My observation was at Green Valley Elementary School, a small public school near my house. I observed Mrs. Fields kindergarten classroom on an early Monday morning. The first thing I noticed was how crowded the classroom was, there were books, backpacks, learning centers, and children everywhere. The class was fairly big, with sixteen children and two teachers, but it was not very diverse. Over 80% of the class was male and most of the students were Hispanic. Since the school is located in a Hispanic neighborhood this was no surprise, however, I still thought it should have been addressed by Mrs. Fields. There were however, various posters and drawings on the walls of the world surrounded by people from different cultures, ethnicities and races. Mrs. Fields had also commented that in one of her previous lessons the kids had gone over different cultures, religions, and languages. This being said, most of the students in the class spoke Spanish and …show more content…
In chapter 1 “Introduction to Families” we learn that there is a certain importance in understanding diversity in the classrooms. We also learn that diversity not only means “different ethnic background.” “Diversity is a state of being varied, as by family structure, race, religion, socioeconomic class, primary language, ethnic background, and so on (pg.12).” Although Mrs. Fields class was not very diverse ethnically speaking, it might have been very diverse in any of the subjects mentioned above.
2. While observing I noticed that Mrs. Fields as well as other educators did not address the lack of diversity in the school. “In recent years, teachers have been urged to ensure that the children in their classroom are supported in developing multicultural understanding and appreciation of the many differences and similarities that exist among people (pg.12).” Although, teachers have been “urged” to follow these direction most seem to think one lesson on multicultural differences is enough information for their
While shadowing at Ridge Elementary School, I noticed that some of the students seemed to be on different social-emotional scale levels. Some were natural born leaders and some were not which is okay. The natural born leaders would take charge of group assignments and the other children had no problem being a follower. Either way, the assignments that they had got done every time. I perceived almost immediately that an excess amount of the school’s students fell under three complexions. The three were mostly Hispanic, moderate Black/African descent, and few Caucasian. Since the school was mostly Hispanic this lead to the school has a lot of concentration on reading improvement clubs, in other words, bilingual education program which could be a great benefit for students who need the extra assistance. Taking a glance at the religious diversity in the classroom there were hard if any no visible religious diversities. Due to the majority of the school is the same ethnicity I am making an assumption the culture practiced the same religion which is why there is a lack of diversity in that area. More diversity should be added to this school district I believe the most impactful, and teachable moments are derived from a fellow diverse
Diversity is a beautiful thing; from religion to physical looks, the differences among people is astounding. The world would be such a monotonous place if everyone were the same. However, many tend to note that diversity in a classroom can sometimes be an issue- especially among the students. From my own experiences within a diverse class, I realize that the contrast between students is a blessing and a curse
Poverty is a serious issue which our society and children faces every day. It is a constant struggle that shouldn’t be ignored. UNICEF states “The study of OECD countries in 2007, over fourteen percent of Australian children under the age of eighteen are currently living in households who are defined as poor or with incomes less than half of the median national income”. The increase in the number and percentage of children living in poverty within our society has contributed to making today's classrooms more diverse than ever it has been. This highlights and makes both teaching and learning more challenging. Diversity exists in the students who are living in poverty and the education assistant and teachers must provide the concept of diversity
The diversity in our public schools is ever increasing, with this teachers are beginning to recognize the need to expand their classroom curriculum to include other cultures. Understanding diversity provides context for students and allows them to thrive in most social environments. They key to this understanding lies with support from administrative and teachers “sensitivity of the various cultures reflected in students populations,” (Smith) meanwhile maintaining an unbiased outlook. Involving discussions on music, history, food and of other cultures provides a general awareness for students. Theres types of lessons can and should be taught year round and not just around the
Growing up as the only white kid in my elementary school classes didn’t feel ostracizing, but was my first lesson in diversity and cultural respect. Despite my the economically, socially, and racially diverse surroundings, I came from a conservative home, and was often isolated from a diversified mindset. Still, the diminutive self-awareness I was fostering began to grow, under heavy influence from a sixth grade teacher. Ms. Ray talked about subjects that I was unaware adults could discuss, presenting the option
