Essay On Working With Aboriginal Students

1550 Words4 Pages

Working with Indigenous Students
ED 4132
Mitchell Harvie
Carolyn Cook

Discuss the importance of building a learning environment that is based on ‘effective student engagement’ for Aboriginal students. Using the context of a specific lesson or conceptual understanding, outline the specific strategies you would use to make learning engaging, accessible and culturally responsive for Aboriginal students.

Education in the 21st century is providing a number of barriers and challenges. Teachers, educators and schools are being continually challenged to cater for students from diverse backgrounds. Teachers are encouraged to create an engaging student-teacher program to produce the best possible outcomes for all children. …show more content…

Partnerships include partnerships between teacher and student, partnerships between teacher and parent and partnership between teacher and Indigenous worker. History outlines terrible treatment of our Indigenous, and this had led to many negative attitudes and views towards schools and education. It is for this reason, that building postive relationships based on respect and trust is vital to “closing the gap”. “You cant have partnership without a relationship, and you can’t have a relationship without a conversation. You’ve got to have a conversation. Everything starts here.”(What Works 2012). This forms the basis of my educational belief. Partnerships are critical with all children, parents and carers, and it should be no different if they are Aboriginal. According to (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Action Plan 2010 – 2014) 45% of Aboriginal parents and carers believed that the inclusion of community role models and mentors is critical. Involving Elders, parents and carers in school activities and decision making leads to a positive welcoming enviroment for the Aboriginal community. If students feel as though their family, culture and indentity are part of the community they are more likely to feel a sense of value and a want to attend school. Through creating partnerships and relationships education becomes more accessible and a step towards “closing the gap” is taken. As a trained Health and Physical Education teacher, I have involved an Aboriginal and Islander Education Officer to help implement sporting games and explain how the indigenous play the same sports as Non-Indigenous in different ways. These Officers act as role models and have allowed me to create a relationship with my Indigneous students, parents and wider Aboriginal community. Extra-curricular sport has been a platform for me to form a closer bond with Aborignal students outside of a

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