Diverse Classrooms

A major goal in any classroom should be to strive for unity and still maintain individuality. It's imperative for students to feel comfortable and acclimate to their new surroundings while still preserving their personalities. Begin the first day of school with a teacher guided discussion encouraging children to critically think about what it means for the class to be unified but still accepting of each other's differences. It is important for everyone to respect each other and work as a group in order for the year to be a success. Creating this risk-free environment fosters students' exploration and unsolicited participation. Diversity can be promoted and celebrated many ways.

A Classroom Contract written by the students with teacher guidance should be published, signed, and posted. Keep the rules simple: show respect, be prepared.

Our Class Tree bulletin board can be created by students and display their biopoems revealing interesting information about themselves.

We All Fit Together magnetic foam puzzle pieces hold pictures of the children in front of the classroom. For those camera shy students, let them decorated a paper insert.

Writing What We Know is a brainstorming activity where a list generated by students serves as a resource to conjure up writing ideas. It can be put up in a writing center.

Meeting Needs conversation informs children that the teacher recognizes each of them as individuals and will help them succeed. Mention that everyone has different strengths while there are some areas that people may want to improve. Emphasize that everyone will get what he/she needs, so everyone won't get the same thing. To make this clearer, present a scenario about two siblings. One sibling needed braces and the other sibling did not. Both children ended up with braces because the parents wanted to be fair. Ask the children what they think about that solution. Ultimately, the students will recognize that their needs will be met but in the most appropriate manner.

Advocate for Themselves is another conversation geared towards independence. When developmentally appropriate, students should take on more responsibility not only for their actions but also for their learning. Being that a classroom should be unified and accepting of differences, every student should be expected to ask clarification questions and request assistance if need be without feeling ashamed. With encouragement and supportive responses, the students' confidence to advocate for themselves improves; and therefore, accountability for their learning progress.

Dear Mr. Henshaw a read aloud triggers discussions about the 'haves' and 'have nots' within our society. Read the book during the first month of school. The story leads to talks about rich and poor lifestyles, parents divorcing, feeling lonely at school, and working on a new assignment. Students can share observations, solutions, and coping mechanisms for an array of problems.

Dine with the Teacher is one way to spend quality time with individual students. Each Monday draw student names from a can and have those students eat lunch with you. This gives teachers the opportunity to provide more individualized attention and children a chance to converse with peers in a new and informal setting. Students who may not normally congregate come together at this time and communicate quite nicely with one another.

Celebrate Success by recognizing individual students for specific virtues. Each month celebrate a different core virtue and select students who best represented that virtue. Children are honored to be acknowledged and can't wait to hear the examples used in support of each recognition.

While each item may not directly address diversity, each point leads to discussions of diversity and/or exposes children to differences amongst their peers and amongst individuals in society. Maintaining a unifying and accepting classroom can be made possible through these activities. Recognizing, accepting, and tolerating diversity fostered an environment conducive for seeking out learning.