Open AccessEmbracing American Indian Ways of Educating: Restoring Culturally Embedded Practices While Building Pathways Towards Student Success
Author(s) -
Rose Borunda,
Crystal Martinez-Alire
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of transformative leadership and policy studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2331-9437
pISSN - 2151-5735
DOI - 10.36851/jtlps.v4i1.468
Subject(s) - curriculum , equity (law) , social justice , value (mathematics) , sociology , pedagogy , cultural diversity , best practice , cultural competence , economic justice , culturally sensitive , political science , psychology , social science , social psychology , law , anthropology , machine learning , computer science
American Indian cultural traditions and practices are presented for their merit in promoting student learning within the K-12 educational system. Spe-cific culturally imbedded practices are provided as examples by which student learning can be enhanced while honoring First Nation’s teaching and learn-ing practices. Five developmental theorists noted in this concept paper speak to pedagogical practices that are in alignment with American Indian cultural orientations and that support their inherent value for application in the classroom. This paper asserts that by valuing and promoting American Indian culture and practices in the K-12 curriculum, that the United States would make greater strides in not only affect-ing the achievement gap, but in taking steps toward equity and achieving social justice goals.