Culture
What is Culture?
Culture is defined as the values, traditions, rituals and symbol systems of a social group (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). Culture influences the way people act on a day-by-day basis. Culture influences routines including the way we eat, worship and interact with society. There are several culture and factors that can be observed when analyzing culture.
Individualistic Cultures: Cultural groups that encourages independence, self-assertion, competition and expression of personal needs (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013).
Collectivistic Cultures: Cultural group that encourages obedience and dependence of authority (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013).
Language: It is important to help children understand that some cultures use different languages. Children may not understand that the language they speak is not the only one. Language is a crucial part of culture because it demonstrates how similar cultures communicate.
It is common for new students who speak languages other than the commonly accepted language to be ridiculed or lack motivation to interact. Thus acceptance of the use of different languages is important. Individuals should never be discouraged to speak in their cultural languages; it is a defining feature of culture
Customs and Beliefs: Customs and beliefs of individuals shape the majority of their perspective. Essentially culture indicates how and why people react the way they do in terms of routines and belief systems. Individuals may have different views on issues due to the influence of religion or basic individualistic or collectivistic views. Children enter the classroom with these differences. They may eat something different than their peers for lunch, dress differently and react to situations differently. This often affects children; they may begin to feel uncomfortable with other culture they don’t understand or may even begin to reject their own culture. Children may abandon the way they do things or what they believe in order to assimilate. Assimilation refers to people embracing a culture and abandoning their own (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). It is thus important to remind children that it is acceptable to believe, think and act differently from others. Essentially culture is apart of them everyday; they should be encouraged to embrace their everyday customs and beliefs.
Culture is defined as the values, traditions, rituals and symbol systems of a social group (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). Culture influences the way people act on a day-by-day basis. Culture influences routines including the way we eat, worship and interact with society. There are several culture and factors that can be observed when analyzing culture.
Individualistic Cultures: Cultural groups that encourages independence, self-assertion, competition and expression of personal needs (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013).
Collectivistic Cultures: Cultural group that encourages obedience and dependence of authority (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013).
Language: It is important to help children understand that some cultures use different languages. Children may not understand that the language they speak is not the only one. Language is a crucial part of culture because it demonstrates how similar cultures communicate.
It is common for new students who speak languages other than the commonly accepted language to be ridiculed or lack motivation to interact. Thus acceptance of the use of different languages is important. Individuals should never be discouraged to speak in their cultural languages; it is a defining feature of culture
Customs and Beliefs: Customs and beliefs of individuals shape the majority of their perspective. Essentially culture indicates how and why people react the way they do in terms of routines and belief systems. Individuals may have different views on issues due to the influence of religion or basic individualistic or collectivistic views. Children enter the classroom with these differences. They may eat something different than their peers for lunch, dress differently and react to situations differently. This often affects children; they may begin to feel uncomfortable with other culture they don’t understand or may even begin to reject their own culture. Children may abandon the way they do things or what they believe in order to assimilate. Assimilation refers to people embracing a culture and abandoning their own (McDevitt & Ormrod, 2013). It is thus important to remind children that it is acceptable to believe, think and act differently from others. Essentially culture is apart of them everyday; they should be encouraged to embrace their everyday customs and beliefs.
Why is Culture important?
Culture is important because it helps individuals identify with a group of people. Individuals often see culture as something that makes them who they are. Culture influences what people do and how they see the world. Although individuals often have pride in their culture it can also be a double-edged sword. Culture is often linked to race and ethnicity. Individuals who were told to be intolerable of different individuals frequently see different cultures as threat and inferiority. Those individuals tend to generalize groups of people and criticize religion and customs. Children must be taught acceptance from an early age. They must be taught that their culture as well as their own is unique and worth preserving.
What can teachers do to promote Cultural development?
· Plan lessons that will expose children to learn about their own culture as well as their peers’ culture
· Involve family in cultural discussions
· Encourage students to speak to one another about each others culture
· Encourage children to express their own culture (i.e. dress)
· Accommodate language and literacy differences
What can parents do to promote Cultural development?
· Talk to children about their own culture
· Speak native language with children
· Have family nights that embrace their culture (i.e. dinner night with foods that represent culture)
· Attend events that promote cultures besides their own (i.e. festivals)
· Encourage children to be friends with individuals that have different cultures; do not speak negatively about others
· Avoid stereotyping
Links:
The Changing Face of the United States: The Influence of Culture on Early Child Development
http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/Culture_book.pdf?docID=6921
Multicultural Education
http://www.intime.uni.edu/multiculture/
Culture is important because it helps individuals identify with a group of people. Individuals often see culture as something that makes them who they are. Culture influences what people do and how they see the world. Although individuals often have pride in their culture it can also be a double-edged sword. Culture is often linked to race and ethnicity. Individuals who were told to be intolerable of different individuals frequently see different cultures as threat and inferiority. Those individuals tend to generalize groups of people and criticize religion and customs. Children must be taught acceptance from an early age. They must be taught that their culture as well as their own is unique and worth preserving.
What can teachers do to promote Cultural development?
· Plan lessons that will expose children to learn about their own culture as well as their peers’ culture
· Involve family in cultural discussions
· Encourage students to speak to one another about each others culture
· Encourage children to express their own culture (i.e. dress)
· Accommodate language and literacy differences
What can parents do to promote Cultural development?
· Talk to children about their own culture
· Speak native language with children
· Have family nights that embrace their culture (i.e. dinner night with foods that represent culture)
· Attend events that promote cultures besides their own (i.e. festivals)
· Encourage children to be friends with individuals that have different cultures; do not speak negatively about others
· Avoid stereotyping
Links:
The Changing Face of the United States: The Influence of Culture on Early Child Development
http://main.zerotothree.org/site/DocServer/Culture_book.pdf?docID=6921
Multicultural Education
http://www.intime.uni.edu/multiculture/