Behaviors and attitudes related to diversity in the classroom Prejudices/biases Opinion formed beforehand: a preformed opinion, usually an unfavorable one . However, it is not enough to just teach the mainstream power codes; teachers need to foster ongoing and critical examinations with their students of how particular codes came into power, why linguistic apartheid exists, and how even their own dialectical and slang patterns are often appropriated by the dominant culture. Page 1: Introduction to Diversity. Further, these students often exhibit a wide range of academic, physical, and social abilities or skills. How does it vary and/or remain constant in different contexts? Edward's voice is distinct and his conviction is clear throughout the book. If you use them, provide in parentheses a description of what these are so oth-ers can learn to use the same language you do. Freeman, D. & Freeman, Y. Students in our nation's classrooms today are more diverse than ever. Diversity is a term that can have many different meanings depending on context. In India, there are 122 major languages, as well as 1599 minor languages. Teachers show students how to embrace different cultures by modeling respect and acceptance. $3.99 + $5.05 shipping. 153-179). Invite students to bring in culturally relevant texts (e.g., songs, self-written poetry) and ask them to create a glossary for difficult (for the teacher) to understand language. Students have a right to a variety of educational experiences that help them make informed decisions about their role and participation in language, literacy, and life. refers to different cultures that one can encounter in the classroom and how it effects learning. Sara S. Ezell, assistant director, Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, and Disability Services Department. One way to do this is to carefully observe how kids and families speak and behave around each other and with people of authority. MacGillivray, L., Rueda, R., & Martinez, A.M., Listening to Inner-City Teachers of English Language Learners. Hicks, D. (2002). Labov began by summarizing the first part of the paper (Labov and Hudley, 2009), which focused on two main mechanisms by which linguistic factors associated with dialect may affect students' academic achievement: (1) structural differences, phonemic . the right or privilege to approach, reach, enter, or make use of something. Keywords. Develop units and classroom activities that grow out of and speak to childrens interests and cultural backgrounds. Promoting awareness and creating a personal connection with diverse cultures in the classroom can prevent students from developing prejudices later in life. NCTE Process for Adopting Official Guidelines and Short Documents, http://www.knea.org/news/stories/2003/workteam.pdf. Teachers can benefit greatly from linguistic expertise in the classroom by teaching the origins of words and languages, their historical applications, and the . The different types of diversity in the classroom are: Race Students of different races and colors may be there in the class. We recognize the uniqueness of all cultures, languages and communities. Expect students to read and critique multiethnic and multicultural childrens and YA literature (e. g.. How might teachers and teacher educators design socially responsive and responsible classrooms in an era of high stakes testing? Norwood, Massachusetts: Christopher-Gordon Publishers, Inc. Morrell, E. (2004). A place to be Navajo: Rough Rock and the struggle for self-determination in indigenous schooling. In a bilingual maintenance program, students continue to use their primary language while "the emphasis on English increases in each subsequent grade" (Kauchak & Eggen, 2017, p. 85). A students sexual orientation can have a great impact on how they are experiencing the world. Bauer, L. & Trudgill, P. (1998). His research interests are in language, identity and the many ramifications of their relationship. Understand that some students may experience a silent period. Set expectations around treatment. Multicultural and Multilingual Literacy and Language: Contexts and Practices. Accomplish the projects above via audio and video tape interviewing; transcribing, studying, and compiling the stories of people from different cultures/places; collecting oral histories; all to be used as classroom resources. Invite course participants to identify their own funds of knowledge and to reflect upon how they can negotiate the curriculum to reflect who they are and what they know. The American Association of Colleges and Universities, After School Program Lesson Plans & Curriculum, Student Teaching Frequently Asked Questions, How to Integrate Technology in the Classroom, Lesson Plan Guidelines for Student Teachers, The Importance of Diversity and Cultural Awareness in the Classroom, The Importance of Diversity in the Classroom. Introduce 'the world' to the class, sharing insights about travels, the world's diverse cultures, languages, religions and traditions. Teaching diversity exposes students to various cultural and social groups, preparing students to become better citizens in their communities. Language provides a means for communication among and between individuals and groups. Reading, writing, and rising up. Diversity in the classroom leads to stronger empathy, self-confidence, and feelings of self-worth, and greater collaboration skills. where English is not the primary language of communica-tion (Garci 1991). Yet, according to contemporary research, native speakers know all of the rules of their native dialect (typically by the time they enter public schools at the age of five or six), and second language learners need not so much instruction, but immersion. Lisa Delpit, The Silenced Dialogue: Power and pedagogy in educating other peoples children,, Carol Lee, Is October Brown Chinese? New York: Routledge. Westport, CT: Bergin & Garvey. Interested in becoming a teacher? Language Diversity in the Classroom is an excellent book that should inform and stimulate discussion in teacher education programs. Examples and reflections from the teaching lives of literacy scholars. Fecho, B. View. Shor, I. Connecting Diversity, e-Learning, and Technology Student populations are diverse. