Classroom Confidential Chapter 4

Describe how your understanding of culture was enhanced or changed by your reading of chapter four in Schmidt.

I love just about everything about culture, so I was excited to read Schmidt's fourth chapter about that very topic. The first concept that stuck out to me was her blunt explanation of the two responses a teacher can take to children with various cultural backgrounds.

She noted that teachers can either:
1. View their cultures and practices as assets OR
2. View some students as burdened with deficits and by extension, burdens to you, their teacher
I found these two options convicting as they describe quite clearly the feelings of teachers I have observed as well as my own, at times. I like how Schmidt calls this out and shows readers how damaging the latter response can be to an entire classroom.

Schmidt continues on to discuss the opportunity to view a class through culture-colored glasses in order to expand your own cultural awareness. Questions such as these can help teachers discover new things about themselves and their students, ultimately creating an environment of students who value culture and diversity:
-Who am I?
-Who are my students?
-Who are we together?