The Big Easy: Literary New Orleans and Intangible Heritage

CONTENTS OF CURRICULUM UNIT 11.04.03

  1. Unit Guide
  1. Introduction
  2. Rationale
  3. Demographics
  4. Diné oral history from the Four Worlds.
  5. Diné Clan History
  6. Self-identity through clans
  7. Objectives
  8. Strategies
  9. Classroom Activities
  10. Appendices
  11. Works Cited

The Intangible Heritage of Diné

Marilyn Jane Dempsey

Published September 2011

Tools for this Unit:

Demographics

Ts4hootsoo7 Diné Bi'0lta' is located in Fort Defiance, Arizona on the Diné Nation. Ts4hootsoo7 Diné Bi'0lta' is a Kindergarten to eighth grade Diné language immersion school. It is part of Window Rock Unified School District, and is a public school in a rural area of northeastern Arizona. The Diné immersion school services 100% Diné students who come from over five surrounding communities. The school's goal is to revitalize and maintain Diné language for future generations.

A majority of the students attending Ts4hootsoo7 Diné Bi'0lta' are at the school because parents want their children to learn to speak Diné language and learn Diné culture. All the students come to the school with English as their first language. Students can enter the Diné immersion school at any grade level. The students entering do not speak Diné language.

Ts4hootsoo7 Diné Bi'0lta' is a public school teaching Arizona standards in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. Previously, the school followed an immersion model that truly supported the goal as show in the chart:

image 11.04.03.01

Second grade through eighth grade initially had teachers specifically assigned to teach only in Diné language and other teachers to teach only in English language to create a true immersion model of teaching and learning. Today, due to "funding" issues all grades are self-contained becoming more or less a bilingual school. Some students are taught by teachers that can only teach in English. The changes made in other areas of the school by administration are made without regard to the original immersion goal of the school. The changes also have created challenges for teachers and students in curriculum delivery, instruction, learning, and causing a rippling effect in other areas of the school and losing the goal of exposing students to their Diné heritage.

Comments:

Darlene Cronin

July 26, 2018 at 4:25 pm

Good info

I enjoyed learning about Dine clans and where they came and why we have them. I know my clans and reasons for knowing but its hard to find good reading materials for high school students. enjoyed reading and will use some of information from your article.

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