Web Sites

Rethinking Schools Online
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/index.html
Rethinking Schools began as a local effort to address problems such as basal readers, standardized testing, and textbook-dominated curriculum. It remains firmly committed to equity and to the vision that public education is central to the creation of a humane, caring, multiracial democracy. While writing for a broad audience, Rethinking Schools emphasizes problems facing urban schools, particularly issues of race. Following are a few links to articles on cultural competence in education:
Teaching and Cultural Competence: What does it take to be a successful teacher in a diverse classroom?
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/Archives/15_04/Glb154.htm
Teaching in Dangerous Times
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/Archives/14_04/dan144.htm
Raising Children's Cultural Voices
http://www.rethinkingschools.org/Archives/14_04/bil144.htm

ERIC Clearinghouse on Elementary and Early Childhood Education
http://ericeece.org/
The Clearinghouse has been providing information since 1967 for educators, parents and families, and all parties interested in the development, education, and care of children from birth through early adolescence. A search for cultural competence AND education returns 292 results, including full abstracts and a link to speak to a librarian 1 - 4 pm ET. What a great service! Includes many full-text documents in English and Spanish.

Early Childhood.com
http://www.earlychildhood.com/
A professional resource for parents and teachers of young children, this site "provides information for all who share an interest in improving the education and general life experience of young children."

International Children's Digital Library
http://www.icdlbooks.org
A new project has developed a sweeping digital archive of books from around the world for children ages 3 to 13. Now available online is the largest international collection of children's literature--over 200 books from 27 cultures in 15 languages. The vision is to eventually have 10,000 books from more than 100 countries.

Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell World Wise Schools
http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws
The Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell World Wise Schools Program maintains a web site with many publications and lesson plans on teaching about culture. Teachers can have lesson plans and books to teach from in minutes by downloading from their web site.

For example, a downloadable workbook titled, “Building Bridges: A Peace Corps Classroom Guide to Cross-Cultural Understanding” includes two units. Unit 1, titled “Culture in US” includes a section on defining culture, and unit 2, titled “Culture Beyond the U.S.” has a section on resolving a cross-cultural misunderstanding. Go now to: http://www.peacecorps.gov/wws.

When you get to the web site select the educators link and then select again from five options including, “Teaching About Culture” and “Lesson Plans & Service-Learning”. The lessons are adapted from the Peace Corps’ cross-cultural training workbook “Culture Matters,” designed for Peace Corps Volunteers; and from “Insights from the Field,” “Looking at Ourselves and Others,” and “Voices from the Field,” all of which are World Wise Schools curriculum resources designed for classroom use.

Within the “Building Bridges” workbook, certain chapters are appropriate for high school and others for middle school. Go to www.peacecorps.gov/wws to find out more!