As teachers of Native American students we are challenged at meeting the needs of our students, all of who share a wide range of cultural beliefs. Through our years of teaching, we have encountered obstacles in teaching certain standards because of the cultural sensitivities of our students. Our goal is to create a resource for educators to learn about these cultural sensitivities in order to become more compassionate and effective in their teaching. We realize that this resource is a work in progress, that although we will be concentrating on the cultural sensitivities and considerations of Native Americans, we hope that our blog will encourage the learning of all cultures and becomes a resource for all educators to learn more about their students.
Written by: Felicia Breeze, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Winslow, Arizona Brianne Buckley, Winslow Junior High, Winslow, Arizona
Amanda Henrikson, Shonto Preparatory Technology High School, Shonto, Arizona Robert Woodruff, Mount Elden Middle School, Flagstaff, Arizona
Albert Einstein visits Hopi House at the Grand Canyon, 1931. Photo by El Tovar Studios
Video: Although this video doesn't demonstrate cultural understanding, it does show the importance of effective communication:
Important Links to learn about some cultural sensitivities of some Native Americans:
Overview:
As teachers of Native American students we are challenged at meeting the needs of our students, all of who share a wide range of cultural beliefs. Through our years of teaching, we have encountered obstacles in teaching certain standards because of the cultural sensitivities of our students. Our goal is to create a resource for educators to learn about these cultural sensitivities in order to become more compassionate and effective in their teaching. We realize that this resource is a work in progress, that although we will be concentrating on the cultural sensitivities and considerations of Native Americans, we hope that our blog will encourage the learning of all cultures and becomes a resource for all educators to learn more about their students.
Written by:
Felicia Breeze, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School, Winslow, Arizona
Brianne Buckley, Winslow Junior High, Winslow, Arizona
Amanda Henrikson, Shonto Preparatory Technology High School, Shonto, Arizona
Robert Woodruff, Mount Elden Middle School, Flagstaff, Arizona
Video: Although this video doesn't demonstrate cultural understanding, it does show the importance of effective communication:
Important Links to learn about some cultural sensitivities of some Native Americans:
Navajo Curriculum Materials
Native American Education
Native American Studies Utah State University
Between Four Sacred Mountains
Diné Education Web
navajo taboos and seventh grade science
Native American Reservations in Arizona
Teaching and Learning with Native Americans
Four Winds Intertribal Society
Traditional Navajo Taboos
Cultural Sensitivity Montana State University
A Line in the Sand
Navajo-Hopi Observer
The Navajo Nation
Hopi Cultural Preservation Office