Description:

Focus on concepts, theories, and strategies that constitute major dimensions of a culturally relevant anti-bias curriculum for early childhood and elementary education classrooms.

Outcomes:

After completing this class, students should be able to:

• Define the following terms: culture, ethnicity, race, bias, prejudice and diversity
• Understand the social, political and economic origins and manifestations of racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism/homophobia, ableism, religious tolerance,and ageism
• Describe one’s self in cultural ways
• Recognize the social, political and economic issues that have shaped one’s experience as well as those of the children and families served in the educational setting
• Identify resources that will support the ongoing development of cross cultural competency
• Understand the impact of bias on the healthy growth and development of all children
• Articulate the importance of culturally relevant practices, especially in regard to children from non-dominant cultures
• Define and describe the following approaches: anti-bias, multicultural, culturally relevant, and bilingual/bicultural
• Know how to plan an environment and generate activities that reflect the different approaches to and components of a culturally relevant anti-bias curriculum.
• Identify culturally sensitive strategies for family involvement
• Articulate the need for ongoing assessment and adjustment in relation to the implementation of a culturally relevant anti-bias curriculum.