MulticulturalismMulticulturalismIn the ClassroomIn the Classroom

Presentation By:Presentation By:

Dan, Chris, Lisa, Dan, Chris, Lisa,

Jenny, Preeti & CourtneyJenny, Preeti & Courtney

What is Multiculturalism?What is Multiculturalism?

““the preservation of different the preservation of different cultures / cultural identities within a cultures / cultural identities within a unified society”unified society”

““several different cultures coexist several different cultures coexist peacefully and equitably” peacefully and equitably”

““relating to the social or educational relating to the social or educational theory that encourages interest in theory that encourages interest in many cultures within a society rather many cultures within a society rather than in only one mainstream culture”than in only one mainstream culture”

Multiculturalism at the Multiculturalism at the Public School LevelPublic School Level

Definition at the school level:Definition at the school level: ““Public schools in Canada serve a society Public schools in Canada serve a society

which is rich in ethnic, racial and cultural which is rich in ethnic, racial and cultural diversity. …The public schools, therefore, diversity. …The public schools, therefore, have a responsibility for developing in all have a responsibility for developing in all students an understanding, tolerance, students an understanding, tolerance, respect and appreciation for the variety of respect and appreciation for the variety of cultural attributes and behaviours.”cultural attributes and behaviours.”

(School District No. 41 (School District No. 41 Burnaby)Burnaby)

Traditional Approaches to Traditional Approaches to Multiculturalism in the Curriculum Multiculturalism in the Curriculum

and Classroomand Classroom 1) 1) Centered on Dominant CultureCentered on Dominant Culture: a : a

context where a dominant culture’s context where a dominant culture’s beliefs and behaviors are mainly beliefs and behaviors are mainly depicteddepicted

2) 2) Color DenialColor Denial: belief that all students : belief that all students are treated equally regardless of raceare treated equally regardless of race

3) 3) Tourist MulticulturalTourist Multicultural: teaching : teaching children of other cultures only during children of other cultures only during brief episodes during school year brief episodes during school year (Sparks, 2005)(Sparks, 2005)

The importance of The importance of MulticulturalismMulticulturalism

Some Ideas:Some Ideas:- Learn about diverse perspectives of the worldLearn about diverse perspectives of the world- Learning about one another, the histories and Learning about one another, the histories and

contributions of diverse groupscontributions of diverse groups- Aware of other cultures around you. Larger Aware of other cultures around you. Larger

picture of Canada (& the world)picture of Canada (& the world)- Be tolerant, non-discriminatory of each otherBe tolerant, non-discriminatory of each other- Recognizing diversity in your own classroomRecognizing diversity in your own classroom- Democratic values, such as equality that foster Democratic values, such as equality that foster

cultural pluralismcultural pluralism- Experiences at home play a significant role in Experiences at home play a significant role in

how students learn at schoolhow students learn at school

Multiculturalism & Choice Multiculturalism & Choice TheoryTheory

Ethnic identity development is Ethnic identity development is psychologically liberating and psychologically liberating and empoweringempowering

Identity clarification is a critical variable Identity clarification is a critical variable - a fundamental aspect - of human - a fundamental aspect - of human development development

Referring to the Language simulation, Referring to the Language simulation, how do you think choice theory relates?how do you think choice theory relates?

Power, Love & Belonging, Freedom, Fun Power, Love & Belonging, Freedom, Fun and survival and survival

Multiculturalism in the Multiculturalism in the ClassroomClassroom

The focus for our presentation is on The focus for our presentation is on the transformative or integrative the transformative or integrative concept of multiculturalism.concept of multiculturalism.

“ “How to incorporate How to incorporate multiculturalism as a fluid multiculturalism as a fluid element in the classroom.”element in the classroom.”

Multiculturalism in School Multiculturalism in School SubjectsSubjects

An Activity…An Activity… 1) Do you think that multiculturalism 1) Do you think that multiculturalism

is present in your subject, and how?is present in your subject, and how?

2) Suggest some practical ways in 2) Suggest some practical ways in which you could incorporate which you could incorporate multiculturalism into your subject? multiculturalism into your subject?

Multiculturalism in School Multiculturalism in School SubjectsSubjects

Rank the subjects from 1-6 Rank the subjects from 1-6 (1 being most multicultural elements, 6 being least)(1 being most multicultural elements, 6 being least)

What did you notice about the subjects What did you notice about the subjects by looking at the posters?by looking at the posters?

Multiculturalism is a framework to all Multiculturalism is a framework to all subjects. subjects.

The teacher has to make it a The teacher has to make it a ‘transformative’ element in the subjects‘transformative’ element in the subjects

Multicultural Environment Multicultural Environment in the Classroomin the Classroom

Children need to feel included and Children need to feel included and acceptedaccepted

Necessary to provide variety within a Necessary to provide variety within a structured environment that helps structured environment that helps optimal learning for all studentsoptimal learning for all students

Use different learning strategies that Use different learning strategies that addresses the various learning styles addresses the various learning styles of students in the classroomof students in the classroom

Multicultural Environment Multicultural Environment in the Classroomin the Classroom

Classroom posters, pictures, books, Classroom posters, pictures, books, music, toys, dolls that are diverse in music, toys, dolls that are diverse in ethnicity, gender, age, abilities an ethnicity, gender, age, abilities an racerace

Our own examplesOur own examples

Multiculturalism in the Multiculturalism in the ClassroomClassroom

A Conclusion:A Conclusion: Example lessons and ideasExample lessons and ideas Final Message: Multiculturalism Final Message: Multiculturalism

should be an important integrative should be an important integrative part of the classroom and curriculum. part of the classroom and curriculum.