Consider language, culture in teaching

According to a New York Times article, more than 5 million children in the United States enter school each year speaking a language other than English. That amount is expected to grow to 25 percent by the year 2025.

School District U-46, the second largest in Illinois, reflects this diversity as shown on its demographics: White: 36.5 percent, African-American: 6.9 percent, Hispanic: 44.4 percent, Asian: 8.1 percent, Native American: 0.2 percent.

In addition to this ethnic variety, there are other factors that have an impact on the performance of each learner in the classroom, such as learning preferences, communication style and culture.

Multicultural education acknowledges the differences that children bring to school, assuming the possibility that students’ identities may influence how they experience school and, hence, and how they learn.

Accepting these differences also means making provisions for them. The Daily Herald recently reported that School District U-46 currently serves about 8,600 bilingual students across all grades. For bilingual education to be effective it is essential not only that these students receive instruction in their native language, but also to bring their background knowledge into the equation.

Karla Matus

Elgin