverse groups (Wilson, 2012). The article “Applying Multicultural Education to the Culturally Diverse Classroom” by Robinson also supports the importance of multicultural education in improving the performance of students (Robinson, 2014).

An analysis of what I have learned based my research on Multicultural Education

Based on the research I did on multicultural education, I learned several issues. First, I learned that the definition of multicultural education is influenced by cultural and demographics shift. In the definition of multicultural education, I discovered that there is no exact definition because of demographic shifts cultural texture. I learned that increase in cultural and ethnic diversity has made many educators to recognize the need to expand and integrate multicultural education in schools to nurture young children. I also learned that multicultural education leads to increased performance and positive intergroup relations. I never thought that multicultural practices in schools can lead to increased performance but after my research, I discovered that there is increased performance among students.

In teaching, I learned that multicultural education strategies help teachers in responding to the increasing issues created by the quickly changing demographics of the students. Multicultural education gives students knowledge about cultures and stories of different ethnic groups as well as the

contributions of these groups in the society. In addition, multicultural education as a tool of teaching is important in promoting principles like inclusion, diversity, democracy, skill acquisition, inquiry, critical thought, value of perspectives, and self-reflection. I learned that teaching multicultural practices in schools encourages students to bring different aspects of their culture into classes allowing teachers to support different child’s intellectual, social, and emotional growth.

An analysis and discussion of how the research findings translate into real-world classroom application

The research findings about multicultural practices in schools can translate into real-world classroom application. The findings observed that most of the classes in many countries include students from different cultures, race, and ethnic background. Increase in classroom diversity has forced teachers to place significant emphasis on the issue of educational content and learning outcomes for all pupils. Teachers must have high awareness and understanding of different cultures that exist among pupils especially young children (Robinson, 2014). In doing so, teachers should avoid cultural bias. As a result, there is need to have appropriate, respectful and effective communication between teachers and their students. Effective communication is the key to providing excellent education in a classroom.

In classes, multicultural education provides students with wide knowledge on cultural history as well as contributions of different ethnic groups to the society. Cultural diversity classrooms instill pride and confidence in pupils. When children are taught their culture, they feel very confident in their studies. To achieve the objective of multicultural education in classroom, teachers can take advantage on holidays and current events to offer cultural knowledge and awareness. Teachers can also decorate classrooms in a cultural décor in order to show appreciation for different

cultures to students. Students will feel happy with their culture. In addition, children will be encouraged to interact with each other. In addition, multicultural classroom will encourage decision-making abilities, critical thinking, and reasoning (Robinson, 2014). Teachers also provide equal opportunities for all students from multicultural education. Multicultural education can also applied in classroom to facilitate student interaction and performance.

A summary of the information in the articles and explanation on how they impact my career

All the articles I read about multicultural education emphasized on the importance of multicultural education in schools. Multicultural education practices in schools gives students the opportunity to express their culture. It helps teachers in appreciating the behavior and conduct of students including cultural behaviors and social norms. This is because an activity in one culture may be disrespectful but in another culture, it may be respectful. As a result, when integrating multicultural education in schools it is good to consider racial and ethnic backgrounds of students. To integrate multicultural education in schools teachers should develop strategies and policies that support culture and student’s academic goals (Ozturgut, 2011). Multicultural education should not be implemented in a colorblind manner. The articles also explained the need for teachers to encourage students to be aware of cultural differences and diversity in classes. To achieve this, teachers can educate pupils to dialogue with each other in order to generate a more inclusive multicultural environment. This will create positive intergroup relations because it will help avoid conflict. The presence of a class that respects other student’s culture will create a good learning environment. Creating a good learning environment will lead to good performance among students.

These readings on multicultural

education will have a great impact in my career. As a teacher, I will gather information on student’s cultural and ethnic backgrounds. I will draw these differences in encouraging students to interact with each other because they will increase motivation and self-esteem. I will focus on empowering students to solve their cultural and ethnic differences through dialogue. In addition, I will teach students to respect each other student’s culture. In addition, as a teacher I will be paying attention to different types of literature available to all young children. In case there is little diversity in a certain group, I will be presenting many different ethnic and cultural practices throughout.

Connection of early childhood education and the themes Anti-Bias Curriculum, Culturally Relevant Methods, and Diverse Family Structures

The importance of multicultural education in childhood education is a significant connection to the themes Anti-Bias Curriculum, Culturally Relevant Methods, and Diverse Family Structures. First, there is significant connection between early childhood multicultural education and the theme Anti-Bias Curriculum because the goal of the theme is to help children in developing positive concepts without gaining attitudes of dominance and ethnocentrism. Since multicultural education in early childhood aims at promoting equal opportunity for every culture among children, it is clear that the theme of Anti-Bias Curriculum is in support of this idea because it promotes equality when teaching children. Anti-Bias Curriculum encourages value based teaching by respecting differences and speaking against unfair beliefs and acts.

Second, the theme culturally relevant methods has connection with early childhood education because it describes a pedagogy that aims at empowering children intellectually, socially, and emotionally with cultural referents to instill knowledge, skills, and attitudes. This clearly

shows the theme supports educating children different cultural differences. Third, the theme diverse family structure has a clear connection with childhood education since the theme encourages teachers to incorporate all types of families when communicating and giving assignments to pupils. Diverse family structures include single parent, foster parent and adoptive parents. This clearly shows that the theme of diverse family structure supports teaching children multicultural practices.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, multicultural education is important is early childhood education because it exposes pupils to different cultures, which creates an exciting environment for learning. It improves their socialization and relation in school. It also helps children in solving their cultural differences. As a result, teachers should integrate multicultural education in schools.

References

1. Ozturgut, O. (2011). Understanding multicultural education. Current Issues in Education, 14(2).
2. Robinson, R. (2014). Applying Multicultural Education to the Culturally Diverse Classroom. Retrieved 20 November 2016, from https://russiarobinson.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/applying-multicultural-education-to-the-culturally-diverse-classroom/
3. Wilson, K. (2012). Multicultural education. Retrieved from http://www.edchange.org/multicultural/papers/keith.html
4. Zirkel, Sabrina. "The influence of multicultural educational practices on student outcomes and intergroup relations." Teachers College Record 110.6 (2008): 1147-1181.