Embedded Files
Cultural Diversity
Cultural Diversity
Culturally Diverse
"A system of beliefs and behaviors that recognizes and respects the presence of all diverse groups in an organization or society, acknowledges and values their sociocultural differences, and encourages and enables their continued contribution within an inclusive cultural context which empowers all within the organization or society" (Belfield, 2012).
Cultural Diversity in Today’s Classroom
As United States becomes a more culturally and ethnically diverse country, schools are becoming more diverse, too. Evidence suggests that school districts across the US have witnessed a significant increase in students of color including African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans . To illustrate this further, data suggests that during the 2009-2018 school years, the percentage of public school students who were Hispanic increased from 22 to 27 percent (National Center for Education Statistics, 2021). In cities where student population was primarily from white and affluent families, there has been an increase in students of color belonging to low socio-economic status. A 2020 report published by the National Center of Education Statistics indicated that "in fall 2017, of the 50.7 million students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools, 24.1 million were White, 7.7 million were Black, 13.6 million were Hispanic, 2.8 million were Asian/Pacific Islander (2.6 million were Asian and 185,000 were Pacific Islander), half a million were American Indian/Alaska Native, and 2 million were of Two or more races". This report further suggests that by 2029, it is expected that the vast majority of students will be a part of a minority race or ethical groups (more than 55 percent) (National Center of Education Statistics, 2020).
These data and statistics clearly suggest that focus on diversity and related issues in school settings will become more of focus than ever before. Both teachers and administrators need to be more aware of diversity and needs of learners so they are able to serve and provide better learning opportunities for students. It is important to note that not every student learns in the same way and school leaders need to be more thoughtful in their approach. They will have to work towards creating an environment and prepare workforce that is ready to take action on such important issues and provide an equitable education for all students (Frank, n.d.).
Why Cultural Diversity and Awareness in the Classroom Is Important?
In the increasingly diverse and multicultural society, it’s more important than ever for teachers to embrace multiculturalism and increase awareness about different culture, whether one is teaching in elementary school, middle school, or high school students ( Blue, Mupinga, Clark, DeLuca, & Kelly, 2018) . Because lack of awareness and unfamiliarity with cultures, traditions, value, and beliefs of immigrants and culturally diverse students “can produce anxieties, hostilities, prejudices, and racist behaviors among those who do not understand the newcomers or who perceive them as threats to their safety and security” (Gay, 2003). Therefore, it is essential for educators to implement culturally responsive and multicultural teaching approaches in their curriculum because knowledge about others culture values, beliefs, and traditions lays the foundation for developing cultural pluralism, intergroup empathy, and the ability to think, work, and live with who are different from themselves (Drexel University, n.d.). Additionally, It is important to note that this kind of approaches helps students of diverse backgrounds to develop self-confidence and a positive attitude towards learning which could lead to higher academic achievement (Muniz, 2019).
The danger of a single story | Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
It is human nature that we form our opinion after listening to a few stories or what others might tell us about a certain situation or group of people. This kind of generalization can be dangerous and may impact a person's ability to make the right choices/decisions. In the Tedtalk video, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks about how a single story can create stereotypes and what challenges students face when they find literature unfamiliar to their own culture.
What Teachers Needs to Know and Understand
Every teacher needs to identify and address their own biases. As we know that “Every mind has a bias because everyone’s beliefs and worldview are shaped by their own unique experiences within a particular environment.” (Handel, 2020, n.d.). For this reason, all teachers need to reflect on their own biases because unconscious bias can, directly and indirectly, impact student’s ability to perform in the classroom.
Teachers need to develop culturally competent teaching and learning because these skills can help them in understanding, communicating with, and effectively interacting with students across cultures (Hawk et al., 2017) . Some of the things that educators can do to enhance their cultural competency are to read books, attend cultural events of diverse groups, host family nights and collaborate with families, assign projects and assignments that focus on issues or concepts of their own communities or different cultural groups (CRP Teaching Strategies).
The race, culture, and ethnicity often play important roles in defining individuals identities and contribute to their values, their behavior, and their beliefs. When these elements of students identities are ignored, teachers miss opportunities to establish a strong positive bond with learners. Therefore, in order to become responsive to individual differences, teachers need to have an understanding of how race and ethnicity influence the students learning (colorblindness, n.d.)
To help/allow culturally and linguistically diverse students thrive in the classroom, teachers need to become culturally proficient as it helps them to develop the appropriate mindset to effectively respond to the needs of the diverse learners . Please click on the link below to learn more about the cultural proficiency continuum and the five essential elements of cultural competence.
Source-
Learn CQ.com. (n.d.). Continuum of cultural competence [Photograph]. Cultural Competence To CQ - Cultural Awareness Training - Learncq.Com. https://www.premiercontinuingeducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Continuum.jpg
Nuri-Robins, K., Lindsey, D. B., Lindsey, R. B., & Terrell, R. D. (2011). Culturally proficient instruction: A guide for people who teach (Third ed.). Corwin.
Cultural Understanding
Cultural Understanding
In this video, the Better Kid Care team provides information about what is culture and how educators can support cultural understanding and diversity within their classroom.
Cultural Competence
Cultural Competence
This video states what knowledge, skills, and attitudes teachers need to develop to effectively teach students from other cultures and engage with families from cultures other than their own.
Unpacking Unconscious Biases
Unpacking Unconscious Biases
In this video, Stanford University social psychologist Jennifer L. Eberhardt is providing information about how our own beliefs and attitudes can be triggered unconsciously or without our awareness and how we can unpack unconscious biases.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse