Strategies for teaching Native Americans
To provide an optimal learning environment for Native American students,
take into consideration the following:
- Take the time to get to know the Native American student to establish trust, which is an integral part of the student-teacher relationship. This will encourage the student to be more receptive to learning and more willing to participate.
- Native American students may need more one-to-one help at first.
- Gather background information about the tribe of the individual. Make the learning relevant to their lifestyle and/ or community.
- Learning should use all modes, which includes visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetic.
- Traditional Native American students may not be as verbal as students from the dominant culture but trust will help the student to feel more secure and eventually want to open up and participate.
- In the beginning, have them work in smaller groups and then slowly bring the small groups together into a larger group.
- The Native American culture values cooperation, which conflicts with the dominant culture that values competition and independence.
