Strategic Planning for Quality and Diversity

Audience

REACH is a nationally recognized multicultural education program being disseminated throughout the United States, Canada and Australia. It has been approved as a National Diffusion Network Program (NDN) to be used in grades 6-9 Social Studies Classrooms. NDN programs have been field tested with students and are proven successful.

Description

REACH is a multicultural education program designed for infusion into all areas of the regular Core Curriculum. The program intent is to increase knowledge and understanding related to cultural diversity in the United States while simultaneously reducing social distance between groups. The REACH curriculum process includes four phases:

Communication Skills: The students gain basic understanding and practical skills in the areas of self-awareness, interpersonal communication, and group dynamics through communication skill-building and problem-solving activities. These activities provide a foundation for the cross-cultural experience and learning that occur later in the program.

Cultural Self-Awareness: The participants study their own cultural background, learn the meaning and function of culture, and become aware of the cultural diversity of their own school. Each student engages in extensive research related to his/her culture, family, or community and then produces a large visual project to be displayed at a Cultural Fair.

Multicultural Knowledge: American history is presented in a way that adequately reflects the experiences and contributions of Asian American, African Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, Native American people, and European Americans. Students engage in learning activities which help them gain in-depth knowledge of the history and culture of different ethnic groups. The Ethnic Perspective Books can be used along with listening tapes.

Cross-Cultural Experience: After students gain basic understanding and practical skills in the areas of self-awareness, interpersonal communication skill-building and problem-solving activities. These activities provide a foundation and learning that occur later in the program.

Requirements

Participating teachers are trained by Project REACH staff or certified REACH trainers before using the materials in their classrooms. A Teacher Manual, and one set of the Ethnic Perspective series, which includes a view from the European, Native American, African American, Hispanic/Latino and Asian perspective. The state of Utah is currently in the printing process to include a Pacific Island perspective, compiled by a Utah state Pacific Islander committee.

Services

Awareness Information: Project staff and certified trainers are available for awareness sessions for a negotiated fee. Awareness materials are available upon request. Sample curriculum may be purchased for schools wanting to consider training.