Abie L. Qui–ones-Benítez
My curriculum unit on Puerto Rican Identity/"I have a border on my mind" will be designed to enhance students understanding of self-concept as well as to enhance their knowledge about Puerto Rican art and literature. In doing so I hope that the students' response will be twofold, on the one hand they will enhance their own understanding of their identity as individuals but also it will enhance their knowledge about cultural identity in the American society. The understanding of one's reality can give a handle on how we can shape that reality so in that way this unit could have a large impact on students and that could be empowering them to create their own identity in a conscious way.
Altogether, this curriculum and the appropriate resources needed to implement it will be available to teachers and easily located for those who would like to explore the possibility of including the Puerto Rican presence in the materials they use in their classrooms. Middle school teachers and possibly other level teachers will have the option of exploring their student's awareness about Puerto Ricans. Furthermore, students with their teachers can explore their ethnicity while they learn about other ethnic groups. The gap of quality multicultural materials in the curriculum, especially those pertinent to Puerto Ricans may be decreased. In promoting this type of instructional content and approach teachers may become aware of their own culture and how it impacts their teaching. As this curriculum entices others to become interested in Puerto Rican identity development in the current curriculum. Thus, this curriculum impacts the self-esteem of many of our public schools children.
