Understanding Behavior – Cultural Differences

Understanding Behavior – Cultural Differences

A child’s cultural background influences the way they think and behave. When dealing with learners from varied cultural backgrounds, educators should avoid stereotypes that make one child inferior or superior to others (Machado et al. 233). This is because, by being biased, some learners may feel excluded. As such, teachers should avoid classifying learners from specific communities as having certain characteristics. Notably, Machado et al. note that not all learners coming from African American backgrounds must be violent or prone to violence (234). This discussion analyses why educators should remain open-minded by avoiding stereotypes when dealing with learners from varied cultural backgrounds.

Below is a list of two common stereotypes and an explanation of why each is wrong;

• Stereotype One: Children from African American backgrounds must be violent or prone to violence.

Not all children from African American backgrounds turn out to be violent or live in violent-prone neighborhoods. Teachers must respect diversity, for instance, by embracing learners from minority groups with an open heart and understanding their struggles (Machado et al., 234). Educators should not use negative statements when referring to students but instead use positive ideas. This way, teachers inspire learners because they feel loved and accepted.

• Stereotype Two: Disagreeing with the views of parents from other ethnic communities

Teachers should come to the classroom open-minded and remember that they are dealing with learners from diverse communities, and accommodating their viewpoints will help build a collaborative team. According to Machado et al., most teachers cannot do away with the stereotypes because they depend too much on what they see in the media (234). Thus, educators must work on finding positive information about other communities to have an open mindset about other communities. Also, teachers should avoid negative labels on children because they hurt students’ self-esteem and lead to poor performance.

In summary, educators should avoid stereotyping their learners because it hurts their confidence and trust in their teachers. When children feel excluded, they tend to self-isolate themselves, feeling lonely and having poor academic achievements.

Works Cited

Machado, Jeanne M., and Helen Meyer Botnarescue. Student teaching: Early childhood practicum guide. Cengage Learning, 2010.

ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER HERE

We’ll write everything from scratch

Understanding Behavior – Cultural Differences

Reread the section on Cultural Differences on page 160. List 2 common stereotypes and then explain why each is wrong using what is learned through the readings in your textbook; you should write at least a paragraph (5-7 sentences) for each of your 2 stereotypes. It is vital that as an emerging early childhood educator, you understand that stereotypes are in no way based on factual information and should be avoided at all costs in the classroom when working with young children.