Culture is a significant and integral part of all my student's lives. Who they are, where they came from and the traditions they follow shape them into the student that I will have in my classroom. I choose Culture Studies as my teaching strategy. I think that using this strategy allows for a student to celebrate their heritage even in the classroom.
For students learning English, this strategy could be a positive motivator because it gives them the ability to share their culture in their native language. An example--if they were showing native dress, they could simply give the name of the attire and then perhaps translate it into English. This could also be a time when parents might be actively involved in showing their culture.
In my classroom, I would have my students make a family tree, then make the links to their different cultures. Many students, including me, come from a wide variety of cultures, but family is a culture within itself. So I would have them look at what traditions, values, and previous cultures helped shape your family. I think that this could be a great activity in celebrating the student as an individual.
One drawback for my students could be if a child is adopted or lives in foster care. These students might have a difficult time accessing their family history. For these students, I would have them design their "own" culture, researching different traditions and then incorporating them into it. I think this could give them confindence in their ability to help shape and govern their own futures.
Culture Studies will be used in my classroom. I really liked this teaching strategy because it relates to the family dynamic and cultures that will enrich my life as a teacher.
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