10307262ECE: Culturally Appropriate Interactions and Guidance
Course Information
Description
Throughout this course, students will learn about culturally appropriate interactions and guidance for young children. Students will explore their own biases; reflect on their intentional and unintentional beliefs that lead to their responses when working with children from backgrounds different from their own. Students will also begin to recognize the disparity of equity that may impart a cumulative emotional and historical trauma across generations while learning how to interact and guide children that may be affected by such. Year Developed - 2019. Developed by University of Wisconsin - Whitewater. The Registry grants permission to all WI institutions of higher education to use these materials.
Total Credits
3
Course Competencies
  1. Question the meaning of demographic shifts in relation to cultural disparity and the implicit biases that are associated with this condition.
    Assessment Strategies
    Census Activity, Required Artifact - Log or Journal, Reflection
    Criteria
    Make assumptions about demographic trends and the implications of those trends.
    Examine the role of cultural disparity and implicit biases on preschool expulsion rates.
    Reflect on own assumptions about children and families from cultural backgrounds different than one’s own.

  2. Understand the influences of implicit bias and cultural lens when viewing the decisions families make when raising their children.
    Assessment Strategies
    Interview, Self-Assessment, Log or Journal Reflection
    Criteria
    Identify own implicit biases, their origins those biases and their impact.
    Consider the influence of pop culture, as reflected in the media and literature, and whose culturally based family values typically reflected.
    Support a collaborative approach for learning from and working with families around behavioral expectations and guidance strategies.
    Develop awareness around misconceptions and their impact on interactions and expectations.

  3. Develop the skills and dispositions needed to provide effective and appropriate cross-cultural child guidance.
    Assessment Strategies
    Individualized Plan for Growth, Log or Journal Reflection
    Criteria
    View child guidance through a culturally responsive lens.
    Apply principles of cultural competence in developing child guidance approaches.
    Seek opportunities for personal growth.

  4. Develop strategies for building resiliency and armoring children to help them withstand discrimination.
    Assessment Strategies
    Case Study, Log or Journal Reflection
    Criteria
    Demonstrate understanding of resilience and armoring in relation to children and discrimination.
    Develop strategies to armor children and help them build resiliency.
    Illustrate ability to develop strategies for responding to cultural tensions.

  5. Explain the various ways families teach, guide, and influence their children and the educator’s role in honoring cultural and language differences in the classroom.
    Assessment Strategies
    Checklist of Observations, Log or Journal Reflection
    Criteria
    Recognize the qualities that make up the unique culture of each family.
    Describe the impact of home culture and language on children’s behaviors in the classroom.
    Develop strategies for honoring family culture and language in the classroom culture.

  6. Construct strategies for creating a trauma sensitive classroom environment to help children overcome growing up in a violent world.
    Assessment Strategies
    Trauma Resource Guide, Log or Journal Reflection, Required Artifact – Create a Safe Space for Children Who have Experienced Trauma
    Criteria
    Recognize the multi-dimensional impact of trauma and violence on young children.
    Demonstrate understanding of the educator’s role in helping children overcome trauma.
    Develop strategies for creating a safe space in the classroom.
    Recognize the positive impact of safe spaces for children experiencing violence and trauma in their lives.

  7. Develop equitable strategies designed to help close the opportunity gap for children from diverse backgrounds.
    Assessment Strategies
    Public Service Announcement, IDI & IDC assessment (optional), Log or Journal Reflection
    Criteria
    Consider the difference between looking at the problem as an 'achievement gap' VS an 'opportunity gap'.
    Understand the reasons behind the achievement gap and how it impacts children and families.
    Examine the role of self-identity in relation to the opportunity gap.
    Develop a personal call to action for helping close the opportunity gap for children from diverse backgrounds.

  8. Advocate for culturally responsive child guidance practices by sharing new knowledge and skills with other professionals.
    Assessment Strategies
    Reflection on Advocacy Strategy Taken
    Criteria
    Identify potential strategies for advocacy among professional peers.
    Take action on one advocacy strategy related to culturally responsive child guidance and institutional accountability.
    Evaluate and reflect on the impact of the advocacy actions.