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Cultural Issues and Diversity |
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Choose a topic below
for more information.
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Featured Resource
National
Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems -
Provides technical assistance and professional
development to close the achievement gap between
students from culturally and linguistically diverse
backgrounds and their peers, and reduce inappropriate
referrals to special education. Targets
improvements in culturally responsive practices, early
intervention, literacy, and positive behavioral
supports. The Web site provides links and resources
regarding culturally responsive educational systems. |
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Articles
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For Black Students, Single Essay Made Big Difference
- The seventh-graders were asked to write an essay about
their most important value. "My friends give
me companionship and courage," a girl wrote.
"I'm a great athlete," offered a boy. "God
is the answer to everything," wrote another.
Bridging the Widest Gap:
Raising the Achievement of Black Boys -
Black boys spend more time in special education, spend less time in
advanced placement or college prep courses, and receive more
disciplinary suspensions and expulsions than any other group in U.S.
schools today. In many cases, a debilitating combination of inadequate
resources and low expectations in schools that serve large numbers of
black boys results in this group being held back, researchers say.
Poor Health Habits Reason For Grade Gap - Obesity, poor
nutrition and lack of physical fitness may partially explain why
Hispanic and American Indian students in New Mexico don’t perform as
well as their Anglo peers. Recently released data from Harvard
University’s School of Public Health found a strong correlation
between poor nutrition and health and low achievement, state Secretary
of Education Veronica García told a group of teachers in Santa Fe.
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Websites
& Other Internet Resources
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Teaching
Diverse Learners - This Web site is dedicated to enhancing the
capacity of teachers to work effectively and equitably with English
language learners. It includes information on: teaching and learning
strategies on culturally responsive teaching, mainstream classrooms,
bilingual/ESL classrooms, and special education; strategies for
performance and student assessment; organizations that may be useful
to teachers of language minority students; and funding opportunities
and grants for teaching English language learners.
Proyecto Vision: The First National Technical Assistance Center
for Latinos with Disabilities - The World
Institute On Disabilities has launched this program to address the
lack of outreach to Latinos and to also assist Latinos with accessing
critical services that lead to employment. Proyecto Vision is funded
by a five-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education
Rehabilitation Services Administration. Through the program, disabled
Latinos will be able to access employment information through a
toll-free hotline that provides bilingual technical assistance and
also through a bilingual listserv. Additionally, there will be
opportunities to participate in annual employment-based regional
conferences and in leadership development activities. Partners in the
project include the Inter-American Institute on Disability, the Harlam
Independent Living Center, Houston’s Southwestern Regional Disability
Business Technical Assistance Center, The Central Coast Center for
Independent Living in Salinas, California, and Rehabilitation
International. More information is
available at the Center’s website at http://www.proyectovision.net
or via their Bilingual toll-free hotline
(866) 367-5361.
Hispanic Outreach Initiative and Online Spanish-Language Resources
- Using a variety and language and
culture-sensitive materials, the National PTA Hispanic Outreach
Initiative will reach out to
Spanish-speaking parents who wish to become
more involved in their child's education.
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Disability & Culturally
Diverse
or Religious Organization Links
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Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the
Interior
1849 C St., NW
Washington, DC 20240 202-219-4150
National Alliance of Black School Educators
2816 Georgia Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20001
202-483-1549
National Association for Bilingual Education
1220 L St. NW, Ste. 605
Washington, DC 20005-4018
202-898-1829
National Indian Education Association
121 Oronoco St
Alexandria, VA 22314
703-838-2870
National Indian Child
Welfare Association (NICWA)
E-MAIL: info@nicwa.org
URL: http://www.nicwa.org
The National Indian Child Welfare Association is the only Native
American organization focused specifically on issues of child abuse
and neglect and Tribal capacity to prevent and respond effectively to
these problems. NICWA is a membership organization of Tribes,
individuals, and private organizations concerned with Indian child and
family issues. NICWA primarily focuses on fostering information
exchange and community and public policy development for the defense
of the Indian Child Welfare Act. NICWA sponsors a national conference;
provides publications and information packets and technical
assistance; and maintains a library for information on child welfare
and child abuse and neglect that is culturally relevant and useful to
the American Indian population.
The
JCC of Metropolitan Detroit, a constituent agency of the Jewish
Federation of Metropolitan Detroit, has two locations in suburban
Detroit--Oak Park and West Bloomfield. Each facility provides a place
for people of all ages with a place to socialize, participate in
sports and recreation, receive a quality Jewish education, attend a
variety cultural events and more. Whether you want to work out, attend
a cultural event, spend quality time with your family or celebrate a
holiday, the JCC has programs for all ages and interests. Our two
locations are in the heart of your neighborhood.
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English Language Learners/English as a Second Language
(ELL/ESL)
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Also See IEP Issues -
Bilingual Issues & ESL
Help! They Don't Speak English Starter Kit for Primary Teachers -
A free, downloadable resource guide for educators of limited
English proficient students, grades Pre-K - 6. The first Help! They
Don't Speak English Starter Kit was produced in 1989 by a task force
of Virginia migrant educators who were getting an increasing number of
requests from classroom teachers for information about and assistance
with their limited English proficient (LEP) students. The Help! Kit
has proved to be an excellent resource for teachers who are seeking
ideas for recommended teaching strategies, lesson plans, and
materials.
If
Your Child Learns In Two Languages: A Parent's Guide
- A parent's guide for improving educational opportunities for
children acquiring English as a second language.
Available in PDF format in English, Spanish, Vietnamese,
Chinese and Haitian Creole.
AZ
Online Class Makes Learning English Easier - Learning English
has just gotten a lot easier for non-native speakers in the Las Vegas
Valley.
The World of Immigrant Students - Although eight languages --Spanish,
Vietnamese, Hmong, Cantonese, Cambodian, Korean, Laotian, and Navajo -- comprise
85% of linguistic diversity, 350 language groups are actually spoken in U.S.
school districts. Meeting the needs of these students challenges many areas of a
school system. In this article, Judy Smith-Davis outlines a set of best
practices and a wealth of Web resources to help educators meet this challenge
and serve this population of students.
Read the article from Education Week "Early
Bilingual Programs Found To Boost Test Scores"
Developing IEPs for English Language Learners
Rita Brusca-Vega, Ed.D., Professor of Special Education,
Chicago State University
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/spec-ed/PDF/BMChapter11-7-121.pdf
The purpose of this chapter is to present several sample IEPs, based
on the best practices described in the resource book, for students of
different ages, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, English language
proficiency levels, and type of disability. Includes sample IEP
goals. |
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