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Jill Heininger Andrea Coffey EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms Assignment 3 Learning from Native American Stories 1. Why are Native Americans an involuntary minority group? Involuntary minorities are defined as groups whose ancestors suffered slavery or colonization in the United States and who have been historically denied true assimilation into U.S. society. They are keenly aware of the intergenerational oppression received. The extreme oppression and colonization experienced at the hands of the dominant culture in North America led to Native Americans becoming an involuntary minority group. (pg. 83-84) 1. Why is the circle such an important symbol for Native Americans? A key concept of Native American philosophy is holism, and one of the most important symbols is the circle, or hoop of life. When traditional Native Americans gather as a group, they meet in a circle depicting the importance of all present, equality distributed to everyone, and the belief in loyalty to the group that keeps them whole. Traditional Native Americans see themselves as extensions of the tribe. The individual is part of the whole, and the wholeness of the tribe provides strength and gives meaning to life. (pg. 88) 1. Describe the language differences and the communication style of Native Americans. Traditional Native American speech patterns are often slower and softer than dominant-culture speech patterns, with few interjections into the conversation of others. Intense eye contact is avoided, as it can be perceived as a sign of rudeness. Native Americans may exhibit limited facial expression and may appear guarded, aloof, or cold. In addition, responses may seem delayed, if they occur at all. Native Americans consider silence to demonstrate self-control, courage, patience, dignity, and reverence. Nonverbal communication through rituals, signing, drumming, and dancing are highly prized, as they are perceived to be more in line with nature and others. Traditional Native Americans learn through observation, listening, and practice. Children are often taught through demonstration rather than verbal communication alone. (pg. 90-91) 1. Do you think it is appropriate to call a sport’s team a name associated with Native Americans? Think Washington Redskins… Defend your answer. No. Associating a sport’s team name with Native Americans present stereotypes that are hurtful to Native Americans and humans in general. Team names and mascots often portray Native Americans as savages or battlefield warriors perpetuating a false stereotype. 1. Native American students seem to do well until the fourth grade. If you were a fourth-grade teacher, what are some of the strategies you would use to make sure your Native American students do not fall behind the other students? As a teacher I would become more aware of Native American cultural values. I would use demonstration, modeling and coaching during hands on instructional activities. Tailor readings, activities, and illustrations to students’ experiential backgrounds. Integrate Native American literature into the classroom as well as Native American history and governance into social studies. I would also do more cooperative group work as opposed to individual classroom activities or competition within the classroom. (pg. 93) 1. • Comment on the following strategies: Incorporate the history of accomplishments and contributions of American Indian people. I fell it is important to incorporate the history of accomplishments and contributions of American Indian people into classrooms, as with all cultures. One goal of the classroom is to create a supportive and comfortable environment that embraces all cultures and allows students to express freely themselves. • Promote positive self-images and cultural images for the students. This is a vital strategy. Students need to connect their background knowledge to the subject matter to learn most effectively. Students need to be exposed to positive self-images and cultural images, to both educate them to become open-minded individuals as well as build their own self esteem. • Adapt teaching styles (hands-on instruction). Traditional Native Americans emphasize learning through observation, listening and practice. Adapting your teaching style to incorporate demonstration, modeling, and coaching rather than verbal communication alone will be a more effective strategy. 1. Comment on this activity (What do you think about it for one of the early elementary grades): Ask children to draw a picture of a favorite food, favorite game, favorite sport, or some other favorite. Ask the children to explain their pictures or just look at them. They may see similar pictures from different members of the group. Make a collage of the pictures. This activity is great for an early elementary grade. It allows students to share a part of their culture with their classmates. Using this activity as a lead in to a cultural lesson plan, having the collage of pictures on the wall to refer back to would make the lesson more effective as the children connect it with their background knowledge. EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms Assignment 3