Gallaudet University Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center Creating a Multicultural School Climate for Deaf Children and Their Families Choosing Materials

About the Authors Introduction Responding to Changing Needs Instructional Approaches Choosing Materials Leadership Issues Resources for a Multicultural School Climate Sharing Ideas Home Page

A well-designed classroom for deaf and hard of hearing learners is typically very stimulating, offering a variety of media and printed materials. A review of the books, posters, bulletin boards, art work, and instructional materials available in classrooms, the school library, and other areas can tell a lot about the extent to which a school accommodates the diverse backgrounds, lifestyles, and physical abilities and challenges of students and their families. On the other hand, instructional materials should not be chosen solely for their cultural significance. Classroom materials must also have educational value and be appropriate to the ages, developmental stages, and interests of students (Saracho & Spodek, 1983). Helpful classroom materials should offer the following features: Clear representations of individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a range of physical abilities. Accurate information about a wide variety of cultures and cultural groups. Presentations of experiences and issues that are both realistic and important to various groups of individuals. Accurate, non-stereotyped representations of individuals who are members of ethnic or cultural groups. Activities that encourage students to share information about each other and to find commonalities as well as differences. For example, students might make personal collages that include pictures of themselves and family members at various ages, their homes, places they have visited; and information about where they were born, foods and games they like, and other background material.

Contact Ken Kurlychek with comments or suggestions about this web page. Last modified July 22, 1997 Copyright © 1997 All Rights Reserved Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center Gallaudet University 800 Florida Ave. NE Washington, DC 20002-3695