The letter on the previous post was from a class assignment at MSMC Nature of Schools. We are considering the many aspects of public education in this class. The addition of intercultural/multicultural curriculum is one of those topics.
This was a very difficult letter to write because it deals with the heart of people's lives and cultures and must be handled delicately.
Wendy
Saturday, July 17, 2010
July 17, 2010- Community Letter re: Intercultural/Multicultural Curriculum
Success Station Central School District
1818 Pleasant Lane
Success Station, NY 11111
(845) We-Learn (845-935-3276)
July 18, 2010
Parent of _______
Street #
Success Station, NY 11111
Re: Introduction of the Together to the Top: Intercultural/Multicultural Curriculum
Dear Parents:
Our mission at Success Station Central School District has always been to provide our students with instruction in the traditional curriculum by teaching the foundation skills in reading, writing, math, social studies and science. Our school has also always been a place where all of our students have opportunities to develop their social skills through school-wide and in-class interactions as well.
Recently, we have welcomed new students to our school from families that have joined our community from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The presence of our new neighbors gives us an ideal opportunity to learn about our numerous similarities and to share information that will lead to understanding about and respect for our differences.
Since our community is developing in ways that parallel the changes in the wider world, we have a perfect opportunity to strengthen our commitment to preparing our children to embrace the future with a global perspective. To teach our students most effectively about our changing world, we will now enhance our traditional curriculum by adding content that teaches them that the world is connecting without regard to geographic, cultural, ethnic, or racial backgrounds.
In September, we will begin to teach our children how to meet the changes occurring in our local, national, and international 21st Century society. We will begin our journey by implementing the Together to the Top: Intercultural/Multicultural Curriculum. This experience is designed to strengthen the students’ understanding of the universalities (similarities) among people and their needs and to explore the reasons for our cultural differences. The curriculum has been designed to meet the significant goal of opening our students’ eyes, hearts and minds to the wonderful and exciting diversity in their community and in their world.
Already this summer, the administration, faculty and staff of our schools have participated in several intercultural/multicultural workshops. The workshops were designed to raise their personal awareness and knowledge base of cultural diversity so that they will be prepared to create a cohesive atmosphere of appreciation and understanding of diversity in all facets of the school day. With the assistance of veteran intercultural/multicultural curriculum instructors, our teachers will continue to have specific curriculum workshops so that they will feel confident in the subject matter when they begin facilitating discussions with and instructing their students in September.
All grades will be exploring, at their own appropriate level, the Together to the Top curriculum core units on the same schedule to generate a school-wide atmosphere of awareness and unity. The curriculum framework rests upon several core units: Our Universal Needs: How We Obtain Food, Clothing and Shelter; The Human Need for Social Interactions: Exploring the Diversity of Family Life, Languages Spoken at Home, Food, Music, and Traditions; The Achievements of Our Multicultural Heroes, Famous and Private; Our New Citizenry: Understanding the Social Issues of Discrimination and Prejudice and Creating Respect and Tolerance; International Literature, Story-telling and Story-writing; and Mathematical and Scientific Contributions from Around the World, with Hands-on Applications.
This curriculum will be woven directly into the content areas by increasing the perspectives through which the core material is discussed and taught. Programming, including assemblies with guest speakers with perspectives from around the world and multicultural/intercultural activities and opportunities for authentic hands-on diversity experiences will also be presented independently.
To round out the Together to the Top curriculum, the school will host family-oriented gatherings throughout the academic year for families to come together with their children and meet their neighbors. In September, our school will host a casual picnic as a kick-off event at the Success Station Town Park with the theme of “Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?” Look for more information once school starts.
The ultimate goal of our intercultural/multicultural education is to start a wave of social transformation that teaches the future citizens of our country (our students of today) that people should strengthen their similarities and respect and embrace their differences. In our rural town, we are ready to educate nearly 1300 students in the new ways of world.
The Together to the Top: Intercultural/Multicultural Curriculum will awaken you and your child to the diversity of the world around him or her.
It is with information that transformation can come.
You may contact me at any time with your questions about this new curriculum.
Sincerely,
Wendy J. Schwalb
Chair of Curriculum
Cc: Principal
Superintendent
Board of Education Members
Curriculum Committee Members
1818 Pleasant Lane
Success Station, NY 11111
(845) We-Learn (845-935-3276)
July 18, 2010
Parent of _______
Street #
Success Station, NY 11111
Re: Introduction of the Together to the Top: Intercultural/Multicultural Curriculum
Dear Parents:
Our mission at Success Station Central School District has always been to provide our students with instruction in the traditional curriculum by teaching the foundation skills in reading, writing, math, social studies and science. Our school has also always been a place where all of our students have opportunities to develop their social skills through school-wide and in-class interactions as well.
Recently, we have welcomed new students to our school from families that have joined our community from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds. The presence of our new neighbors gives us an ideal opportunity to learn about our numerous similarities and to share information that will lead to understanding about and respect for our differences.
