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I believe the role that culture plays in academic success is unique to each child.  Each family has their own beliefs, and each family has their own way of bringing up their child.  The way one family may process information will look somewhat different than another family. Each child’s home environment will play a role in their academic success.  By ensuring there is a positive, nurturing, and supportive home environment, the student could have academic success. Some educational expectations that impact the role family and culture play could be, good school attendance.  If the family is responsible and teaching the child that the best learning takes place with consistent attendance, the child could be more likely to succeed.  Another way family and culture can impact educational expectations is through positive reinforcement.  Exhibiting this trait will help the child stay confident while maneuvering through the school career. Educational systems can support family and culture by incorporating what the student already knows from home into their daily learning at school.  Educational systems can also incorporate family

participation with family oriented at home learning activities. I recall at home support from my family.  In a way I feel this support was one-sided.  My family gave expectations of a “C” or higher with anything less not being acceptable.  I was encouraged to strive for grades higher than a “C” because my parents didn’t want me to have “a C attitude” all my life.  There was so much pressure behind this expectation that I was often left feeling overwhelmed.  I struggled to achieve the expectations from home.  I do remember struggling at times and being told to reach out to my teachers because, “that’s what they are there for.” Overall I feel I did more struggling than achieving.  There came a point in time where I didn’t reach out for help, because I was embarrassed.  I stopped caring about the expectations that were being placed on me at home.  My home life was complicated as I got older.  My parents divorced when I was 4 and life back and forth was pretty consistent until middle school.  I often used school as an outlet for attention, which didn’t help an already struggling student that felt overwhelmed.