Home | How It Works | Stats Login | Register         Case: I Wish I Were Black! As a teacher of 5th grade students, I try to make sure that my students have a good sense of all the people and cultures that make up this country. Last couple weeks, I paid special attention to the African American people who have made significant contributions to the US. We read a book written by Walter Dean Myers. We have studied scientists, writers, and political figures. Students were very engaged and interested in the content. Yesterday something happened that puzzled me. Three of my White students told me that they wished they were Black. This was not my intention when I planned all my lessons on contributions of African Americans. How should I address this issue? Solution: (Rates are posted for this solution!) I would take that time to explain to my students why they need to take pride in who they are individually. I may even have my students write an autobiography on their culture so they can dig a little deeper into who they are. I do not want my assignments and topics of instruction to change who my students want to be culturally. I would then use this opportunity to teach my students about even more cultures because this assignment has shown me just how interested in learning about new cultures my students are.