Strategies for teaching Latin Americans
To provide an optimal learning environment for Latino/a American
students, take into consideration the following:
- Latinos/as value education. Low participation in school activities should not be perceived as the family not valuing education.
- Latinos/as view the teacher with great respect. The teacher and school are seen as experts in education. This respect inhibits families from questioning the teacher or school. It also leads to a reluctance to give suggestions or to appear to be interfering in the educational process.
- Latinos/as students prefer a model of schooling that considers respectful caring relationships with instructors to be the foundation for learning.
- Latinos/as students will possess diligence in response to a warm, caring relationship with a teacher. Otherwise, students may feel disillusioned with their schooling experience. They may also exhibit a reluctance to participate or complete their assignments.
- Include elements that are familiar to the student and relevant to their experiences into the curriculum.
