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Explore guides, research papers, policy briefs, and tools to aid decisions on standards and assessments.
A New Native Teachers Corp: Integrating Culture and Language in Schooling
This article reports on the U.S. Department of Education’s previously funded Native Educators Research Project. The project’s findings identify three implications for Native teacher training. The recommendations are:
If Native teachers are expected to integrate Native language and culture in their teaching, they must be well informed about issues surrounding these topics and equipped with the methods and pedagogic techniques
Instruction should be “indigenized,” allocating more time and resources to promoting critical thinking around issues that address the needs of Native communities and learners, such as parent involvement, authentic assessment, teaching strategies congruent with Native learning styles; modeling culturally responsive curriculum and teaching; and providing Native faculty to mentor and guide their professional development.
Mentoring and support must be extended as a constant feature throughout the teachers’ induction year.
This brief four-page article highlights the current lack of Native American teachers available to teach in predominantly Native American classrooms. The author’s recommendations are based on case-studies research, which, which perhaps not as rigorous as more empirical studies, are supported by a substantial number of other research studies. Communications quality is excellent: the writing is concise and easy to understand while the design contributes to its readability. Utility may be low to moderate due to the article’s publication date (2004). Evidence of effectiveness is not addressed but the overall quality suggests a possible impact on learning.