1 Helping Diverse Learners Succeed in Today’s Classrooms ED 1010

2 Dimensions of Diversity Culture Language Gender Add a Word Activity

3 Culture 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.

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5 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

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

7 Educational Responses to Cultural Diversity Multicultural education: salad bowl or mosaic versus melting pot Culturally responsive teaching Accepting and valuing cultural differences Accommodating different cultural interaction patterns Building on students’ cultural backgrounds

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

9 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. What do you think?

Effect Practices Suggested by Research Create a warm inviting environment Avoid situations that draw attention to lack of English skills Mix- teacher centered instruction and cooperative learning Use concrete examples 10

11 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.