Introduction
Traditional Diné medicines have been used by Diné for many generations and are still used today. Traditional Diné medicines are derived from natural plants. Keeping tradition by preserving culture and language is extremely essential today with the young people today as well as for the next generations. The culture knowledge and language may be gone if we do not work to preserve it. We need to keep language and culture alive. We, elders of the community, need to teach the young people to carry on all aspects of cultural knowledge. Elders still have information and knowledge to share with the young generation. The cultural knowledge and language has to be taught through current technological mediums young generation know and use such as iPads, computers, and new ways of communication for example twitter. Traditional ways of learning and teaching have also become a barrier and is a rarity to see in this 21 st century. We are in crises of losing our indigenous language and culture with Diné and many indigenous people in this country if it has not already occurred.
More science needs to be taught in all grade levels at our school. The focus on providing more science lessons and activities is essential. Currently, teachers only teach science on an average of 30 minutes per week or less. This is unfortunate for our students in this science and technology age. Furthermore, hands–on and experiential activities need to be implemented to teach science so students may apply their knowledge to their real world beyond the classroom. Lack of equipment is another area for a weak curriculum and providing an effective quality science instruction. Students need to know how to be scientific thinkers and be taught science in all grades kindergarten through eighth. Students will then be appropriately prepared for the varied science areas in high school. Students will then also be able to meet the state examine with success.
I teach on Diné Nation at a Diné language immersion school. This is a rural and an Indian reservation school. The immersion school includes grades Kindergarten through Eighth. The demographic population is 99% Diné students and one percent western white. My students are fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades. I teach our heritage language, Diné, as a second language. Students have difficulty in acquiring Diné language in conversational settings. Moreover utilizing the target language for real world problems is a bigger obstacle. Few of my students find learning to speak Diné as irrelevant to their lives. Providentially, more students understand the relevancy of being bilingual and bi–literate, and work hard to acquire Diné language along with Diné culture, which is an integral part of the language, and vise versa. I am working and teaching to change the paradigm for my students to master Diné language and be able to apply it to science skills and other disciplines that make a positive impact on their lives for years to come.
As an indigenous teacher in the western learning (classroom) environment, I realize that what motivates students in the past years has definitely changed due to technology and changing times. It has become a real challenge to motivate students to enjoy and acquire Diné language and culture using my current teaching methods, techniques, and strategies. As a result of this observation with my teaching and lesson delivery I am going to challenge myself to provide lessons and instructions using more experiential learning and inquiry based learning via science. In addition so students may understand the world around them, I want to have students visualize and become aware of how Diné language and culture can be, and is a part of science through the knowledge on plants and medicine, thereby gaining insight to the way the world works. Diné language attrition, revitalization, and maintenance will be the endeavor of Diné as well as other indigenous nations here in the United States for the next foreseeable future; I look forward to having my students become truly successful in a multicultural society and life–long learners as our school's vision and mission states.
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