A classroom can be diverse in several
different ways, not just culturally, but also by ability (high vs. low
ability), and special needs such as physical impairments. Focusing first
on cultural diversity, according to our textbook right now US schools are
serving more than 14 million children who come from households in which English
is not the primary language. This accounts for so many children now, and
that number is only supposed to increase. As future educators I really
think we need to welcome cultural diversity into our classrooms, not only to
benefit those students of minority by making them feel more comfortable, but to
also educate those of the majority. A sad fact that personally I can say
I have experienced is that teachers tend to have lower expectations for
language minority students or English language learners in their
classroom. This is just a natural assumption I made when cadet teaching
in a third grade classroom. I assumed that one of the boys in the class,
who spoke what seemed like only Spanish, would struggle with reading books, but
low and behold he was one of the best readers in the class! As teachers
we need to avoid making assumptions just based off a child's cultural
background. I really like a few of the tips the textbook gave about
assisting English language learners in a classroom such as including a variety
of books from the students' native language and translations of these books in
a classroom. I think this along with showing similarities between English
and Spanish (for example) words would really help with literacy development for
ELL students. Although there are several approaches to bilingual
education, as we know even with non-bilingual students, there is not one
perfect method of instruction for all students. So it is important that
we get to know our students to discover what type of bilingual education is
going to be best for them.
As I mentioned before there will be diversity
in our classrooms that has to do with high ability (gifted & talented) and
low ability (may have learning disability) students. Differentiating
assignments to make them more challenging for high ability students will
accommodate their special talents. As for students who may have a
learning disability it is important that as teachers we recognize this and
modify assignments and class procedures. Special needs such as physical
impairments can create a diverse classroom environment as well. Examples of
physically impaired students include visually, hearing, or mobility
impaired. Personally all throughout elementary school I always seemed to
share class with one or more of these students, and I just found it so
interesting how they could keep up with the class despite their
impairment. I think it is so important that as future educators we know
how to modify our instruction for this form of diversity in our class. My
Aunt is a Kindergarten teacher and one year I went into her classroom and saw
that she had a student who had under developed hands, she could not even hold a
pencil to write. But she still kept up with the class because my Aunt had
modified all of her assignments so that this student could complete them as
well. I also believe that communicating with parents would be a great way
to start modifying a lesson for a student who has special needs. Parents
would be able to give insight on what a child can and cannot do and what would
be best for them.
So far in my college career I have been told
over and over that I will need to differentiate instruction in my classroom so
that I can accommodate for Gardner's multiple intelligences and for all of this
diversity that will be prevalent in my future classroom. This would
include modifying assignments for high and low ability students, working with
ELL students, and modifying instruction for any students with special
needs. Anytime I think about this I always have this fear that I may not
have the materials or enough time in the day to meet every individual's need in
my future classroom. Does anyone else have this same fear?
I enjoyed your blog post! The first statistic that you gave that more than 14 million children come from households where English is not their primary language really stuck out to me! This is such an eye-opening fact that makes you realize the importance of accepting cultural diversity into your classroom and the effects that it has on you. When you shared your feelings of sadness about teachers having lower expectations for language minority students, I agreed with that statement 100%. When I was in the classroom I was appalled by the teacher’s techniques she used for an ESL student, or lack there of. When the class was doing something complex, she did not modify any of the activities. Instead, she set him at a desk in the back and gave him crayons and paper to color. With that being said, I support your statements about the problems that can occur when you make assumptions based off a student’s cultural background. Using Gardner’s multiple intelligences and identifying the strengths is beneficial n order to help the development of any student. Whether it be a high level, low level, Ell, or special needs student. I think that that’s the key to being a great teacher, doing whatever you can in order to best benefit the growth of each student no matter the modifications you have to do
ReplyDeleteI think it is extremely important to modify instruction in order to meet the needs of all students, just as you said. Diversity in the classroom will only increase over time, and teacher's need to be prepared to meet their needs. However, while there may be SOME teachers who have lower expectations for their ELL students, I do not believe that is the reason why those students face challenges in the school system. Learning another language is an extremely complex thing. You can be an extremely bright person, but when you are thrown into a classroom that uses a different language to teach it is harder to be successful. Imagine you are the smartest person in your class and you move to Spain. The teachers expect you to learn at the same rate as all of the other students while you are trying to learn the language, and on top of those expectations you are trying to grasp all of the content that the teacher is teaching. I am not saying that teachers are currently doing the right things to help their students, but the reasons you stated as to why teachers are doing what they are doing is incorrect. We, as future teachers, need to be more prepared than the previous generations of teachers. As far as those impaired, those struggling, and those gifted go we have to make time to differentiate instruction. As teachers, we must make do with what our school systems give us to help all students. It is our responsibility to make time and to find the materials to help everyone.
ReplyDeleteHello, Sara! It was great to read your insights on the assumptions that teachers make of students who may have a different background than other students in the classroom. I, too, have see these assumptions being made. It is unfortunate that educators, the people in our lives who inspire us to do well in school, do not meet the needs of certain students. I most certainly agree with you,it IS our job to modify instruction. I find it more motivating than "frightening" when I think of how I would modify instruction for students who's needs are different then others. Since I also have seen first-hand how teachers can tend to "forget" about other students, it is one of my biggest goals as a future educator to make sure each of my students feels they are getting the educational attention they deserve.
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point that diversity is and will only continue to expand in our classrooms. I think that teachers should see diversity in the classroom as an instructional tool. Children are not just in school to learn but they are also there to teach. Using students individual experiences, skills, and knowledge can benefit all students. Pairing students of varying ability is a common practice in classrooms. I understand why educators assume an ELL student may not be at grade level in reading and writing, but one thing we need to keep in mind is how quickly children pick up languages. It may be difficult but teachers should try to not assume anything about students but instead assess them. I think that your experiences in attending schools and having classes with students with disabilities will greatly benefit you as a teacher. I have had little experience with these in a classroom setting myself. I am terrified of being responsible for differentiating instruction for every student, every subject, every day. However, teachers are doing it everyday and most are doing it well. We now have the technology to help us as well as support of other teachers. I believe that with some support and practice that differentiating instruction will become second nature to all of us.
ReplyDeleteI really want to answer the question at the end of your blog. I do have that fear. I truly fear that I won't be able to meet the needs of every individual student in my classroom. Now that we have been presented with so much diversity in the world and in the generations to come, it is nerve racking that we will be responsible for the future of those children. Although it makes me nervous, I am so excited. I am excited because who knows what they will be teaching us. I think that having a diverse student or multiple diverse students would be such a blessing because we would be learning more about them and their struggles and culture or way of living or how they think or how they go about their day. It is amazing to think that one day not only will we be teaching these students, they will be teaching us.
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