CDF 57 - Teaching in a Diverse Society

Transfer Status

CSU

Unit(s)

3.00

• Lecture: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)
• Total: 51.00 Contact hours/102.00 Out of class hours/153.00 Total hours/3.00 Unit(s)

Course Description: This course presents an examination of the historical and current perspectives on diversity and inclusion and the impact of systemic societal influences on children’s development, learning, and school experiences. Strategies for developmentally-, culturally-, and linguistically-appropriate anti-bias curricula will be explored, as well as approaches to promote inclusive and anti-racist classroom communities. This course places emphasis on self-reflection of the influence of teachers’ own cultures and life experiences on teaching and interactions with children and families. (C-ID ECE 230).

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

1. Describe historical and current perspectives on diversity and inclusion.
2. Identify and differentiate between various forms of diversity.
3. Discuss how stereotypes, bias, discrimination, systemic oppression and internalized privilege impact children’s learning, development and school experiences.
4. Reflect on your own values and implicit and explicit biases and the ways in which these may positively and negatively affect teaching and learning.
5. Evaluate classroom environments, materials, and approaches for developmental, cultural, and linguistic appropriateness for infants and toddlers through the early primary years.
6. Describe appropriate teaching strategies and potential curriculum and pedagogical modifications to help all young children access the curriculum.
7. Describe strategies to promote an inclusive and anti-racist classroom community.
8. Identify approaches to help children negotiate and resolve conflict related to social injustice and bias.
9. Describe strategies to build collaborative, respectful partnerships with families.

Topic Titles / Suggested Time Topic

Lecture

1. Class Activities
2. Guest Speakers
3. Homework: Students are required to complete two hours of outside-of-class homework for each hour of lecture
4. Lecture
5. Multimedia Presentations
6. Reading Assignments
7. Interviews

1. Exams/Tests
2. Research Projects
3. Papers
4. Oral Presentation
5. Group Participation (Inactive)
6. Class participation
7. Written Assignments
8. Classroom Observations

Reading Assignments

1. Read a peer-reviewed article on systemic oppression and write a 2-3 page teaching philosophy statement articulating your goals as a teacher that consider the role of power and privilege in the classroom.
2. Read about the goals of anti-bias education and create a 2D or 3D illustration of how they intersect with developmentally appropriate practices.

Writing Assignments

1. Research global approaches to education and describe in 1,500 words the historical and current perspectives on diversity and inclusion.
2. Write a one-page “I Am From” poem that summarizes your individual identities, perspectives, communication styles, and summarize in one-page or more how your diversity will influence your work with children and families.

Out-of-Class Assignments

1. Students will observe children in an early childhood group care setting to investigate whether the program promotes acceptance of diversity and write a 2-3 page analysis paper comparing what was observed with the goals of anti-bias education.
2. Interview a teacher working with young children about their strategies to build collaborative, respectful partnerships with families, and create a 5-10 slide presentation to share with the class.

Derman-Sparks, L., Olsen Edwards, J., & Goins, C. (2020). Anti-Bias Education for Young Children and Ourselves. National Association for the Education of Young Children, 2nd. 978-1-938113-57-4.

Kissinger, K. (2017). Anti-Bias Education in the Early Childhood Classroom: Hand in Hand, Step by Step. Routledge, 1st. 9781138651593.

Derman-Sparks, L. et al. (2016). Leading Anti-Bias Early Childhood Programs: A Guide for Change (Early Childhood Education). Teachers College Press, n/a. 978-0807755983.

York, S. (2017). Roots and Wings: Affirming Culture and Preventing Bias in Early Childhood. Redleaf Press, 3rd. 978-1605544557.

Other Learning Materials

Open Educational Resource - Canvas Commons: https://lor.instructure.com/resources/136cc34ecfe64737b652b5008c0f5288?shared

Open Educational Resource - LibreTexts: https://socialsci.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Early_Childhood_Education/The_Role_of_Equity_and_Diversity_in_Early_Childhood_Education_(Esquivel_Elam_Paris_and_Tafoya)

Open Educational Resource - CAP 8 Textbooks in English and Spanish available at: https://www.childdevelopment.org/higher-ed-faculty/curriculum-alignment-project/cap-8-course-textbooks

The Reimagining Our Work (ROW) Book Collection: https://exchangepress.com/row/

Child Dev/Early Childhood Ed