Developing Culturally Relevant Curriculum By Working With Parents

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Developing Culturally Relevant Curriculum By
Working With Parents Community Members

• By Nicole Fuerst
• With an interview with Nicole Fuerst Emily
  Murray facilitated by Brad Fuerst

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Background

• In 2003 I was hired to teach Reading and Writing
  for Aniguiin School. I mentioned to Emily Murray
  my desire for a cultural experience and my desire
  to incorporate culture into the classroom.

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Background continued

• Emily and I began working together on cultural
  units and she was a well-known presenter in my
  classroom. Additionally, I attended Sheltered
  Instruction trainings, cultural trainings, and
  devoured anything I could that would deepen my
  cultural training.

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Video Interview with Emily Murray
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Why incorporating culture is vital

• Your students are trying to bridge a life in two
  worlds. The traditional Eskimo way of life and
  the Western way of life tear your students apart
  constantly. By incorporating culture into your
  classroom you help your students blend both
  worlds and learn how to function in both.

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Step 1

• Develop a relationship with a cultural mentor in
  your community.
• Select a mentor you will be able to work well
  with and has the same passion for cultural
  education that you do.
• Be flexible-be willing to meet after school and
  on weekends
• Be ready to educate. You will spend time sharing
  your knowledge of the standards, just as your
  mentor will be sharing her knowledge of the
  culture.

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Step 2

• Meet and discuss standards, Western vocabulary,
  and cultural units that will work.
• Start with a Brainstorming session-listing all of
  the ideas both of you have-pare down later.
• Start the session by agreeing that both of you
  will reserve judgment.

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Step 3

• Select one idea to focus on since the time you
  will need to commit to the planning process is
  significant.
• Select the goal of the unit, select standards
  that will be connected to the unit, and select
  the Western and native vocabulary that will
  govern the unit. Use the Reinventing Schools
  Guide Tools available through your principal or
  the district office for action plans.

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Step 4

• Research You and your mentor may need a few
  weeks of research time to locate information,
  props (cultural materials to bring into class as
  visuals), additional resources, guest speakers,
  and activities.
• Divide up the research and specialize in what
  each of you does best so the two of you create a
  quality product.

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Step 5

• Write the lesson plans, design the materials, and
  put together the unit.
• Be prepared to spend a fair amount of time on
  this task. (It took approximately 30 hours to
  revise and write the potluck unit we created.)
• I use the SIOP format for lesson plan writing.
  It is a helpful format for cultural units because
  you focus on vocabulary and levels of engagement.

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Step 6

• After all the hard work, it is time to teach the
  unit.
• Be sure you schedule when you will implement the
  unit well ahead of time so that you can be sure
  you line up speakers and get the materials you
  need.

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The Final Step

• The final step falls into the category of
  continuous improvement.
• Write a reflection on each lesson plan as it is
  implemented and then reflect upon the unit as a
  whole. What worked well? What didnt? What
  still seemed unclear? What was inspiring? What
  was engaging and what wasnt?
• Also do a unit feedback session with the
  students. I do unit feedback after every unit
  because the students able to help improve the
  next implementation of the unit and provide
  insight into needed areas of clarification.

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Thanks

• Thanks for being committed to your students!
• We want to encourage you try writing one cultural
  unit this year.
• Or think of small ways to incorporate culture
  into the classroom, such as for anticipatory sets.