Who Are Today’s Students? Created by Brooke Kull, Lela Jacobs, Samantha Haga, and Lori Henderson

Introduction As future educators, it’s important to be aware of the diversity among our classrooms. In Chapter 5, we’re introduced to students K-12 in schools all over the U.S. It’s essential to know what your students are like as people, how they learn, and how they differ from one another. As a teacher, it’s also essential to create an accepting environment, as well as accommodate and fulfill the needs of students. As the chapter unfolds, not only do we gain a better understanding of each characteristic that sets our students apart from one another, but we learn how to accurately assist their needs.

Bilingual Education Teaching students part time in their native language because they are limited to English. Various forms: ESL- English as a Second Language- a program that teaches students English. Dual-language Programs- teach both English and native language to allow for fluency in both languages.

Specially Designed Academic Instruction in English Tips Speak clear and slow Use movement and facial expressions Provide visual material Do not use idiomatic expressions Use group work that allows students to interact Set up a native speaking student with an advanced English speaking student who also knows the native language so they can interact and tech one another.

Sexual Orientation The attraction one has towards people of one or both sexes. Categories: Heterosexual: attracted to the opposite sex Homosexual (Gay and lesbian): attracted to the same sex Bisexual: attraction toward both sexes Transgender: has characteristics of the opposite sex  LGBT are considered as the “invisible minority” because these individuals are scared of stigmatization. Thus, many of them try to stay invisible by hiding their sexual orientation

Dropout Rate Dropout rate - The percentage of students who fail to complete high school or earn an equivalency degree. The dropout rate in the United States is around 10 percent.

Five Strategies For Reducing the Dropout Rate Making it harder for students to drop out of school by strengthen accountability, offering students assistance and opportunities to stay in school. Addressing the underlying causes of dropping out, like low income students are more likely to drop out; be aware of this, monitor students’ emotional condition and well-being, family stress is associated with poverty. Addressing the needs of those groups at highest risk of dropping out; focus on dropout prevention strategies for students with disabilities and special needs.

Five Strategies For Reducing the Dropout Rate Continued Strengthen school readiness, address families’ access to economic resources and human services in children’s early years. Strengthen the skills and understanding of the adults who affect teens’ motivation and ability to stay in school, expand access to parent education and family support programs geared to the challenges of raising adolescents.

Multicultural Education vs. Culturally Relevant Pedagogy Multicultural education is the aim of which is to create equal opportunities for students from diverse racial, ethnic, social class, and cultural groups. Culturally relevant pedagogy is teaching practices that place the culture of the learner at the center of instruction. Culture referents become aspects of the formal curriculum.

Four Important Attributes of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy They use culture referents-from all cultures represented in the classroom-to develop students’ knowledge, skills, and attitudes. They honor the students’ life stories and belief systems and find ways to incorporate them into the curriculum and learning context. They create classroom community by granting voice and legitimacy to the experiences of the students from diverse backgrounds. They encourage all students to achieve academically by acknowledging the students’ personal and cultural identities.

Learning Styles Learning styles- the dominant way in which we process the information around us. Different people have different learning styles. Five learning styles Reading and writing are the traditional approach for learning styles in school but there are three more as well Auditory learners learn best through verbal lectures, discussions, talking things through, and listening. Visual learners need to see the teacher’s body language and facial expressions to fully understand the content of a lesson. Kinesthetic learners learn best through hands on approach, actively exploring the physical world around them. I think I am a little different when it comes to learning. I feel like my learner styles are auditory and kinesthetic. I think this because not only do I need to hear it but I need to have a hand on approach as well.

Student Landscape in U.S. The current student landscape is different from what is presented in the text. The student population is mainly Hispanic, then Black, White and other. The current landscape is different from when I went to school. It truly depended on the area you lived in and the schools you attended. In terms of ethnicity, White was the dominant race where I went to school, then Black and Hispanic. It is no longer this way.

Students At Risk Students in danger of not completing school or not acquiring the education they need to be successful citizens. One who is in of failing to complete her or his education with an adequate level of skills. (Slavin & Madden, 2006) One who is judged as not having the potential to participate in society in ways that are meaningful for themselves or for society in general (McGuirk, 2001) [A student] judge to be in serious jeopardy of not completing school or not succeeding in school (Ryan & Cooper, 2007)

Social Risk Factors The greatest social risks are: Substance abuse Child abuse Poverty Homelessness Hunger Depression Teenage pregnancy

Family Risk Index Child is not living with two parents. Household head is a high school dropout. Family income is below poverty line. Child is living with parent(s) who is (are) underemployed. Family is receiving welfare benefits. Child does not have health insurance.

Homes of Public Schoolchildren

Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Linguistic intelligence: The ability to use and manipulate languages. (Lawyers) Logical mathematical intelligence: Able to analyze problems. Carry out math problems. (Scientists) Musical intelligence: Individual that can appreciate musical patterns, pitch, and rhythm. (Musicians) Bodily kinesthetic intelligence: Dancers and athletes. (Coordination) Spatial intelligence: The ability to recognize patterns that relationships in physical space and manipulate them manually. (Surgeons)

Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Continued Interpersonal intelligence: The ability to understand your own feelings. (Educators) Naturalist intelligence: Ability to classify plants and animals. (Ecologist) Existential intelligence: Has concern with ultimate issues. (Religious leader) Spiritual intelligence: The capacity to explore the nature of existence in all of its manifestations. (Religious leaders) Moral intelligence: The concern with rules, behaviors and attitudes that govern the sanctity of life. (may be present with the other intelligences)

My Intelligence Profile As I looked over these intelligences I find that my make- up would be: Interpersonal Intelligences, Naturalist intelligence, Moral intelligence, Logical intelligence and Musical intelligence. I feel that falling under more than one intelligence helps me a great deal with regard to having a career in the future as an educator. This will hopefully help me to become all rounded educator.

Conclusion As diversity continues to rapidly increase in U.S. schools, it’s important to have knowledge of each student’s background. In Chapter 5 we learn how to be a successful teacher while accommodating these factors that make up a diverse classroom: Ethnic/Religious Diversity Bilingual/Multicultural Education Sexual Orientation Socioeconomic Disparities Multiple Intelligences Learning Styles

References Textbook: Koch, Janice. So You Want to Be a Teacher?: Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Print. Diversity. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Bilingual. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Sexual Orientation. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Dropout Rate. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Dropout. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Diversity. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct At Risk. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Social Risk Factors. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Family. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Risks of Students Graph. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Intelligent. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Conclusion. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct Intelligent Student. N.d. Yahoo images. Online image. 7 Oct. 2015