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Diversity in the Classroom

The importance of developing learner centered curricula that engages students in a variety of culturally responsive,

developmentally, and age appropriate strategies.

The Foundation

“It’s not about race, it’s about culture.”

Although I couldn’t tell you where I came across these words, they have served as my foundation for understanding in this course.

The Five Dimensions

Content Integration

Knowledge Construction

Equity PedagogyPrejudice Reduction

Empowerment

Cultural Competence

One’s ability to form authentic and effective relationships across differences

Building this competence has been my primary objective in this class

Not only should teachers have it, they should understand it deeply enough to pass it on to their students as well.

My Story

From a small with little cultural diversity and almost NO racial diversity.

My Story

Classroom Application

Build personal relationships

Try and identify your students diverse backgrounds

Vary instruction so it meets the needs of all students.

Invite students to share information about their own culture

Implement a range of cultures into your curriculum Especially those that are present within your

classroom.

Classroom Application: Specific Example

Rotate culture of focus every month.

The learning segment would crosscut content in the course with cultural information about whatever the focus culture was.

Provide students who identify themselves with that culture an opportunity to present information about it to the class.

Conclusion

No two students look the same or learn in the same way.

Catering to their individual needs is what is expected of educators in today’s diverse society.

Conclusion

“If students can’t learn the way we teach them, then we must teach them the way they learn.”

- Dr. Rita & Ken DunnClick Here for a Celebration of Diversity