6-DIVERSITY

The Heuristic View

CI Masters degree graduates understand human diversity as a valued

component of educational systems; understand how to appropriately
engage with a diverse population; effectively structure learning
experiences with a diverse population; and effectively engage with
diverse populations of student, parents and colleagues.
Teachers have all types of students in their classrooms. The masters
program, practicum hours, student teaching and my research have
prepared me to accommodate students of different ethnicities, social
classes, and learning abilities. Though I still have much to learn and
each case will have its own challenges, with support from
administration and parents, I can involve and engage culturally diverse
students.
An understanding of the value of diversity is integral to cultural
proficiency. When students feel that their presence is appreciated in
the classroom they are more likely to be active participants in the
learning process. Writing assessments that are appropriate for all the
learning types in the classroom allows for accurate data collection on
the effectiveness of teaching strategies. Material needs to be
accessible to all students regardless of cultural differences. If possible,
student input should be sought along with constant reflection and
evaluation of teaching strategies and assessment by the teacher.
Parental and administrative involvement can assist with differentiation
in the classroom which builds community partnership.
I want to involve all of my students in the learning process, therefore I
must be sensitive to the needs of all of my students. I have taught
classes where a large percentage of students are on IEPs or 504s and
they require more breaks during lecture, more hands-on experience,
and more time in class to complete assignments. If our goals are
student centered then we are closer to being culturally proficient. The
benefit to the students can be measured in assessments and overall
classroom environment; all students should be willing to work together
and sit by each other because everyones presence is valued and
students should be engaged in the material and working hard to learn
it.

The Service View

Teaching in Bolivia has taught me the value of kinetic learning and

visual media. Pictures and learning by doing are powerful tools for
teaching all types of students. Though it can be difficult teaching
diverse classes, student accomplishment is very rewarding as a
teacher. Discussions also benefit from a variety of voices and breadth
of learning can be increased through cultural diversity.
My experiences teaching diverse classrooms aligns me with the COE
mission because I have increased my cultural proficiency through
differentiation of teaching strategies and assignments. My classes do
more group work to support those who are struggling with the
material. We also go on more field trips, do more labs, watch more
videos, and get up out of our desks more often. As I encounter new
types of students I evaluate their responses to my current teaching
methods and adapt to better meet their needs. I have also come to
rely on the advice of other teachers who have had similar experiences.
I will continue to be flexible in my assessment and teaching strategies
to better meet the needs of diverse students. I will ask for support
from parents and staff to help the students continue to progress with
the other students. I will foster a classroom environment where
everyone feels welcome and valued.

The Learning View

I did not realize how many different accommodations teachers were

making for students. I have sat in on many meetings concerning
student needs and been overwhelmed by the resources that schools
offer. As a future educator I know that there will be challenges every
semester. I am hopeful that even if a student struggles with the
material in my class, they will leave having had a positive experience.
I have learned a variety of teaching strategies that I was unaware of
before starting the program. As a student I did not utilize any resources
that are available for struggling students, so I am very grateful for my
student teaching experiences. I can point students towards online
resources such as kahoot, quizlet, and virtual labs. I use resources in
the classroom such as HHMI, YouTube, and Nobel media.
Alternate assessment, IEP, 504, accommodations, 50/50, PST, RTI,
academic strategies, Milepost, gifted and talented, etc.