Creating a Culturally Responsive Classr

Emily Knuckles
Dr. Bridgitt Mitchell
Introduction to Education
25 October 2014
Creating a Culturally Responsive Classroom
Migrant Education Program
The Migrant Education Program helps students gain the ability to reach the highest level of academics and is the pathway that allows a smoother transition of the migrant students' academic records. This program also allows the migrant students and their families the confidence and assurance that the student will be placed in both grade and classes in their new school. It also give the teachers in the school the ability to meet the needs of the migrant students so that they can learn according to the standards. Middle and high school students can also find peace in the transfer process, as the MEP ensures that the credits transferred will meet graduation requirements. "The dropout rate among migrant students is high because of the frustration and hopelessness these students encounter when schools are not able to meet their academic needs" () The MEP helps the migrant students find peace and comfort as they transfer because it makes sure that the students needs are met.
The Colorado Accommodations Manual for English Language Learners
The Colorado Accommodations Manual for ELLs was created as a resource for educators to go to when they need to execute some accommodations for instruction and assessments. It ensures that ELL-accommodations are available for ELL students to have quality instruction, accommodations are available on assessments, accommodations are provided for ELL students on IEPs, accommodations are used routinely and consistently, and that guidelines are provided for the accommodations all in regards to CSAP assessments. It presents a five step process to help determine which accommodations to use. The five steps are expect, learn, select, administer, and evaluate.
Facing Challenges of Race and Ethnicity in the Gifted Education Classroom
In this presentation, Dr. Joy Lawson Davis gives insight on the problems both students and teachers face when it comes to races and ethnicities that are outside of the "norm." She talks about how the biggest issues teachers face today are actually their misconceptions about their diverse students. She says that educators today have low expectations for and limited understanding of their diverse students. She says that because of this, diverse students find it hard to fit in and the expectation that they are destined to fail arises. She ends by explaining that student diversity is important to the classroom and that students of different backgrounds need to feel as though they are appreciated because they are different.
Colorin Colorado
Colorin Colorado is a website resource that offers educators different ideas on how they can effectively teach students that are English learners. It offers ideas in obtaining background information, placement and testing, instruction, gives examples of what is proven to work in classrooms, developing further as an educator and reaching out to ELL parents. It not only has resources for educators, but also for administrators and parents.
Summary
Making sure that each classroom is equipped to meet the needs of all the students is extremely important. As a future education, it is my job and responsibility to understand that all of my students may not meet the "norm" and that there are resources like the MEP to help me better teach those students so that they can learn just as the other students do.
Assessments are an important part of every classroom. It allows a teacher, school, and district the opportunity to see where their students stand in relation to the state standards and to other schools. However, assessments may pose a problem for students who are still in the process of learning the English language. That is where accommodations enter into the picture. The Colorado Accommodations Manual for ELLs will be an important resource for me to use as an educator in my classroom. I will most likely come across students in my classroom that are not fluent in English, especially if I stay in Colorado to teach. I will use this resource to help me navigate the accommodations process especially the five steps given. I will expect my ELL students to reach content standards, learn about the accommodations, select accommodations that fit, administer the accommodations correctly and evaluate those accommodations so they can be improved.
In Dr. Davis' presentation, one of her most powerful points in her presentation is, "Students share personal anecdotes of how other support and appreciate their success, this support encourages them to excel." This is important because it explains how students perform in the way they are expected to. If a student is expected to fail, then they won't try, and they will fail. If they are expected to meet standards and do well, then that is exactly what they will do. This is important to remember in my classroom, not only for my ethnically diverse students, but for all of my students. I will implement what this presentation talks about. I will ensure that my students know and believe that they are valuable because of their experiences and that who they are is an asset to the classroom.
As a future educator, Colorin Colorado will be a very useful tool not only for myself, but also as something that I can refer parents of my students to. It will be useful as a quick reference guide when I'm at a loss and it will allow me to see different ideas that other educators have used and found to be effective.