LLSS 315 Spring 2010
COURSE SYLLABUS
Class Web Page Index
Linguistically Diverse Resources
Course Descrption:
This course familiarizes students with the history, theory, practice, culture, politics of second language pedagogy and oracy and literacy. Students will gain an understanding of: teaching methods and cultural sensitivity; becoming culturally responsive educators in working with linguistically diverse students; and realizing that language and culture are synonymous and that all children are linguistically diverse.
Rationale:
All classrooms are comprised of uniquely diverse learners on all levels, including linguistically and culturally. As educators we must becme flexible-minded thinkers who can suspend our own values and judgments as we support and respect the complexity of children we teach. In accepting our students' otherness, we can maximize their experiences and stories as the content and context for learning.
Instructional strategies:
Students and instructor will engage in the following ongoing collegial learning interactions: reflective writing, reciprocal learning, reflection/communication blog, authentic learning, writing workshop, practicum experience, individual conferences, individual and collaborative projects, literature circles, socratic seminars, Chautauqua and storytelling.
Goal of Culturally Relvant Educators:
The challenge of our role as educators is how to effectively and meaningfully use the personal and cultural stories of students while at the same time reaching outside their respective cultural boundaries.
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"When we speak of diversity in the classroom, we usually focus on the diversity of the students in the room. We often forget that the teacher also brings a range of diversity issues to the classroom. Every teacher brings his or her physical appearance and culture into the room at the same time as the students do. How you look, how you speak, how you act upon your opinions of the role of academics (and particularly of the class you teach), and the extent to which these differ from the physical, cultural and intellectual backgrounds of your students will have a profound effect on the interactions in your classroom. Thus you need to be aware of possible reactions among the students to your race, gender, age, ethnicity, physical attributes and abilities. Preparing for such reactions will involve not only knowing as much as you can about your students, but also turning the mirror to yourself, and finding out more about your own diversity issues."
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Source: Dr. Delaney Kirk references this quote from an article from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Center for Faculty Excellence .
