Culture
I come from a mixed background, and my culture has been influenced also by various normative elements in American society. The Cuban side of my family has stressed the importance of frequent cultural gatherings and a strong emphasis on food, drink, and other social elements of celebration. The German side of my family has less of an emphasis on overt expressions of culture, and provides an interesting and educational counterpoint. Taking together with the elements of the dominant American culture and its predilection toward creating homogeneity, the various elements of my cultural identity converge in unique ways that I can explore in the classroom. Working with children, I can also incorporate evidence-based practices to teach about the relevance and importance of music and the arts.
Personal Reflection (Part I)
Cuban culture values art, music, and dance to the extent of it being technically impossible to separate these elements from daily life. German culture, at least that which is represented by my third generation American father, is wholly unlike Cuban culture in that respect. Art, music, and dance are not important to the German side of my family and in fact, are discouraged in favor of a more staid and sobering lifestyle. Therefore, my creativity has been enhanced solely from the one side of my family. Learning about my culture and the culture of others has helped me to develop awareness, identity, and respect for diversity.
To make sure young people remain connected to their own culture, I would first ask the children to talk to their parents regularly about their cultural background. Asking questions is the first step. Then, I would ask the students to put on a few presentations during the course of the year. One presentation would involve the parent...
This would encourage cross-cultural awareness. I also believe it is critical that parents and other family members participate in the child's multicultural education. Children need to foster an awareness of their own culture for strong identities, and also awareness of other cultures to develop sensitivity and reduce prejudice. Involving the families will help make discussions about culture part of daily discourse at home, and may lead to profound transformations in the consciousness of the community.
Strategies for the Creative Arts (Part II)
Art, music, and dance are all important for teaching children about their own cultural heritage, the diversity of cultures in the world, the diversity of cultures amid their community and peer groups, and also teaching children about the intersections between culture and identity. It is important to offer age-appropriate and developmentally appropriate activities throughout the course of the child's education. Art, dance, and music instruction improve the overall quality and caliber of education, offering the means by which children can thrive personally and socially as well as academically. Each area, including art, music, and dance, offers unique opportunities for teachers and students to connect with the cultural dimensions of creative expression.
One example of an art activity is to show children a wide variety of art from around the world, and ask each student to choose one. The choice should be made personally and independently, to avoid the self-consciousness that might arise from picking one in front of the class. Then, the students should either write about (if they are old enough) or verbally discuss their reactions to the art. The reactions could be…
