Education Commons^™

Culturally Responsive Teaching: The Bible Tells Me So, Nyaradzo Mvududu

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

The US population is becoming more and more diverse. This is the reality. In light of this fact people in all walks of life – e.g. education, healthcare, religion – will inevitably interact in their day to day lives with others who are increasingly different from themselves. It follows that for these interactions to be effective, we need to become more culturally competent. We need to be aware of how culture shapes us and those around us. In order to cross boundaries that can arise from our difference we need to acknowledge and value those differences. For Christians, being culturally …

Using Storytelling To Integrate Faith And Learning: The Lived Experience Of Christian Esl Teachers, Monir Nazir Atta-Alla

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

English as a second language (ESL) settings lend themselves more easily and naturally than others to storytelling-based discussions and activities that integrate faith and learning. Stories and storytelling offer students from diverse backgrounds a compelling mechanism for understanding their world and creating shalom learning community conducive to the restoration of wholeness of the learners. This qualitative study explores the perceptions and lived teaching experience of Christian teachers regarding the integration of faith and learning in ESL settings through using storytelling. Findings indicated that storytelling is an effective tool for the integration of faith and learning in ESL settings. Using storytelling …

Intercultural Music Education: The Moral Ethics Of Cultural Educational Exchange, Mary Cummings

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

It is important when considering a position as a music educator within a non-Western society to examine the political, social and religious influences that are present in music in order to assist in alleviating the tensions and dangers that such an introduction may create within a culture. Once these issues are understood, it is clear to see that a system of intercultural exchange instead of Western globalization would benefit both teacher and student while still maintaining cultural integrity. The advantage of such an approach would break down cultural barriers, preserve the existing culture, and provide a Christian educator with a …

Multicultural Considerations For Building Learning Communities, Cher N. Edwards, Scott Edwards

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Educational policies call for inclusion and attention to cultural differences in our schools. Administrators, classroom educators, counselors, and other support staff attempt to attend to students through a cooperative effort of connecting with the community beyond the school building, as well as the families represented within it. As Christians, there is a higher calling to truly embrace those often underserved in our learning communities. This paper will address multicultural issues important for United States and United Kingdom school system staff to be mindful of when focusing on students and their families.

The Power Of Journaling: A Dynamic Tool For Evaluating Student Teacher Adjustment In Cross-Cultural Contexts, Brenda B. Mackay

International Christian Community of Teacher Educators Journal

Journaling is an acceptable pedagogical and assessment tool used to help leverage a university student teacher’s emotional and spiritual growth in a 10 week cross-cultural student teaching experience. The process requires students to document their life and learning experiences.

Questions are designed for student response. Student teachers are encouraged to draw personal connections between their lives and new experiences. This article will show how journaling helped four student teachers process what Kelly and Meyers (1995) identify as the four components of cross-cultural adaptability: (1) emotional resilience, (2) flexibility/openness, (3) perceptual acuity and (4) personal autonomy. Excerpts from the personal journals …