Since our community is developing in ways that parallel the changes in the wider world, we have a perfect opportunity to strengthen our commitment to preparing our children to embrace the future with a global perspective. To teach our students most effectively about our changing world, we will now enhance our traditional curriculum by adding content that teaches them that the world is connecting without regard to geographic, cultural, ethnic, or racial backgrounds.
In September, we will begin to teach our children how to meet the changes occurring in our local, national, and international 21st Century society. We will begin our journey by implementing the Together to the Top: Intercultural/Multicultural Curriculum. This experience is designed to strengthen the students’ understanding of the universalities (similarities) among people and their needs and to explore the reasons for our cultural differences. The curriculum has been designed to meet the significant goal of opening our students’ eyes, hearts and minds to the wonderful and exciting diversity in their community and in their world.
Already this summer, the administration, faculty and staff of our schools have participated in several intercultural/multicultural workshops. The workshops were designed to raise their personal awareness and knowledge base of cultural diversity so that they will be prepared to create a cohesive atmosphere of appreciation and understanding of diversity in all facets of the school day. With the assistance of veteran intercultural/multicultural curriculum instructors, our teachers will continue to have specific curriculum workshops so that they will feel confident in the subject matter when they begin facilitating discussions with and instructing their students in September.
All grades will be exploring, at their own appropriate level, the Together to the Top curriculum core units on the same schedule to generate a school-wide atmosphere of awareness and unity. The curriculum framework rests upon several core units: Our Universal Needs: How We Obtain Food, Clothing and Shelter; The Human Need for Social Interactions: Exploring the Diversity of Family Life, Languages Spoken at Home, Food, Music, and Traditions; The Achievements of Our Multicultural Heroes, Famous and Private; Our New Citizenry: Understanding the Social Issues of Discrimination and Prejudice and Creating Respect and Tolerance; International Literature, Story-telling and Story-writing; and Mathematical and Scientific Contributions from Around the World, with Hands-on Applications.
This curriculum will be woven directly into the content areas by increasing the perspectives through which the core material is discussed and taught. Programming, including assemblies with guest speakers with perspectives from around the world and multicultural/intercultural activities and opportunities for authentic hands-on diversity experiences will also be presented independently.
To round out the Together to the Top curriculum, the school will host family-oriented gatherings throughout the academic year for families to come together with their children and meet their neighbors. In September, our school will host a casual picnic as a kick-off event at the Success Station Town Park with the theme of “Who are the People in Your Neighborhood?” Look for more information once school starts.
The ultimate goal of our intercultural/multicultural education is to start a wave of social transformation that teaches the future citizens of our country (our students of today) that people should strengthen their similarities and respect and embrace their differences. In our rural town, we are ready to educate nearly 1300 students in the new ways of world.
The Together to the Top: Intercultural/Multicultural Curriculum will awaken you and your child to the diversity of the world around him or her.
It is with information that transformation can come.
You may contact me at any time with your questions about this new curriculum.
Sincerely,
Wendy J. Schwalb
Chair of Curriculum
Cc: Principal
Superintendent
Board of Education Members
Curriculum Committee Members
Friday, July 16, 2010
Summary of Week 3- ED 5210-T1
I am on my way to filling another 2" binder!! I don't mind because I tend to remember the location of information in these binders and I keep them handy in my closet. As a consolation prize to going paperless, I am using my massive pile of scrap paper for printing out this information.
Content: I partially described a summary of the content for Week 3 earlier.
Technology: I really wanted to comment on the use of the technology. Now I want to explore more options for teachers regarding technology. I feel a real desire to become more competent in this arena. I almost wrote more competent than my students but I will enjoy learning from my students since I believe they will continue to advance and all I can do it try to catch up to them. I believe that when you teach you learn so my students will learn a lot from teaching me!!
Wendy
PS- Have you ever tried to type with a cat on your desk?? That lays right on your keyboard?
Content: I partially described a summary of the content for Week 3 earlier.
Technology: I really wanted to comment on the use of the technology. Now I want to explore more options for teachers regarding technology. I feel a real desire to become more competent in this arena. I almost wrote more competent than my students but I will enjoy learning from my students since I believe they will continue to advance and all I can do it try to catch up to them. I believe that when you teach you learn so my students will learn a lot from teaching me!!
Wendy
PS- Have you ever tried to type with a cat on your desk?? That lays right on your keyboard?
Summary of Week 2 of ED 5210-T1
My first comment is that I have filled a 2" ring binder with the first two weeks of this class. I have to try to move myself away from the security of printing items from the Internet into merely saving those items on a flashdrive or other device instead. I recycle my bottles and cans but just can't go paperless with school work yet somehow.
Regarding the content of Week 2:
Again, very enlightening. The subject matter is excellent for the older (!) returning student who was undoubtedly educated in very different times. I would say even unrecognizably different. If our children could see a video of how my age group was taught and on what equipment they would call up the Smithsonian Museum immediately!!
Having just completed an intensive summer class of Applied Behavioral Analysis for Teachers, it was fascinating to read about all of the different educational theories all at once. I was able to compare and contrast them. I also took an educational philosophy quiz and found that my philosophy is a combination of cognitivism/constructionism, humanism and progressivism. I actually took a similar quiz for another class and the results definitely came up with humanism and I couldn't remember about the other two. These philosophies are in line with my learning style as well which is intra/interpersonal, naturalistic, musical and verbal.
