Denise Vernstrom
EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms
Andrea Coffey
February 15, 2013
Learning from Native American Stories
1. Why are Native Americans an involuntary minority group?
Involuntary minority groups are groups of people whose ancestors suffered slavery or
colonization in the United Stated and who historically have been denied true assimilation
into U.S. society. Native Americans are an involuntary group because of the extreme
oppression and colonization experienced at the hands of a dominant culture in North
America. Native Americans refusal to become slaves cost many their lives.
2. Why is the circle such an important symbol for Native Americans?
A key concept of Native American philosophy is holism, and one of the most important
symbol is the circle, or hoop of life. Native Americans believe that all creatures are
equal and that humans must value the sanctity of the wholeness of the universe in its
purity. Whenever a group of Native Americans meet together a circle is always formed.
Similarly symbols of important cultural tenets, the circular shape of the sweat
lodge (tepee) represents the universe itself.
EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms
Assignment 3
3. Describe the language differences and the communication style of Native
Americans.
There are 304 federal Native Americas reservations, and over 150 different tribal
languages. The language includes non-verbal signs and gestures and very little eye
contact. The language is slower and softer than most languages. Native America dialogue
include long pauses and even periods of silence.
4. Do you think it is appropriate to call a sport’s team a name associated with Native
Americans? Think Washington Redskins… Defend your answer.
No, I do not think that it is ever appropriate because often the word used is similar to the
word used when making a racial slur. The use of the word Redskins is like calling the
team a bunch of niggers to me. The name of a team is often a the representation of what
we should expect from them. What are we representing when calling a team the
Redskins? The team is not stating that the team members have different color skin or that
the team colors are even red. The name is trying to represents that the team members are
blood thirsty killers and will win at all costs. The name of the team has not
misrepresented Native Americans and has actually disrespected them.
5. Native American students seem to do well until the fourth grade. If you were a
fourth-grade teacher, what are some of the strategies you would use to make sure
your Native American students do not fall behind the other students?
Native American culture teaches oneness and unity. American Indians do not
believe in planning because they believe in destiny. Most teaching that was done on
the reservations included visuals, hand gestures and acting out and plays.
EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms
Assignment 3
In an effort to ensure that the Native American students in my class stay in school and
complete the fourth grade; I would try to organize class assignment with their cultural needs in
mind. I would offer group activities to establish a sense of unity and team and stay away from
individual oral assignments. I would stay away from award ceremonies and instead give out
classroom awards. In addition, I would need to somehow network with the parents to figure out
how to get them to understand and support assignment timelines.
6. Comment on the following strategies:
Incorporate the history of accomplishments and contributions of American Indian people.
I think that sharing information and learning from each other helps to build relationship and
often bring clarity and understanding to misconceived ideas. I would incorporate the history and
accomplishments of every ethnic group represented in my classroom. It would allow each
student to feel included and a sense of pride about their ethnicity.
Promote positive self-images and cultural images for the students.
It is necessary for all students to have a positive self-image in order to believe in themselves and
the images associated with their cultural ethnicity play a large role in their self-image. Teaching
and promoting cultural differences in a positive way will aid in the self-image of each student.
Adapt teaching styles (hands on instructions)
Hands on activities help to eliminate cultural and language barriers. Many students are visual learner
and are able to mimic the teacher. Native American teachers use hand gestures, role playing,
storytelling and hands on teaching tools in their classrooms. A Native American student would thrive in a
classroom where this technique was used.
EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms
Assignment 3
7. Comment on this activity (What do you think about it for one of the early
elementary grades): Ask children to draw a picture of a favorite food, favorite game, favorite
sport, or some other favorite. Ask the children to explain their pictures or just look at them.
They may see similar pictures from different members of the group. Make a collage of the
pictures.
I think that it could be a great activity to talk about commonalities and encourage community. The
activity would open up the door of conversations about differences in cultures and ideas.
EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms
Assignment 3
Teaching standards 3E, 3F, 3.G, 3J, 3O, 3P, 3Q
EDUC 2025 Creating Culturally Responsive Classrooms
Assignment 3