Adding Diversity to the Math Teacher's Instructional Style

If you are trying to become a good math teacher, it is important to recognize that teaching using a diversity-centered approach is an important component of teaching in the U.S. today. This reality stems from the increasingly diverse population of America, which is slowly becoming common in school districts all over the country. Even the smallest towns and most homogeneous communities are becoming more diverse. In some communities, it occurs rapidly. In other communities, it is happening little by little. This article offers you a few tips for how to use math examples that reflect the diverse backgrounds of your students.

A respect for diversity is one component of teaching. Many teachers can master that by trying to be sensitive to what they say and how they encourage students to share diverse perspectives. A true diversity teacher must also speak using diverse examples. In the math course, this is most easily achieved by giving examples on the board, reading them from the book, or assigning them in handouts or workbook assignments. The way that you explain things should incorporate examples from different viewpoints.

In the first example, when solving a math word problem on the white board, it can be as easy as using diverse first names. You shouldn't always use Anglo first names like John and Mary. Introduce names like Moesha, Tyrone, Luigi, Maria, and Jose. Consider introducing even more diverse names like Keiko, Taki, Ramashan, Karma, Josef, and Zarita. There are so many linguistic traditions in the world that you could even consider investing six bucks in a baby name book.

Another tip is to write word problems and examples that use the other aspects of other cultures, like names for foods, money, and other objects. For example, if you were solving a money problem, you could write the example using Mexican pesos instead of dollars. If you were adding numbers, you could add the number of enchiladas instead of the number of cookies.

Although these tips may feel forced when you first implement them in the classroom, the truth is that eventually you will get into the habit of using these techniques so that it will not seem forced. You will be able to appeal to the cultural perspectives of your students. They will respond to you in ways that you hadn't previously imagined. They may not even realize that your purposeful teaching style draws them in. In order to be an effective teacher, don't depend on reinforcement in this area from students or parents. Teach this way because you want to reach as many students as you can.

For more help on teaching in a diversity-centered manner, do research on the Internet or check out an up-to-date textbook on lesson planning.