1 / 15

Teaching About the Middle East

Teaching About the Middle East. Monica M. Eraqi Arab-American National Museum. The Middle East & Arabs in the Curriculum.

tristessa
Download Presentation

Teaching About the Middle East

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Teaching About the Middle East Monica M. Eraqi Arab-American National Museum

  2. The Middle East & Arabs in the Curriculum • According to Marx (2002), “by the year 2050, the United States will become a nation of minorities, with less than half of the population being non-Hispanic White (as cited in Gardiner & Enomoto, 2006). • Orfield (2001) argues that at present, more than half of the students attending urban schools are members of minority groups (as cited in Gardiner & Enomoto, 2006). • Middle Eastern & Muslim Americans have largely been ignored from the curriculum and from research.

  3. Common Core & Middle School 6th Grade – Eastern Hemisphere 7th Grade – Western Hemisphere 8th Grade – U.S. History (up to Civil War) Common Core: • Broad rather than specific (Literacy & writing, thinking skills, Position & Defense) • Not more work – emphasizes what teachers already do • Teaching reading and writing about issues that connect to today. Examples of Common Core & GLCEs 6 – H1.1.1 Explain why and how historians use eras and periods as constructs to organize and explain human activities over time. 6 – H1.4.1 Describe and use cultural institutions to study an era and a region (political, economic, religion/belief, science/technology, written language, education, family). 7 – H1.2.6 Identify the role of the individual in history and the significance of one person’s ideas.

  4. Common Core & Middle School • Reading: • Textual (meant to eliminate scaffolding, emphasize higher text, above comfort level) • How to assess perspectives, biases and dwell over difficult readings for information. • Writing • Not opinion, but POSITION • Supporting with factual information • Informative writing

  5. Common Mistakes • Ignoring Middle Easter/Islamic studies • Dismissed as unimportant • Teachers lack training and resources • Teachers not confident in teaching controversial issues • Using videos & other instructional materials that are not sourced • Using materials out of context or without historical background that emphasize Middle Eastern or Islamic stereotypes • Kite Runner • Bringing in Servicemen who have served in the Middle East

  6. Implementing Arab-Islamic Studies Social Studies/English • Islam • 5 Pillars (History Channel: Inside Islam) • Political Islam (Project) • Arabs & Culture • Diversity Day • Foods, Dress, Music, Dance, Sports (YouTube, Community Resources, Anthony Bourdain, recipies.com) • Middle East & U.S. History • U.S. involvement in Middle East since FDR (Blood & Oil, House of Saud, Reading Activities on Afghanistan 1980s, Iran-Iraq War, Iran-Contra, Gulf War, Oslo Accords, Daily Show)

  7. Implementing Arab-Islamic Studies Social Studies/English cont. • Class Debates • PowerPoint/Prezi & Movie Maker presentations • Stations Activities • Book Reviews (followed by class presentations and guest speakers), • Arab-American National Museum Field Trip

  8. Examples Video Examples: Aladdin Stereotypes in Media Activity Examples: Iran (Helpful after studying Iran Hostage Crisis) Doing Business in Afghanistan (Economics & English: Has been adapted to a PowerPoint Group Project) Persian Gulf Arab-Israeli Conflict Solutions Arab-Israeli Conflict History Project Examples: Reagan & Afghanistan Pan-Arabism PowerPoint Turkey Prezi Turkey & Saudi Arabia Debate Palestine & Israel Video Tourism

  9. Curricular Resources • Lesson Plans & Units • Center for Middle Eastern & North African Studies (CMENAS) • http://www.ii.umich.edu/cmenas • Teaching the Middle East • http://teachmiddleeast.lib.uchicago.edu/ • Media Construction of the Middle East • http://www.ithaca.edu/looksharp/?action=middleeast • Choices Program Resources • www.choices.edu/resources/detail.php?id=24 • Professional Development, Conferences, Workshops • Eraqi Website • Teaching Middle East/Arab/Islamic Studies in U.S. History, Global & Modern Middle East • www.cvs.k12.mi.us/meraqi

  10. Additional Resources Teach Middle East • Dr. Allen Webb • http://www.teachmiddleeast.com/ Teaching About the Middle East: A Teacher’s Resource Guide • Abigail S. Chill • www.socialstudies.com Media Education Foundation • www.mediaed.org

  11. Other Informational Books • Teaching Literature of Today’s Middle East • Dr. Allen Webb, Western Michigan University • Islam: Faith and People • Eraqi H. Eraqi • Class Speakers or Community Involvement • Arab-American National Museum • Islamicfinder.org

  12. Literature • Dr. Allen Webb • Western Michigan University Website • http://www.teachmiddleeast.com/ • Women in Islam • Diversity • War in the Middle East • Palestinian & Israel Conflict • Organized by grade level • Sensitive use with books such as Kite Runner

  13. Videos • Stereotypes: • Reel Bad Arabs • Peace, Propaganda and the Promise Land • Arab-Israeli Conflict: • Promises • Arna’s Children • Paradise Now • Middle East in General: • Blood & Oil • PBS & History Channel

  14. Any Questions?Monica M. Eraqimeraqi@cvs.k12.mi.us

  15. Thank You!

More Related