I hope to remain open-minded about my philosophies and allow them to change over time as needed. I am pleased to find that my philosophies are in the realm that are indicated. I believe those encourage growth in each child individually and allow for growth within groups as well.
Wendy
Regarding the content of Week 2:
Again, very enlightening. The subject matter is excellent for the older (!) returning student who was undoubtedly educated in very different times. I would say even unrecognizably different. If our children could see a video of how my age group was taught and on what equipment they would call up the Smithsonian Museum immediately!!
Having just completed an intensive summer class of Applied Behavioral Analysis for Teachers, it was fascinating to read about all of the different educational theories all at once. I was able to compare and contrast them. I also took an educational philosophy quiz and found that my philosophy is a combination of cognitivism/constructionism, humanism and progressivism. I actually took a similar quiz for another class and the results definitely came up with humanism and I couldn't remember about the other two. These philosophies are in line with my learning style as well which is intra/interpersonal, naturalistic, musical and verbal.
I hope to remain open-minded about my philosophies and allow them to change over time as needed. I am pleased to find that my philosophies are in the realm that are indicated. I believe those encourage growth in each child individually and allow for growth within groups as well.
Wendy
Summary of Week 1
Comments on content:
The topics were about education in a changing world and the related economic, political, and socio-cultural factors. The information was enlightening. We had to stop and consider public education's past and future. The changes in media for presenting material and content. The technology now available to teachers and students and schools generally. The e-text readings were about becoming a teacher, who controls curriculum, the history of Amerian Education, trends and issues regarding school reform, constructivism and technology, the proponents and opponents of using tougher standards for assessing student learning, the struggles public schools have in order to meet the vastly different needs of their students.
To attempt to encapsulate all that I learned from this reading would take many pages. In a nutshell, I will say that my ears now perk up when I hear these and other education-related topics spoken about or mentioned on the news or in print. My eyes catch headlines regarding these educational issues. I feel I can competently discuss these and more topics regarding the modern forms of education. I can relate the information to my own children's education and that provides me with a parent's perspective as well as a teacher's.
Regarding the computer technology use learning curve:
I feel that I am learning to be more proficient in the media that I have been asked to create work within. Luckily, so far mistakes have not been costly in either time or effort. I have taken to running test screens or test saves before launching into my actual work. This is a good habit to be in.
After exploring the Wiki on July 16, 2010, I found it to be most useful. With one of PBWorks online training sessions in the use of the Wiki, I could be most proficient. I can truly see its usefulness to teachers and students as a central place of contact and expression.
I can also see its potential for effective use personally in coordinating events with family and friends. So much more efficient that emailing back and forth.
Wendy
The topics were about education in a changing world and the related economic, political, and socio-cultural factors. The information was enlightening. We had to stop and consider public education's past and future. The changes in media for presenting material and content. The technology now available to teachers and students and schools generally. The e-text readings were about becoming a teacher, who controls curriculum, the history of Amerian Education, trends and issues regarding school reform, constructivism and technology, the proponents and opponents of using tougher standards for assessing student learning, the struggles public schools have in order to meet the vastly different needs of their students.
To attempt to encapsulate all that I learned from this reading would take many pages. In a nutshell, I will say that my ears now perk up when I hear these and other education-related topics spoken about or mentioned on the news or in print. My eyes catch headlines regarding these educational issues. I feel I can competently discuss these and more topics regarding the modern forms of education. I can relate the information to my own children's education and that provides me with a parent's perspective as well as a teacher's.
Regarding the computer technology use learning curve:
I feel that I am learning to be more proficient in the media that I have been asked to create work within. Luckily, so far mistakes have not been costly in either time or effort. I have taken to running test screens or test saves before launching into my actual work. This is a good habit to be in.
After exploring the Wiki on July 16, 2010, I found it to be most useful. With one of PBWorks online training sessions in the use of the Wiki, I could be most proficient. I can truly see its usefulness to teachers and students as a central place of contact and expression.
I can also see its potential for effective use personally in coordinating events with family and friends. So much more efficient that emailing back and forth.
Wendy
July 16, 2010
Pat and I are looking at how the blog works. He is commenting as I type. We are clicking buttons and seeing what they do.
This week the learning curve has subsided at bit with the use of the computer technology.
The topic of this week was about educational changes. Teachers as change agents, school choice, financial impacts of educational changes. The power points for this week were about various types of schools and schooling.
I find the content very pertinent and very interesting and enlightening. I really feel more informed about what schools and schooling is all about and where it stood and where its going.
More later...
Wendy
This week the learning curve has subsided at bit with the use of the computer technology.
The topic of this week was about educational changes. Teachers as change agents, school choice, financial impacts of educational changes. The power points for this week were about various types of schools and schooling.
I find the content very pertinent and very interesting and enlightening. I really feel more informed about what schools and schooling is all about and where it stood and where its going.
More later...
Wendy
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