| Cultural differences in communicating are important for | | | | growth. |
| a teacher to understand because cross-cultural | | | | What I have learned about cultural diversity that can |
| communication abounds in early childhood classrooms. | | | | help me as a teacher, is that I will work with children |
| Diversity represents the richness and uniqueness of | | | | who may differ greatly in language development. |
| human life. It is something that is valued and shared | | | | Some students will he bringing a high vocabulary while |
| with children that teachers encounter on a day to day | | | | others may just be mastering the language. An |
| basis. | | | | important rule for a teacher is to carefully work |
| Multicultural education hopes to prepare children for a | | | | toward increasing the child's use of words while |
| diverse society in which different languages and | | | | providing a model of standard English through activities |
| customs abound. Its goals include communicating | | | | and daily interactions. |
| despite differences, cooperating for multicultural unity, | | | | I have learned to never give the impression that one |
| and respecting the values of others. | | | | students' speech is superior to another student. I also |
| Culture is defined as all the activities and achievements | | | | believe that gaining knowledge about my classroom |
| of a society that individuals within the society pass | | | | "culture" is going to enable me to be more effective as |
| from one generation to the next. | | | | a teacher because I will have the inside scoop on |
| Ethnic origin is often a basic ingredient in subculture | | | | what makes them tick. By "tick" I mean what types of |
| groupings. Subculture is defined as something other | | | | sayings arouse their attention. What types of |
| than a dominant culture. Class structure also exists in | | | | environments at home do they really show success |
| societies consisting of upper, middle, and lower income | | | | in? |
| groups. Often patterns of child-rearing vary between | | | | In this day and age we deal with the Latch Key child, |
| cultures and classes. | | | | or the child who comes home with their keys to an |
| Families may express attitudes and values peculiar to | | | | empty house every single day. This study has really |
| their class or culture. Attitudes and feelings of an | | | | enabled me to think about the child who has no |
| impoverished group, for example, may express anger. | | | | supervision at home. Who is assisting them with their |
| violence, and loss of trust toward anyone or any | | | | language skills? The television? Radio? Internet? |
| situation. | | | | Perhaps every teacher could benefit by making more |
| Teachers must try to determine the background of | | | | home visits, or simply making themselves available for |
| their students' families to better instruct them. Noting | | | | PTA Meetings, school functions, and school-site |
| the individual child's background and home life helps the | | | | activities, and active participation in parent conferences. |
| teacher better understand the child and to provide | | | | I have had the unique privilege of being a Spanish |
| superior language development experiences. Many of | | | | Interpreter during report card conferences with |
| the children's cultural differences inhibit the child's | | | | parents, and the experience has opened my eyes to |
| speech in several shapes and forms. Adults must | | | | the "way" that I should address parents. |
| model lengths of sentences and modify their speech | | | | I am always so good hearted but I also have the |
| to child like levels. | | | | strength to tell someone how I feel without offending |
| Most importantly, we must examine the importance of | | | | them. This will be a great asset to me as a teacher as |
| the child's early years at home. Neutral or negative | | | | well. When I am helping a child with their language |
| environments, family arrangements that require children | | | | development, I am changing the future because our |
| to he alone for 1ong periods or in which children are | | | | culture will benefit when a child learns to appreciate his |
| expected to he quiet, and cannot gain adult attention | | | | her language. |
| until they are: these are all factors that affect speech | | | | |