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Theory Into Practice, 34(3), 159-165. A. Handbook on research on multicultural education (2nd Ed.). Through praxis, the combination of active reflection and reflective action (Freire, 1970), teachers and teacher educators are able to build and strengthen collective efforts toward individual and social transformation. Linguistic diversity also includes speaking multiple languages, such as English AND Spanish. Four Dimensions of Student Diversity. The Poorvu Center for Teaching and Learning partners with departments and groups on-campus throughout the year to share its space. Fostering inclusion and awareness around multicultural education and taking a culturally responsive approach to teaching benefits all students. While addressing diversity in the classroom largely consists of focusing on ELL students, cultural and linguistic divides are not exclusive to that segment of learners. Fisher, M.T. Bootstraps: From an American academic of color. Bank, J. We also believe that effective literacy teachers of diverse students envision their classrooms as sites of struggle and transformative action in the service of academic literacy development and social change. The seller has not uploaded any pictures. What sense do students make of these experiences? Smitherman, G. (1999). Students who learn about different cultures during their education feel more comfortable and safe with these differences later in life. Accordingly, we will first briefly enumerate our eight principles and then follow with a more detailed discussion about and expansion of each principle, particularly in terms of what each means for literacy and literacy education classrooms. Yes. Embrace diversity in teaching styles. Villanueva, V. (1993). Multicultural and multilingual literacy and language: Contexts and practices. Kozol, J. Similar to sexual orientation, it is important to understand each students gender identity and how they would prefer to be recognized. And the increase of diversity doesnt only relate to race and ethnicity; it can include students of different religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, and language background. Published On: November 23, 2021. Generally, the term English language learner describes a student who is learning English in addition to their native language. Collective Summary and Reflection. Essential linguistics: What you need to know to teach reading, ESL, spelling, phonics, and grammar. Exact definitions of ELL vary, as do delineations between ELL and ESL (English as a second language), but by any measure, the number of students for whom English is not their first and primary language is growing as a percentage of all students enrolled in US public schools. The skin that we speak: Thoughts on language and culture in the classroom. Compare and contrast their lives with your own. Provide preservice teachers with the tools they need to conduct critical, teacher-action research. In fact, students come to the university classroom with different backgrounds, sets of experiences, cultural contexts, and world views. Additionally, all suggestions made for teachers and teacher educators, with some adapting, can work in nearly any classroom. "Diversity includes students from various cultures; with varied abilities, disabilities, interests, experiential backgrounds, and even language use" (Basham, Meyer, and Perry, 2010, p. 340). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. For example, assumptions about what a typical student should know, the resources they have and their prior knowledge are extremely important. Timothy Reagan, Central Connecticut State University: John Edwards has written a plethora of outstanding journal articles, and several exceptional books-my favourite, to date, being his wonderful "Multilingualism"(1994). Teaching is a political act, and in our preparation of future teachers and citizens, teachers and teacher educators need to be advocates for and models of social justice and equity. Gee, J. P. (1996). (1999). The world is a huge place; full of people with various cultures and backgrounds. Ideology and curriculum. S. Weinstein, Carol & Tomlinson, Saundra & Curran . New York: Guilford Press. Shifting demographics in the United States have dramatically altered the ethnic and racial makeup of student populations, and a growing number of students do not speak English fluently. In cities, the average is close to 15 percent. After the discussion, participants discuss how it feels to have lots of ideas and limited language to express them. Types of research:Participant-observer; ethnographic; action research; self-study. Discourse Analysis and its Discontents, Chapter 3. However, some diversity is not so visible. And the protection of linguistic diversity is