Student Diversity: Culture, Language, and Gender EDUC 1010- Chapter 4

Dimensions of Diversity Culture Language Gender Development Ability Exceptionalities

Diversity Terms Culture Cultural Diversity Ethnicity The knowledge, attitudes, values, customs and behavior patterns that characterize a social group. Cultural Diversity The different cultures that you'll encounter in classrooms and how these cultural differences influence learning. Ethnicity A person’s ancestry; the way individuals identify themselves with the nation they or their ancestors come from.

Urban Schools and Diversity Cultural minorities Are majorities in 48 of 100 largest U.S. cities Are majorities in 6 states Comprise 90% of students in Chicago Detroit Houston Los Angeles District of Columbia Percentage of minority students predicted to increase in the future

Diversity in Utah Schools

Cultural Attitudes, Values, & Interaction Patterns Learned at home and in neighborhood Influence school success, both positively and negatively Require both teacher sensitivity and adaptability

Educational Responses to Cultural Diversity Multicultural education: A variety of strategies schools use to accommodate cultural differences in teaching and learning Salad bowl or mosaic versus melting pot Culturally responsive teaching: Instruction that acknowledges and accommodates cultural diversity Accepting and valuing cultural differences Accommodating different cultural interaction patterns Building on students’ cultural backgrounds

Bilingual Education Bilingual Maintenance language programs: use and sustain the first language Immersion programs: emphasize rapid transition to a new language English as a Second Language (ESL) programs: focus on English in academic subjects Transition programs: maintain first language while students learn English

Bilingual Education Controversial because critics fear the loss of English as U.S. language 26 states have official English language legislation De-emphasized by No Child Left Behind Proponents claim it is effective, humane, and practical. Critics claim it is divisive, ineffective, and inefficient.

ESL Programs English as a Second Language ESL endorsement Alternative Language Services (ALS) English Language Learners (ELL) Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

Gender Gender influences career choices. Gender-role identity creates differences in expectations and beliefs about appropriate roles and behaviors. Stereotypes create rigid and simplistic caricatures of groups of people. Single-gender classrooms and schools separate male and female students.