Running Head: MY CULTURAL AUTOBIOGRAPY

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INTASC Standard, Description and Rationale

Standard #2 Learning Differences
The teacher uses understanding of individual differences and diverse cultures and communities
to ensure inclusive learning environments that enable each learner to meet high standards.

Name of Artifact: My Cultural Autobiography

Date: February 2, 2014
Course: EDUC 255

Brief Description: For this assignment, I wrote about my own personal cultural background and
how it has shaped me to be the person I am today.

Rationale: To document my understanding of Standard #2, Learning Differences, I selected to

include my Cultural Autobiography because this assignment demonstrates the history of where I
came from and how the influence of different cultures made me the person I am today.

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My Cultural Autobiography
Maddy Thatch
Ivy Tech Community College

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Introduction
I would say my family and extended family is pretty large. On my moms side she has
one sister and two brothers and another four half-sisters and one half-brother. On my dads side
he has four sisters and three brothers. I myself have two younger sisters and both of my parents
are middle children.
History
My moms mother was born in California in 1932 and when she was seventeen she was
married and had five kids. Then my grandma left her family in California and came to Indiana
met my grandpa, who was an Indiana native who was born in 1919 and had four more kids. My
dads parents were both born in Missouri moved to Indiana and had their eight kids here. Both of
my parents native language is English. Both of my parents were married before they married
each other. They met at their work O Connors and later both worked at the Marten House. They
were married and then soon after had me and then probably eighteen months later had my sister
and then another eighteen months approximately had my other sister.
My parents and I first lived in a little house in speedway and once Mariah came into the
picture we moved into our grandparents house while our second house was being built. Then we
moved into the second house which was in Marion County right next to Ben Davis High School.
We stayed at the a house for many years and then around high school and middle school age we
moved to Avon and started going to the schools out here. My parents on the other hand had I
slightly different childhood. We are well off compared to both of my parents when they were our
age. My dad lived on the east side and moved a lot throughout all the rental homes his dad
owned but they were basically all in the same neighborhood. My mom on the other hand grew up
and lived in the same house for her whole entire childhood. My grandma lives in the same house

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today. Both of my parents started working very young. My moms dad owned a bakery and my
dads dad had numerous jobs my dad and his siblings.
Major Traditions
My family sticks to the main American traditions I would say. Sometimes its hard to
juggle both families around holidays. I dont know if others would count this as a tradition but
my family is a strong church goer family. My sisters and I were brought up in the church and to
this day still go every Sunday. When I grow up I want my kids to grow up in good church and
learn the word and try their best to follow the word like my sisters and I. We used to go on
family vacations and reunions a lot but over the recent years that kind of stuff has settled down
and we have been just sticking to the major holidays and events. I think we eat regular food I
would say. My moms specialty is macaroni and cheese and I would say my dads specialty is
anything that has to do with meat. Everyone loves my parents cooking.
Conclusion
Overall I would say my life is culturally sound and vast. I think if I go back farther in my
grandparents history I would see where there grandparents were from and where they
immigrated from. It would be fun to learn more about my part and where I came from. I cant
wait to share my history with my kids and their kids. I want to spread my multicultural attitude to
them and have them accept others and differences.