a duty." Ms. Azoulay stressed that every language has a certain rhythm, as well as a certain way of approaching things and thinking of them.. Consultations, Observations, and Services, Strategic Resources & Digital Publications, Teaching Consultations and Classroom Observations, Written and Oral Communication Workshops and Panels, Writing and Public Speaking Consultations, Online Writing Resources for Graduate Students, About Teaching Development for Graduate and Professional School Students, NECQL 2019: NorthEast Consortium for Quantitative Literacy XXII Meeting, Public Speaking for Teachers I: Lecturing Without Fear, Public Speaking for Teachers II: The Mechanics of Speaking, Teaching Students with Different Levels of Preparation, Yale Office of Institutional Equity and Access, Yale GSAS Office for Graduate Student Development & Diversity, Identify how diversity affects the classroom, Provide practical tips for promoting an inclusive classroom. Edited by Geneva Smitherman and Victor Villanueva. Diversity is a reality in the English language classroom, particularly in the contexts like ours, where the classroom houses teachers and learners both from diverse linguistic, cultural, geographical, economic, and social backgrounds. With the rise of globalization, its more important to be able to work with people from different cultures and social groups. Use classroom approaches that empower students socially and academically. . Use documentary films from PBS, etc., as a resource, designing carefully-phrased pre-post viewing questions and activities. English Education, 37(2), 44-60. Teaching culturally diverse students entails the following additional steps: Educators can also benefit from the following tips for teaching linguistically diverse students: Efforts to better serve culturally and linguistically diverse student populations are not limited to the classroom. The child and the curriculum/The school and society. This is not to say that researchers have not seen the need for such descriptions. What do successful multicultural classrooms look like? Savage inequalities. (1995). This document seeks to provide an answer, additional resources, and questions in answering that charge. Diversity in the classroom helps students develop social awareness which helps them appreciate different perspectives and draw stronger conclusions. Examine teacher and pupils attitudes toward popular culture as a context for teaching and learning before and after implementation of a popular culture curriculum. Whats the Difference Between Educational Equity and Equality? San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Boulder, CO: Westview. Surface-level diversity refers to differences you can generally observe in others, like ethnicity, race, gender, age, culture, language, disability, etc. Is this English? Race, language, and culture in the classroom. In what ways are they successful? Learn more about students lives outside of the classroom, and let that information inform lessons. Lee, C.D. Ethnographic research conducted inside and outside of schools reveals rich language and literacy practices that often go unnoticed in classrooms (Dyson, 2005; Fisher, 2003; Heath, 1983; Mahiri, 2004). How do teachers develop and maintain a critical teaching stance? Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. Language Diversity linguistic details of everyday classroom interaction, that is, the actual qualitative and quantitative occurrence and distribution of dialect features in classrooms in which children are dialect speakers. Conditional on the concentration of non-German speakers in the class, the degree of linguistic diversity has no impact on students' language and math test scores. All students need to be taught mainstream power codes and become critical users of language while also having their home and street codes honored. Learn more about Drexels Teacher Certification program. If they are exposed to diversity in a classroom, it will help set them up for . Children of various colors such as fair, dark, or tan will be present in the classroom. Four main reasons include lack of time, fear of making a mistake or teaching stereotypes, a lack of testing and assessment on culture . Ability diversity - Ability diversity refers to varying abilities and disabilities. Language diversity, or linguistic diversity, is a broad term used to describe the differences between different languages and the ways that people communicate with each other. Have preservice and inservice teachers write and revise philosophical statements. Darling-Hammond, L. (1997). (1983). How is this curriculum different from and similar to other literacy curricula? Drexel University, 3141 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215.895.2000, All Rights Reserved, Admission Process and Support for Students, Freddie Reisman Center for Translational Research in Creativity and Motivation. Ethnicity Students in the class will not have the same values and beliefs. There exist a variety of reasons for this disconnect between language teaching and culture. What are the effects of social conditions on childrens personalities and learning preferences? (2005). And they begin to develop their self-concept (at least in part) from how others see them. Sample question: What is the nature of the lived experiences of new immigrants in public schools? Hoffman, E. (1990). Please login or register with De Gruyter to order this product. (2003). 