The Cultural Context of Classroom Practice in American Schools

Book excerpt: Excellence in student learning is dependent upon cross-cultural understanding--having a broader view of people and the world than the traditional western-oriented view. This is a vital contextual resource for learning how and why to employ the recommended classroom practices outlined in the three classroom practice volumes. The presentation builds cultural competence. Readers become more observant and open to questioning why certain practices exist in schools. Through the process in this and in additional volumes of the series, readers gain new knowledge, deeper insights, and a way of thinking about schooling that will extend to the classroom and beyond.