Multicultural education

Learning Resources

Required Resources

• Course Text: Ramsey, P. (2004). Teaching and learning in a diverse world: Multicultural education for young children (3rd ed.). New York: Teachers College Press
• • Chapter 2, “We are all Learning” (pp. 16–33, up to “Guidelines for Challenging Children’s Assumptions and Expanding their Perspectives”)
  • Part II: “Contexts of Learning” (pp. 67–68)

• Special instruction: On page 68, the author states, “Before turning to the next five chapters, ask yourself, ‘Who am I?’ and write down the answers as quickly as possible.” Do this activity now. The list you create will be incorporated as part of your Reflective Journal Assignment at the end of this week.

• Book Excerpt: Perceiving and Responding to Differences (PDF)

  Gonzalez-Mena, J. (2008). Perceiving and responding to differences. Ch. 1 in Diversity in Early Education Programs: Honoring Differences (5th Ed.). Columbus, Ohio: McGraw- Hill.

  Copyright © 2008 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Reproduced with permission of McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. in the format electronic usage via Copyright Clearance Center.

• Note: Be sure to read and reflect on the first five Focus Questions on page 8. Though there is a reference to early childhood educators and education in one of these questions and throughout the text, this reading provides valuable information and “food for thought” for professionals who work with young children and their families in a wide variety of roles and important thinking as we strive to understand ourselves as individuals.

• Web Site: Understanding Prejudice: Implicit Association Tests
  http://www.understandingprejudice.org/iat/index2.htm

• Note: Take these tests before participating in the Discussion for this week.

Optional Resources

• Book: Darling-Hammond, L., French, J., & Garcia-Lopez, S. P. (2002). Learning to teach for social justice. New York: Teachers College Press.

• Book: Derman-Sparks, L. (1989). Anti-bias curriculum: Tools for empowering young children. Washington, DC: NAEYC.
• Book: Wolpert, H. (2005). Start seeing diversity: The basic guide to an anti-bias classroom. St. Paul, MN: Redleaf Press.

Understanding Your Perceptions of Diversity

This week, you have begun learning about the complexities of culture and diversity, and developing an understanding that being respectful of and responsive to all types of diversity is an ongoing process. At the same time, you have been challenged to examine your own diversity (i.e., your cultural framework) in order to know yourself better and gain perspective on how your cultural framework might affect your attitudes, perceptions and interactions.

Before you participate in this week’s Discussion, review “Guidelines for Supportive Group Discussions” (p. 22 of your course text) and take the “Race Test” and the “Gender Test” at http://www.understandingprejudice.org/iat/index2.htm

Then, consider the following:

• What new understandings of diversity and bias have you gained in this first week of the course?
• Why is it important for people who work with young children and their families to understand their own diversity/cultural framework and biases?

By Day 3:

Post the following:

• An example of how your understanding of diversity has expanded and/or deepened in the first week of the course OR an example of how your understanding of your own diversity/cultural framework has expanded and/or deepened in the first week of the course.
• Why you believe professionals in the early childhood field need to understand their own diversity/cultural frameworks and biases.