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Diversity is an intrinsic characteristic of human groups, since each person has a special way of thinking, feeling and acting. Ask students to examine newspaper articles, television reports, and websites about their cultural group. As public intellectuals and agents of change, we recognize that English teachers and teacher educators are complicit in the reproduction of racial and socioeconomic inequality in schools and society. What they dont learn in schools: Literacy in the lives of urban youth. The selection of books in your classroom should be language and culturally diverse. While the stereotypical demographic teacher population of the white, middle-class, female will often have to cross more distinct boundaries, other preservice teachers who are more linguistically, culturally, racially, and socioeconomically aligned with the growing diverse student population will have to engage in making the strange familiar, and making the familiar strange.. Modern approaches to accommodating diversity in the classroom are shifting from teaching to the average student to more inclusive methods that afford equitable learning opportunities for all students. Gutierrez, K., Asato, J., Pacheco, M., Moll, L., Olson, K., Horng, E., Ruiz, R., Garcia, E., & McCarty, T. (2002). An estimated one in five school-age children in the United States speaks a language other than English in the home, and roughly half of these children are emerging bilingual students or English learners (ELs) when they enter school. (Eds.). (Ed.). Dewey, J. Through critical, self-reflexive practices embedded in our research and our teaching, we can work against racial, cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic inequalities by creating humane classrooms where students and teachers learn to use language and literacy in critical and empowering ways. Consequently, such investigation would mean using or creating new lenses to interrogate the impact of ones own teaching and planning. In short, we cant do what weve always done because we dont have the same students we had before (Kansas National Education Association, 2003). What does a critical education look like? New York: Peter Lang. We find ourselves charged to teach native speakers and second language learners alike. For example, Marathi is spoken in Maharashtra, while Tamil is spoken in Tamil Nadu. Participate in writing a collective summary/reflection of the chapter here (same google doc). New York: Routledge. What sorts of moves do teachers make to initiate it? Dyson, A. H. (2005). Our identities are intersectional and overlapping, and many aspects of our identities change over time. Heath, S. B. and sensitized students and teachers to language variation, there exists no broad-based . For decades, English language teaching (ELT) scholars and researchers have made endless calls to incorporate . Foreign Language Annals. For the purposes of this statement, the . Purcell-Gates, V. (1995). It also teaches students how to use their own strengths and points of view to contribute in a diverse working environment. Teachers and teacher educators must be willing to cross traditional personal and professional boundaries in pursuit of social justice and equity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press. Children in Americas schools. Social linguistics and literacies: Ideology in discourses. Talking that talk: Language, culture, and education in African America. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass. In order to properly understand and promote cultural awareness, teachers need to understand all the different types of diversity they may encounter in their classrooms including: A persons skin color can have a great impact on their experience in society. Mahiri, J. Promote dialogue in teacher education courses about concepts such as praxis, empowerment, pedagogy, etc, and why they are important. Boyd, F., Brock, C. H. with Rozendal, M. S. Teachers and teacher educators must be willing to cross traditional, personal and professional boundaries in pursuit of social justice and equity. Accommodations should be made to help students for whom English is a second language. These differences can have important show more content Define the basics of business. Morrell, E. (2004). There are four programs that teachers can incorporate in response to language diversity. New York: Routledge. Other peoples words: The cycle of low literacy. Every student is unique. Christensen, L. (2000). Cultural diversity and young children. Teaching Strategies for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students The first step in addressing cultural and linguistic diversity is to be aware. (2003). (1998.) Programs that promote a love for language learning have several characteristics in common. 