Cultural Diversity in the Classroom
Within the classroom, we have students of all different cultures, backgrounds, nationalities,etc. It is very important to acknowledge cultural diversity, as well as the need of those students to make the subject matter relevant.
Please share your thoughts and ideas on how we can create a culturally responsive, inclusive classroom.
I am a person who thinks that actions speak much louder than words. I am always mindful that 18 little sets of eyes are on me so I always strive to be a shining example of how to treat people. I treat all of my students, their parents and my colleagues with love and respect as part of my personal inclusion curriculum. I also treat character education as a serious time to teach skills that will develop cultural awareness and acceptance.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely starts with the teacher, and their actions! It is great that you model respect, care, and love towards all individuals because setting an example makes a huge difference. A lot of the time teachers are not very knowledgable on cultures other than their own, so it would be a great idea for teachers to get to know their students individually.
DeleteIn PE, you meet pretty much every student in the school. One way i promote cultural diversity is to teach sports that are not so main stream in America. One being soccer. Most students of other cultures might not know how to throw a football and baseball or shoot a basketball, but they do know how to play soccer. Most of them excel in the sport too. The students from other areas of the worlds bring new skills that many, if not most, American children do not have. It helps the students fit in better with their peers. Many times, I'll let the students help teach the lesson and work with the students who are having trouble learning the skills.
ReplyDeleteIt is so awesome how you incorporate different culture's sports in your class! I also like how you allow those students from different cultures to help teach the lesson. That's a great way to help everyone feel included and important.
DeleteIncluding every student is a task that sometimes seems difficult. Not only do teachers have to instruct students with different education levels and needs, teachers must also be prepared to teach students with different cultural backgrounds. Understanding students' backgrounds is a task that educators must strive to complete. Although I give different students different accommodations, I give all students the respect and time that he or she deserves. Once I become an English as a Second Language professional, I will have to be very cautious that I fully understand my students' and their parents' backgrounds and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteLearning and understanding the cultural backgrounds of all students is definitely very important. One way that you can get to know your students individually can be to have personal conversations with them. Opening up and telling a little about your own background could really help by making the student feel more comfortable with you. Other ways could be through daily journals or allowing the students to give a presentation, introducing themselves.
DeleteOne important way to create a culturally responsive classroom is to really get to know your students and their parents. It is important to understand your students' backgrounds and create opportunities for students to share and celebrate their family traditions and cultures. Another way to create a culturally responsive classroom is to incorporate pictures, books, real-world examples when including cultural diversity in your lessons. This helps your students make connections to what is being taught. It is also very important to create a safe and welcoming classroom environment.
ReplyDeleteI agree! The best way to accomplish this is through, getting to know your students and their parents. I like your idea on creating opportunities for students to share and celebrate their family traditions and cultures. I also liked what you said on incorporating pictures, books, and real-world examples. It is very important that students can relate in some way to the topic at hand, as well as finding relevance in it.
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