The American Indian Education KnowledgeBase : Element 4 : Activity 1 : Task 5: Prepare Educators to Teach American Indian Students
Guideline: Teacher preparation programs face two challenges in preparing educators to teach American Indian students. The first is the need for American Indian educators to serve as role models for their native students. The second is for all teacher preparation programs to prepare their graduates with the knowledge and skills needed to function in a culturally diverse classroom. New teacher graduates need to know how to use culturally appropriate teaching approaches for different groups. Additionally, professional development initiatives for current educators should explore culturally appropriate teaching approaches for different groups. To do so, educators need an understanding of anthropology, sociology, and history as they relate to American Indians.
Intended for non-Native American adult educators teaching adults, this guide is helpful for all educators with gaining an understanding of their native students.
This archived ERIC Digest "reviews important considerations in building a Native teaching force by discussing the rationale for developing a Native teaching force, current challenges, and the Native Educators Research Project."
"Native Education 101: Basic Facts about American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian Education is the result of a partnership between the National Education Association and the National Indian Education Association. It gives a glimpse into problems faced by Natives in schools and explains the variety of laws and executive orders."
This article reports on the US Department of Education's previously funded Native Educators Research Project. The project's findings identify three implications for Native teacher training.
"This ERIC Digest summarizes literature related to preparing educators to bring about American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) student success and discusses what "success" in life means for Indian students of all ages and their extended families."
This article proposes a base of knowledge that teachers of Native students should possess. Though oriented towards developing teacher preparation programs at tribal colleges it does highlight a body of knowledge that would be useful to all teachers of Native students.
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