diverse classroom

This presentation explains about Diverse class room, types and Strategies.

1. Dr.D.KALAIVANI DIVERSE CLASSROOMS – MEANING, STRATEGIES AND TYPES.

2. Introduction Today Indian education has come a long way with a much higher number of children getting access to education. Correspondingly, there has been increasing number of learners from diverse backgrounds entering the classrooms. It is a phenomenon that is rapidly manifesting in the present day. Everyone who comes to the classroom is unique having special attributes, and personality traits. The individual differences that we notice in each child may be attributed to his/her cultural, social, economic, and political background . We need to understand these differences in order to embrace diversity

3. The word diversity is used in social context, it indicates a group of people or individuals who are different from each other in some way or the other . It also implies collective differences among people, those differences which distinguishes one group from another These differences may be related to culture, language, gender, religion, physical appearance social and economic status, family structure, abilities, values, and beliefs. At the educational level, diversity is an umbrella term that refers to students who are different from one another. It means the understanding that each student is unique and recognizing that individual differences exist among students

4. Types of Diversity Types of diversity that can be present in the classroom include: Ability diversity : This includes differences in students’ physical, mental, and learning abilities .

5. Types of diversity Age diversity: This includes differences in students’ ages .

6. Types of diversity Gender diversity: This includes differences in students’ gender identity and expression. Ethnic diversity: This includes differences in race, ethnicity, national origin, and languages spoken at home .

7. Types of diversity Socioeconomic diversity : This includes differences in income, education levels, occupations, and housing security and stability with regard to students or their families. Experiential diversity : This includes differences in students’ life experiences, such as immigration, military service, adoption, or foster care. Geographic diversity : This includes differences in students’ local or regional identity and experiences based on where they live, learn, and play. 

8. Types of diversity Religious diversity:  This includes differences in belonging to and identifying with the values and/or practices of a particular religion or sect. 

9. Understanding disability By now, you must have understood the various attributes to diversity. However, it is important to acknowledge that diversity goes beyond these measurable factors like ethnicity, socio-economic status, or gender to the much more complex aspects like their learning styles, level of motivation, their support system etc. In addition, more than ever it is recognized that education is the single greatest tool for achieving social justice and equality. Inclusive and equitable education in which every citizen can dream, thrive, and contribute to the nation.

10. Understanding disability NEP 2020 clearly mentions that the education system must aim to benefit India’s children so that no child loses any opportunity to learn and excel because of circumstances of birth or background. The NEP 2020 policy reaffirms that one of the major goals of all education will be bridging the social gaps in access, participation by all students and improving learning outcomes in school education.

11. Understanding disability Classroom diversity will benefit students in several ways. They would become more aware of the world outside the four walls of the classroom and empathize more with people who are different from them. It would expand their horizon and promote reflection. They will also be able to look at situations from different perspectives and deal with them more openmindedly. Yet another advantage is that classroom diversity would help understand the uniqueness in each individual while they remain part of a larger group

12. TEACHING IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM

13. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM There are several ways teachers and administrators, such as  principals  and coaches, can ensure that both the classroom environment and curriculum are responsive to the increasing cultural diversity of our society. These strategies will encourage all students’ cultural awareness, enhancing each student’s sense of identity, and foster inclusion in the classroom community .

14. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Examine your teaching materials :  This is a natural first step for anyone looking to focus more on teaching diversity in their classroom. While you may already be teaching some aspects of a diverse or inclusive curriculum, there are probably also subjects that will naturally be best-fits for some refreshed material. 

15. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Get to know your students (and their backgrounds):  When the school year starts, consider sending home a survey to learn more about your students and their backgrounds. Always be mindful to word your questions in a thoughtful and inoffensive way. But by taking the initiative to demonstrate your interest in their culture or background, you’re already doing the work of building a foundation of trust and openness about who they are and where they come from.

16. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Address inequality : This can be one of the more difficult subjects you broach in your classroom, but it is critical that students see their teacher demonstrate an awareness of inequality. You can use examples from history, from current events or from hypothetical scenarios, but using real instances that students can relate to can help improve their comprehension and understanding . Connect with parents : This can be done through the survey you send home or as a separate initiative, but try to engage with your students’ parents too. They may have questions about how you will be teaching diversity as a subject or they may want to share their culture and background. Either way, having an open dialogue will prove beneficial for you, students and parents .

17. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Be a culturally responsive educator : This may seem like a no-brainer, but work on actively being a culturally responsive educator. We all have unconscious bias to some degree, but by working to actively come to understand different cultural backgrounds, teachers can show their students that they are learning in an inclusive environment . Seek out PD opportunities around diversity initiatives : This can come in the form of a workshop, conference, or even a professional development course. There are a growing number of diversity teaching professional development opportunities out there, and these can really help you start introducing these concepts into your own teaching.

18. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Be honest about and aware of your own cultural biases: This will require some self-reflection and can be a bit uncomfortable, but to teach diversity and inclusivity you must first assess where you’re coming from or where students might be coming from. By understanding your own cultural biases you can be more aware of your perspective and choices, and help other students do the same. Include classroom signs in multiple languages :  An easy and quick way to display diverse cultures in the classroom is to include bulletin boards and signage in a number of languages. You don’t have to be a foreign language teacher to use this in the classroom, and a quick Google Translate will help you use the right terminology. 

19. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Invite guest speakers into your classroom :  There is no better way to introduce your students to diverse people and cultures than by bringing people of diverse backgrounds into the classroom. This can be an opportunity to bring parents into class, or you can seek outside resources from perhaps a local college/university or a multicultural organization. Take field trips to cultural events in your community :  Many community organizations host events throughout the calendar that celebrate different holidays, festivals or significant dates in other cultures. These can be a great way to expose your students to the concepts they’re learning in the classroom, and will give them first-hand knowledge of what they’re studying.

20. Teaching a diverse student body with several types of differentiated and inclusive instruction has been shown to help all students, not just a particular group or subset. Students gain flexibility and often report increased engagement, enjoyment, and motivation when exposed to a richer variety of materials and activities. Technology plays a key role in helping to reduce the cost, time, and resources required to support and teach diverse students, in large part by making it much easier to share and leverage a large set of online tools and content.

21. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Holiday Celebrations Create a calendar that highlights celebrations around the world. Choose ones that represent the cultures of the students in your class. When a holiday comes up, take some time to discuss what it’s about and find simple ways to celebrate, such as: Making a relevant craft Serving a treat from that culture Reading a book associated with the holiday

22. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Music and Art Another way to promote diversity in the classroom is to partner with the music and art teachers in your school to dive into the music and art of the cultures represented by your students. Talk about composers, musicians, and singers from each culture. Listen to samples of music, and talk about the similarities and differences your students hear. If there are instruments that are unique to a culture, show pictures of them to your students. Better yet, find the actual instruments for students to see first hand .

23. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Multicultural Library Another way to promote cultural diversity in the classroom is to build a library that includes books with characters who live in or come from other countries. Include books written by a diverse array of authors as well. Be sure to include  age-appropriate biographies  of people from a wide variety of cultures.

24. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Show and Tell Ask students to bring in something from home that represents their culture. Then, have them present the item to the class and explain why it’s important to them. Have two or three students present each week throughout the school year. Be sure to remind students to ask permission from a parent or guardian before bringing an item to school!

25. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Role-Playing Have students choose an important person from their culture to research. The person can be a current or historical figure. Then, set aside a day for the students to  dress like their person and present the information that they found . You could even modify this activity to have students choose a person from outside of their culture.

26. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Games From Around the World Another fun way to celebrate diversity in the classroom is to bring in international games for indoor recess and celebrations. Some easy-to-play games include  Mancala , tangrams, and  Ludo . Be sure to ask your students what their favorites are and invite them to bring a game from home to play when appropriate. You can also talk about the sports and games that are popular in the countries your students’ families come from. If possible, find opportunities to go outside and play some of the sports and games that are shared.

27. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Global Pen Pals Encourage your students to write to pen pals. If you have students from a wide range of cultures in your class, you can pair students with friends or relatives of other students who live outside of the U.S. If you need ideas to get started,  check out this program . It offers project-based opportunities for getting to know other students, schools, countries, and cultures.

28. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Learn a New Language Teaching about other languages is a great way to celebrate cultural diversity in the classroom. If you have  students who speak languages other than English , allow them to share their languages with the other students. Ask each multilingual student to teach the class a few words in his or her native language. Here are a few simple ideas for words to share: Greetings and introductions Numbers from 1 to 20 Months or seasons Family members Colors If a student isn’t comfortable in the teacher role, ask him or her to teach you first. Then, you can present the information to the class. Depending on your grade level, you could even have students get into groups to create short skits using the new words they’ve learned.

29. TEACHING STRATEGIES IN DIVERSE CLASSROOM Multicultural Fair One of the most popular activities to promote diversity in the classroom is hosting a Multicultural Fair. Invite students to bring in food, games, crafts, or other items that represent their culture. Extend invitations to family members as well, and invite other classes in your school to attend. You could also partner with other teachers to make a bigger celebration or turn it into a school-wide fair and  incorporate the fair into your curriculum .

30. There are different types of diversity including language, race, ethnicity, religion, family background, and socioeconomic status. Each student in your class, whether they are new to the U.S. or not, has a unique family culture. When you celebrate cultural diversity in your classroom and around the world, your students will become more aware and appreciative of the global community that they’re a part of.