Who are Today’s Students in a Diverse Society CIE: Unit 3

5 types of diversity a teacher might see in a classroom: Racial/ethnic diversity Language diversity Academic diversity Students with differing needs Gender Socioeconomic diversity

Race vs Ethnicity Race – people with a common ancestry and physical characteristics Ethnicity – people who share a common culture, including language, customs, and religion

Assimilation vs Cultural Pluralism Assimilation – process of incorporating an immigrant group into mainstream culture Cultural pluralism – having an understanding and appreciation of the cultural differences and languages among the nation’s citizens

Multicultural Education An approach to education that recognizes cultural diversity and fosters cultural enrichment of all children and youth.

5 approaches to multicultural education: Teaching the exceptional and culturally different Human relations Single-group studies Multicultural Multicultural and social reconstructionist

Social Justice The thought process of doing away with social and economic inequalities for those who have been denied these benefits in a democratic society. African Americans, Native Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic Americans, women, individuals with disabilities, people with limited English proficiencies, low income, particular religious groups, etc

Dangers of multicultural education: Destroy any sense of common traditions, values, purposes, obligations Divert the schools’ attention from education to civic, economic, and personal effectiveness Attacks problem of minority students’ underachievement by advocating an emphasis on self-esteem rather than hard work Substitutes relevance of subjects studied for instruction in solid academics Undermine a sense of common morality

Culturally Responsive Teaching To incorporate aspects of a student’s culture

Lau vs Nichols Bilingual Education Act – schools must take steps to rectify language deficiencies for students Class action suit on behalf of Chinese students Specified that language minority students should be taught academics in their primary home language until they adequately learned and could benefit from English language

2 goals of ESOL students To learn English To master content

Multiple Intelligences: Howard Gardner, psychologist We should educate multiple intelligences All students have strengths, weaknesses, and unique combinations of cognitive abilities Students have at least 8 distinct intellectual capabilities that they use to approach problems and create products

8 intellectual capabilities: 1. verbal/linguistic intelligence 2. logical-mathematical intelligence 3. spatial intelligence 4. bodily-kinesthetic intelligence 5. musical intelligence 6. interpersonal intelligence 7. intrapersonal intelligence 8. naturalist intelligence Which do we tend to emphasize in schools?

Teaching Implications Be aware that students learn in different ways and offer them a variety of ways to learn material Even assessments should be offered in a variety of ways. Provides variety in lessons

Multiple Intelligences vs Learning Style Theory Visual - seeing Auditory- hearing Kinesthetic - moving Tactile – touching Learning styles more focused on the process of learning rather than contents and products of learning

Review table on pg 63. How do you learn best?

6 types of disabilities: 1. mental retardation 2. emotional disturbance 3. learning disabilites 4. attention deficit disorders 5. speech/language impairments 6. autism 7. traumatic brain injury 8. visual impairments

IEP: Individualized Education Plan FAPE – free and appropriate education Students with disabilities must be provided with an IEP providing short term and long term goals.

IDEA and ADA pg 66 IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Act ADA – American s with Disabilities Act 1. FAPE 2. appropriate evaluation 3. IEP 4. LRE (least restrictive environment) 5. parent and student participation in decision making 6. procedural safeguards

IEP Goal driven Meet annually Transition plan to transition from school to work LRE Mainstream/inclusion

Pros and Cons of Inclusion Pgs 67-68 Discussion: Breaking Out

Assistive Technology Devices and services which help students with disabilities perform better in their daily lives. assistive technology overview Meet Elle Meet Sam

Project: Research a disability and create a power point about that disability and what type of assistive technology may help a student with that type of disability. You will present this information to the class.

Teaching Implications for students with disabilities: Do not stereotype Be open to inclusion Learn about the disability and assistive modalities Insist that any needed services be provided Pair with other students Variety of teaching strategies

Programs for Gifted and Talented Students: Acceleration Enrichment Teaching implications pgs 74-75

Glasser’s Choice Theory William Glasser – psychiatrist and educator Everyone born with fundamental needs for survival, love and belonging, power, freedom, and fun We attempt to satisfy these needs throughout our lives If we understand these needs we can make choices to satisfy these needs

Implementing Glasser’s Theory Group work vs individual work to satisfy need of belonging

Adolescent Subcultures What can we do to prevent alienation of subcultures? What school activities might be appealing to members of traditionally “outcast” groups?

Gender in the classroom High expectations for all students Avoid stereotypes Assigned seating to discourage segregation

3 things you can do to avoid diversity in classroom: 1. learn about and appreciate values and backgrounds of students Teach to your students strengths Provide a variety of educational experiences Provide consistent messages to your students Attempt to bridge gap between middle class standards and students’ home life