Cultural Perspectives in the ELA classroom
Having a unit rationale and clear lesson objectives explicitly linked to the CCSS by using the language of the CCSS is your key to teaching what you want to teach.
Rationale for inclusion of indigenous texts into a Common Core based curriculum:
Two main questions to answer in a rationale of content are what is its relevance and will it be rigorous enough.
Relevance to non-indigenous students
Relevance to all students
Relevance to indigenous students
How is teaching Lāʻieikawai rigorous?
More rationale coming soon…
Rationale for inclusion of indigenous texts into a Common Core based curriculum:
Two main questions to answer in a rationale of content are what is its relevance and will it be rigorous enough.
Relevance to non-indigenous students
- Geographically relevant.
- Non-white and non-dominant representation of authorship, characters, and themes.
- Builds empathy and classroom community.
Relevance to all students
- Peaks interests.
- Relatable, vibrant characters.
- Diverse and culturally important themes.
- Diverse and culturally relevant models of living and relationships.
- Grows aloha ʻāina.
- Raises literary awareness of the rich literary genealogy of Native Hawaiians.
Relevance to indigenous students
- Favorable educational and affective outcomes. (For literature on this point, see: Kaiwi 2006; Yamauchi, Wyatt, & Taum 2005; Kawakami 2004.)
- Building self-esteem and positive identity in an at-risk population.
How is teaching Lāʻieikawai rigorous?
- The story is complex yet accessible, e.g. layers of kaona.
- Provides an opportunity to teach different reading comprehension strategies.
- Can meet Common Core State Standards.
More rationale coming soon…