2003. (1993). Developing these tools would require new ways of collecting and analyzing information about students and their families, and then reflecting upon the appropriateness of their curriculum and practices to be more effective educators. When working and learning with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures present in the classroom, students gain a more comprehensive understanding of the subject matter. Check the item description for details. Teachers should respect their students identity and use preferred pronouns when interacting with their students. (Eds.). Help learners to see why teaching begins here. Picture Information. Develop projects on different cultural practices. Students have different reactions to the classroom environment that are directly related to their levels of both comfort and skills in demonstrating expected school behaviors. Sounding American: The consequences of new reforms on English language learners. The idea of the unilingual nation state is being steadily eroded in the places where it did exist, with minority language speakers often claiming the right to education in their languages. Disadvantage: The Genetic Case, Chapter 5. They represent different races, ethnicities, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and they speak many different languages. As a successful teacher, it is necessary to . Surface diversity and deep diversity are categories of personal attributesor differences in attributesthat people perceive to exist between people or groups of people. Disadvantage: A Brief Overview, Chapter 4. Developing responsive curricula and teaching strategies is critical, but a holistic approach that includes families and the larger school community promises better outcomes. Revolutionary multiculturalism: Pedagogies of dissent for the new millennium. Research in classrooms where cultural and linguistically diverse students are successful. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. summary. Foreign Languages in the Classroom, Chapter 11. Diversity in and out of the classroom will continue to grow, so its essential we prepare students to adapt to an evolving world and embrace those different from themselves. LANGUAGE DIVERSITY IN THE CLASSROOM Authors: Emilda Josephine Lebanese French University Abstract Understand first language and second language acquisition Relationship between language. Apple, M. (1990). A cultural modeling activity system for underachieving students. Ethnicity is sometimes confused with race, but it is important to recognize that while some people may have the same skin color, they may come from different places and have vastly different cultural beliefs and views of the world. Ethnographies of literacy in settings outside school. How to meet culturally-diverse students where they are Prepare to teach the culturally diverse students you may have in your classroom using these guidelines and strategies for teaching your lessons to meet the needs of these students. New York: Bantam. Particularly highlighted are the range and implications of attitudes towards languages and dialects, as well as broad consideration of the assumptions and intentions underpinning bilingual and multicultural education. Have students make dialectical translations (e.g., writing a Shakespearean soliloquy in street language or a poem written in a marginalized dialect into a privileged dialect), then discuss what gets gained and lost through such translation. Additionally, issues of diversity play a role in how students and teachers view the importance of the classroom and what should happen there. For example, a person with a specific learning disability who is raised in a . NCES 2000-130). Form/join a group of colleagues who periodically use inquiry protocols that facilitate looking closely at the work of students. G. Richard Tucker, Paul Mellon University Professor of Applied Linguistics, Carnegie Mellon University: The rapidly changing demographic composition of students in American (& other) schools poses an increasing challenge for teachers who increasingly are finding larger and larger numbers of students from diverse ethnolinguistic and racial backgrounds in their classes. by Christine K. Dungan In this edition, three members of the Vanderbilt community engage some of the questions surrounding the issue of diversity in the classroom. Using the tools of classroom-based research to develop more complex profiles of their students, teachers and teacher educators can use their growing knowledge of the lives and cultures of these students to design appropriate teaching methodologies and curriculum. New York: Teachers College Press. (2004). (2004). Invite parents into the classroom to speak to all students on family life and cultural traditions, or to share an area of their expertise. Increase the shared knowledge base with students, parents, and other local actors; regularly tap into students funds of knowledge. Challenging students to consider different perspectives can also teach them how to interact with their peers on a social level, and equip them with skills they'll use for the rest of their life. It is important to understand that people have different religious belief or no religious beliefs, and it may impact their participation in the classroom. Choose texts that reflect the cultural and ethnic diversity of the nation. After this experience, teacher may initiate discussion on being bi-lingual/cultural. (R. Nice, Trans). Go into a different cultural community and interview people different than you. Ask preservice and inservice teachers to make a list of the most interesting activities that they did when they were in school. Malden, MA: Blackwell. We recognize the uniqueness of all cultures, languages and communities. We intend this document to provide teachers and teacher educators with a philosophical and practical base for developing literacy classrooms that meet the needs of linguistically and culturally diverse learners. In A. Horning & R. A. Sudol (Eds. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. While many discussions concerning diversity focus on talking about the importance of diversity and recognizing difference, it is equally important to move to the next step: incorporating specific tips for addressing differences and how they play out.