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William Breitsprecher, Gloria Gaston, Theresa JamesUrban Education, 2007, Dr. Chapman

The Light in Their Eyes

By Sonya Nieto

Urban Education, 716

UW-MilwaukeeDr. Chapman

Fall 2007


Learning is More Than:

• Course content• Classroom

experience• Test scores• Final grades


Learning Is:

• Actively constructed

• Developed on experience

• Creating & recreating ideas


Contradiction in Schools

• Transmitted by teachers, yet actively constructed by students

• Distrust teachers & students can construct meaning

• “Teaching basics” under-serves students, assumes they can’t do more

• Severe with high concentrations of poverty, non-majority students


Cultural Capital

• Experiences give advantages in learning

• Schools serve some students

• Fail to recognize experiences of other students


Teachers Need To:

• Build on what students have

• Not lament what students don’t have

• Not penalize students

• Realize all students can learn


Cultural Differences

• Influence learning• Constantly change• Are not barriers to

learning• Are opportunities

to reach out


Context of Learning

• Social, political, economic factors influence learning

• Affect teacher perceptions

• What & how teachers teach


Cultural Sensitivity

• Negative messages devalue some, often non-majority students

• Difficult to identify with school

• Students de-emphasize school achievement, protect self-esteem


Zone of Proximal Development

• Schools must make learning accessible to students

• Teacher’s actions influence whether and to what extent students learn

• All children learn given opportunities for appropriate interactions


Inequities in Schools

• Intentional or unintentional, doesn’t matter

• Results are same• Students respond

to high expectations, caring, respect


Culture & Learning

• Student identification, maintenance of native culture is good

• Teacher is cultural accommodator, mediator

• Focus on differences in isolation of broader context does not increase learning


Transforming Teachers

• Learn about students

• Identify with them• Build on strengths• Challenge displays

of privilege, inherent biases


School Reform

• Anti-racist, anti-bias• All students have talents,

strengths• Those close to students must

be meaningfully involved• High expectations & standards • Empowering & just


Multicultural Education

• Framework for rethinking schools

• Recognize all students as capable, worthy

• Give hope, affirmation