Article Review: Connecting Classrooms & Communities

 Article Review 

Reference:  

Favela, Alejandra, and Danielle Torres. "Connecting Classrooms & Communities: Identifying Student Needs & Assets Inside & Outside Of School." Multicultural Education 21.2 (2014): 51-53. ERIC. Web. 2 Sept. 2015.

Summary:

Self-esteem, belonging, and security are all parts of Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs. It is important for students to have healthy understanding and appreciation for their own culture and surrounding cultures. Since students in school are usually diverse in background and language, it is important for them to have an understanding of where they are in the community and how to appreciate their roles.

            Teachers should collaborate and work with parents and counselors to connect students with the community and help them understand its importance. Mixing up students from various backgrounds helps them to give each other feedback on all things. A lot of families struggle with problems such as food, housing, employment, and health insecurity.

            Many schools and districts who are attempting to reach out to the community, have training for their staff so they will be equipped to help the students. The first main idea is to first establish a sense of self-worth and value to each students. Once students are aware of themselves they will also be aware of their place in the community around them. Every person has a role, a task, a position in which they are assigned for a time. It is good to give students the encouragement that what they do matters, who they are matters, and there is a purpose for them in this world.

            One suggestion in the article is for teachers to perform cultural awareness interviews. The interview would be as simple as bringing people into the class to speak to students regarding the culture they are from. As students gain knowledge of the various cultures in they begin to connect to others and create a network.

Students gain understanding on how to get their own needs met through helping meet the needs of those around them. They learn who they are, how they belong, and how everything fits together. Teachers should ask themselves how they are identifying the needs of the students and focusing on promoting their strengths. Teachers are advocates to the student and should be working toward the students learning goals.

Review

            One thing I am sure of is that I strongly believe in connecting my students with the world around them. I believe having guests come in to speak to them regarding various ways of life, careers, hobbies, adds enrichment to what they are already learning. It is beneficial to the student as well as the teacher to include as much community culture into the classroom as possible.

            In the article there are very good points made regarding community culture and including it in the classrooms. In my study of Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, self-acceptance and belonging are extremely important. I believe if students can see themselves in their community and understand where they fit in, those needs will be met.

            When I am running my own classroom I will be using outside sources as often as I can to bring my students a sense of purpose and position where they live. I want my students to feel important and valued in everything they do.