TeacherServer.com
Home | How It Works | Stats
Login | Register
     
  Case: Uneasiness and Fear
Mrs. Clare was well prepared for her culturally diverse first grade students this school year. She was looking forward to learning more about the five different countries and cultures represented in her classroom. She had completed all of the required courses to successfully earn her ESL (English as a Second Language) teaching endorsement. She was very aware of how to enrich her lessons to accommodate second language learners. What Mrs. Clare was not prepared for was the uneasiness and fear that overwhelmed the parents of the students who were not ESL pupils. One parent in particular complained to Mrs. Clare that her child was being harassed by another student in the classroom. When Mrs. Clare inquired about the identity of the "bully," the parent did not know the name of the student who was bothering her child. However, the parent mentioned to Mrs. Clare that the student causing trouble was one of the "foreign" boys with the dark hair and real dark skin. Mrs. Clare did not expect adults to react in this manner about a classroom of typical six year old students.

Questions:
1. How can Mrs. Clare prepare herself for the challenges involved in teaching culturally diverse students?
2. Is it possible to convey to parents the importance of being open minded in their outlook of the culturally diverse world?
3. How can Mrs. Clare ease the tensions of the concerned parents?
Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!)
Mrs. Clare has prepared herself in my opinion, for most of the challenges involved in teaching culturally diverse students. The parents reaction is one that she may not be able help, but she could try by holding a parent-teacher meeting with the parents at the beginning of the year. During this meeting she could discuss the diverse cultures with the parents as she will do with the students at the beginning of the year. The parents will then be well aware of the diversity among the classroom and the importance of viewing everyone equally. Hopefully this will ease some tension so that the parents will not stereotype as well.
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments:
Rated On: February 17, 2013 8:32 pm
Rated By: Alison Williams
 
     
     
  Rating
The suggested solution is respectful of the individual (student) Yes
The suggested solution is relevant to the case Yes
The suggested solution is reasonable (easy) for the teacher to implement Yes
The suggested solution is likely to solve the problem/issue Yes
The suggested solution is original Yes
Comments:
Rated On: February 25, 2013 7:19 pm
Rated By: eMypur