The Other Teacher: Navigating Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Teacher Education

Purpose of study: One of the most critical issues facing teacher education today is how to effectively prepare teachers for the increasingly racial, cultural and linguistic profiles of today\u27s students across the country (Cochran-Smith, Davis & Fries, 2004). Much discussion on culturally responsive teaching had centered on preparing mostly White middle class teachers to teach in highly diverse urban classrooms (Chicola, 2007; Cockran- Smith, Davis & Fries, 2004; Gay, 2000, 2001, 2010; Villegas & Lucas, 2002). However, what has not been addressed in the research literature is how foreign born teacher educators negotiate culturally responsive teaching, especially in predominantly White teaching colleges. Foreign born scholars of color may add the needed enrichment and learning opportunities necessary for novice and in-service teachers to adopt culturally responsive teaching because of their diverse life experiences and global knowledge perspective which might help bring to the fore salient issues pertaining to cultural education (Amobi, 2004; Florence, 2010; Skerrett, 2006). However, they also face challenges. Differences in educational backgrounds as well as cultural and linguistic disparities can create environments fraught with misunderstanding and conflict (Amobi, 2004; Florence, 2010, Gay, 2010; Obiakor and Gordon, 2003). This study documents how a foreign born professor of color negotiated culturally responsive teaching in a predominantly White teaching college. The study is guided by the following questions: How can I help my teacher candidates acquire cultural knowledge? How do I improve my teaching practice to make it responsive to the needs of the candidates? What roles if any, do my race, gender and prior experiences play in my pedagogy and students\u27 perception of my teaching effectiveness

Analysis of phytochemicals, minerals and in vitro antioxidant activities of Gongronema latifolium leaves

Gongronema latifolium is primarily used as spice and vegetable as well as a herb in traditional medicine in the treatment of malaria, diabetes and hypertension. This study is aimed at providing in vitro laboratory knowledge on Gongronema latifolium leaves.Methods Minerals were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer while phyto nutrients were screened using standard laboratory procedures. 2,2 diphenyl 1 picrylhydrazyl DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power activities were determined spectrophotometrically. Usunobun Usunomena | Igwe V. Chinwe "Analysis of phytochemicals, minerals and in vitro antioxidant activities of Gongronema latifolium leaves" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-1 | Issue-4 , June 201

New Kids on the Block: Understanding and Engaging Elementary Readers and Writers in New Times

This collaborative study examined literacy instruction in a fifth grade classroom with particular reference to two case study students and the role of pedagogy in bridging the divide in their literacy practices. Grounded in the multiliteracies framework and perspectives consistent with third space theory, data were collected using a multi-site approach. Data were analyzed using the thematic analysis and constant comparison approaches. Findings suggest that the two children disengaged from most of school tasks because of the traditional approach to instruction, lack of recognition of their learning styles and interests, as well as the absence of digital literacies. However, they became engaged with school as the teacher implemented a more transformative approach to learning which included the integration of digital technologies and the creation of productive spaces for learning. Implications for literacy teaching and learning were discussed

A Tale of Two Cultures: A Qualitative Narrative of Nigerian Immigrant Parenting in the United States

Current demographic estimates indicate that the foreign-born population makes up about 13% (40 million) of the total U.S. population. This number consists of immigrants from all over the world, with a larger majority originating from Latin America and Asia. Research in the area of immigrant adaptation is robust and compelling; however, it is replete with studies on immigrants from the cultural regions identified above, and not as much on other regions with relatively less numerical representation, specifically Africa. From this region, Nigerian individuals and families make up a larger portion of this immigrant group. This study employs a qualitative research method to explore the adaptation processes of Nigerian immigrant parents and their children. Participant parents (N=30) and their children (N=15) were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Interview topics included acculturation inclinations; participants’ perspectives of differences and similarities of raising children in the U.S and in Nigeria; influences of American culture on participants’ parenting; cultural adjustments that have been made; intergenerational conflicts; language issues and cultural identity. A grounded theory method was used for data collection and analysis, after which the following themes emerged: (1) Acculturation: “I could pick some good from Nigeria and some good from here, and blend it together.” (2). Respect: “A child just walks by you and doesn’t acknowledge that you exist. That is very un-African.” (3) Raising kids alone: “Nobody helps you; you are all by yourself.” (4) Education: “If you want to become somebody, you have to go to school, education is the first key.” (5) Discipline: “Freedom to train my child the way I ought to, not the way society is trying to compel me to train my child.” (6) Language: “I had to explain myself over and over.” (7) Bi-cultural children: “But I am Nigerian mom.” Participants’ narratives provide insight into immigrant families’ unique adaptation process of integrating and re-defining culture-of-origin predispositions within a new socio-cultural ecology. The significance of findings, implications for practice and suggestions for future research are discussed

