Question #2: How do I find useful information on a student’s cultural background?

Why Should I research by students' backgrounds?
1) Respect
2) Sheer curiosity
3) Instruction!

Key ideas from the chapter:

• Use multiple sources - Refer to multiple sources to fill in the missing puzzle pieces of a child's culture such as enrollment forms, library reference books, trade books, website, language lessons, a public librarian, teacher material from the State Department of Education, extended family members, and in-class family history activities.
  
• Learn a student's "outside" story
• Identify potential cultural conflict points
• Know basic first and second language differences and similarities
• Avoid common cultural learning pitfalls

Check out these sources to learn about your students' cultures:

• http://www.hmongnet.org/

• http://www.everyculture.com

• Flaitz, Jeffra and Leslie Eckstein. Understanding Your International Students. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 2003.