However previous to this discussion the classroom was a learning environment that was systematically equipped to assimilate. We as students fell into the curriculum but often times had difficulty identifying with the material presented. Essentially, the presence of diversity is useless if we do not dig deeper into each culture represented. Equally important, is the significance of each culture finding themselves within the curriculum. When topics such as racial tensions in America are presented in the classroom individuals from different cultural backgrounds and walks of life are not only present but seen vividly throughout the courses of society. This transition from a homogenous community to an imagined community can at times be
My findings can be useful to implement new social policies to create a more diverse educational classroom setting. In the beginning of the year, school administration may not focus on the racial diversity in a classroom when choosing classes, but I believe this should also be another factor when dividing students, to create an equal diverse classroom. While creating diverse classrooms will aid in the ethnic knowledge of children, organizing school-wide ethnic cultural celebrations can also help expand and introduce different cultures and ethnicities to children who may not otherwise be introduced to a different ethnicity and race, other than the ones they are surrounded with. In relation to personal experience, I grew up in a social setting where my ethnicity was the majority, but when I started college at Dominican University, I was sectored as a minority since most students were white, but I was not affected by this cultural shock as I had a close connection to my ethnic roots and did not let the change of environment affect me. Growing up in an environment where you are the majority, but then radically being introduced to an environment where you become the minority can easily affect the cognitive state of a person, if that person was not well-prepared
It is crucial that teachers develop the knowledge and skills to teach children from diverse racial, language, and social backgrounds because classrooms today are growing in diversity. Without direct attention to cultural and individual differences in the classroom, some students have
One hundred years ago, people did not leave their hometown, much less move their families into multicultural neighborhoods filled with diverse children from all over the planet. However, that is changing. With a more globalized world, minorities are finally represented throughout the country, and diversity is becoming more important than ever. In schools, some has been done to address this drastic reduction in prejudice and increase in opportunities. While completely integrating diversity into classrooms is a challenge due to differences in cultural behavior, and misconceived notions of diversity education, there are many studies which are benefiting multiculturalism and strategies created by these programs to create a truly
Our schools are full of a variety of children who are diverse in their own ways. What comes to mind when you hear the word diversity within schools? Many people think of race or culture, but diversity in our schools is more than that. Diversity can include race, religion, culture, and even learning styles in a classroom. In the past classrooms where not that diverse consisting of white protestant students. Currently diversity in classrooms is on the rise big time. Today’s classrooms are more effective in diversity, learning styles, and influences than past years.
However, there are questions as to whether or not teachers possess biases that would influence their teaching methods and curriculum. Taking a class in educational diversity is only a start in addressing those biases that may have been unconsciously created. It is the writer’s sincere hope that researching and writing a paper on multicultural education will be a stepping stone toward the critical examination of biases and practices in regards to diversity in the classroom that will continue to influence the readers throughout their educational
Since I started this class, I have a learned a great deal about cultural diversity in the classroom and abroad. My perspective has changed slightly but my knowledge of this subject has improved. In my family, my father taught me about the civil rights movement and the evils of segregation in the U.S. My parents taught me to be tolerant of all humans, no matter what they look like, how they dress, or their sexual orientation. My family has always been liberal thinkers who taught me the dark history of racism and bigotry in this country. As an educator I would be accepting to all race, creeds, and religious peoples.
Within the core of many educational institutions, diversity is a commercial tacit. While every institution cannot offer the same kind of diversity, the endorsement of such exists through various definitions. The Western Association of Schools and Colleges define diversity through the various classes: race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, disability, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, and age (“Statement on Diversity”)
Diversity has broad ranges of spectrums. Students from all across the continent; students from political refugees, indigenous Americans, and immigrants bring their culture and linguistic skills to American classrooms. Students do not only bring their cultures and linguistic skills, but they bring their ethnics, talents, and skills. In addition, their age and gender are two
Everyone contains baggage, some big, some small. It is part of our day to day lives, and is usually something we are not even aware of. Although I have only been in class for a few weeks, I have become more and more aware with the baggage that I contain. Through talking about major issues with my fellow classmates, or just becoming more aware and more knowledgeable of these particular issues; I have learned so much about myself, my community and even the world.