The culturally competent teacher should be able to use a variety of assessment techniques appropriate to diverse learners and accomodate sociocultural differences that affect learning...


As Ira Shor discusses in empowering education, there are certain things students deserve when being educated. For one, they deserve to believe and be encouraged to exlpore and question the world they live in. They should never feel as though they are simply going through the motions of school and are unable to have any say in their education or path in life. Shor suggests that teachers allow their students to look at things in multiple ways and work to change what they feel is unfair or wrong. Shor also explains that it is very important to make sure students are participating in the classroom activities and discussions. This is essential because it can help prevent the cycle of boredom that some children feel in school as well as to share and learn about one another within the class. Since everyone is has experienced different backgrounds and will continue to do or want different things in life, similarities can always be found. Sharing stories and connection can help chilren to understand why someone is the way they are or offer the teacher explanations as to why they learn the way they do.


To achieve these methods of learning, teachers must worked hard to understand children based on their culture and experiences rather than their own. Shor says that in order for a teacher to really reach his or her students they must first appeal to the language and culture of the students. One way a teacher can do this is by taking a simple standardized lesson plan and asking themself if their students will understand and be interested in the topic and findings. If the lesson simply does not relate to the group of students being taught, they will not only be easily distracted, but also fail to remember what they were taught.


A main contributor to the way children learn is where they come from or how they speak. We have learned in class that everyone learns differently and should not be expected to understand something as much as another student. In order to reach the entire class, the lesson must be both culturally relevant and based off of how the students learn. Maybe some will need to be reminded repeatedly how to carry out processes. Others may work well with flash cards or reading with another person. In ways such as these, no one is left out of the discussion and learning process. It is the responsibility of student and teacher to work together to understand and learn from one another.


At the school I am visiting weekly, there are definitely a variety of ways in which the children learn. Being a reading buddy allows me to see all the children focusing on the same subject but learning in different ways. For example, the three children I work with immediatey appeared to be at different reading levels. In fact one of the children benefits mostly from starting with kindergarten readings and lessons and then slowly progessing into the fourth grade level which she should be at. It is interesting to see how some children need one on one instruction in order to be their best while others prefer to silently work alone or be apart of a group. The class in which I am tutuoring actually rotates among four teachers. To make things even more confusing, the children switch classrooms and grades are mixed together for certain periods. The children seem to understand and work well with the system, however and seem to benefit from working with different teachers.


The most common way that I have witnessed the children being allowed to learn in their own way is by the reading groups that are formed based around the needs of the child. For example, the teacher works with a group of children who seem to be slightly more advanced and can understand challenging instructions and assignments. The student teachers are work with either a group who needs extra help or those who wor well on their own. Then there are the ones who I meet with weekly. These children are known for needing extra help with the reading coach and teachers and benefit from one on one tutoring with me as well as group work with others who need guidance.


Although all students learn differently, the teachers as well as myself must work to help each child individually as well as teach them how to do well in group settings when one on one is not an option. The levels at which children read at are constantly changing and developing. The important thing is that the teacher recognizes the students needs and mends her lessons or the requirements of the state to reach the students and add to the knowledge they already have. By doing these things and keeping a close eye on students individually and as a whole, teachers will be able to understand who their students are and how to teach them in the most effective ways possible.