Genre-Based Approach to the Analysis of Introductions in Doctoral Seminars of the Department of English, Unizik, Awka

This paper analyses selected research article introductions of doctoral seminars in the Department of English Language and Literature, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, to determine how these academic writings follow specific formats characteristic of such genres. Specifically the work looks at the staged cognitive organisation of the selected samples in line with the requisite schematic or generic structure postulated in Bhatia (1993) and adopted by the University of Southern California (USC). Every genre is characterized by culture-bound unique structuring and communicative purposes that give it generic coherence. Research article introduction is an academic sub-genre with specified conventions characterising genres from the academic culture/community. A total of eighteen samples of research introductions were analysed, the aim being to determine whether the cognitive move structures in the samples conform with, or depart from, the conventionalized patterns of this academic sub-genre and how the pattern used in the samples enabled or militated against the writers’ achievement of the desired communicative purposes. A critical reading of doctoral seminars in the Department shows lack of knowledge of the unique formatting of introductions, making this work to be anchored on English for Specific Purposes (ESP) with particular emphasis on English for Academic Purposes (EAP). The baseline of the findings is to discover the present proficiency of these group of learners, enlighten budding academics on the move structure of article introductions in order to achieve generic coherence as well as target proficiency in that sub-genre of academic writing

Prostate Cancer in African American Men

Prostate cancer, a malignancy with racial disparity, affects African American men more than Caucasians or any other race

Socio-economic Determinants of Housing Satisfaction Among Middle-Income Households in Owerri, Nigeria

Housing provision in Nigeria has not only been plagued by insufficiency in numbers, but also by inadequacies in quality. Housing quality is a predictor of housing adequacy. Adequate housing is housing that is in congruence with a family’s needs and social status. Achieving this balance creates the possibility of residents experiencing satisfaction with their housing. Housing satisfaction must therefore be viewed as a critical element in housing provision, as it can substantially impact on the overall well-being of housing residents. This study addresses housing satisfaction among the middle-income in Nigeria, and the roles if any, socio-economic factors play in housing satisfaction among this income group. A total of 344 middle income households drawn from multi-stage sampling, were studied. Data collection was through administration of a structured questionnaire, and physical appraisal of housing formation in the study area. The socio-economic variables tested in the study are Income, Family size, Family structure, Level of education, Nature of employment, and Socialisation habits. Logistic regression test, with the logit dichotomous model was used for the analysis. The results of the study show that the socio-economic characteristics which significantly affect housing satisfaction among the middle-income group in Nigeria are Income, Nature of employment, and Socialisation habits. The other socio-economic variables could be accommodated by residents in their housing, if these three were adequately considered from inception. It is the conclusion of this study that housing design for this income group must place emphasis on affordable, cost-effective, and space-efficient housing, which will truly reflect good quality environments, and increase residents’ satisfaction with their housing. Keywords: Housing satisfaction, Mass housing, Middle-income, Nigeria, Socio-economi

Essential Medicines in Nigeria: Foregrounding Access to Affordable Essential Medicines

Within every functional healthcare system, access to quality and affordable essential medicine stands out as one of the building blocks. However, its significance has been underrated due to poor advocacy and research. The implication is that access to quality and affordable essential medicines remains a challenge to many people in low / middle income countries and could create difficulty in the attempt to reform healthcare systems and save lives if not given ample attention. This paper presents a critical discussion of the Nigerian health system with special focus on access to essential medicines as a component of the Nigerian healthcare system by drawing upon primary data, using qualitative research method.Keywords: Access to medicines, Essential medicines, Healthcare, Public health facilities, Counterfeit medicines, Traditional medicines, Health systems, Systems theor

Confidentiality Agreements in the Administrative State

Employers often use broad language in employee confidentiality agreements to protect company information. Recently, several administrative agencies have proactively regulated language in these agreements to protect various employee rights, including the right to communicate with agencies, bring claims against their employers, and discuss employment conditions amongst each other. While necessary, this recent attention to confidentiality provisions creates a unique regulation issue. With so many agencies involved, regulation has the potential to undermine legitimate employer interests in protecting proprietary information and push employers to find other problematic ways to control their employees. This comment explores interagency coordination as a solution to the potential problems this regulatory issue creates. It notes the inefficiencies that current independent regulation creates, and common coordination tools that agencies have used in the past to resolve difficult regulatory questions. Given the unusual difficultly of regulating agreement language, this comment finds that flexible coordination tools like joint rulemaking and interagency adjudication are feasible solutions