Chapter One- Part Three- Understanding the Influence of Culture

Relationships matter more than anything else. Human beings need to be nurtured. Our job as educators is to nurture in ways that tap into the genius in each child. - Asa Hilliard

The authors begin this section with a defintion of culture from Ward Goodenough. He says culture is "the set of standards or rules for perceiving, believing, acting, and evaluating others." Culture can affect how we communicate and interact with others and the kinds of expectations we have. Although teachers cannot possibly learn about every cultural factor that influences their students, the key is to remain open to the many ways children may be influenced by culture. This is especially true with communication. Be wary of misunderstanding or misinterpreting the communication styles of someone from a different culture.

So, what can you do to learn about the cultures that affect your students? Begin with family members. Getting to know parents and family members of your students will usually give you plenty of information about why a child is talkative or shy. Just be careful about assigning cultural labels and promoting stereotypes. Be mindful in your planning that each child will come to school with a unique set of cultural and experiential influences.

Share with us how you find about the cultural influences on your students! Leave a comment and look for the last section to wrap up Chapter One next time.