Diversity – show the love!

Image from http://classroomitemss.com/classroom-diversity/

 Diversity's in the classroom...culture, special needs, physical needs.  These are all going to come in at one time or another. 

Today what came to mind is something I had heard.  It went like this, "Oh don’t speak their language we need to immerse students in the language of the classroom."  And then they are getting students tested to see where they are at and if there are any other learning disabilities.  English to these students is a second language is NOT a learning disability.  These students should be in the classroom sharing their language and culture with the rest of the class.  Words should be up around the room in both languages so the students can see what the words look like.  Students with English as a second language can learn to read and speak the word and if the other students see the word in the other language then they can use it to help the an ESL student if they are having a language barrier.  All of the students should have confidence, when speaking and being spoken to.   

I had to test a little boy; the teacher thought he had a hearing problem.  I decided to get to know this little guy first.  So I started asking him about his family, something that he would know and be comfortable talking about.  He chatted with me at a good hearing level and quite fluently in English.  Some of the connecting words he would put in the wrong place or get mixed up, or say with his Korean accent.  It wasn’t that he was quiet because of a hearing problem he talked quite because he was unsure of the proper English word to use so he would mumble or whisper in the classroom.  Something that simple could have escalated into a situation where he would be getting pulled from class, from his peers where he felt comfortable.  His language and culture is something that the classroom could use as a learning opportunity.

Different cultures should also be embraced, ask students and their families to come into the school and classroom to teach the class what their culture and traditions are about.   Everyone should feel comfortable in the school and classroom or use technology to help, and teach about cultures near and far.  There are interactive maps, apps that translate and many other resources now thanks to technology.  And for crying out loud don’t make the student be the translator between you and the parents!  If we are really creating a good network as teacher then we will be able to find someone to help out and create a comfort level when talking to the families.