An Asset Based Approach: Leveraging Cultural Capital in the Classroom
Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
Define validation theory, its components, and the cultural capital and explain its significance in education.
Describe the core concepts of Laura Rendón's validation theory and Tara Yosso's cultural wealth wheel.
Identify the six dimensions of cultural wealth and provide examples of each.
Develop strategies to validate students' cultural identities and experiences.
Create inclusive and culturally responsive learning environments.
Integrate cultural wealth into curriculum and instruction.
Attention Getter:
The Education System views..Assets vs. Deficits
Materials:
Validation Theory
Relevant Pedagogy
Cultural Wealth Wheel
Looking at Cultural Wealth Wheel through a New Lens: Community Cultural Wealth by Tara Yosso (2005) & Latino Students' Ventajas & Conocimientos by Rendon, Nora, & Kangala (2014).
Required Activities:
Respond to Comment Section: Review all the materials provided in the RESOURCES. Write a response about the resources. How would you incorporate the cultural wealth walk, the culturally relevant literature, or Tara Yosso's cultural wealth wheel in your courses?
Activity:
Create your personal wealth wheel and submit it in the Cultural Wealth Quiz. You can submit a visual representation as above or just simple text columns.
Additional Resources:
Cultural Wealth Walk
Culturally Relevant Annotated Bibliography
Summary of Tara Yosso's Cultural Wealth Wheel
Cultural Wealth Wheel Activity (for classroom use)
Connecting Students to Culturally Relevant Text
The education system views...
Assets vs Deficits
What the American Education System sees...immigrants, limited English proficiency, low socio-economic status, and migrant kids.
What parents see...hopes, dreams, high expectations, and language breakers.
The education system does not acknowledge students' cultural wealth and how the overcome and survive adversity (Rendon, et al., 2022).
Relevant Pedagogy
1. Working with students using Asset-Based Pedagogy
2. Decentralizing dominant mainstream voices, including non-dominant voices, valuing students' lived experiences.
3. Modeling oral history counter-narrative storytelling.
Components | community CuLTural WeaLTh | Rendon's Ventajas & Conocimientos |
---|---|---|
Aspirational | "Holding on to hope in the face of structured inequality and often without the means to make such dreams a reality" (77). | "Ability to set high aspirations, recognize the value of education, and remain hopeful about the future" (Rendon, et al., 2014). |
Linguistic | "intellectual and social skills attained through communication experiences in one or more languages and/or style" (78). | "ability to use two or more languages to communicate and employment of diverse forms of communication skills in multiple contexts" (Rendon et al., 2014) . |
Familial | "cultural ways of knowing immediate and extended family that maintain a healthy connection to community and its resources" (78) | "Modeling the strengths of the family, ability to use knowledge gained through the value of family consejos, respeto, testimonios y educacion, and validation and encouragement from siblings, parents, and relatives" (Rendon et al., 2014). |
Social | "networks of significant others and community resources that provide instrumental and emotional support to navigate institutions" (78). | "ability to create social networks, and ability to make new friends and form new relationships" (Rendon, et al., 2014). |
Navigational | ||
Resistant | "oppositional behaviors brought forth when Communities of Color recognize and challenge social inequities" (79). | "ability to resist stereotypes and combat micro-aggressions and ability to overcome hardships, such as poverty and lack of resources" (Rendon, et al., 2014). |
Activity Example:
ADD YOUR RESPONSE TO THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW: Review all the materials provided in the RESOURCES. Write a response about the resources. How would you incorporate the cultural wealth walk, the culturally relevant literature, or Tara Yosso's cultural wealth wheel in your courses?
ACTIVITY: Create your personal wealth wheel and submit it in the Cultural Wealth Quiz. You can submit a visual representation as above or just simple text columns.
Purpose: A cultural wealth wheel activity aims to help individuals recognize and appreciate the diverse forms of capital they possess. By engaging in this activity, participants can identify personal assets by discovering and acknowledging their strengths, skills, and knowledge, including those related to language, family, social networks, and cultural practices.
Challenge Deficit-Based Thinking: Shift their perspective from focusing on limitations to recognizing their potential and resources.
Foster Self-Efficacy: Develop a sense of belief in their ability to succeed and overcome challenges. Build Community: Connect with others who share similar experiences and values, creating a supportive network.
Leverage Cultural Capital: Learn how to utilize their cultural wealth to achieve their educational and career goals. By understanding and valuing their cultural wealth, individuals can approach their education and future endeavors with greater confidence and purpose.