SPED 226 – Chapter 3 - Multicultural Perspectives

1) Culture - A complex system of underlying beliefs, attitudes,

and actions that shapes the thoughts and behaviors of a
group of people, distinguishing them from other groups

2) Culture includes:
-Values and Typical behavior -

-Languages or Dialects -Awareness of ones cultural identity

-Nonverbal Communication

3) Subcultures might include:

-Political parties -Sexual orientation

-Ethnic identities -Age

-Gender -Disabiltiy

4) Multicultural education –

Aims to change educational institutions and curricula so they will provide equal educational opportunities
to all students

5) Framework for Multicultural Education (from video)

-Content Integration-- Include diverse populations and diverse points of view
-Knowledge Design-- Exploring the Influences of Culture
-Predjudice Reduction-- Activities to examine and reduce Bias
-Equity Pedagogy-- Instructional Strategies that Embrace Diverse learning Characteristics and
Cognitive styles

6) Reform Approaches (from video)

-Contributions
-Additive
-Trans formative
-Social action

7) Disproportionate Representation –
Percentage of Students of Color placed in special education varies significantly from percentage of these
students in general populations.

8) Why disproportionate representation matters –

 -Stigmatization associated with labeling -Educators sometimes have lower
expectations for the labeled students

-Leads to a self-fulfilling prophecy -Reduced opportunities to interact with typical

students and to see typical behaviors

9) Factors contributing to disproportionate representation

1) Poverty
-Increased Exposure to Lead -Increased Prenatal exposure to toxins

-Lack of Prenatal car -Poor Nutrition

2) Systematic bias
-Curriculum and instruction with narrow worldview - negative teacher attitudes
and expectations

-biased special education referral processes

10) Recommendations for Addressing Disproportionate Representation

-Better Teacher Preparation - Improved Behavior management strategies

-Increased Attention to possible bias in assessment -Prevention and Early Intervention

-Increased Family involvement

11) Promising Practices in Instruction

-Alternate Assessment Strategies

-Differentiated Instruction

-Universal design for learning

12) Multicultural Teaching strategies (from book)
- -

- -

13) % of ELL kids in 2012-13.

9.2%
14) Issues and Trends Affecting Diverse Learners
-Urban Education- More Students of color
*Equity issues- access to highly qualified teachers, physical condition of schools

*School choice programs- Problems of segregation and exclusion of students with

disabilities
*Teacher Preparation- Not enough diversity among teachers, need for special training

-Rural education
*Disabilities identification and access to services- higher rates of identification, few or
special service providers
*Teaching Conditions- Staff turnover, lower pay, isolation
-Sexual orientation- LGBTQ up to 10% of school population
*Majority experience verbal and physical harassment of physical assault
*Dual stigma if have a disability
*Teachers have no special preparation
*lack of exposure to role models, lack of sex education
*2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide.

15) How can teachers help LGBTQ students?

*Majority Experience verbal and physical harassment or physical assault
*Dual Stigma if have a disability
*Teachers have no special preparation
*Lack of Exposure to role models, lack of sex education
*2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide