Ariana Camarena

EDU 280

Midterm
Dr. Cano is an early childhood education teacher. Her classroom is set up in small

sections ideal for centers. There is a library on one side of the room with medium sized shelves

filled with toys which create a wall. On the other side of the shelf is the carpet, surrounded by

more shelves which hold blocks, cars, and legos. The opposite side of the room is a dramatic

play center complete with a kitchen, table, and plenty of dolls and costumes. In the back of the

room is the art center as well as two round tables and two small rectangular tables. This is where

the students eat, play, and make crafts. The students snowman and glittery heart art hangs from

strings attached to the ceiling. Her students sit in the front of the room on a colorful carpet facing

a smartboard. There are posters on every wall with numbers, colors, and the alphabet.

Dr. Cano’s pre-k classes are fairly small. In the morning there is a total of 6 students, and

in the afternoon there is 4. I came in during the morning class. The class is small but diverse.

There are 4 boys. 3 of the boys are Hispanic. The other boy is Asian. There are only two girls,

and they are both caucasian. The majority of the students are in Dr. Cano’s class for cognitive,

social, motor, and communication skill developmental delays. Dr Cano speaks Spanish for those

students that are English Language Learners and have trouble communicating their needs.

The early childhood education program is focuses almost entirely on play-based learning.

Dr. Cano has an organized routine which starts with breakfast. She uses this time to talk to

students and ask questions to improve their social and communications skills. After breakfast the

students migrate to the carpet where circle time is held. During circle the students have an

oppurtunity to sing, dance, and learn their letters, numbers, colors, seasons, and days of the

week. Dr Cano’s class is designed in small sections so students can interact with each other and

learn from their peers. After circle time, students are assigned a specific center. Dr Cano says she
Ariana Camarena

EDU 280

Midterm
assigns students of different social and cognitive skill levels to work together so they can learn

from each other through play. I observed the students play and noticed their different abilities.

Two of the boys are brothers and English language learners. Dr Cano tells me they usually

struggle to follow directions and have to be disciplined often, however, ever since Jan joined the

class the boys are much more gentle and love playing with her. Jan is 3 years old. She has

cerebral palsy. She is non-verbal and has little strength in her arms and legs. Jan is in a

wheelchair for a large portion of the day. Although she can’t run around and play the same as the

other students, she still has lots of fun at school. Daniel and Damian have learned how to gently

toss a soft, squishy ball in Jan’s lap and Jan throws it back at them, like a game of catch and

throw. I loved seeing how happy the students were to play with each other, despite all their

differences.
Ariana Camarena

EDU 280

Midterm
Interview

When asked how her school benefits from having multicultural education in the

classroom, Dr Cano said it helps students aknowledge and embrace differences. She says she has

learned about different cultural traditions, myths, and has deep respect for all cultures. She uses a

variety of literature that is culturally diverse, she brings objects to expand her students

vocabulary and understanding of the multicultural literature she reads about to her class. Dr Cano

says that diversity has changed her teaching style. She says she is more culturally aware when

lesson planning, and tries to represent the different cultures in her classroom by incorporating the

use of literature, music, and videos. Dr Cano explains that the use of art allows students an

opportunity to express their cultural diversity.