Course Material

1. Below you will find 2 discussion post, reflecton what you agree with
and/or thou
Below you will find 2 discussion post, reflecton what you agree with and/or thoughts
abouts it.1. Cultural baggage is to have your cultural persuade the way you think, speak, do
certain things and usally you dont even realize. This is an important thing because it is the
root of many young student identities that shouldnt be overlooked in the classroom.
Children cultural baggage shouldnt be looked at negatively but rather accepted and
identified. A deficit mindset is usally and educator who already has a preconcieved mindset
or assumption about a students because they are from low income families or because of
their background. This is an isssue where educators have to confront their preconceptions,
biases, and attitudes they might have concerning their students.2. I think that educators or
people do this more than they realize because of the preconcevied notions but a lot of
people arent willing to confront themsleves about these thoughts. With cultural baggage
students can do certain things and not know its wrong becaue its normal in thier cultures
and for teachers they have to be educated on those cultural norms of their students so that
they can be aware of the deficit mindset. The core of deficit mindest is not allowing yourself
to see potenial of students but just seeing their problems and that hurts the students and
educator.3. I work at a summer camp and my first summer i caught myself having a lot of
preconception of misconceptions. This was because i had never worked with some many
kids before and it was easier to focus on the problems to explain the reasons for their
behavior rather than trying to change that behavior. the best way for teachers to handle this
is to honor students prior knowledge, embrace their students imperfections, and try diffrent
teaching techniques to help students.2. Define in your own words the terms “cultural
baggage” and “deficit mindset”?Cultural baggage: The chapter refers to cultural and
language differences as cultural baggage. I tend to also think of this term in regard to a
shared collective past (usually rife with trauma) that a collective group shares and carries
with them.Deficit mindset: I think too often, caretakers/ educators of children look for
negative skillsets or interactions more than strengthen what’s working. This acts as a deficit
mindset since it is only focusing on viewing children as their weaknesses. Basing children’s
identities on their “deficiencies” classifies children by their shared group rather than
individual differences.2. What are your thoughts about “cultural baggage” and the idea of
thinking in a “deficit model” mindset towards children’s differences?I do not like the term
cultural “baggage.” However, I would also add that I do not bear much of my own to be the

2. person to speak on what term should be used. “Baggage” feels synonymous with “burden,”
and it is unfortunate that the shared past of a group can often feel like a burden to those
who carry it. While it can potentially act as one, it shouldn’t be treated as one. I prefer
thinking of the culture that someone brings with them as just that. Their culture, their life,
their way of viewing the world. I find it so interesting how differently people live even in the
same geographical area. I am shocked that this view is not always applied to children –
especially those who do not share the same customs or strengths. We run into this issue
when thinking of the deficit mindset as well. Only pointing out cultural differences or areas
in need of strengthening often leave out the other 85% of what makes up who that child is.
There is so much more behind a child besides where they come from or what they struggle
with, and as teachers who aim to teach holistically, we need to consider addressing these
differences while celebrating the child behind it all.3. Reflect on your own background. How
might this impact your view of children, diversity, culture. Identify areas in which you might
have some bias, preconceptions of misconceptions. As a teacher, how might you address
these?I know that I carry with me my family’s ancestral preconceived notions and the
obligation to work through them. I have poured myself into academic work and into
research to find out where these have come out in my own actions and how to break past
them. Because of how I was raised- in a predominantly all-white/ all-heterosexual/ typically
married nuclear family suburbia in the rural south- I have a lot of work to do. I have learned
that my unconscious bias work will and should be never-ending. I should always evaluate
my actions with others and respect people both as the unique respect-deserving individual
in front of me while also acknowledging how history before us has shaped both our lives. As
a teacher, this looks like celebrating diversity and including children’s own
customs/beliefs/ practices into the classroom. This looks like learning how to correctly
pronounce a child’s name- especially if its pronunciation is unfamiliar to me. Since I am only
proficient in English, any other language a child comes into my classroom with will be, and
should be, celebrated and listened to. It should be seen as a strength, and if they were
willing, I would hope to collaborate and teach with the child to help the class share in their
language. In my spare time, I have thought about picking up another language to also aid in
my communication across cultures. As an adult, it can be very difficult to learn one all over
again. But for children tossed into a new culture, it is just as difficult.Citations are not
required.