Bridging the Mainstream Culture and the Home Culture

In order to be successful students need to learn the "power codes" of society--the mainstream culture BUT the culture of the home should serve as a foundation rather an obstable to be overcome. The two need to be bridged:

• Incorporate the students' languages, cultures, and daily experiences into the academic and social context of schooling AND
• Explicitly teach the school's (and society's) codes and customs

To better understand how to do the first, educators can make home visits, confer with community members, talk with parents, consult with minority educators, and observe children in and out of school.