U.S. history multicultural curriculum project

Project (M.A., Education (Curriculum and Instruction)) -- California State University, Sacramento, 2013.There is a glaring achievement gap that exists within the California public schools according to California Standards Test (CST) results (California Department of Education, 2011). Additionally, while multicultural curriculum has improved over recent years, the emphasis on high-staked testing exacerbates the achievement gap by emphasizing a frequently uniform curriculum that serves to benefit one dominant worldview. Budget and time constraints continue to make it difficult for teachers to find the precious funds and minutes to find or create curriculum that meet multicultural expectations. It was found that textbooks feign objectiveness, but often present a biased and one-sided view of historical events (Apple, 2008; Banks & Banks, 2010; Finley, 2003; Waters, 2007). As textbooks are the dominant source of curricular content, other sources of curriculum need to be available for teachers in order to transform the current curriculum and provide a more equitable education for students (Russell, 2010).\ud v\ud \ud An extensive review of literature regarding the research, benefits, and recommendations was conducted and used as the main source of data for this project. The curriculum presented in this project was developed around the literature research and recommendations. The lessons are specifically designed around Banks and Banks??? (2009) transformative and social action approach. Primary sources are heavily used in order to allow students to reach their own conclusions through critical analysis. Furthermore, building critical literacy skills is emphasized through reading activities, such as Read-Recap-Request, that are incorporated into various lessons.\ud \ud Social studies has been neglected largely due to the emphasis on math and reading in high-stakes testing (Burroughs, Groce, & Webeck, 2005; Mitsakos & Ackerman, 2009; Winstead, 2011). However, the study of history through a multicultural and critical lens offers countless opportunities for students to think critically about the relationships in the world around them and feel a sense of empowerment. When used effectively, multicultural curriculum offers numerous benefits to students and inherently the society of which they are a part.Education (Curriculum and Instruction