Your Place or Mine?

After reading and analyzing the article by Reisberg, Brander, & Gruenewald, I found that the most important concept was the exploration of place, culture, and art. This reoccurring theme needs to be introduced in the classroom as well as in the community. Multicultural curriculum is important so all the students experiences and backgrounds can be incorporated instead of just focusing on the majority. I found that Newling had an interesting point when addressing European American culture. "Whites are now often a minority in public education, advocates for the inclusion of all ethnicities' literature in the curriculum including European Americans both to negate the illusion that European American's have no culture" (121). All cultures need to be explored in order for students to have an open mind. Where Fireflies Dance is a great example of a multicultural book. It addresses place, culture, and art through Lucha's story. It conveys this through family importance, cultural traditions, and representational color.